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The state Department of Cultural Affairs is losing the public argument over whether artist Gilberto Guzmans mural Multicultural should remain on the old building where a new modern art museum is planned.

The huge mural, originally installed in 1980 along a wall facing Guadalupe Street, has become the latest cultural flashpoint in Santa Fe.

Cultural Affairs plans a world-class, $12 million contemporary art museum in whats known as the Halpin Building, with the help of a $4 million donation from Robert and Ellen Vladem. But state officials say the buildings existing piece of modern art  Guzmans mural, restored in 1993  has to go. They say the mural, and the stucco and wall its painted on are crumbling, and that Multicultural, as an outdoor mural, in any case wasnt meant to last forever. Theres a reference in the contract under which Guzman undertook the mural to the outdoor artworks natural life.

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But supporters of saving the mural say its removal would be just the latest case of the erosion of Santa Fes traditional, Hispanic culture and another example of gentrification by the well-heeled.

The Journal North has supported the museums contemporary design over those who wanted something in the old adobe look. And we have said in the past that, given the condition of the mural and its wall, and the fact that Guzmans image has had a good 40-year run, perhaps a new mural somewhere else in the Railyard area was the way to go.

But, in recent months, the value of Guzmans big piece of public art has been driven home by protesters and others. Now, Cultural Affairs needs to come up with a response thats better, or at least more detailed, than saying that saving the mural just cant be done.

The mural depicts an Indigenous woman spreading her arms across the wall of the building. Other New Mexican and Indigenous elements are incorporated, including a train, a canyon and people of different races coming together.

Irene Vasquez, Chicana and Chicano Studies department chair at UNM, told Journal Norths Isabella Alves that to remove the mural is to diminish how artists reflect aspects of their culture.

It is confounding to me that there is widespread discussion about the value of the Multicultural mural, she said. The move to take the mural down, regardless of how it is being couched, asserts a value judgment (that) it is not important within the context of development efforts in Sante Fe.

Ray Hernandez-Duran, professor of art history in the Department of Art at UNM, emphasized the importance of murals in Spanish and Indigenous cultures.

We have been seeing for the past two decades, just the wholesale destruction of Chicano, Latino, murals across the country, he said.

When you touch it, or destroy it, theres like a larger kind of comment being made here that has to do with the lack of representation of certain voices, the lack of inclusion of certain voices, the erasure of certain communities histories (and) the marginalization of certain communities, he said.

Hernandez-Duran also doesnt buy the Cultural Affairs Departments stance that the mural couldnt be saved or restored. I and my colleagues, who are trained art historians, were laughing at this. Its preposterous, he said. If they can save (Leonardo) da Vincis Last Supper, a 500-year-old mural that was flakes on the floor  theres just no way that this mural cannot be saved.

Artist Guzman himself said: The fact of the matter is its a piece of cultural patrimony and its beloved. Demolishing it is a larger issue of erasure and gentrification, as we see it.

Cultural Affairs says the mural would be honored at the new museum with a plaque outside and projection of an image of the mural inside.

The departments argument against keeping the existing mural intact seems simple. It would be too costly, officials say.

But, at this point, with the mural becoming a symbol of cultural division, state officials should prove that assertion as best they can. How much would a restoration cost? What would have to be given up in the new museum to save Guzmans mural for another decade or two?

Daniel Zillmann, director of communications and marketing at Cultural Affairs, says a cost estimate itself would require money and an independent, professional conservator to write the report would have to be found.

It would take a lot of funds to preserve the mural in any way, he said. Even that preservation of the mural wouldnt last forever. This would be an ongoing and expensive process.

Caught in the middle of this culture clash are the Vladems, whose big donation for the modern art museum has drawn fire. Yes, no good deed goes unpunished.

Robert Vladem said the decision to remove the mural was made before the donation. Since the donation, they have experienced a lot of name-calling and bullying on social media. If anyone had told me this would be so controversial, I never would have made the gift, he said.

Vladem also said he found it insulting that some people would insinuate he made removing the mural a condition of his donation  which he says isnt true.

The murals demise seemed all but certain a few weeks ago, and it remains likely. But, now, Guzman has filed a federal court lawsuit to try to save it.

Regardless of the outcome of the litigation, Cultural Affairs should elaborate on why it believes the mural must be taken down. Removing the mural may be the only way to fix the wall of the old warehouse building, but we need to know about the potential costs and other details, including options for a restoration. The controversy over the mural has attracted national attention. Maybe funds could be raised to save the mural.

The museum project shouldnt proceed with many in the community left to believe that the state just doesnt want Multicultural to be part of New Mexicos next landmark museum. Too many people are invested in saving the mural for halfway explanations.
New Delhi, April 18 : JSW Steel said on Sunday that the company is supplying oxygen for medical purposes as a priority in response to the current crises.

"Currently, the supplies are ramped up to over 185 tonnes and making every effort to increase further from all our steel plants across the country," JSW Steel said.

As per a government statement, the country has been facing an unprecedented surge in the new daily cases of Covid in various states and UTs across the country.

The requirement for medical oxygen is a critical component in the treatment of Covid affected patients.

In view of the recent surge in the country of Covid-19 cases, the requirement of oxygen for effective clinical treatment of Covid patients has also witnessed a manifold hike. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has conveyed that this has already reached about 60 per cent of the total daily oxygen production, and is expected to rise further. There have been reports of shortage of medical oxygen from some states and UTs.

The Centre has been regularly monitoring and ensuring smooth supply of essential medical equipment including medical oxygen to the affected states and addressing challenges that arise from time to time.

The Empowered Group-II (EG-II) headed by Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) is mandated by the Centre to manage requisite supplies of medical equipments, drugs including medical oxygen across the country, the statement said.

Several immediate and timely measures have been taken in the recent days by the Centre to address the issue of adequate availability of medical oxygen across the country. While every effort is being made to meet the rising demand for medical oxygen, including augmenting daily production and stocks and States/UTs are taking appropriate steps for optimum and rationalised utilisation of available stock of oxygen, the present trend necessitates additional measures.
Under a new program, if a recipient of a scholarship loan from the Berkshire District Medical Society agrees to return to the Berkshires to practice as a primary physician and stays for three years, one-third of the loan would be reduced each year that the person practices locally.
(Newser)  A prosecutor who implied in court that 13-year-old Adam Toledo was holding a gun the instant he was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer was placed on leave a day after a video showing the boy's hands were empty was released to the public, per the AP. During an April 10 bond hearing for 21-year-old Ruben Roman, who was with Adam when he was shot March 29, Assistant States Attorney James Murphy appeared to suggest that the boy was still holding the gun as Officer Eric Stillman pulled the trigger. The officer tells (Adam) to drop it as (Adam) turns towards the officer. (Adam) has a gun in his right hand, Murphy said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The officer fires one shot at (Adam), striking him in the chest. The gun that (Adam) was holding landed against the fence a few feet away.

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But Murphy did not explain what the video and screen shots show: That Adam had nothing in his hands when he was shot and had dropped or tossed the weapon away less than a second before the officer pulled the trigger. Police found the gun next to a fence a short distance away after the shooting. Per the Chicago Tribune, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx told staffers in an email that the language in the proffer that Murphy read in court did not fully reflect all the evidence that had been given to our office." But on Friday, spokeswoman Sarah Sinovic suggested that Murphy may not have had access to all of the video that was released to the public on Thursday when he made the comments, telling the Sun-Times telling the Sun-Times: Its still under investigation what videos were available to (Murphy)."
A man is in a critical condition after being shot by a police officer in Derry last night.

The incident happened in a flat at Celandine Court in Gobnascale shortly before 11pm.

A PSNI spokesperson said officers responded to a report of concern for safety for a man at the address at approximately 10:45pm last night.

As officers were dealing with the incident, a police firearm was discharged and the male sustained a chest injury. He remains in hospital at this time, the spokesperson said.

A police officer sustained a knife wound to his arm and head during the incident and he was taken to hospital for treatment.

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is investigating the shooting.

A spokesperson for the Ombudsman said the victim is understood to be in a critical condition.

The police officer has been treated for stab wounds to his arm and head.

Our investigators are at the scene and are making enquiries to establish the circumstances of what happened.

At this stage, we know that police went to the flat after receiving a call for assistance.

There was then a confrontation during which one police officer sustained stab wounds and police discharged CS spray and a single gunshot.

Police notified the Police Ombudsmans on-call team about the incident, and our investigators have been making enquiries at the scene throughout the night.

We would be keen to hear from anyone who knows anything about what happened, and would ask anybody who might be able to assist our enquiries to call our freephone witness appeal line on 0800 032 7880.
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
(Reuters) -Saudi and Iranian officials held direct talks this month in a bid to ease tensions between the two foes, a senior Iranian official and two regional sources said, as Washington works to revive a 2015 nuclear pact with Tehran and end the Yemen war.

The April 9 meeting in Iraq, first reported https://www.ft.com/content/852e94b8-ca97-4917-9cc4-e2faef4a69c8 by the Financial Times on Sunday, did not lead to any breakthrough, the Iranian official and one of the regional sources familiar with the matter said.

The regional source said the meeting focused on Yemen, where a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi group since March 2015.

"This was a low-level meeting to explore whether there might be a way to ease ongoing tensions in the region," the Iranian official said, adding that it was based on Iraq's request.

Iraq's prime minister held talks with Saudi Arabia's crown prince earlier this month and also visited the United Arab Emirates.

The second regional source said the talks also touched on Lebanon, which is facing a political vacuum amid a dire financial crisis. Gulf Arab states are alarmed by the expanding role of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The FT report said that a senior Saudi official denied there had been any talks with Iran.

Sunni Gulf power Saudi Arabia cut ties with Shi'ite Iran in January 2016 following the storming of its embassy in Tehran in a row over Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric.

A Western diplomat in the region said the United States and Britain were informed in advance of the Saudi-Iran talks but had "not seen the outcome".

Washington and Tehran are holding indirect talks in Vienna to revive the world powers' nuclear accord with Iran, which former U.S. President Donald Trump quit in 2018. Tehran has breached several nuclear restrictions after Trump reimposed sanctions.

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Riyadh last week called for a nuclear deal with stronger parameters and for involvement of Gulf states, which are concerned about Iran's missiles programme and its support for regional proxies.

The United States is also pressing for a ceasefire deal in Yemen which Riyadh and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government have welcomed. The Houthis have yet to accept and have kept up cross border missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities.

A Saudi foreign ministry official told Reuters last week that confidence-building measures could pave the way for expanded nuclear talks with Gulf Arab participation.

(Reporting by Dubai and Baghdad bureaus; additional reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Gerry Doyle, Raissa Kasolowsky, Alexandra Hudson)
A report by parliaments influential education committee says textbooks should be made mandatory in classrooms because teachers often have a random approach to finding learning materials and rely too heavily on browsing the internet.

It argued postmodernism should be cut from NSW syllabuses and was highly critical of the governments recent NSW Curriculum Review, which the committees chair, One Nation MP Mark Latham, described as a one-man tutorial in experimental theories.

Mark Latham is the chair of NSW Parliaments education committee Credit:Kate Geraghty

The committee held its own review of the NSW curriculum after the government-commissioned version - billed as the biggest in 30 years - was handed down by its author, Australian Council for Educational Research chief executive Professor Geoff Masters, in mid-2020.

The Herald has seen the committees report, due to be tabled in parliament this week, which has been endorsed by Mr Latham and government members. Labor was split, with one MP broadly supporting it and another opposing it alongside Greens MP David Shoebridge.
It was an ugly way to get there. But last weeks agreement by House leaders to include an equal number of Republicans as Democrats on the redistricting committee was a surprisingly positive resolution of what threatened to devolve into a hopeless mess.

After weeks of resisting calls to do so, House Republicans are now waiving the constitutional requirement that the full text of bills be read before a House vote. The time-sucking tactic had significantly slowed passage of bills, much to Democrats frustration.

More significantly, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, has added House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, to the committee that sets legislative and congressional districts  a belated but beneficial move considering that a plan developed by equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans has far more legitimacy than one presented by an imbalanced committee. While such power-sharing may seem a recipe for gridlock, the only time the Legislature successfully met its redistricting responsibilities in the past century was 2011, when both House and Senate committees had equal representation.

And in the case of redistricting, in which lawmakers are determining the geographical boundaries that shape Oregonians political representation for the next 10 years, the Legislature must assure voters of the integrity and fairness of the process.

That said, the jockeying for equal membership on such a critical committee shows that voters have reason to be wary. It also doesnt guarantee a successful outcome; if lawmakers fail to reach a plan, legislative redistricting responsibilities will go to Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat. Rather, this all provides another argument why politicians arent the best people to be handling this responsibility. Several states, including California and Washington, have already reassigned redistricting authority from politicians to independent citizen commissions with guidelines for including members of the public from across the political spectrum. Considering that nearly 1 million Oregonians are unaffiliated with any political party  numbering almost as many registered Democrats and more than the states Republicans  the state should take pains to reflect the interests of those who dont identify as an R or a D.

Unfortunately, just like Oregons refusal to broaden voter participation in primary elections, our state continues to lag its neighbors on adopting an independent commission, consistently choosing to empower established political parties over the voices of individuals.

This year could have been different. A coalition of good-government groups had sought to put an initiative before Oregonians last year, but fell short of signature-gathering requirements due to the pandemic. Although a federal judge initially cleared the way for the People not Politicians initiative to move forward despite the shortfall, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum appealed the decision and secured an injunction that kept the initiative off the November ballot.

Norman Turrill, chair of the People Not Politicians coalition and the former head of League of Women Voters of Portland, told The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board that the groups advocacy will continue. The coalition is waiting to see whether the Legislature takes up House Joint Resolution 7, sponsored by Drazan, which largely adopts the initiative that Turrills group sought to put before voters. Unfortunately, that bill has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.

Legislators should recognize the precariousness of the situation we are in with epic levels of mistrust in government and with false information circulating more easily than truth. They face challenging deadlines to complete a redistricting plan due to delayed census information, making it even more important to act with meticulous transparency and involve the public. Setting up and incorporating an independent commission as much as possible to help develop a redistricting plan can build trust.

But finally, lawmakers should understand that its only a matter of time before Oregonians adopt the same kind of innovations that their neighbors have already embraced. As leaders, they should show they are committed to Oregons future, rather than their own, and lead the way to change.

The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

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Vancouver Police are investigating the murder of a man last night in Vancouvers Coal Harbour neighourhood.

Police responded to multiple 911 calls for shots fired outside Carderos restaurant near Coal Harbour Quay and Cardero Street just after 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary evidence indicated the shooting was targeted and investigators do not believe there is a specific public safety risk at this time related to the incident.

Although this shooting was targeted, we are very concerned about the potential impact on the public of an incident like this," says Const. Tania Visintin, VPD.

"This happened in a busy spot on a nice evening and an innocent person could have gotten hurt."

No arrests have been made at this time.

This is Vancouvers fifth homicide of the year.
Dozens of doctors and opposition party supporters marched this Saturday in Caracas, demanding a fair and quick distribution of coronavirus vaccines in Venezuela.

With the slogan "Vaccines now" written on the face masks, protesters marched towards the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) building demanding help from the international agency.

Ana Rosario Contreras, President of the Caracas Nurses Association, expressed the need for a vaccination plan prepared by experts so that the vaccine "does not go to the black market to profit the management of unscrupulous people."

The demonstration was openly supported by several opposition political parties, such as COPEI (Independent Electoral Political Organization Committee) and Justice First (Primero Justicia), which arrived with their groups of supporters to the march with party flags and signs supporting the vaccine.

Among the marchers was the opposition leader Juan Guaido, who said they will seek more vaccines with the help of their allies to expand the vaccination program.

"You also know what the blockage is: the arrogance of a dictatorship that was overwhelmed by the emergency," said Guaido at the demonstration.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
California's Rock Church to reopen for first time since COVID-19: 'We want to honor God and our city'

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While churches across California sparred with local governments over restrictions on gathering for worship, Rock Church took another approach, focusing their efforts on ministries outside the building's four walls.

Rock Church has always been very dynamic in that we are multifaceted, Pastor Travis Gibson, who leads the churchs Point Loma campus, told The Christian Post.

We don't just do Sundays, but we also did blood drives, we repaired over 300,095 expired N95 masks and delivered them to responders, we have a prison ministry, and we already had people meeting in parks. We delivered clothing to families in need and had a military festival drive-thru style.

When one thing wasn't allowed to be done, we said, Lets see what else we can do and put our resources there, he added. And our community responded in incredible ways.

According to Gibson, community participation in the church's ministries increased, people began donating for the first time ever, and  most remarkably  engagement with online worship actually increased.

Before the pandemic, we were reaching around 20,000 people online that were streaming from across the world, he said. Over Easter, we had 3 million people. Just last weekend, we had 450,000.

These numbers make sense to me, the pastor said, because this time of life is hard, it's been difficult. There's been so much tension and uncertainty and everything seems to be politicized and people are looking for hope. People are searching for answers and want to hear what God has to say."

Gibson described Rock Church, led by Pastor Miles McPherson, as a skittles church, one that is multi-ethnic, multi-generational and diverse. When deciding when and how to reopen, he said church leaders thought through how to "best honor God, our congregation, and our city."

Not everybody thinks the same thing about COVID, not everybody thinks the same thing about masks, not everybody voted the same way. There are both Republican Christians and Democrat Christians, and they have differing viewpoints and we understand that. We saw it as an opportunity to consider all the different opinions, experiences, and expressions of diversity."

When it comes to government restrictions, nobody, Gibson stressed, "said we can't worship God."

So for us, it wasn't as much fighting for the method of doing church again. We were focused on, How can we ensure that we both worship our God and honor our congregation and city? Our mission has always been the same, but our method of how we did church changed.

This Sunday, at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., four Rock Church locations  Point Loma, City Heights, San Marcos and East County campuses  will resume indoor services at 100% capacity, opening its doors for the first time since the pandemic hit.

To ensure safety, the church took a minimum of six to eight weeks of planning and required their volunteers to go through five weeks of training to ensure a safe reopening, Gibson said.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP each week and arrive early; they will be required to wear a mask upon entering the facility, with the option to remove it once seated; and are asked to maintain an appropriate distance from those outside their household. Temperature checks will be available to everyone upon entrance.

Kids' church and nursery will also be available, though, unlike worship services, childrens ministries must operate under California's school protocols.

So that means kids have to be in cohorts of 14, or less, with no less than two adults, Gibson said. The rules are different, but were going to have childcare in both of our services to ensure parents can come.

Our commitment is to just be excellent with what we have and with what we can do, he added.

Rock Churchs decision to reopen most of its campuses comes after Californias Department of Public Health announced it will no longer require houses of worship to adhere to capacity limits. After multiple U.S. Supreme Court rulings have gone against the state, the department changed the language on capacity limits from mandatory to strongly recommended.

As churches around the country reopen their doors and loosen restrictions on worship, Gibson encouraged people to lean into the things of God and check-in at a time when rhythms have been disrupted.

We have a variety of opportunities for people to experience church at their level of comfortability, he said. We cant promise well be perfect, but what we do promise to do is get better each week, learn, and make sure that people have a chance to experience the hope that we find in Jesus. And when they leave, I believe they'll be changed when they have an encounter with God.
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Sofia Richie has found love with a new man by the name of Elliot Grainge.

The model daughter of Lionel Richie, 22, went public with the son of Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge last month and things continue to get serious.

On Sunday the pair were seen making their St. Barts debut as they enjoyed a beach-filled vacation where the model couldn't keep her hands off the music executive.

Look of love: Sofia Richie, 22, makes her St. Barts debut with new boyfriend Elliot Grainge as they pack on the PDA by the beach

Heating up: A source told Us Weekly that their relationship is 'getting serious'

Sofia showed off her toned bikini body on the beach in a colorful two piece.

She had the look of love in her eyes as she smiled and laughed with the UK native who reciprocated her affection as they wrapped their arms around each other in the ocean.

They escaped to the celeb-favorite Caribbean island for the weekend where they rented a luxury villa by the beach.

And they spent the day hopping between the tropical waters and the villa's pool before doing a little shopping and grabbing a bite to eat.

PDA: The pair were not shy about their affection as they wrapped their arms around each other

Affectionate: She had the look of love in her eyes as she smiled and laughed with the UK native who reciprocated her affection

Beaming: The model daughter of Lionel could not contain her happiness as she beamed from ear to ear

Lowkey: It has been said that Sofia likes that Elliot is a private person, despite producing albums for rappers like Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine

Quick dip: The couple got the best of both the ocean and the pool as they traded off between the two

Blissful: The pair took in the natural beauty of the island

Love is in the air: She had the look of love in her eyes as she smiled and laughed with the UK native who reciprocated her affection as they wrapped their arms around each other

Escapades: They spent the day hopping between the tropical waters and the villa's pool before doing a little shopping and grabbing a bite to eat

Her new man, 27, is more age appropriate than her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, who is 37, and her family is said to approve of the relationship this time around.

She and Disick called it quits over the summer, with Scott sharing on Keeping Up With The Kardashians that she had given him an ultimatum on account of his close relationship with Kourtney Kardashian.

Sofia and Elliot started out as friends before things turned romantic. 'Their relationship took off and they have been getting closer and closer and spend practically every day together,' a source told Us Weekly.

Buns out: The influencer flashed her peachy backside in the high rise bathing suit

Approval: Her new man, 27, is more age appropriate than her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, who is 37, and her family is said to approve of the relationship this time around

Bikini body: Sofia showed off her toned bikini body on the beach in a colorful two piece

Splashing around: The two basked in the clear blue waters before returning to their lounge chairs

Quick dip: The two soaked up the sun while doting on each other in the ocean

Handsy: She could not contain her affection for her new suitor

Low profile: The successful music protege does not have any posts on Instagram despite Sofia debuting him in late March

Wet tresses: The model was seen slicking back her salty tresses with her hands after a dip

The insider also added that they are 'very happy together,' and things are 'now getting serious.'

Her dad Lionel had reportedly been 'wary' of her relationship with Disick but is said to 'approve,' of the UK native.

And before dating Elliot she had been linked to a string of eligible bachelors including Cha Cha Matcha founder Matthew Morton and Israeli shipping heir Gil Ofer.

It has also been noted that Sofia likes the fact that he's relatively out of the spotlight  despite producing albums for rappers Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine.

Sunkissed: The pair showed off their island tans while frolicking on the beach

Sticking around: Sofia first debuted Elliott in late March on Instagram before they escaped to the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort in Santa Barbara

'She loves that he's low-key and isn't someone who craves the spotlight. They like to be homebodies but also enjoy going out together.'

Sofia first debuted Elliott in late March on Instagram before they escaped to the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort in Santa Barbara.

And she continued to show that she was serious about him when she shared a loved up kissing photo of them on April 7.

The influencer continued to showcase parts of their vacation on social media as they drove around the island in a blue mini cooper, captioning the image 'Dreamy,' with heart eyes.
For Christmas 2019, I bought my husband membership to our local Picturehouse. I think we went once, to see the Oscar-winning Parasite, before the world wobbled on its axis and we called a halt to going to the cinema.

In the meantime, like everyone, we have watched, and rewatched, a lot of movies. We have followed lists (mine often improving, and met with eye-rolling; my husbands more Marvel-heavy, and embraced).

The postponed Academy Awards are due to go ahead in Los Angeles at the weekend  and thanks to home streaming, we have probably seen as many of the films nominated as we normally would have done in advance of the ceremony.

Patricia Nicol picked out a selection of captivating books about filmmakers including Mr Wilder & Me by Jonathan Coe (pictured left) and Trio by William Boyd (pictured right)

Nevertheless, by the time the 2022 Oscars roll around, I really hope I will have seen a few in the velvet-cocooned, reverent hush of a darkened cinema. Hollywood loves a self-referential story about the movies  this years most-nominated film is David Finchers Mank, about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewiczs writing of Citizen Kane.

I love a story about movie-making too. My current read is Mr Wilder & Me by Jonathan Coe, which looks back to the late-1970s and a young Greek womans life-changing introduction to Billy Wilder, a great director who knows he is losing his audience.

William Boyd writes captivatingly about film. The central characters of his latest, Trio  a writer, producer and actress  are brought together on a Brighton movie set in 1968.

Im a fan of the golden-age Hollywood memoirs of David Niven and Esther Williams, but my favourite is a spoof: Me Cheeta by James Lever is hilarious, but moving, too.

Back to this years Oscars, a nominated film I am keen to see is Another Round, directed by Dane Thomas Vinterberg, co-founder of the Dogme 95 film-making movement. In Maggie OFarrells novel This Must Be The Place, movie star Claudette Wells flees her Scandinavian film-maker husband, a Dogme director, to live as a recluse.

Until cinemas safely reopen, immerse yourself in one of these. Popcorn optional.
SOHR observed an explosion on the Aleppo-Deir ez-Zor road, coinciding with the passage of a military vehicle, which injured the head of the military security detachment in the town of Al-Shamitya in the western countryside of Deir-ez-Zor in areas of the Damascus Government, as well as material damage to the site, according to SOHR.

On 13 April, the Observatory observed an explosion in the village of Al-Hazana in Masyaf countryside, in the areas of the Government of Damascus, West Hama, which left at least 6 children injured. No information has been obtained to date on the nature of the explosion if it was a projectile that had not exploded earlier or some other remnants of war.

T/S

ANHA
(Newser)  William and Harry did not walk side by side at their grandfather's funeral on Saturday, but the Sunday Times reports they could be on their way to a royal reconciliation thanks to "family peacemaker" Kate Middleton. Per the Times, the duchess was first to engage Harry in conversation as the royals left Prince Philips funeral at Windsor Castle. William then joined and Kate slipped behind to give some space for the brothers to chat. The death of 99-year-old Philip came just weeks after Harry's bombshell Oprah interview along with wife Meghan Markle, who is pregnant and had to remain in California.

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The brothers' relationship has been strained since. As People notes, this was the first time the once thick-as-thieves brothers have been together in the over one year since Harry gave up his royal duties to move to Canada and then California with Markle and their son Archie. The Times reports Harry will remain in Britain for several days following his grandfather's funeral in order to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 95th birthday on Wednesday with his family. (Read more Prince William stories.)
DAKOTA CITY, Iowa A man accused of kidnapping and assault in Humboldt County has taken a plea deal.

Levi Alan Goodell, 25 of Fort Dodge, has been convicted of first-degree harassment and assault causing bodily injury. Goodell was originally charged with second-degree kidnapping and assault for an incident in March 2019.

Authorities say Goodell entered a womans home in Humboldt, then choked her and dragged her out by the hair to his car. Court documents state Goodell drove the woman around, pointed a sawed off shotgun at her, and said one of them had to die. Investigators say Goodell at one point pointed the shotgun out the car window and pulled the trigger but it did not go off, with Goodell telling his victim there were no shells in it and he just wanted to scare her.

Goodell pleaded not guilty at first and claimed he had an alibi but then pleaded guilty to lesser offenses. Hes been sentenced to one year of probation.
Annual Convocation of IDM NATIONS CAMPUS, nurturing hope amid the pandemic View(s):

IDM Nations Campus celebrated its annual convocation ceremony on a grand scale on the 03rd of April 2021 at the BMICH, Colombo, where over 700 higher diploma and degree holders graduated in the disciplines of IT, Business Management, Law and Psychology. A large batch of graduates received their awards in two sessions due to the Covid-19 restrictions. The Principal, Sri Lanka Law College Mrs. Padmini Indira Senaratne Samarasinghe, Presidents Counsel was the chief guest. Also present were Vidya Jothi Professor Dayantha Wijeyesekera, President of IDM Nations Campus, Dr. Vinayagamoorthy Janagan, Chairman of IDM and special guest Dr. Lishanthi Wijewardene, senior lecturer, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

IDM, with over 40 years of excellence in the education industry, received the ISO 9001:2015 certification as the first Institute in Sri Lanka responsible for the delivery, examination and certification process of their programmes. Upon their commitment on maintaining and delivering quality oriented local and international programmes, they also received the recognised institute status from the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), the apex body of Sri Lankas tertiary, vocational education and training sector.

The graduates obtained their academic qualifications from Buckinghamshire New University, a leading UK government funded institution that has earned a Silver Award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which recognises excellence in learning and teaching in higher education. Buckinghamshire New University has also scored highly for the way it shares knowledge with wider society in the first Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results in the UK.
The United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on April 18, 2021. (U.S. Embassy Seoul via Getty Images)

US, China Agree to Cooperate on Climate

The United States and China, the worlds two biggest carbon emitters, have agreed to cooperate on climate change with seriousness and urgency, according to a joint statement issued on April 17.

This [the cooperation] includes both enhancing their respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, said the statement, released by the U.S. State Department. The two countries agreed to continue to discuss concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions.

Climate change is among President Joe Bidens highest priorities. He had the United States rejoin the Paris climate accord in the first hours of his presidency, undoing the U.S. withdrawal ordered by President Donald Trump.

He will host a two-day virtual summit April 2223 to discuss the issue, and has invited about 40 world leaders, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, to participate.

To prepare for the summit, Biden sent U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry to Asia, with the joint statement coming after a two days of meetings between Kerry and his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, in Shanghai on April 15 and 16.

However, its unclear what actions China will take.

China

China, the worlds biggest carbon polluter, announced in September 2020 that it would be carbon-neutral by 2060 and aims to reach a peak in its emissions by 2030, meaning it can continue to increase emissions for the next nine years.

On April 16, Xi reiterated this goal, which means China likely wont follow environmentalists request for accelerating its emissions cutting plan, when he talked to French President Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel at a virtual summit.

Le Yucheng, Chinas vice minister of foreign affairs, told the Associated Press that with regard to accelerating Chinas carbon reduction targets, Im afraid this is not very realistic.

Le claimed that China is still a primary school student while the developed countries are middle school students [on climate change]. Now if you ask primary school and middle school students to graduate at the same time, it is against the natural course of growth, so its unrealistic.

In the interview, Le made no reference to China being the worlds second largest economy and the Chinese communist regime continued to boast a fast-growing economy, including a 2.3 percent growth rate in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the majority of other countries suffered losses.

Chinese and American flags are displayed in a company in Beijing, China, on Aug. 16, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)

Joint-Statement

The U.S. side is aware of Chinas reluctance on cutting carbon emission.

The key is not the piece of paper. The key are the actions that people take in the next months, Kerry said at his press briefing on April 18 in Seoul, South Korea.

Kerry commented that the joint-statement was written in strong language, but Ive learned in diplomacy that you dont put your bet on the words, you put your bet on the actions, and we all need to see what happens.

Su Wei, a member of the Chinese negotiation team and deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commissionthe macroeconomic management agency within Chinese central governmentpraised the joint statement restarting the dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States on climate change issues, while talking to state-owned CCTV on April 18.

Su said: Both countries should act independently, based on its responsibilities and national conditions.

According to the joint-statement, the United States and China had reached consensus on recognizing the global climate control target to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees C (3.6F) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C (2.7F).

By announcing the joint-statement, both the United States and China pledged to work hard to reach their national targets as well as take appropriate actions to maximize international investment and finance in support of the transition from carbon-intensive fossil fuel based energy to green, low-carbon, and renewable energy in developing countries.

The next U.N. climate summit is scheduled in Glasgow, U.K., on Nov. 1-12, where the United States and China are expected to discuss their practical plans and targets on climate change.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
Eli Lilly Saudi Arabia, a leading pharmaceutical company, has announced the appointment of Dr Mustafa Al Jawadi and Dr Ahmed J. Al Buraidi to its Board of Directors in Saudi Arabia as of March 2021.

Dr Al Buraidi is a seasoned professional executive with over 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry managing all aspects of corporate and government affairs in Saudi Arabia. Holding a Bachelor of Pharmacy from King Saudi University, Al Buraidi joined Lilly in 1997 as Regulatory Associate, before being promoted through the ranks to Director  Scientific Office and Governmental Affairs.

Joining Lilly in 2018, Dr Al Jawadi is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry with almost two decades of professional experience working across numerous roles from Head of Pharmacy at KFSH to Director of Government Affairs, Regulatory, and Communication. Al Jawadi holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy Science from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Campbell University, North Carolina, US.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Al Buraidi said: I am honoured to join the Board of Directors at Lilly in Saudi Arabia, especially at a time when a whole new healthcare model is emerging in the country. I joined Lilly as the first Saudi national in 1997 and have worked alongside remarkable people throughout my journey at this innovative company. Careers in Lilly are built on loyalty and longevity; I believe todays announcement is a testament to that noble truth. It is an honour to witness Lillys culture evolving, composing a workforce of valued, respected, and supported employees with varying characteristics including, but not limited to, nationality, religion, gender, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geographic locations. Today, Lilly is a place filled with highly talented Saudi men and women  leading in this pivotal moment in our healthcare journey.

Dr Al Jawadi commented: I am thrilled to join Lillys Board of Directors in Saudi, and I am proud of the ongoing progress being made in the kingdom. Looking ahead, under the Saudi Vision 2030, Lilly is adopting and leveraging innovative new technologies in supporting a high-quality healthcare system in the kingdom. As a team, we are dedicated to our mission to continue developing our programmes in the country. I am proud to say Lilly is committed to a future in Saudi, with Saudi, for Saudi, where we see vast potential, opportunities and benefits for the kingdom, leading to better outcomes for patients.

Lilly is a global healthcare leader who unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. Founded more than a century ago, Lilly remains true to that mission, developing high-quality medicines that meet real-world needs and improve lives globally, including in the kingdom.

In 2019, Lilly Saudi Arabia became one of the first international pharmaceutical companies to establish a legal entity in the country. Lilly has always pushed the boundaries of science to make PP-LILLY-SA-0085 conditions that are incurable today treatable tomorrow. Its portfolio of life-changing medicines within the kingdom spans across Diabetes, Immunology, Pain, Mens Health, Oncology, and Osteoporosis.

Lilly Saudi Arabias leadership team consists of 41% females, a progress in line with the companys commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment. In Saudi Arabia, Lillys workforce consists of 75% millennials, and is made up predominately by Saudi nationals while rapidly reaching gender parity. Globally, Lilly was named third in Diversity Incs 2020 list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity. -- Tradearabia News Service
The Lancet report that states that unlike what was believed earlier, coronavirus might actually be airborne, is the talk of the town. The report, authored by six experts from the US, the UK and Canada, said, "SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted primarily by the airborne route". The authors also gave 10 reasons backing their claim. They also called for immediate modification of established COVID-19 protocols. But this might not mean quite what you think it means.

Many have taken it to believe that the outside air could be contaminated with coronavirus and stepping out might mean that one contracts the virus. However, that's not the case. Faheem Younus, Chief of Infectious Diseases at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, explained what it actually means. "Lancet study: Airborne does NOT mean outside air is contaminated. It means the virus may remain suspended in the air - typically in indoor settings - and pose a risk. Our parks and beaches are still the safest places to enjoy without a mask (provided 6 ft distance)," he tweeted.

Lancet study:

Airborne does NOT mean outside air is contaminated. It means the virus may remain suspended in the air  typically in indoor settings and pose a risk



Our parks and beaches are still the safest places to enjoy without a mask (provided 6 ft distance)  Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) April 17, 2021

Younus also explained the easiest way to keep oneself safe from the virus - face masks. He elaborated that it is known that COVID spreads through droplets to being airborne. "LANCET STUDY: No worries. We know COVID spreads (droplet to airborne) in a spectrum," adding that the best solution is N95 or KN95 masks, and not cloth masks.

He also suggested that the masks must be used alternatively every 24 hours. "Solution: Buy two N95 or KN95 masks. Use one today; leave the other in a PAPER bag for tomorrow. Keep alternating every 24 hours. Reuse for weeks if they aren't damaged. Ditch cloth masks," said Younus.

LANCET STUDY: No worries. We know COVID spreads (droplet to airborne) in a spectrum



Solution: Buy two N95 or KN95 masks. Use one today; leave the other in a PAPER bag for tomorrow. Keep alternating every 24 hours. Reuse for weeks if they arent damaged



Ditch cloth masks  Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) April 17, 2021

The Lancet report says that detailed analysis of human behaviour and interactions, as well as room sizes and other variables are consistent with airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2. "Long-range transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between people in adjacent rooms but never in each other's presence has been documented in quarantine hotels," the paper said.

Also read: COVID-19 is primarily airborne, safety protocols should change urgently: Lancet report

Also read: 'Impose 15-day lockdown in Delhi': CAIT to CM Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal
On the afternoon of April 16, Hue University held an opening ceremony of a photo exhibition on the theme "Uncle Ho with fine arts - Fine arts with Uncle Ho", and a book exhibition in response to the 8th Vietnam Book Day.

Staff and students read the publications at the book exhibition

The photo exhibition displays 30 photos on the theme "Uncle Ho with fine arts - Fine arts with Uncle Ho". These photos have been collected by the University of Arts, Hue University from various sources, including books and magazines.

Along with the photo exhibition, the book exhibition has attracted 11 exhibitors from libraries of Hue Universitys member universities, institutes, and affiliated units to participate, with more than 400 books.

The books selected for display are recently published as a result of research conducted by Hue Universitys staff and students. They are relevant to teaching, learning and research purposes.

*On the same day, a talk show on the theme Books and reading culture for students of Hue University was held in response to the 8th Vietnam Book Day at the Institute for Open Training and Information Technology, Hue University.

A speaker discusses the issues related to reading books with students

The guest speakers have shared many interesting topics, such as "Reading books and career guidance", "The Stories of books", and "Books and reading culture".

Representatives of the organization committee and the speakers affirmed that books as a spiritual product play an important role in promoting the on-going development of the society. The roles of the books are especially important for they help us deepen our intellect and understanding, and above all, they feed our mind and soul and develop the empathy for each other.

It is essential to promote the roles of books, as well as the ways to read and make choices of books, making the reading culture a significant activity and an indispensable demand of students. In order to be effective in reading books, book readers need to know how to choose the books suitable for their personality, talents, and purposes. At the same time, it is also important for them to choose the appropriate reading methods.

By Huu Phuc
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for his alleged involvement in the disruption of the partys recent North-west zonal congress in Kaduna State.

The state executive committee of the PDP said it took the decision to suspend Mr Kwankwaso for three months at its meeting held on April 15.

This newspaper reported how the zonal congress penultimate Saturday was disrupted by violent party members.

The event ended abruptly after the supporters of the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, clashed with those of Mr Kwankwaso.

The rival supporters destroyed the ballot boxes before voting in the election of party officials could start, forcing observers and other officials to flee the scene.

The main subject of the dispute was the position of zonal National Vice Chair, where the factions in Kano of Mr Kwankwaso and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, presented different candidates.

Suspension

The PDP in the suspension letter signed by the partys secretary in the state, H.A Tsanyawa, who is in Mr Walis faction, accused Mr Kwankwaso of thuggery, disrespect to PDP governors and stakeholders, and disrupting a democratic process.

Mr Tsanyawa said the party received numerous complaints from members of the party over the incident of North-west convention where you (Kwankwaso) allegedly led your supporters into a shameful and embarrassing act of thuggery by disrupting democratic process during PDP north west convention of 10th April, 2021.

The executive council meeting held on 15th April, 2021 have unanimously resolved to suspend you and your supporters from the party activities for three months in accordance with the provision of section 58 (1) of the PDP constitution, the party wrote suspending Mr Kwankwaso.

Shehu Sagagi, the state chairperson of the party who is loyal to Mr Kwankwasos faction, did not respond to calls seeking his position on the suspension letter.
As sheriff of Cayuga County, I try to stay up to date with local news and information, especially that which can have an impact on public safety and the ability of our office to fulfill our mission. The Auburn Citizen newspaper is one of my daily sources as it is the primary print media outlet in our community. I have always appreciated The Citizens willingness to share press releases and public safety information from our agency with their readers. Not long ago many fellow sheriffs and I were called out by The Citizen for not sending the appropriate public messaging as it related to the enforcement of COVID-19 regulations. I respected and learned from that experience. Improper messaging can have a negative impact.
Three people were killed in a Saturday crash in Sturbridge when a wrong-way driver crashed into another vehicle, Massachusetts State Police said.

Troopers received a report of a vehicle driving west in the eastbound lane on Interstate 84 in Sturbridge near Exit 6B around 6:05 p.m. Saturday.

Our patrols began converging toward the area to attempt to locate and stop the driver, state police said.

A few minutes later, the wrong-way driver hit another vehicle on the eastbound side of the highway.

The crash resulted in a total of three fatalities from both vehicles, authorities said.

The vehicles involved in the crash were a 2011 Volvo XC60 with a New Hampshire registration and a 2009 Nissan Murano with a Connecticut registration. Authorities were still gathering information about which vehicle was going the wrong way as well as information about the victims.

The investigation is ongoing.
The White House said late Friday that President Joe Biden will increase the cap on refugee admissions for the rest of this fiscal year by May 15, following backlash from progressives and Christian groups after it was first announced that his administration would keep the resettlement cap at 15,000.

Christian groups strongly condemned the Biden administration Friday after it was announced that he would maintain the refugee resettlement cap at 15,000 people, matching former President Donald Trumps historically low admissions goal and going back on his promise to raise the number to 125,000.

The White House announced midday Friday that Biden had signed a revised Presidential Determination for Refugee Resettlement, eliminating restrictions the Trump administration had put in place concerning the qualification for refugees, while keeping the number of admissions at 15,000 for the year ending Sept. 30, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Before the reversal was announced, Christian refugee resettlement group World Relief said in a statement, "While Bidens revised PD does make important and long-awaited changes to regional admissions categories, the decision to keep the refugee cap at an all-time low represents a stunning betrayal of the presidents previous commitment.

Source:The Christian Post
American actor-directors Clint Eastwood (L) and Don Siegel talking on the set of "Dirty Harry". The two worked together on three films, including "Coogan's Bluff," "Dirty Harry," and "Play Misty for Me." (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Clint Eastwood, We Need You

Commentary

Our streets are now so unsafe that it might be helpful to rewatch Clint Eastwoods Dirty Harry films. They can remind us of an earlier period in the 1960s and 1970s when crime was widespread, liberal judges were putting criminals back on the streets, and the entire system was anti-cop and pro-criminal.

In the middle of a wave of violence that left everyday Americans feeling both threatened and vulnerable, along came a series of movies that captured the desire for law and order.

The first and most famous of these was the 1971 Dirty Harry starring Eastwood as Inspector Harry Callahan of San Francisco. The film was so powerful and so well received that it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.

At the end of the film, the American people watched the violent but effective Inspector Callahan throw away his badge in disgust at the pro-criminal, anti-law culture of San Francisco. (Now, the city is even more radically left-wingthere were no human feces maps in Dirty Harrys time.)

The American movie audience responded enthusiastically, and Dirty Harry grossed more than nine times its budget in the initial U.S. release alone (with a lot more from foreign sales and later rereleases).

There were four sequels to Dirty Harry, and they werent the popular cultures only response to crime and an anti-police legal system. The most famous vigilante movie of the time was Death Wish, released three years later (1974), starring Charles Bronson. Like Dirty Harry, it was incredibly profitable (the domestic gross was more than five times its initial budget). It also led to four sequels.

The popular response to these cinematic attacks against criminals, which depicted utter contempt for the liberal, anti-cop, pro-criminal system, was reflective of the American peoples genuine fears about a society that was spinning out of control. Ultimately, the violence and collapse of order would lead to the 1993 election of Rudy Giuliani as mayor of New York City. He ushered in bold, no-nonsense, practical steps which made New York amazingly safe and orderly.

Now, we are back in a pre-Dirty Harry world of nightly violence in Portland, Oregon, the expectation that people will riot and loot after various events, and a level of daylight crime and violence that is frightening and ultimately unsustainable within a civilized country.

We are in the middle of an enormous crime wave. The breadth of the violence and the decay of safety and civilization is unprecedented. There is a war on police underway with 264 police killed in 2020, a jump of 96 percent over the previous year. In New York City, hostile forces use Molotov cocktails to set police cars on fire. Murder rates are skyrocketing around the country; 2020 saw the biggest one-year jump in homicides in U.S. history36.7 percent.

Specifically, 2020 saw an unprecedented one-year spike in murders in all major U.S. cities:

Seattle saw a 74.1 percent increase between 2019 and 2020.

New Orleans saw a 61.7 percent increase.

Atlanta saw a 57.9 percent increase.

Chicago saw a 55.5 percent increase.

Boston saw a 54.1 percent increase.

Portland saw a 51.5 percent increase.

Facing this astonishing rise in murdersand even bigger rises in shootings, carjackings, and other criminal behaviorthe anti-police, pro-criminal left is proving it has learned nothing.

Faced with aggressive criminal behavior and violence against innocent peopleincluding young children being killedDemocratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib recently called for no more policing, incarceration and militarization. Ironically, Tlaib represents Detroit.

According to the City of Detroits 2020 Crime Report, there were 327 homicides in 2020, up from 275 the previous yeara 19 percent increase. There were 1,173 non-fatal shootings in 2020. This is up from 767 the previous year, which is a 53 percent increase.

As the American people grow frustrated by being told they should favor the violent and oppose the forces of law and order, the opportunity for a new generation of Eastwoods and Bronsons will grow in popular culture.

As it becomes clearer and clearer that the left cannot solve the crime problem because its creating the crime problem, a new generation of Giulianis will emerge and start dominating in the 2022 elections.

Given a choice between the Tlaib Democrats, who would disband the police and close the prisons, and Republicans prepared to protect the innocent and oppose the criminal, the choice for most Americans will be obvious.

From Gingrich360.com.

Newt Gingrich, a Republican, served as House speaker from 1995 to 1999 and ran as a presidential candidate in 2012.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
He had been a constant by her side for almost 74 years, but as the Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest on Saturday, the Queen was a solitary figure, forced to sit alone at St Georges Chapel in Windsor because of Covid distancing rules.

The event, meticulously planned by Prince Philip and adapted to work around restrictions brought about by the pandemic, saw the him praised for his resolute faith and loyalty during his time as the nations longest-serving royal consort.

Carried towards St Georges Chapel on a Land Rover Defender he had helped to design for the event, the funeral involved more than 730 members of the armed forces in a spectacle that drew scores of onlookers onto the streets of Windsor.

However, due to social distancing rules only 30 mourners - primarily the dukes children, grandchildren, and the Queen - were able to attend the ceremony in St Georges chapel beside Windsor Castle.

As the Band of the Grenadier Guards played Beethovens Funeral March No 1 to the beating of a military drum, the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex walked behind their fathers coffin - followed by the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex.

The queen rode behind the procession in a car, following the funeral march of a man who had been described as her shadow up until his passing.

While the focus of the day remained on the passing of the duke, the shadow of schisms in the royal family remained - his funeral procession marking a rare public appearance from Prince Andrew following his defence of his friendship with disgraced billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and the first time Prince William and Harry had been seen together since the latter stepped back from royal life.

Draped across the casket was the dukes standard - bearing symbols of his lineage and relationship to Denmark, Greece and the Mountbatten family, as well as the arms of the City of Edinburgh. A white floral arrangement, made up of roses and lilies chosen by the queen, sat on top alongside a handwritten note from the monarch.

As the Dukes body was lifted up the steps of the chapel a minutes silence was announced by the firing of a cannon, observed by both those in attendance and others around the country.

The Queen, who once described her partner as her strength and stay, sat alone throughout the ceremony, with a black mask covering her face throughout the service as the dean of Windsor spoke of her husbands kindness, humour and humanity over the course of his life.

With grateful hearts, we remember the many ways in which his long life has been a blessing to us, the dean said.

Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Show all 55 1 /55 Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Reenactors of the Malta Heritage Trust fire a nine-gun salute to honour Britain's Prince Philip before his funeral, at the Upper Barrakka Saluting Battery overlooking Grand Harbour, in Valletta, Malta Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Reenactor members of the Malta Command WW2 Living History Group and Ex Royal Navy WREN officer Elaine Zerafa, Secretary of the Royal Naval Association (Malta Branch) hold a picture of Prince Philip to honour him before his funeral, outside Villa Guardamangia, a former residence of Britain's then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip between 1949 and 1951, in Pieta, Malta Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world A woman lays flowers to honour Prince Philip before his funeral, outside Villa Guardamangia, a former residence of Britain's then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip between 1949 and 1951, in Pieta, Malta Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Artist Kaya Marr holds a portrait of Britain's Prince Philip outside Windsor Castle in Windsor EPA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip's insignias are placed on the altar in St George's Chapel, Windsor AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world King's Troup Royal Horse Artillery rides towards Windsor Castle in Windsor AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world A person salutes the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery as they make their way down the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Flowers are laid on the grass outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire @RoyalFamily Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Swansea City and Wycombe Wanderers players stand for a minute's silence in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Pupils and staff from Gordonstoun school cast a wreath into the Moray Firth from the Ocean Spirit in a tribute to former pupil Prince Phillip The Duke of Edinburgh Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Nine cannon rounds are fired in honour of Prince Phillip in Valletta, Malta AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Images of Britain's Prince Philip are displayed on a giant screen at Piccadilly Circus, London AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive at Windsor Castle in preparation for the Gun Salute on the palace grounds on the day of the funeral of Prince Philip Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Airmen of the Royal Air Force marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip Getty Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Foot Guards Band are seen marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Bar staff serve pints of beer at the Duke of Edinburgh pub Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Foot Guards Band are seen marching into position ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Members of the military arrive for the funeral Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The hearse, a specially modified Land Rover, drives on the grounds of Windsor Castle Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) and members of the Royal family stand outside St George's Chapel for the funeral service of Britain's Prince Philip AFP via Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Well-wishers sit outside Windsor Castle following the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, in Windsor EPA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during the funeral of Prince Philip Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world People watch the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Members of the Royal family follow the coffin of Britain's Prince Philip in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walks behind The Duke of Edinburghs coffin WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The coffin arrives at St George's Chapel for the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip inside Windsor Castle AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Prince of Wales PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Britain's Queen Elizabeth II follows the coffin in a car as it makes it's way past the Round Tower AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon observes a minute's silence outside Bute House in Edinburgh POOL/AFP via Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Queen Elizabeth II arrives ahead of the funeral PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of Edinburghas coffin, covered with His Royal Highnessas Personal Standard arrives at St Georgeas Chapel Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Britains Prince Harry, from right, Prince William, Peter Phillips and Tim Laurence follow the coffin in a ceremonial procession AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Queen Elizabeth II watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral at St George's Chapel PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Harry walking in the procession at Windsor Castle PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for the funeral WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walks behind The Duke of Edinburghs coffin WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Members of the public observe a minutes silence on the Long Walk in Windsor AFP via Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world People observe a minute's silence for Britain's Prince Philip at Piccadilly Circus in London AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world In this handout photo provided by the Ministry of Defence, the gun salute at Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Saturday, April 17, 2021, a single round was fired at 1500, followed by a single round at 1501 to begin and end the National Minute Silence immediately before the funeral service AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world World War II veteran Malcolm Clerc, 94, watches the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, on the television at his home in Knutsford, Cheshire PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world London Black Cab taxi drivers observe a minute's silence Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex and Prince Harry walk behind the Land Rover Defender carrying the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin ahead of his funeral AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world A handout photo made available by the British Ministry of defense shows a single round of a gun salute that was fired at 1500, followed by a single round at 1501 to begin and end the National Minute Silence immediately before the funeral service EPA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during the funeral WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat for the funeral Reuters Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Princess Eugenie of York and her husband Jack Brooksbank AFP via Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Andrew, Duke of York during the funeral WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of Cambridge (left) and the Duke of Sussex (centre) follow the coffin of their grandfather PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Pall Bearers carrying the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh AP Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Outward Bounds Trust members, from left, Charlotte Murray holds the Outward Bound Trust flag, James Corfe holds the flag of St George and Ellie Farthing holds the Royal Soverign Flag on the summit of Scafell Pike in Cumbria Getty Images for The Outward Bound Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex , The Duke of Cambridge Peter Phillips and The Duke of Sussex follow the Land Rover Defender carrying the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The bearer Party found by The Queens Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carry the coffin of HRH Prince Philip PA Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world Prince Philip funeral: Duke of Edinburgh remembered around the world The Duke of Sussex walks up the West Steps outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA

We have been inspired by his unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the nation and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith.

Our lives have been enriched through the challenges that he has set us, the encouragement that he has given us, his kindness, humour and humanity.

In a prayer the Archbishop of Canterbury gave thanks for the dukes resolute faith and loyalty as well for his high sense of duty and integrity, for his life of service to the nation and Commonwealth, and for the courage and inspiration of his leadership.

Prince Philip was lowered into the vault of the chapel along with his admiral of the fleet naval cap and sword as his titles were read aloud, with the Queen on one side of his coffin and her heir on the other.

From the nave of the church the last post was played by buglers from the Royal Marines, a force the duke served as Captain General for six decades, followed by a call of action stations, a naval call to battle, at Prince Philips request.

While the royals have grieved privately following the passing of the 99-year-old patriarch, members of the family made their own remarks in the run-up to his funeral service.

Prince Harry described his grandfather as master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right till the end while the Prince William said he would uphold the dukes wishes to support the Queen and get on with the job.

Prince Charles praised his dear Papa for the most remarkable, devoted service to the queen, to my family and to the country.
(Reuters) - The young gunman who killed eight workers at an Indianapolis FedEx facility before taking his own life legally bought the two semiautomatic rifles he used during last week's massacre months after he had been in psychiatric detention, police said.

A trace by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives turned up the two legal purchases last July and September by Brandon Hole, 19, a former employee at the facility, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said on Saturday.

An IMDB spokesman on Sunday said the department was not disclosing where the guns were bought.

The purchases were made a few months after Hole was briefly placed under psychiatric detention in March and a shotgun was seized from his home when his mother contacted law enforcement to report he might try to commit "suicide by cop," according to the FBI.

Based on items seen in his bedroom at that time, Hole was interviewed in April, but the FBI agents found no criminal violation and determined that he had no "racially motivated violent extremism ideology," Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBI's Indianapolis field office, said on Friday.

The attack on Thursday in Indiana's state capital, the third most populous city in the Midwest, was the latest in a spate of deadly mass shootings in the United States over the past month.

Police are still investigating what motivated Hole to open fire. Four members of the Sikh religious community - three women and a man - were among the eight people killed.

The New York-based Sikh Coalition, a civil rights advocacy group, has called for a full investigation into "the possibility of bias as factor" in the FedEx killings.

(Reporting by Peter Szekely in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Actor Matthew McConaughey has made clear hes interested in running for elected office. And, at least according to a poll released Sunday, it seems like he has a shot at the top office of his home state. In the new poll by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler, 45 percent of registered voters in the state said they were likely to back the actor if he were to run for governor. That is 12 points more than the 33 percent of voters who said they would back Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican. Twenty-two percent said they would cast their ballot for someone else.

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McConaughey has yet to say which political party hed run with and hasnt expressed allegiance to either Democrats nor Republicans. Looking at the numbers though it seems the Oscar-winning actor would likely have a better shot of winning if he were to run as a Democrat. While 56 percent of Republicans said theyd vote for Abbott and only 30 percent for McConaughey, among Democrats the pro-McConaughey camp is 66 percent, compared to 8 percent for Abbott. Independents also favor McConaughey over Abbott44 percent to 28 percent.

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More than anything, McConaughey has taken pains to characterize himself as a centrist, which could prove to be a problem in a primary. While slightly more than half of Democratic primary voters said they want a progressive candidate for governor, only one-quarter expressed preference for a centrist. Among Republican primary voters, only 20 percent said they would want a more centrist candidate.

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The poll comes a few weeks after McConaughey, who was born in Uvalde, Texas, said he was seriously considering a run for political office. Its a true consideration, he said in an interview last month when he was asked about the issue. Im looking into now, what is my leadership role? he added. Because I do think I have some things to teach and share. What is my role, what is my category in my next chapter of life that Im going into now? Earlier this month, a separate poll found that 46 percent of Americans would like to see Dwayne The Rock Johnson run for president. Not sure our Founding Fathers ever envisioned a six-four, bald, tattooed, half-Black, half-Samoan, tequila drinking, pick up truck driving, fanny pack wearing guy joining their clubbut if it ever happens itd be my honor to serve the people, Johnson tweeted in response to the poll.
(Newser)  A raid in the Philippines saw the seizure of $25 million worth of an endangered species of giant clam. Per BBC, authorities in the ecologically protected Palawan province seized the massive haul of Tridacna gigas, the world's largest clam species, in what is being called one of the largest such raids to date. The clam shells, which can measure over three feet across and weigh in excess of 500 pounds, are used as a substitute for ivory in jewelry. While alive, the clams serve the far nobler purpose of filtering out pollutants in marine ecosystems, which they also help support by providing a home to billions of colorful algae, per NPR.

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The Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement that four suspects have been arrested in connection with the 200-ton haul. Jovic Fabello, spokesman with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, did not mince words about the severity of the crime. "Taking the giant clams from their natural habitat is a form of inter-generational crime," he told AFP. "It will permanently affect the marine ecosystem and future generations will be deprived of the benefits accruing from it." (Read more endangered species stories.)
He was born in the backyard and moved into my heart one furtive step at a time. Trust is transactional. I earned his on layaway.

Over the next nine years, Paulie Walnuts became my constant companion, writing partner, counselor and confidant  a gifted listener I could lean on when facing an empty screen on deadline. Paulie was always there for me when words played hard to get.

We collaborated on a lot of columns, including this one, which I began writing with Paulie curled around my neck on the back of the recliner on the day we said goodbye.

The cancer was there, too, leering over my shoulder as it stole my best friends sweet face.

During a pandemic that has claimed the lives of 3 million people worldwide, more than 560,000 Americans and over 1,700 Northeast Pennsylvanians, it seems silly to write a eulogy for a cat.

Unarmed Black Americans are still being gunned down by white police. Mass shootings continue to end innocent lives with no adequate response from alleged lawmakers. The Scranton School District remains a hot mess with too many inept chefs in its broken kitchen, and on and on and on.

All this hard news will still be here tomorrow.

Paulie wont.

Last year was an endless lesson in loss. Vaccines, a recovering economy and the arrival of spring offer rays of hope, but the long shadow of COVID still shrouds the days and nights of haunted survivors. Many live with the pain of knowing the lone human contact their loved ones had at the end was a stranger wrapped in linen and latex.

Chrissy and I were with Paulie when he passed, a brittle blessing for which I am immensely grateful. Paulies vet and the technician took incomparable care of him and us. His death was quick, quiet and kind.

Paulie left us on layaway. The cancer was aggressive and inoperable. Surgery would only hasten its spread. The best we could do was love him in the time he had left and put his needs above our grief when it was time to let him go.

Ive lost many pets, but this is the first time I made the call. Scheduling the death of my best friend as if I was booking a dentist appointment broke my heart. Thursday at 3 p.m. Dont forget to bring masks.

I named Paulie after the character on The Sopranos, a murderous wiseguy with a funny haircut and a sharp tongue. Our Paulie was a gentle imp, but like his namesake, he had wings spreading from his temples. He was the loudest, hungriest mouth in the feral crew he led to our back door.

We found homes for most of them, but Paulie and his underboss Silvio Dante (another Sopranos wiseguy) were destined to be family. As I write, Silvio is wandering the house calling for his missing brother. I am alone in the recliner. I cant know what Silvio is thinking, but I know how he feels.

I am blessed to have many loyal friends and a loving extended family who hurt when I hurt. I belong to a support group and a 12-step program that allows me to share my feelings openly and honestly and process them in service of my sobriety and spiritual growth. Without help, I could not have done right by Paulie.

Without Chrissy at my side, I could not have stroked his ear and kissed his head as he left. We met when she was an obituary clerk at The Times-Tribune. She wrote one for Paulie and posted it to Facebook. The response was overwhelming, an outpouring of love, sympathy and grace that soothed our ache as we settled into our first night without Paulie in bed between us. His white fur reflected the glow of streetlights and full moons. Night never seemed darker.

The sun rose on Friday. We rolled out of bed and started our first morning without Paulie following us to the kitchen for coffee and kibble. Life goes on. I wish I could explain that to Silvio, Buddy, Timmy, Typo, Puck and Smudge.

Chrissy and I dont have children. By conventional standards, we have too many cats. Each one of them is a God-given gift of unconditional love that makes our house a home. Paulie was a cat, but he was family.

Writing is my profession, but also my refuge. This is how I grieve. How I say goodbye. How I heal. If you came here today expecting a different column, I beg your indulgence. Ive lost my best friend.

This is the best I could do.

CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, thanks Paulie Walnuts for his years of service to this column. Read his award-winning blog at timestribuneblogs.com/kelly.
Scientists say there has been a major drop in the population of leatherback sea turtles off the U.S. West Coast.

Researchers say there was an 80 percent drop in one group of leatherbacks found off the California coast over the past 30 years. One recent study found a 5.6 percent yearly decrease in the population.

Leatherbacks are massive sea turtles dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. The animals can grow up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh as much as 680 kilograms.

The leatherback sea turtles found along the U.S. Pacific coast are actually born thousands of kilometers away, on beaches in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The animals migrate 11,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean to feed on jellyfish in waters off the U.S. West Coast. Then, they swim back.

As many as 60 percent of the leatherback turtles born in the western Pacific Ocean are believed to make the trip to California. Scientists are not sure why some do and others do not. Some go farther north, to waters off Oregon or Washington state.

Scott Benson is an ecologist with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) fisheries service in Monterey, California. He has studied the turtles for many years and recently co-wrote a study on leatherback populations. Benson told The Associated Press that the long trip across the Pacific demonstrates the strength of the sea turtles.

There are birds that go farther, but they fly. There's a whale shark that might swim a little further, but it doesn't have to come up for air, he said. The leatherbacks, he noted, are actually pushing water all the way across the Pacific Ocean.

Now, just as scientists are beginning to fully understand these unusual creatures, the turtles are quickly disappearing. Similar population decreases have also been documented at beaches where leatherbacks nest on the western Pacific.

Scientists say that if nothing changes, the leatherbacks could completely disappear from the U.S. West Coast within 30 years. The population drops are mainly blamed on international fishing activities, the destruction of nesting grounds and climate change.

The turtles were there and we finally started paying attention, said Jim Harvey, director of San Jose State University's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. He was a co-writer of the new study. We got into looking at the story just as the story was ending, Harvey told the AP.

The study provides important information, but also shows the threats the leatherbacks face, said Daniel Pauly, a fisheries professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Pauly, who was not involved in the study, is an international expert on the effects of fishing on ocean ecosystems.

The animals can be killed when they get trapped in fishing equipment. Scientists say the population is also harmed because a lot of turtle eggs are removed from beaches.

Researchers say that while all the world's leatherbacks are under pressure, the group that migrates for months across the Pacific faces the greatest threats.

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 is something much more serious, Pauly said. He added that the sea turtles are really in big trouble.

NOAA launched an aggressive plan to save leatherbacks in 2015 and is set to release a new action plan this month. The plan is meant to persuade governments and international organizations to join efforts to save the turtles.

Benson, the NOAA ecologist, said there is still time to stop the decrease, but that it will require an immediate, international effort. If nothing is done to reverse this course, this population will become  extinct in the Pacific Ocean."

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

nest  v. to live in a nest (a home built by animals where they can lay eggs and live)

ecosystem  n. everything that exists in a particular environment

decline  n. a situation in which something becomes less in amount, importance, quality or strength

reverse  v. to change a situation or the order of things so that it becomes the opposite

extinct  adj. when something (such as a plant or animal species) has died out completely
About 20 years ago, Kimberly Resh stood before a Kids Gap cashier, her 6-year-old daughter Mikayla behind her, with her wheelchair and feeding tube. Mikayla had numerous severe physical and intellectual disabilities from birth, and medical complications from them.

Whats that? came a young voice from behind.

Before Resh could turn around, her younger daughter, 3-year-old Lauren, began to explain.

Thats my sisters special tube, she said. My mom feeds Mikayla special milk through her special tube.

Children, Resh realized, sometimes know best how to describe things to other children. She remembered this revelation a few years later when she donated a set of books on diverse topics and main characters  in terms of race, ethnicity, disability  to her daughters library at Lower Nazareth Elementary School. None of them were written by children.

Mikaylas third grade class agreed to write her biography, which became the book published in 2006, Our Friend Mikayla  now one of several dozen books recommended by the Lehigh Valley Reads campaign, which has shifted its focus this year to building diverse at-home libraries for kids.

Mikayla could not see herself in the book  she functioned on an infant level  but I think the kids could see that she deserved to be with them, and by writing the book, they were telling that story, Resh said.

Lehigh Valley Reads, a literacy campaign of PBS39 and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, has a goal of getting all of the regions third graders reading on grade level by 2025. As of two years ago  the most recent data available from the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment  the region is about 65% of the way there, according to the campaign.

The campaign has several initiatives targeting attendance, summer reading and everyday learning at home, but when the pandemic forced students to stay home, organizers decided to shift focus toward helping families build home libraries, Director Angela Zanelli said.

Not long after, Minneapolis resident George Floyd was killed while in police custody, launching the nation into a racial reckoning. So organizers wanted to make sure the books being distributed represented diverse life experiences.

We know there are a lot of kids reading books and they dont see themselves represented, Zanelli said. Now Lehigh Valley Reads finds itself addressing and tackling two of the most important issues of our time: literacy and social justice.

Since May, the campaign has distributed more than 7,500 books to families, often in tote bags handed over with food at meal pickup sites, or delivered directly to families in need that were identified by schools.

The campaign gets books through donations and some sponsorships from partner organizations or corporations.

A Michigan organization called Girls of the Crescent donated a slew of titles to the collection with female Muslim main characters, for example. Other titles, curated by campaign organizers and vetted by retired librarians, include characters who represent a blend of ethnicities, genders, sexualities and abilities.

A few years after Our Friend Mikayla published, Resh founded a nonprofit called Mikaylas Voice to provide educational programming that includes children of all backgrounds and abilities. The nonprofit published two more books: High Fives and a Big Heart, about a boy with Down syndrome named Jeffrey, and Super Brady  Always on the Move! about a boy with autism, both written and illustrated by children.

In February, Resh approached Lehigh Valley Reads, which included the titles on its book list. Then Just Born, a longtime partner of Mikaylas Voice, sponsored enough books so first through third graders at Marvine Elementary School in Bethlehem could take these books, one per grade level, home.

That provided a free book from Mikaylas collection to 120 students, Principal Eric Fontanez said.

The school made an effort this year, through Title 1 funds, to equip every student from preschool to fifth grade with a book, with an emphasis on diversity, to help the students participate in Lehigh Valley Reads Million Minute Challenge. Specifically, Marvine wants its students to read 400 books, collectively, this year.

The school has a library stocked with diverse titles in its front lobby  take a book, leave a book.

Its not at all common that children get to read books written by children, for children, about children with disabilities, Fontanez said.

The schools student body is already economically and racially diverse, but having children read stories where theyre represented, and stories that help them learn about childrens experiences they might not know, spurs healthy conversation, he said.

Having these stories, it just helps the kids to realize the diversity that our building alone has, he said.

Just Born plans to support the book distribution at Marvine for as long as there is interest in it, Corporate Affairs Manager Meg Doud said.

There is still interest. Fontanez wants to continue the distribution the same way each year, so that as students move up through the grade levels, they get a different Mikaylas Voice book, until they have the whole collection at home.

Mikayla died two years ago. She lived 24 years  12 longer than her doctors thought  and Resh believes part of the reason was that she was included in everything  school classes, field trips, friend circles.

As the world grows and changes, its so important to include absolutely everyone, Resh said. Mikayla had a wonderful life because of all her friends.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

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San Francisco, April 18 : An armed man who allegedly threatened to shoot residents in Northern California was shot and killed by Alameda County Sheriff's deputies, authorities said.

Deputies responded to multiple reports shortly after 3.30 a.m. on Saturday and confronted the man, Xinhua news agency quoted the Sheriff's Office as saying.

The suspect fired multiple rounds and one of the bullets grazed the head of a deputy.

Deputies returned fire and killed the suspect, the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The man "went for the gun so quickly, leaving us no options", it added.

Multiple officers fired at the man, Sheriff's Office spokesperson Ray Kelly told media on the scene.

According to The Washington Post's police shooting database, 38 fatal officer shootings have happened so far this year in California.

The most recent was the deadly shooting of a man in the parking lot of the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fremont on April 1, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Although receiving a COVID-19 shot is free for anyone in the U.S., providers are asking people to present insurance to help pay other costs.

Angela Dowling is president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. She explained the government pays for the vaccine doses, and insurance can help with the rest.

"For those providers there helping you get the shot, the people who are putting the shot in your arm, there is a cost for administration," Dowling said.

Presenting insurance at a clinic or vaccination site allows those medical providers to be reimbursed for their time and resources.

The system is also set up to provide free shots to people without insurance.

"Herd immunity is important," Dowling said. "We just need to make sure we get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible."

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) echoed this service mission.

"Patients will never be turned away if they do not have insurance, and patients themselves will not pay for their vaccination visit," a spokesperson for OHSU said to KGW in a written statement.

Although people will have their insurers billed for the COVID vaccination process, individual consumers will not see the cost.

Another question Dowling answered is: why bother showing insurance, even if you have it?

"It's important to us as insurance companies to know who's received their immunization and who hasn't," Dowling said. "If you haven't received your immunization, we'll make a point of trying to reach out to you and encourage you to get that as well."

For people without insurance or means to travel to big, centralized vaccination sites, Dowling recommended people pursue mobile clinics.

"Look for those opportunities where clinicians are actually coming to your communities," she said.

For example, Regence has partnered with Medical Teams International to help provide free COVID vaccinations through traveling clinics in the Pacific Northwest.

"We're looking to make sure everybody gets vaccinated," Dowling said.
The implementation of zone planning for four historic inner districts of Hanoi will make an important contribution to preserving the historical and architectural values of the capital, and improve the quality of life of the people of the Old Quarter.

Hanois iconic Hoan Kiem Lake is adored by tourists and locals alike, but many surrounding areas are simply too full

Located deep in an alley on Hang Buom street is house No.53, built over 100 years ago. Although severely degraded with many cracks appearing in the rotten walls and stairs, the 3-storey house with dozens of apartments has been the residence for nearly 200 people for many years.

Nguyen Trung Truc, a resident living in an apartment on the first floor said, The house has signs of dilapidation and the entrance to the house lacks sunlight, so it is dirty and dark. When opening the door, the smell flies straight into the house. Every time it rains, the house and the yard are wet.

Trucs family and the households who live here all want to have a new spacious and cleaner place, but what they worry about most is how to earn a living after moving, when their current income mainly depends on street trading in the Old Quarter.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, the area is both an administrative and commercial centre and a place with great historical value, architecture, and culture. The 36 traditional craft streets represent business activities, attracting not only people in Hanoi but also people in the surrounding areas to come here for settlement.

Over the years, the rapid population growth has narrowed the land fund in the Old Quarter, creating great pressure on infrastructure, causing cramped and messy conditions which, in turn, affects the urban appearance and affection of international tourists to Hanoi, and is also related to damage caused to many historical monuments.

Therefore, the relocation of the population in the Old Quarter area is considered a top priority of Hanois administration in urban reconstruction and conservation of cultural heritage.

According to the urban planning, 215,000 residents in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, and Hai Ba Trung will be relocated by the end of the decade. The land fund released from relocation will be used to restore monuments, build transport systems, reconstruct urban areas, and add additional public works such as parks, squares, and car parks.

Higher quality of life

According to data from the 2019 Population and Housing Census, the population density in Hoan Kiem district stood at around 39,800 people per kilometre, 137 times higher than the national population density. The Old Quarter alone now boasts about 4,300 houses. On average, about 3-4 families can live together in one house. There are some houses with dozens of families, for which the living area amounts to only 0.5-1.8 square metre per person.

Of the nearly 1,000 homes with a life expectancy of less than 100 years, 63 per cent are in degradation, 12 per cent are in danger, and 5 per cent are polluted.

Poor and unsafe living conditions are the reason for a number of accidents, ranging from daily inconveniences to house collapses. With such high population density in a cramped area, relocation is the first solution to reduce the pressure on the inner city.

People here say they are very unhappy because their current accommodation is degraded and potentially dangerous so they cannot live there for long. If a new place can ensure essential services and solve the livelihood problem, we will be ready to move, said Nguyen Manh Cuong, a resident in Cua Nam ward of Hoan Kiem district.

Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of Hoan Kiem Peoples Committee said the plan to lower the population in the four districts from the current 887,000 to 672,000 by 2030 remains associated with similar projects the district has implemented over the years. In addition to regulations on the relocated people, the city also plans to prepare resettlement areas for residents.

The zoning planning aims to offer the best conditions for people. I am also willing to move if I am in the clearance area. Moving to a new place, people will have better living conditions and leave land for the city to re-plan for a more beautiful capital, Long said.

Preserving heritage

In addition to improving the urban living environment, one of the plans goals is to develop culture and preserve heritage sites and monuments of the Old Quarter. The most visible examples of the pressure created by the high population density are the many monuments, temples, and pagodas in the area that are spoiled by restaurants and parking lots. There are even relics being requisitioned to function as stands for goods.

For example, Vinh Tru Pagoda on Hang Luoc street is recognised as a famous cultural destination in the Old Quarter. For many years its facade has often been occupied by surrounding shops as a parking place, which not only affects tourists but also lessens the majesty of such ancient architecture.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Tu Quyen from the Faculty of Urban and Rural Planning of Hanoi Architectural University, the rapid and disturbing transformation of monuments on central streets will become increasingly difficult to control.

Regardless of the purpose, Quyen says, population relocation is required in inner-city planning to preserve and improve the quality of life, while promoting traditional values in the Old Quarter. However, population relocation also needs to ensure the preservation of long-term habits and livelihoods for people, he added.

These plans are nothing new. Over 20 years ago the city implemented a plan to rearrange the old town and had a policy of relocating universities, hospitals, head offices of ministries, and more from the historic inner-city area. Yet today it still has not found a solution to the problem of improving long-term livelihoods.

Meanwhile, thousands of households in the Old Quarter mainly depend on business and retail trading activities, leading to disagreements within the people living here. The people who are determined to stick around are mostly households close to the roads. Others that voluntarily relocate are residents living in old deteriorated houses, with an area of less than 5sq.m per person.

Economic and cultural experts all say that relocation on such scale would not be easy because it relates to thousands of households of many generations, especially families who have lived for many generations in Hanois Old Quarter.

The key to a successful relocation, they say, could be to solve the problem of interests between people and heritage conservation.

VIR
Govt. wants to withdraw several cases on grounds of political Victimisation and punish complainants

Political Victimisation Commission recommends strong action against Yahapalana Govt. leaders for taking political revenge

Defence Secretary proscribes seven Diaspora Tamil groups and names 424 people as having links with terrorism; move seen as a blow to reconciliation efforts



The Government appears to be on an offensive against its detractors here and abroad whilst a nation, unaffected, marked the National New Year on a more positive note than last year.

The strong thrust of this multi-pronged exercise, now taking shape, is local. It is to call a halt to cases pending in courts over alleged bribery, corruption, or other improprieties against some in the ruling alliance or their backers. This is on the grounds that the cases were politically motivated. The controversial move is based on the findings of a Commission of Inquiry which probed alleged instances of political victimisation and made recommendations to redress the situation.

The fact that there were strong political undertones in a few of the investigations at that time is no secret. Nor was it a secret that some top leaders of the yahapalana government also interfered with the investigators regularly seeking to play down cases against persons whom they had close connections with or to accelerate the cases of others. One such instance was when a top leader telephoned President Maithripala Sirisena, when he was in London in March 2015 to attend the Commonwealth Summit, to caution him against an uncontrollable situation that would arise if a particular person was arrested. He ordered a halt to the move. Then Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and Champika Ranawaka raised issue at weekly ministerial meetings over a then UNP minister who was also openly espousing the cases of much less than a handful of persons. A UNP Justice Minister boasted how he had saved the Rajapaksas. There were many a deal and many a compromise then. These could easily make a chapter for Ripleys Believe it or Not. That the yahapalana government was voted to power in 2015 on the pledges it made to deal with bribery, corruption and other irregularities is all too well known. Also too well known is that the Yahapalana government was voted out of office because it failed. The UNP was swept off the countrys electoral map, bagging a mere two percent of the votes at the August 2020 parliamentary elections.

Now, the Parliament Order Book for April 21 lists a motion for the withdrawal of cases before courts. Expert legal advice obtained by ruling alliance leaders from the private bar points out that a person or body could not change the actions already initiated by the Attorney General, the state prosecutor. They have learnt that it would also lead to far reaching consequences. Other issues pointed out to the leaders are far too sensitive to elaborate upon. Yet, the move seeks to call upon the Attorney General to withdraw a set of listed cases. The only known response from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is a claim that it would appeal to the Supreme Court. However, no move has yet been initiated. Last week, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was speaking about contaminated coconut oil.

Of course, SJB leaders concerns on fears of losing their civic rights  a matter over which Premadasa even met with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe  has now receded. The government does not want to pursue this aspect but wants to punish those who made complaints that led to the cases in question.

First to the full text of the motion: The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs and Minister of Urban Development & Housing, Implementation of Decisions and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into and obtain information in relation to alleged political victimizations of Public Officers, Employees of Public Corporations, and Members of Armed Forces and Police Service, who were holding posts during the period commencing from 08th January 2015 and ending on 16th November 2019,

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted with regard to the matters mentioned below, as per the Cabinet Decision /21/01 05/301/003 and dated 15.02.2021 referred to the Cabinet Memorandum dated 15.01.2021 submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers by H.E. the President regarding the above matter:

(a) To submit the Final Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry

(Contained in the First, Second and Third Volumes and the Addendum correcting the typographical and printing errors of the said report) through a Resolution in Parliament;

(b) To implement of the decisions and recommendations made by the said

Commission in relation to the Anti-Corruption Committee referred to in Item No. 08 of the First Volume of the said Final Report;

(c) To make arrangements for the appointment of a Special Presidential

Commission of Inquiry or for the creation of any other appropriate mechanism as determined by Parliament for the implementation of the decision No. 1 and recommendation No. 1 of the said Item No. 08;

(d) To refer the decisions and recommendations made by the above

Presidential Commission of Inquiry pertaining to Item No. 08 and to the complaints from I to LXI in Item No. 09 in the First, Second and Third Volumes and the Addendum correcting typographical and printing errors in the said Final Report, to the relevant authorities, including the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the Public Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, the Minister in-charge of the relevant Ministries and the Secretaries to the Ministries, for implementation; and

(e) To implement the decisions and recommendations made by the said

Presidential Commission of Inquiry, pertaining to the complaints referred to under Item No. 10 in the Third Volume of the said Final Report.

Accordingly, since a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry has been appointed by H.E. the President through the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2221/54 and 01.04.2021 as mentioned in (c) above; subject to consideration on the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of Item No. 08 contained in the Final Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry mentioned in the aforesaid Cabinet Decision, after receiving the report of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry, that this Parliament resolves that the decisions and recommendations mentioned in the Item No. 09 and 10, omitting Item No. 08, in the said Final Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (Containing the First, Second and Third Volume and the Addendum correcting the typographical and printing errors) which obtained information on the political victimizations mentioned in those Cabinet Decisions, be implemented as mentioned in (d) and (e) above.

Motion in laymans term

The wording of the motion, as is clear, is technical and tends to be confusing to the average person in the light of its legalistic formulation. In laymens terms, the gravamen of its contents is to legally withdraw many cases pending for which the Cabinet of Ministers has given approval in January, this year. There is, however, an exception in respect of one provision  Item 8. Through this, the motion refers to the setting up of the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) and the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat (ACCS) by the previous yahapalana government. This is where some yahapalana leaders conceded before the Commission that the setting up of the two bodies was illegal. That admission was damning since they did not think it fit to legislate for it when they were in power. Why? This is despite Police teams being sent to the United Kingdom to learn from its Serious Frauds Office so a similar body could be set up in Sri Lanka.

They were established on a Cabinet Memorandum forwarded by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on June 2, 2015, at a ministerial meeting chaired by the then President Maithripala Sirisena. He reasoned that, it was to investigate the large-scale corruption and fraudulent activities that prevailed during the previous regime, initiate legal action against those responsible for same, and recommend measures to be adopted to prevent such occurrences in the future, A sum of Rs 7.5 million he sought for the use of the Secretariat was then approved by the Cabinet. The Commission said more than Rs 33 million had been spent altogether. On February 12, 2015, the then Cabinet Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe faxed to former Inspector General of Police, N.K. Illangakoon a letter informing him of the decision of the ministers for the establishment of a Division to Investigate Matters relating to Serious Financial Crimes, Public Funds and Property. He signed a Gazette notification on February 13, 2015 establishing a new Police Division in the Department of Police  Sri Lanka. It came to be known as the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID).

By 2017, the functioning of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat (ACCS) had become so unwieldy with political interference at various levels. Documents before it were circulated like bus tickets. It was also riddled with institutional problems. There were complaints that persons who held large amounts of money in banks were hassled. Some parted with a part. Then Premier Wickremesinghe sent in a confidential cabinet note dated June 30, 2017. He observed, Now that the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) is fully functional, a decision has to be taken on whether the future operations of the ACCS be continued or not. He said he was submitting the note for an appropriate decision by the Cabinet of Ministers. This came at a time when the ACCS itself became the subject of serious accusations of large-scale bribery and corruption. It was decided to shut down the ACCS, but the FCID continued to function until its tasks were assigned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by the ruling alliance.

In its final report, the Commission headed by retired Supreme Court Judge, Upali Abeyratne held that in establishing the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) and the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat (ACCS), that 22 persons including former Premier Wickremesinghe, MPs from the then (yahapalana) government and opposition, as well as senior Police officers and government officials, have violated the Constitution and misused public property. Other members of the Commission were Court of Appeals retired Judge Daya Chandrasiri Jayatithilake and onetime Police Chief, Chandra Fernando.

Besides the then Premier Wickremesinghe, others named by the Commission for violating the Constitution and misusing public property are: former Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rauff Hakeem, Malik Samarawickrema and Sarath Fonseka, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan, TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna, former MP Dr Jayampathi Wickramaratne, the Criminal Investigation Departments former Director Shani Abeysekara and former Prime Ministers Secretary Saman Ekanayake. It is noteworthy that the name of another leading politician who took part in meetings has not surfaced though it appeared even in the minutes of ACC meetings.

The Commission had also noted that the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and members of the Cabinet had violated their oath to protect and defend the Constitution through their actions to establish the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and also by having political opponents arrested and detained on false charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The Commission has noted in its report that there is no Constitutional Court to hand down punishments for violations of the Constitution and, therefore, recommended the setting up of another Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to make recommendations to Parliament on the punishments that should be meted out to them. In the light of this, the motion before Parliament omits all references to item 8. In fact, a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for this purpose. The three members are Priyantha Jayawardena, Judge of the Supreme Court, Khema Kumudini Wickremasinghe, Judge of the Supreme Court and R.M. Sobhitha Rajakaruna Judge of the Court of Appeal. Their findings are not known.

However, the motion calls upon Parliament to resolve to implement decisions and recommendations mentioned in the Item No. 09 and 10. Item No. 09 includes decisions and recommendations connected to 61 complaints mentioned by the Commission. In almost all cases, the Commission has recommended that cases filed against the complainants be withdrawn and action taken against the investigating officers and those who lodged complaints against these individuals.

Those who will be benefiting from the motion

Among cases the Commission has recommended be withdrawn is the case filed against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and senior Sri Lanka Navy officers over the alleged abduction and disappearance of 11 students. Others who will see an end to judicial proceedings filed against them include Basil Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Udaya Gammanpila, Rohan Welivita, Nalaka Godahewa, Jaliya Wickramasooriya, Nissanka Senadhipathi, Rohitha Bogollagama and Udayanga Weeratunga. The Commission has also recommended that those who it has deemed had been politically victimized be compensated, reinstated in their former posts, and given promotions that had been deprived to them.

Ahead of the motion becoming known, a meeting of party leaders in Parliament on April 8 turned out to be a hotly contested session lasting more than an hour. It was over a possible debate called for by opposition parties on the report of the Commission that probed political victimisation. This was at a meeting chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in Parliament. However, government members were of the view that the debate on the Commission that probed the Easter Sunday incidents should be continued. It was noted that some 108 MPs have not spoken so far. Those who insisted were SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, Abraham Sumanthiran TNA, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, JVP leader and Lakshman Kiriella, SJB. A debate is being allowed on April 19, 20 and 21. Here again, whether this could change in the light of the new developments remains a question.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted a cabinet memorandum on January 15, 2021 to implement decisions and recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into and obtain information in relation to alleged victimizations of public officers, employees of public corporations and members of armed forces and police service who were holding posts between January 8, 2015 and November 16, 2019.

President Rajapaksa set out the background and the justification in submitting the cabinet proposal for approval. He noted that it has been reported that with the change of the government in 2015, state officials, public servants and employees holding positions prior to the 2015 presidential elections and war heroes including political leaders were subjected to severe political victimization at the behest of local political opponents and in the interest of pro international terrorist organizations.

It has been reported that the Good Governance Government which came into power in January 2015, in order to carry out this process of political revenge had moved to set up two unofficial political institutions called National Executive Council and Anti-corruption Committee through Financial Crime Investigations Bureau, an unofficial Police division , and had made arrangements to forward the alleged complaints to those two institutions for the purpose of taking political revenge and had imposed unwarranted punishments by remanding political leaders, state officials, Army personnel and civilians, the cabinet memorandum noted.

The President, in justifying the decision, said that he had appointed a Commission of Inquiry consisting of three members giving directions to inquire into and investigate the complaints made by persons who were subjected to political victimization alleged to have been done between January 8, 2015 and November 16, 2019.

The cabinet paper cites the cases the Commission of Inquiry has recommended that relief should be granted.

Some of the cases listed in his 34-page Cabinet Memorandum together with the approval he sought and obtained are:

The indictment of Lt Col H.M.P. Chandana Kumara Hettiarachchi in the Colombo High Courts and the charges filed in the Magistrate courts Colombo should be withdrawn and he should be acquitted and discharged.

The indictment of Navy intelligence officer Gamini Seneviratne filed in the High Court Trial at bar in Colombo and the Colombo Magistrate courts should be withdrawn and he should be acquitted of the charges.

The indictment of intelligence officer Pradeep Chaminda in the Colombo High Court and the charges filed in the MC Colombo should be withdrawn and acquitted.

The indictment of Yoshitha Rajapaksa filed in the Colombo High Court should be withdrawn and he should be acquitted of the charges filed in the Kaduwela Magistrate courts.

The indictment filed against Udaya Gammanpila at the Colombo High Court and the charges filed in the Fort Magistrate courts should be withdrawn and he should be acquitted.

The indictment filed against Nalaka Godahewa at the Colombo High Court and the charges filed in the Colombo Magistrate courts be withdrawn and he should be acquitted.

The indictment filed against Nissanka Senadhipathi in the Colombo High Court and the charges filed in the Galle Magistrate courts be withdrawn and he should be acquitted.

Charges against Udayanga Weeratunga on allegations of financial malpractices in the purchase of MiG-27 aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) filed in the Fort Magistrate courts: it is recommended that that the Attorney General informs the courts that he would not proceed in the case. The AG should also request that the court lifts the suspension on Weeratungas bank accounts. The container of goods held back should also be released.

The judgment delivered against Duminda Silva by the Colombo High Court (case no HC 8331/16): the Attorney General should appeal to the Supreme Court for a judicial review and he should be acquitted of the charges filed in Colombo High Court in respect of case No HC 7781/15.

The indictment of Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda in the High Court Trial at Bar and the charges filed in Fort Magistrate courts should be withdrawn and he should be acquitted.

Commander Sumith Ranasinghe should be acquitted of the charges filed against him in the Fort Magistrate courts.

The indictment against Rear Admiral D.K.P. Dassanayake filed in the Colombo High Court Trial at bar and the charges filed in the Fort Magistrate courts should be withdrawn and he should be acquitted.

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilliyan should be acquitted of the charges filed in the Batticaloa High Courts and Batticaloa Magistrate courts by withdrawing the indictment and charges filed against him.

It is pertinent to note that some of the cases referred to above, have been raised either directly or indirectly, in the UN Human Rights Council leading to the adoption of the resolution on Sri Lanka over accountability issues. Thus, the likelihood of international responses to the governments moves cannot be ruled out.

As repeatedly pointed out in these columns, with the presence of a lacklustre opposition, there is little doubt that the government motion would be carried through in Parliament and implemented. This is over a matter which threatens judicial independence and the very basis of a judicial system. Perhaps the only recourse the public could look forward now to will be the courts.

Why the proscription?

On the foreign front, whilst the UN Human Rights Council had been deliberating on a resolution dealing with accountability issues, since February, the Ministry of Defence had been preparing a list of Tamil diaspora groups. Just two days after the resolution was adopted on March 23, Defence Secretary retired General Kamal Gunaratne issued a Gazette notification. That in effect proscribed seven overseas Tamil organisations and named 424 individuals living in different parts of the world. The action was on the grounds that these bodies and individuals were involved in terrorism. The proscription notwithstanding, since they are located overseas, whatever actions they are engaged in, cannot be stalled. The only impact would be their inability to visit Sri Lanka, a chance which they did not risk even earlier. Even in the countries in the west where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is banned, members of the rump have freedom of movement and their propaganda activities continue. So why the proscription?

It is clearly a strike back, at least against a few of these groups, which have played a continually active role in the events leading up to the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council. The measure could be biting only for a few groups and individuals named. This is because the proclamation came under the United Nations Act No 45 of 1968. This legislation is based on a UN Security Council resolution which empowered member countries to proscribe entities for being engaged in terrorism. Sixteen organisations and individuals were proscribed in 2016 but the previous yahapalana government did away with it. In the light of the new move, they could be stopped at entry or exit points to some countries. Here again, the question is how many of them travel now? In the light of COVID-19 pandemic, they resort to the next best option  virtual reality.

Among the more known organisations are the United Kingdom based Global Tamil Forum (GTF), British Tamil Forum (BTF), Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT), Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) operating from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France and the UK, and the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC).

The United States reacted to the government move this week. The State Department tweeted Diaspora communities are our valued partners in helping us stay connected to the region. We continue to engage with various South Asian diaspora groups, including members from Sri Lanka and welcome an ongoing conversation Some Tamil media outlets and websites claimed this amounted to the US not recognising the governments proscription order. However, a diplomatic source explained, the comments came as those in the State Department under the Biden-Harris administration were now broadly engaging various parties to determine their foreign policy initiatives.

Nevertheless, one need hardly point out that there is no terrorist activity worthy of mention since the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas in May 2009, though their rump, mostly overseas, remains. That too does not, in any way, extend to the possibility of their taking to arms. Even in this very highly unlikely event, the military is well prepared and advanced to meet an internal threat of any proportion. The military has made up for the weaknesses, loss of morale and an emaciated intelligence system caused by the crass insensitivity of the previous yahapalana leadership.

To the contrary, these groups, with cash in hand, are bent more to pressure the government in power to win what they call justice. This is why they are campaigning for the main elements in the resolution on Sri Lanka. Yet, with the proscription of these groups and listing those individuals for links with terrorism, the government has dealt itself a massive blow when it comes to reconciliation  one of the key elements in the resolution. The funds they have will be poured more for activity against the government. A reasonable dialogue on reconciliation would have seen those funds being pumped into Sri Lanka for development.

It is no secret that a few of the Tamil groups now proscribed for terrorism were very much at the forefront of reconciliation efforts during the early part of the yahapalana government. They talked not only to those in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but also to these groups. One such occasion was when a delegation led by Suren Surendiran of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF)  now proscribed  led a small group for a meeting with the then President Sirisena at the Hilton in Park Lane. The goodwill was so great, they even took a dinner of string hoppers, kiri hodi, and pol sambol for Sirisena and his entourage. He was thrilled. Also present was then Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. They talked passionately about resolving the issues before them through dialogue. That did not go far.

This naturally raises the question of what the governments approach towards reconciliation would be. More so, with a new Constitution for Sri Lanka in the offing. Even if the government were to talk to Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which has the single largest majority Tamil representation in Parliament, it would inevitably need the help of the groups that are now proscribed. They bring in the funds. Any formal dialogue by the TNA and their foreign allies would expose it to the threat of dealing with banned terrorist groups or their representatives. Would this mean talk with others on the fringe or those within the government help? The government has created a dilemma for itself on matters related to reconciliation. The proscription is meaningless. Even the money that the diaspora send to their next of kin, mainly in the north and east, will now go via a hawala system with no revenue to the state.

This week also saw the government utilising provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to set up Rehabilitation Centres. This is an alternative to instituting criminal action against persons who are now in custody. They include those who were arrested after the Easter Sunday attacks. According to a Gazette notification, any commission of acts of violence or religious, racial or communal disharmony or feeling of ill will or hostility between different communities or racial or religious groups will be dealt with according to these regulations. Just days earlier, the government banned a string of Muslim groups in keeping with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry that probed the Easter Sunday attacks. With just two days to go for the ultimatum by the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, of launching protests, it will be a suspenseful post-National New Year week.

The ruling alliance, as is clear from the most recent developments, has burdened itself with more issues which it has generated. This is on top of those severely affecting the public like the rising cost of living. Sri Lankans are in for more challenging times.
A service-member of the Ukrainian armed forces observes separation line near the city of Donetsk (Copyright: Serhiy Takhmazov)

Speaking after the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peters Square, Pope Francis expresses his hope for a decrease in military activities and tension in eastern Ukraine and prays for the suffering population.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for gestures that promote mutual trust and foster reconciliation in eastern Ukraine amid rising military tensions between Kiev and Moscow.

Speaking after the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the Pope described the situation as a "sad" one, and said he is following with great concern events in areas of eastern Ukraine, where violations of the ceasefire have multiplied in recent months.

Expressing his deep preoccupation for an increase in military activities in the area, he said: I strongly hope an increase in tensions will be avoided, and, on the contrary, that gestures be made that are capable of promoting mutual trust and fostering reconciliation and peace, which are so much needed and so much desired.

The Pope also highlighted the grave humanitarian situation affecting the population in the areas where tensions continue and said he is close to the people.

Finally, he asked the faithful present in the Square and those who were following through the media to join him in prayer for them.

Whats happening in eastern Ukraine?

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been rising amid a build-up of Russian troops along the border of eastern Ukraine as well as in Crimea with renewed clashes between the army and pro-Russian separatists.

In the latest development, British warships are reportedly preparing to sail for the Black Sea to show solidarity with Ukraine and Britain's NATO allies.

Observers have expressed fears of a return to war between the Ukrainian government and two Moscow-backed breakaway republics, as was seen six years ago. In 2015 the two sides agreed to an internationally brokered ceasefire and a deal for decentralised government known as the Minsk agreements. But since then there have been repeated sqabbling between the sides, mutual accusations of truce violations and the conflict has remained on a low simmer.

Thousands of people have been killed in the violence and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
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Prince Harry returned to Frogmore Cottage after attending Prince Philip's funeral yesterday ahead of a walk with his father later today, reports claim.

The Duke of Sussex made the 10-hour flight to Britain for the funeral this week while his wife Meghan - who is around seven-months pregnant with their second child - remained in LA.

While plans for a wake have been scrapped, Prince Charles - who was clearly emotional before and during the service - intends to spend some time with his younger son, perhaps taking him for a walk today, sources claim.

Arrivals from the US must quarantine for 10 days upon landing - but can leave after five days if they provide a negative test under the Government's Test to Release scheme.

Harry was allowed to attend the funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor yesterday in line with Government rules that make exceptions for such occasions.

He arrived in England last Saturday, which means - should he have tested negative - the duke no longer needs to isolate in Windsor.

He is understood to be based in Frogmore Cottage for the rest of his stay. He and Meghan lived in the house on the Windsor estate during their time as senior royals.

It is there that he is set to meet Prince Charles, just weeks after the Sussexes plunged the monarchy into crisis when they accused the royals of racism and the institution of failing to support Meghan when she was suicidal in their Oprah Winfrey interview.

Following the bombshell tell-all - which included Harry's claim that he needed to 'educate' his relatives - Prince Charles was said to be 'deeply hurt' but resolved to 'mend the broken relationship' with his son.

Head bowed: Prince Harry walks in the funeral procession at Prince Philip's funeral. His brother, Prince William, is seen beside him.

The Duke of Sussex broke his 10-day quarantine after travelling on Sunday from his home in LA for the funeral which was held at St George's Chapel in Windsor yesterday

Frogmore Cottage was Harry's old address where he previously lived with his wife Meghan Markle

'There has been talk that Charles will walk around Windsor with Harry to look at some of the tributes and spend some time together,' the source said.

However, Harry is understood to be anxious to return to America to be with Meghan, who is thought to be seven months pregnant with their second child.

He could fly back to Los Angeles as early as tomorrow.

But The Telegraph reported: 'The Duke of Sussex is thought to have stayed at Frogmore cottage.'

Government rules state that Harry must continue his self-isolation at 'all other times' so it is believed he will return to Frogmore Cottage, also in Windsor, to complete it. Pictured: Prince Philip's funeral

Prince Harry and Prince William walk together out of St George's Chapel today as Kate Middleton also walks alongside them

Prince Harry speaks to Prince William as they leave the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle this afternoon

The Duke of Sussex is seen speaking to the Duke of Cambridge today following the service at St George's Chapel

Kate, William and Harry speak together as they leave St George's Chapel this afternoon following the funeral service

The couple moved out of the Windsor home after standing down from their positions in the Royal Family in January last year and moved first to Canada and then LA.

And even though the couple's departure sparked fears that Harry and his brother Prince William were not getting along, the pair were seen chatting during Prince Philip's funeral procession yesterday.

The estranged brothers looked deep in conversation as they appeared together in public for the first time in more than a year.

The princes talked while walking out of St George's Chapel following the service this afternoon, having earlier taken part in the procession either side of their cousin Peter Phillips behind the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin.

Harry was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton as they left the chapel and began walking, but then she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her.

The brothers' discussion came following an impromptu decision by some of the Royal Family to walk back to the castle, despite state cars having been put on for them - and it gave the cameras a chance to see them talk.

Prince Harry appears to talk with Kate Middleton as they leave the service at St George's Chapel this afternoon

Prince Harry and Prince William walk next to each other as they leave the funeral service at St George's Chapel this afternoon

Members of the Royal Family including Harry and William walk away from St George Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle

Harry's friend Tom Bradby, who was presenting ITV's coverage of the funeral today, said: 'Funerals are a time of reconciliation and that a sight, let's be honest, that's many wanted to see. Not least the family itself.'

About an hour earlier, the Duke of Cambridge entered the chapel one place ahead of his younger brother  and the brothers were seated opposite one another during the service, with William next to his wife Kate.

William and Harry had looked sombre as they walked in silence behind the specially-adapted Land Rover carrying their grandfather's coffin as it made its way to the chapel and looked straight ahead as they both wore black suits.

It had been quietly hoped that the loss of their beloved grandfather, who both men loved deeply, might start the process of rapprochement - but the brothers are not thought to have seen each other before the funeral.

William, 38, and Harry, 36, were among nine members of the Royal Family who walked behind their grandfather's unique coffin this afternoon, leaving the Sovereign's entrance at Windsor Castle at precisely 2.45pm.

Today marks the first time Harry and William have been seen together since March 2020, when they attended a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey with other royals and could barely look each other in the eye.

Speaking about the brothers' conversation today, body language expert Judi James told MailOnline: 'The moment of connection between William and Harry came right at the end of the service as they left the chapel.

Meghan and Harry personally chose the locally-sourced flowers for their wreath (second from right) - including Acanthus mollis and Eryngium. Pictured: Wreaths from members of the royal family lie against the pews during the funeral

The Duchess of Sussex (right) - who is around six-months pregnant with her and Prince Harry's second child - was advised not to make the 10-hour flight to Britain for the funeral by her physician. Instead, she watched the ceremony on television from her and Harry's 11million mansion in California while the Duke of Sussex (left) attended

'In a well-co-ordinated but also relatively natural-looking moment, Harry walked up behind William and Kate to then join them, walking between them and chatting to them both.

'After a few seconds of what looked like natural and not self-conscious conversation, Kate fell back, leaving the two brothers walking off talking alone. It looked like a genuine moment of unity rather than something contrived for the cameras.'

Royal aides have been 'walking on eggshells' as they try to navigate the rift between the brothers, sources said last night as tensions remain following Harry and Meghan's acrimonious split from the Royal Family last year.

It comes after Meghan Markle left a handwritten card on a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh at St George's Chapel.

The Duchess of Sussex - who is around seven-months pregnant with Prince Harry's second child - was advised not to make the 10-hour flight to Britain for the funeral by her physician.

Instead, she watched the ceremony - which began at 7am Pacific time - on television from her and Harry's 11million mansion in California while the Duke of Sussex attended.

A wreath from the couple was earlier left in St George's Chapel, Windsor, to mark their respects, sources told PA news agency.

Meghan and Harry personally chose the locally-sourced flowers for their tribute - including Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches), the national flower of Greece, to represent Philip's heritage, and Eryngium (sea holly), to represent the Royal Marines.

The wreath also features campanula for gratitude and everlasting love, rosemary to signify remembrance, lavender for devotion, and roses in honour of June being Philip's birth month.

A wreath from the couple was earlier left in St George's Chapel, Windsor, to mark their respects, sources told PA news agency. Pictured: Series of wreaths left next to Prince Philip's coffin in St George's Chapel

It was designed and handmade by Willow Crossley who arranged the flowers for Harry and Meghan's evening wedding celebrations in Frogmore Gardens and for the Sussexes' son Archie's christening.

Alongside the wreath is a note from Meghan, who is known for her skill at calligraphy.

The Queen today wiped her eyes as she accompanied Prince Philip's coffin on its final journey from Windsor Castle to St George's Chapel.

Wreaths from members of the royal family were rested against the pews during the funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, earlier today

Meghan and Harry (pictured in 2020) personally chose the locally-sourced flowers for their tribute - including campanula for gratitude and everlasting love, rosemary to signify remembrance, lavender for devotion, and roses in honour of June being Philip's birth month.

The wreath on Philip's coffin (pictured) was handpicked by the Queen - it included white lilies, small white roses and white freesia

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex, who have a troubled relationship, did not walk shoulder to shoulder with their cousin Peter Phillips between them

Prince Philip's coffin emerged from Windsor Castle as the Royal Family joined the Queen in mourning her husband at his funeral

Miss Winfrey's close friend Gayle King yesterday launched CBS' coverage of Prince Philip's funeral without making any mention of Meghan nor the devastating interview she gave Oprah, that CBS promoted and aired just one a month before Philip's death.

King ran through the order of the day and the order in which the royals will appear.

She said: 'Then we'll see Prince William and Prince Harry...William and Harry, there's no secret about this, have had a strained relationship you could say since Harry stepped away from his royal duties.'

She then, during a talk-back- former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, said there was 'family drama' that the world was speculating over.

'Are we reading too much into the body language? They didn't stand shoulder to shoulder when their mother was buried. This was by the Queen's design,' she said.
Following the funeral service for his grandfather Prince Philip, the Duke of Sussex has returned to Frogmore Cottage.

Prince Harry travelled from his home in the United States to attend the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh.

As per Covid-19 regulations, he was required to isolate upon landing but was able to break isolation on compassionate grounds to be at the service.

Covid travel regulations require passengers from the US to isolate for 10 days. However, if they produce a negative test after five days, under the governments Test to Release scheme, they are permitted to leave isolation.

It is unclear when Prince Harry arrived in the UK, but he has now returned to Frogmore Cottage where he lived with his wife Meghan Markle before their departure from the royal family last year.

Meghan, who is pregnant with the couples first daughter, was not given medical clearance to travel to the funeral so watched the service from the couples home in Santa Barbara, California.

The couple designed a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh. It featured personally chosen flowers that represented elements of the dukes life, such as his birthplace in Greece and his decorated Royal Navy career.

Accompanying the wreath was a card handwritten by Meghan.

In a touching tribute to his grandfather, Prince Harry wrote a statement referencing Prince Philips seriously sharp wit and calling him a legend of banter.

He wrote: My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm  and also because you never knew what he might say next.

Harry continued: But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right till the end.

He has been a rock for Her Majesty the Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, Oh do get on with it!

Harry said he, his son Archie, future daughter and Meghan would each hold a special place in their hearts for him.
The controversial Married At First Sight couple surprisingly remained out of the drama during the reunion dinner party episode.

And Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson looked a little smug as they arrived at Sydney's The Grounds of Alexandria to film Sunday night's final episode.

The TV newlyweds, both 32, couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they were escorted by an awaiting producer into the building.

The last hurrah! Married At First Sight's Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, both 32, were spotted looking smug as they lead the arrivals for experiment's reunion finale on February 11

Bryce and Melissa looked like they were ready to dish the drama as they made their way into the venue.

Melissa turned heads in a form-fitting black floral print dress, which she paired with a pair of vibrant red heels.

She wore her long blonde tresses down in perfectly styled mermaid curls.

Stars of the show: The controversial couple couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces as they were escorted into the venue by an awaiting producer

Dressed to impress: Melissa turned heads in a form-fitting black floral dress which she paired with vibrant red heels

What are those for? Bryce and Melissa both appeared to be carrying in their own toiletries or makeup bags for the evening ahead

Meanwhile, Bryce wore a beige T-shirt with a light blue unbuttoned over shirt.

He completed his smart-casual look by wearing a pair of black denim jeans that had rips over the knees.

Upon arrival all participants were spotted handing their mobile phones over to producers before they were mic'd up.

Something to smile about? Bryce and Melissa looked like they were ready to dish the drama as they made their way into the venue

Power couple! Patrick Dwyer (left) and Belinda Vickers (right) were next to arrive for the reunion in Sydney on February 11

Patrick Dwyer and Belinda Vickers were next to arrive for the reunion.

The Melbourne-based couple were all smiles as they were seen exiting their car with fellow bride, Joanne Todd.

Belinda, 29, showed off her toned physique in a knitted midriff baring ensemble which featured a square pattern.

Friends: The Melbourne-based couple were all smiles as they were seen exiting their car with blonde bride, Joanne Todd (middle)

Windswept beauty! Belinda, 29, showed off her toned physique in a knitted midriff baring ensemble which featured a square pattern

Stylish: She wore her long brunette tresses out and completed her look with nude heels

She wore her long brunette tresses out and completed her look with some strappy heels.

Patrick was dressed to impress in a blue button-up shirt which was covered in a palm tree pattern design.

Meanwhile, mother-of-three, Jo, looked sensational in an all-white ensemble which included a white top, tight activewear shorts and a blazer.

Patrick (left) was dressed to impress in a matching coloured button-up shirt which featured small palm trees. Meanwhile, mother-of-three, Jo, (right) looked sensational in an all-white ensemble which included a white top, which was paired with matching shorts and a blazer

Georgia Fairweather was sure to turn heads in a fuchsia coloured mini dress with shoulder pads.

She completed her very bright look with metallic high heels and a pink designer handbag.

Despite appearing in good spirits, the 25-year-old bride was seen carrying cold and flu lozenges.

Pretty in pink: Brisbane-based events manager Georgia Fairweather (pictured) turned heads in a fuchsia mini dress with shoulder pads

Glamazon: She completed her look wearing strappy high heels and a pink designer handbag

Meanwhile, her onscreen 'husband' Liam Cooper was seen getting mic'd up just a few metres away from her.

He was joined by his fellow co-stars Brett Helling and Samuel Carraro, who all failed to find love on Channel Nine's social experiment.

Liam, 29, opted for a white shirt which he paired with a dark green blazer.

He completed his look by wearing navy blue trousers and cream loafers.

Getting ready! Meanwhile, her onscreen 'husband' Liam Cooper was seen getting mic'd up just a few metres away from her

All smiles! Liam, 29, opted for a white shirt which he paired with a dark green coloured blazer

Brett, who was paired up with musician Booka Nile on the show opted for an all-white ensemble.

He completed his look wearing his infamous Ansett Australia Test Series bucket hat, which made an appearance on the show earlier in the series.

Arriving several hours early, Brett was seen peacefully chilling out and listening to music while his fellow co-stars were briefed by producers.

He's back! Brett, who was paired up with musician Booka Nile on the show opted for an all-white ensemble

All smiles! He completed his look wearing his infamous Ansett Australia Test Series bucket hat, which made an appearance on the show earlier in the series

Just vibing! Arriving several hours early, Brett (pictured) was seen peacefully chilling and listening to music while his fellow co-stars were briefed by producers

Meanwhile, Booka Nile stunned in a red silk slip dress.

She alluded confidence wearing tinted sunglasses, and had her hair tied up in a low bun.

At one stage, Booka was seen speaking to one crew member while another mic'd her up ahead of filming.

Rock chic: Booka Nile stunned in a red silk slip dress. She alluded confidence wearing tinted sunglasses, and had her hair tied up in a low bun

Stylish: Booka was all smiles as made her way into the venue

Coco Stedman looked stylish in a emerald green coloured dress.

She wore her long brunette tresses down and parted in the middle.

The Sydney pilates business owner completed her look wearing drop pearl earrings.

Coco was seen holding a protein shake as she made a swift entry into the venue.

Married At First Sight's final episode airs Sunday at 7pm on Nine
A 35-year-old Linden man was killed in a single-vehicle crash south of Demopolis Friday night.

Lafe Benjamin Parsley was pronounced dead shortly after the 2003 Toyota Camry he was driving left the roadway and crash into a tree at approximately 10:46 p.m. The crash happened on Marengo County 54, approximately three miles south of the Demopolis city limits.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division is investigating. No further information was available.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18)  Thousands of families living in high-risk areas were forced to pre-emptively evacuate due to Typhoon Bising (international name: Surigae), which has also left many passengers stranded in ports nationwide.

In the Bicol region alone, at least 15,852 families or 57,793 residents have been evacuated, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's tally as of Sunday evening.

The bulk of the total are from Albay which listed 9,833 temporarily displaced families, while 835 are from Camarines Sur, 5,109 from Catanduanes, and 75 from Sorsogon.

Thousands have also been evacuated in the Eastern Visayas region, including over 1,100 families or more than 3,000 residents in the Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces, according to the regional police. This tally is still expected to rise as more local government units submit their reports and continue to bring more residents to safety amid the continuous rainfall.

The evacuated residents were those living in high-risk areas, such as near shorelines, riverbanks, and landslide-prone zones, among others.

At least 2,301 passengers, drivers and cargo helpers, have meanwhile been stranded in ports across the country as of Sunday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard said. It added that 995 are in the Bicol region, 941 in the Eastern Visayas region, and 365 in Northeastern Mindanao.

At least 41 vessels and 966 rolling cargoes in ports in affected regions have also been stranded, while 52 vessels and another 52 motorbancas have been taking shelter, the PCG said.

Based on the NDRMMC's count as of Sunday evening, the number of stranded individuals in Bicol seaports stood at 851. Eleven buses, 176 trucks, 103 light vehicles, and seven vessels have also been unable to travel.

The agency said 173 persons and 87 trucks are stuck along Maharlika Highway, particularly in Barangay Putiao in Pilar, Sorsogon due to the typhoon.

Bising will bring moderate to heavy rains over the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions for the rest of Sunday, according to PAGASA. Bad weather is expected to persist in the Bicol region and in Northern Samar until Monday.

CNN Philippines Tacloban-based Correspondent Wil Mark Amazona and Albay-based Correspondent Rosas Olarte contributed to this report.
Two former north shore priests pleaded not guilty Monday in connection with separate cases in St. Tammany Parish. One is accused of molesting a teenager and the other faces a vandalism charge stemming from an alleged sexual tryst with two women on a church altar.

Patrick Wattigny, who had been pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Slidell and chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School, entered a not guilty plea to one count of molestation of a juvenile in 22nd Judicial District Judge Vincent Lobello's courtroom.

Wattigny, 53, and his attorney, Robert Stern, declined comment as they left the courthouse in Covington. The case has been assigned to state District Judge August Hand with a preliminary examination set for April 27. He remains free on $150,000 bond.

Travis Clark, 37, who was pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River, faces a charge of institutional vandalism, as does Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 28, professional dominatrices who were allegedly his partners in sex acts that a passerby reported seeing them perform on the church altar last September.

Clark, dressed in a dark suit and accompanied by his attorney, Kevin McNary, entered a not guilty plea before District Judge Ellen Creel. But Dixon and Cheng did not appear Monday. Their lawyer, Bradley Phillips, asked the judge for a new arraignment date for his clients, who both live out of state.

Creel set Dixon and Cheng's arraignment for April 19. Clark's trial date is May 24.

Outside the courtroom, Phillips said the women did not find out they had been charged until last Thursday afternoon. That was when 22nd Judicial District Attorney Warren Montgomery indicted the three, as well as Wattigny, in felony bills of information.

Clark remains free on $25,000 bond and Dixon and Cheng are each free on $7,500 bond.

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The witness who saw Clark and the women told Pearl River Police that the then-priest was partially clothed, engaged in sexual acts with two corset-clad women on the altar. Police seized sex toys, stage lights and two recording devices from the church as evidence.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans had the altar burned and replaced.

The three were initially booked on counts of obscenity, but the DA's office charged them with institutional vandalism, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.

Both Wattigny and Clark were removed from public ministry by the Archdiocese of New Orleans on Oct. 1, the day after Clark was arrested. At the time, the archdiocese said that Wattigny had informed church superiors that he had abused a juvenile in December 2013.

He had earlier left his position as chaplain at Pope John Paul II High School, which is also in Slidell.

Several weeks after Wattigny was removed from public ministry, he was apprehended in Georgia, where he owns a home, and extradited to St. Tammany Parish.

In a statement last week, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the archdiocese is cooperating with law enforcement and will petition the Vatican for the laicization of both Wattigny and Clark.
The on Sunday imposed a 24-hour campaign ban on leader Sayantan Basu and Sujata Mondal of the Trinamool Congress for their controversial remarks during the ongoing assembly polls in West Bengal.

The bar on campaigning by the leaders will be in force from 7 PM on April 18 to 7 PM on April 19.

In an order, the poll panel said it had carefully considered Mondal's reply to it notice which does not justify the relevant portions of her statement "denigrating the Scheduled Caste community in West Bengal".

"Now, therefore, the Commission hereby sternly warns Sujata Mondal and advises her to desist from using such statement while making public utterances during the period when the Model Code of Conduct is in force," according to the order.

Basu was issued a notice for his remarks that "if you kill one we will kill four of you..."



The order on Basu said the Commission "sternly warns and condemns Sayantan Basu and strongly advised him to desist from using such statement while making public utterances during the period when the Model Code of Conduct is in force."



Besides warning the leaders against making such statements, the poll panel imposed a ban on campaigning by them.

(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.)
Allow a doctor to see my dad: Navalny's daughter

A doctor for Alexei Navalny says his health is deteriorating rapidly and the 44-year-old could be on the verge of death. File photo: AP

The daughter of hunger-striking Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny called on Russian authorities on Sunday to allow a doctor to treat her father in prison, a day after a group of medical professionals warned he is at risk of kidney failure.



Navalny, a fierce opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, started refusing food on March 31 in protest at what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to provide him with proper medical care for acute back and leg pain.



Prison authorities say they have offered Navalny proper medical care but that the 44-year-old opposition politician has refused it and insisted on being treated by a doctor of his choice from outside the facility, a request they have declined.



"Allow a doctor to see my dad," Navalny's daughter Dasha, a student at Stanford University, wrote on Twitter.



A medical trade union with ties to Navalny said on Saturday he was in critical condition, citing medical tests that it said showed that Navalny's kidneys could soon fail, which could lead to cardiac arrest.



A group of actors, writers, historians, journalists and directors, including Jude Law and J.K. Rowling, wrote an open letter to President Vladimir Putin on Friday urging him to ensure Navalny gets medical care.



A group of opposition regional lawmakers also called on Putin on Saturday to make sure Navalny is properly treated.



Navalny has said prison authorities are threatening to put him in a straitjacket to force-feed him unless he abandons his hunger strike.



Russia jailed Navalny for 2-1/2 years in February for parole violations he said were fabricated. He was arrested in January when he returned to Russia from Germany, where he had been recovering from a nerve agent poisoning attack he blamed on Putin.



The Kremlin has said it has seen no evidence he was poisoned and has cast Navalny as a US-backed subversive on a mission to destabilise Russia. (Reuters)
Emmanuel Macron has said he is discussing ways to open France to vaccinated 'American and European' travellers this summer.

The French President said he foresees at least some tourists returning to Paris if they have been jabbed or have proof of a negative Covid test.

He said his government was working on a certificate for travel between European countries but did not make clear if Britain is included.

It comes as Mr Macron prepares to impose tough entry restrictions on travellers from four countries - Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Brazil.

Meanwhile the European coronavirus vaccination drive could catch up with Britain 'in the coming weeks' despite a slow start plagued by delays.

The UK narrowed in on 10million second doses being dished out on Sunday while 33million have had their second jab.

The French President said his government was working on a certificate for travel between European countries

He told CBS News: 'We are building a certificate to facilitate travel after these restrictions between the different European countries with testing and vaccination.' Pictured: Paris in February

Mr Macron told CBS: 'We are building a certificate to facilitate travel after these restrictions between the different European countries with testing and vaccination.'

He said: 'We will progressively lift the restrictions of the beginning of May, which means that we will organise in the summer time with our professionals in France for French European citizens, but as well for American citizens.

'So we are working hard to propose a very concrete solution, especially for US citizens who are vaccinated, so with a special pass, I would say.'

Mr Macron spoke as the government prepares to impose tough entry restrictions on travellers from four countries.

Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Brazil face new rules in hopes of keeping out especially contagious virus variants.

The number of countries on the list could grow, France's foreign minister said Saturday.

The restrictions include mandatory 10-day quarantines with police checks to ensure people arriving in France observe the requirement.

Travellers from all four countries will be restricted to French nationals and their families, EU citizens and others with a permanent home in France.

France previously suspended all flights from Brazil. The suspension will be lifted next Saturday, after 10 days, and the new restrictions 'progressively' put in place by then.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the Brazil suspension will be lifted followed by 'drastic measures' for entering France from all four countries, plus Guiana.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (pictured) said the Brazil suspension will be lifted followed by 'drastic measures' for entering France from all four countries, plus Guiana

Mr Macron, summarising the French approach, said 'the plan is always to control the virus, to maximise the vaccination and to progressively lift the restrictions.'

France has been among the hardest hit European countries and is guarding against highly contageous variants, notably deciding to target four countries.

The four countries 'are the most dangerous in terms of the number of variants that exist and in the evolution of the pandemic in these countries,' Le Drian said.

But the list of countries subject to tougher border checks could be extended, he added.

Under the new restrictions, travellers must provide an address for where they plan to self-isolate for 10 days and police will visit and fine those who are found in violation.

France is also requiring more stringent testing for Covid.

Travellers must show proof of a negative PCR test taken less than 36 hours instead of 72 hours before they boarded a flight, or a negative antigen test less than 24 hours

France has reported the deaths of 100,00 people in the Covid-19 pandemic.

A variant first identified in Britain spread to Europe and is responsible for about 80 per cent of the virus cases in France.

The variants first seen in Brazil and South Africa make up less than 4 per cent of French infections, Health Minister Olivier Veran said last week.

MailOnline has contacted the Foreign Office and the Department for Transport asking if Mr Macron's comments will include Britain.

Meanwhile the European coronavirus vaccination drive could catch up with Britain 'in the coming weeks' despite a slow start plagued by delays.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this week that the EU has administered 100 million vaccine doses, adding this is a 'milestone we can be proud of'

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE INDIA VARIANT? Real name: B.1.617 When and where was it discovered? The variant was first reported as being of concern by the Indian government in late March. The first cases appear to date back to October 2020. What mutations does it have? The two main mutations are named E484Q and L452R, which scientists suspect can help it to transmit faster and to get past immune cells made in response to older variants. Those mutations are routinely not found on other variants monitored by Public Health England. How many people in the UK have been infected with it? 77 people so far, according to a report published on April 15. Their locations are unknown. Advertisement

Europe's jab roll-out was condemned as 'unacceptably slow' by the World Health Organisation this month, with leaders blaming delays for 'prolonging the pandemic'.

The roll-out is now finally taking off as the EU faces soaring infection rates - with some even suggesting the mass vaccination drive could soon rival the UK.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week the EU has administered 100 million doses, adding this is a 'milestone we can be proud of.'

Some 27 million Europeans are fully vaccinated, meaning the bloc has edged closer to its goal of having vaccinated 70 per cent of the adult population by the end of the summer.

More than 32 million Britons have received the first dose of a vaccine, and nine million have been administered both jabs.

But medics in Germany are currently administering around 200,000 more daily vaccines than the British, the Telegraph reported.

The country set a new national record on Wednesday with 738,501 jabs given in a day. This compared to 547,465 jabs administered in the UK.

Around 18.5 per cent of Germans have now received the first dose of a vaccine - an increase of 12 per cent from April 1. Some 6.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

In France, more than 450,000 jabs are now regularly given out per day following the launch of 40 mass vaccination sites.

However, the nation became the eighth to pass 100,000 Covid deaths this week, with an average of 300 people succumbing to the virus per day.

Elsewhere, in Italy, medics have continued to consistently give around 200,000 jabs per day since the end of March.

The vaccination drive got off to a slow start in Europe after the bloc failed to order enough doses and grant vaccinations swift approval.

More than 32 million Britons have received the first dose of a vaccine, and nine million have been administered both jabs

At the start of April, only 10 per cent of Europe's population had received a first dose, compared to nearly 60 per cent of Britons.

However, despite a swift start, the roll-out of Covid vaccines to new patients in the UK has slowed to a crawl in comparison to how it performed in March.

An average of 91,000 people are getting their first dose each day now after the roll-out peaked at just over 500,000 per day in the middle of last month.

The roll-out itself has managed to keep moving quickly, reaching an average 462,000 people per day over the last week, but most doses now are boosters.

A bottleneck in supplies and a need to give second jabs to millions of people who got their first in January have meant the roll-out has lost momentum.

Figures from the NHS show 117,835 people got their first vaccine dose on Wednesday, which was up from just 59,905 on Monday but significantly lower than the one-day record of 614,930 on March 19.

The focus has switched now to second doses, with four times as many of those being administered each day  an average of 346,000.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and NHS bosses warned at the end of March that April would be a month dedicated to second doses and preserving supplies.

Although the introduction of a third vaccine, made by Moderna, has allowed some newcomers to get their first jab  the programme opened up to 45 to 49-year-olds this week  Pfizer and AstraZeneca supplies for newcomers are running low.

Medical chiefs said in a warning on March 17 that, for four weeks or more, 'volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained'.

Health chiefs have known for months that April would be the month second jab demand started to kick in.

Everyone must get the second dose of their Covid vaccine about 12 weeks after the first, according to UK Government policy.

Britain confirmed on Sunday more than 9.9 million people in the UK have now received both doses of a vaccine.

Meanwhile nearly 33million have had their first dose as the UK's vaccination programme continues.

Sunday's case total - a marked increase on the 1,730 positive tests reported on this day last week - comes as a faster-transmitting Covid variant wreaks havoc in India.

It also marks the first Sunday since outdoor pubs, bars and restaurants can reopen their doors.

Experts believe the Indian variant not only speeds up transmission, but also features an 'escape mutation' which could possibly impact on the effectiveness of vaccines.

The latest figures show the rollout of Covid vaccines to new patients has slowed to a crawl in comparison to how it performed in March.

An average of 91,000 people are getting their first dose each day now after the rollout peaked at just over 500,000 per day in the middle of last month.

A bottleneck in supplies and a need to give second jabs to the millions of people who got their first dose in January has now meant the number of patients receiving their first dose of the vaccine is lower this month compared to last month.

Figures from the NHS show that 139,445 people got their first vaccine dose on Saturday, which was up from just 69,223 last Sunday but significantly lower than the one-day record of 614,930 on March 19.
Court grants Albertas request not to show evidence for health order at Pastor James Coates trial

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A Canadian court ruled earlier this week that the government of Alberta will not be required to show scientific evidence backing up its COVID-19 restrictions during the upcoming trial of Pastor James Coates, who was arrested and jailed for holding in-person worship gatherings.

Alberta will not be required to produce scientific evidence supporting the orders of Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health for the province, during the May 3 trial of Coates from GraceLife Church in Edmond, the Provincial Court in Stony Plain has ruled. The court added that the challenge to the constitutionality and legality of those orders will be heard at an unknown later date, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said in a statement released Friday.

The pastor spent one month and six days in jail before his release on March 22, because he would not sign an agreement to stop pastoring his church according to the congregations beliefs, noted the Justice Centre, which is representing the Coates and his church.

After 13 months of violating Charter freedoms, the Alberta government refuses to present evidence in support of lockdowns in court, and unfortunately the courts have permitted the government to delay facing accountability in regard to Charter violations, said Justice Centre President John Carpay.

The group added: The Alberta government supposedly has enough medical and scientific evidence to shut down hundreds of small businesses, pushing many of them into bankruptcy, and to cancel over 20,000 medically necessary surgeries, and to force Albertans into a third lockdown. But when asked to produce this medical and scientific evidence at trial, the Alberta government declares itself incapable of doing so.

A little over a week ago, police placed metal fencing around the church ahead of last Sundays worship, the Edmonton Journal reported.

Officials have accused GraceLife of violating public health guidelines on multiple occasions by holding in-person worship services where attendees allegedly did not social distance or wear face masks.

Last month, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police charged the church as an entity for holding worship services in February that exceeded the limit of 15% capacity.

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, AHS said in a statement at the time, according to The Epoch Times.

In February, the church released a statement addressing the ramifications of COVID-19 and the destructiveness of shutting down churches indefinitely. The church said it initially shifted to online services when COVID-19 first began and returned to in-person gatherings on June 21, 2020.

As part of the effort to help Coates and GraceLife, a GoFundMe page was created by John Klassen to pay for legal fees the pastor and the church accrue. Coates has been a rare and refreshing voice of courage in these [unprecedented] times. He has stood on the word of God faithfully, courageously and uncompromisingly as a man of God when all around him men falter and fail, read the fundraising page, in part.

Im raising money to benefit Pastor James and GraceLife Church of Edmonton, to do good as Galatians 6:10 exhorts us to, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause.
Marines at Camp Pendleton were back in the ocean training in amphibious assault vehicles for the first time since nine men died when one of the troop carriers sank on July 30 during a training exercise off of San Clemente Island.

The Marine Corps' fleet of the seafaring vehicles was suspended from all water training immediately following the deadly accident.

Using the armored vehicles to transport troops from a ship to shore and back  what the AAV that sank last summer was doing  is still prohibited and the directive issued April 9 allowing some training with the vehicles comes with a checklist of tasks that have to be completed to confirm training, inspections and other preparation protocols are met, said Capt. Andrew Wood, a Marine Corps spokesman. It also details the higher levels of leadership that have to sign off on the completion and requires the use of safety boats.

Starting on Monday, April 12, Marines from Camp Pendleton's 3rd Amphibian Assault Battalion began in the classroom.

The Marines were briefed on updates to standard operating procedures for the vehicle and were required to pass a knowledge test before being authorized to participate in water operations.

On April 13, the Marines trained on land-based water recovery and troop transfer. After demonstrating proficiency in rehearsals on land, the Marines drove the vehicles in the Del Mar boat basin.

There the Marines continued to train in water recovery and troop transfers  without troops. On Friday, after showing they were proficient in the exercises, Marines drove into the open ocean in the tracked, armored vehicles.

The five-day training regimen results from the findings of an investigation into the July 30 accident and refining of standard operating procedures for AAV use. Marine Corps officials have said other recommendations have been issued to protect against lapses in procedures and training handbooks are being rewritten.

The eight-month investigation ended with Marine officials saying the tragedy could have been prevented and a mix of factors contributed, including mechanical problems in the Corp's aging fleet of AAVs, leadership failures, a lack of training and the demands of a schedule to keep up with plans for a September deployment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As the AAV headed from training on San Clemente Island to the USS Somerset three miles off shore, it took on more water than it could handle and sank to the ocean floor. Seven of the 16 people aboard the AAV were able to escape the craft, one man died at the scene. Eight men were trapped as the vehicle sank.

In the amphibious assault vehicle when it sank were riflemen Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona; Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello; Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 20, of Bend, Oregon; Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 22, of Harris, Texas; Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Oregon; Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside and U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton.

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas, was found unconscious in the water on the scene and later pronounced dead.

As part of the investigation's resulting recommendations, fleetwide testing was done on all 800 AAVs to determine the vehicles' watertight integrity.

This week's training at Camp Pendleton included a review of lessons learned from the July tragedy as well as from previous AAV accidents.

The requirements now laid out will also pertain to operating the Marines Corps' new Amphibious Combat Vehicle, currently also being tested by the battalion. The vehicle is expected to replace the AAVs by 2028.

This article is written by Erika I. Ritchie from Orange County Register and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
The Jefferson Parish School Board has narrowly rejected two proposals that would have enshrined, in its own policy, some benefits that the teachers union has fought to keep in its collective bargaining agreement.

But the 5-4 votes were anything but a revival of the board's long-dominant factional dynamics, in which members loyal to business groups and those on the side of the union tussled for control. For one thing, the union urged the board to reject the measures. Perhaps more notably, three business-friendly members of the board voted the way the union urged. On the other side, the measures' four supporters included two former educators as well as historically conservative representatives of Kenner- and Jean Lafitte-based districts.

Understanding the vote requires a deeper look into what is expected to be a packed summer for the board and its largest teachers group, the Jefferson Federation of Teachers.

The union's collective bargaining agreement expires June 30. Elections for union leadership positions will be complete at the end of this month. With that backdrop, board members and union leadership are trying to position themselves to gain leverage during contract negotiations, which in recent years have been fraught. The current contract, dating from 2015, was the first such agreement in three years after previous boards rejected deals with the union.

Previous battles over control of the School Board have largely broken down along union versus business lines. But those dynamics shifted under Superintendent Cade Brumley; during his tenure, business groups backed a tax proposal that was dedicated to teacher pay raises, a measure popular with the union. Brumley's successor, James Gray, has tried to maintain that teacher-supporting posture, but this summer's negotiations could put that to the test.

+2 Jefferson Parish teachers union wants in-person classes put in Covid detention The Jefferson Parish teachers union is calling on the district to move all public schools to virtual learning immediately, after receiving a h

The two measures before the board Thursday night were relatively simple. If passed, they would have written into board policy a daily planning period, a 30-minute lunch break, extra stipends for teachers to attend off-campus training and the like. Each of the items is currently required under the terms of the union's contract with the board.

Proponents of the measures, including sponsors Sandy Denapolis-Bosarge and Tiffany Kuhn, cast them as a way to guarantee those benefits to all teachers, including those who are not in the union. The sponsors were joined by retired educators Billy North and Gerard LeBlanc in voting for the measures.

"My purpose was to let all the teachers know they had these rights," Denapolis-Bosarge said. "I felt like it was a good morale move to let all of them know they were covered."

Kuhn said her motivations were simple: "I believe we should do things for our teachers."

But the union, which counts about half the teachers among its members, saw a more sinister intent.

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"It was a sneak attack," JFT President Kesler-Camese Jones said. By putting in board policy provisions that had been collectively bargained, she said, board members were "circumventing" the union contract with the board.

"Policy can be taken away at any time," she said, referring to the board's authority to alter policy with a majority vote. "Those things are not going to be guaranteed."

When they are negotiated into the collective bargaining agreement, she said, they can't be taken away without union consent.

Voting down the measures were board members Chad Nugent, Larry Dale, Clay Moise, Simeon Dickerson and Ricky Johnson.

Nugent, who described himself Friday as "not pro-union - far from it," said he thought it was important that the board signal it was willing to work with the union. But he said Thursday's proposals had not been discussed with union leaders.

"I'm just against the timing of it," he said. Union leaders "deserve a seat at the table," he added.

Similarly, Dale, a pro-business board member who is one of the few who was around nine years ago when the board refused to ratify the union pact, said the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement needs to be respected.

"We don't do a CBA and then surprise people by trying to gut it," he said.

Nugent, who has board president will be involved in contract talks later this year, said he had not yet studied this year's issues.

"We haven't started the process," he said. "We probably need to form a committee and figure out how it was done in the past."

Camese-Jones was relieved that the vote went her way. But she described it as "one leg of the race" in what will be a key negotiation for a new contract.

It's too early to talk about specific issues, she said, but the pandemic has brought to the fore new issues that surely will be a central focus, such as virtual learning.

"The pandemic may fundamentally change how we approach the contract," she said.
Peloton called the safety commission's warning 'inaccurate and misleading'

A US federal agency has urged people with children and pets at home to stop using a treadmill made by Peloton, citing injuries and one death linked to the machines.

In an urgent warning, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Saturday that the Tread+ treadmill poses serious risks to children, including abrasions, fractures and even death.

The regulator said it was aware of 39 incidents involving the treadmill, including "multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned, and pulled" beneath the roller. One pet was also reportedly sucked under the machine.

A video uploaded by the CPSC to YouTube showed a small child become trapped head-first under a running treadmill before eventually wriggling free.

In its own statement, New York-based Peloton called the safety commission's warning "inaccurate and misleading."

While it acknowledged that one child had died in March while using the Tread+ and that another had suffered a brain injury, the company said there was no reason to stop using the machine so long as safety instructions were followed.

Peloton said that its members had been reminded that "children, pets, and objects should be kept clear of the Tread+ at all times." The company also advised storing the safety key out of children's reach.

According to the safety commission, in at least one incident a child was injured while a parent was running on the treadmill "suggesting that the hazard cannot be avoided simply by locking the device when not in use."

For those who continue to use the Tread+, the commission advised keeping the machine in a locked room to prevent children or pets from accessing it at any time.

The CPSC and the fitness company appear to be at loggerheads over what to do with the Tread+.

According to the Washington Post, the company has not initiated a product recall to repair or replace it, as desired by the commission.

Peloton, primarily known for its stationary exercise bike, sells the Tread+ treadmill for upwards of $4,300.

Sales of Peloton equipment have soared during the pandemic as people seek to maintain a fitness regimen in the absence of an open gym.

Explore further Biden could have to give up Peloton over security concerns

 2021 AFP
Ayodhya : , April 18 (IANS) The Ayodhya administration has decided to call off the 'Ram Navmi Mela' on April 21, which attracts a huge gathering of pilgrims on the last day of Navratri.

Ayodhya's borders will be sealed and nobody, including seers from Haridwar Kumbh, will be allowed entry.

Hundreds of seers were scheduled to come to Ayodhya to offer prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi temple on Ram Navmi.

The district administration has directed devotees to celebrate Ram Navmi at home and curtailed pilgrim presence at temples.

District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said, "Our priority is to break the corona chain. We have taken all precautionary measures and banned all gatherings in Ayodhya." The administration has ensured low-key Navratri celebrations in the temple town.

'Ram Ki Paidi' on the banks of Saryu river that used to be bustling with devotees for a holy dip in the river, now wear a deserted look because bathing has been banned and all entry points are heavily barricaded.

Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple, said, "There will be no devotees at the temple on 'Ram Navmi' this year due to the pandemic. There will be only one priest, on-duty policemen and Ram Lalla Virajman." This is the second consecutive year when Ram Navmi celebrations have been scrapped due to the pandemic.

In fact, Ram Navmi has not been celebrated in the holy city after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the temple in November 2019.

Mahant Jugal Kishore Sharan Shastri, the chief priest of Saryu Kunj temple, said, "Not just devotees, even saints and seers of Ayodhya will not be visiting Ram Janmabhoomi temple to offer prayers due to the pandemic. Holding the Haridwar Kumbh was a big mistake and we cannot afford a repeat in Ayodhya."
According to news reports, Cuba's chief, Raul Castro, is resigning and passing the ball to the younger generation. This is from NBC News:

Raul Castro confirmed Friday he is stepping down as the head of the Communist Party of Cuba, the most powerful position on the island. During a speech on the first day of the Communist Party's eighth congress, he said he would hand over power to a younger generation that is "full of passion and anti-imperialist spirit." "I believe fervently in the strength and exemplary nature and comprehension of my compatriots, and as long as I live, I will be ready with my foot in the stirrups to defend the fatherland, the revolution and socialism," Castro told party delegates at the closed-door meeting at a convention center in Havana.

He was retiring, Castro said, with the sense of having "fulfilled his mission and confident in the future of the fatherland."

And so he will step down.

Some in the media are treating this as some "Washington moment," or when President Washington decided not to seek a third term in 1796. Well, not really. President Washington retired after being elected for two terms. Raul Castro was never elected to anything, unless you think running unopposed for head of the Communist Party is some kind of model election.

So what's going on?

Let's cut him a little slack and say he is old. Yes, he will be 90 in a few months. Let's accept that the absence of a Castro is historic.

My guess is that Raul Castro knows that this is a good time to get out because the island is facing some difficult times.

COVID has hit Cuba hard and cut into tourism, the only thing the island has to bring in dollars. Once upon a time, Cuba had a private economy. It doesn't anymore, so tourism is about all they have. COVID stopped those flights full of tourists, and the economy shrank 11% last year. Thanks to President Trump, U.S. sanctions have made it more difficult for Cuba's regime. And finally, long food lines and shortages are back, reminding my mother of those days when she stood in line to buy milk.

To make matters worse, the new leaders want to reform, but the Cuban version of Perestroika will probably work as well as the Soviet one from the late 1980s.

So Raul is handing the keys to the new generation. The problem is that the engine does not run, the gas tank is empty, the car needs new tires, and there are still lots of payments due on that note.

Do you understand now why Raul wants out?

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

Image: Pedro Szekely via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
A man charged with shooting two other men dead at a Caboolture unit lived at the residence and knew the pair, police say.

Police have now identified the alleged gunman as Caboolture local Adam Bird, who has been charged with two counts of murder and a range of other offences. He will face Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police have charged Caboolture man Adam Bird with two counts of murder following a fatal shooting on Saturday. Credit:Nine News

Detective Superintendent Ben Fadian said the investigation into the shooting was still at an early stage, but he said the 24-year-old lived at the address and the men were known to each other.

It is the early stages of the investigation and a motive is still being established for the incident, Superintendent Fadian said.
Police bodycam footage shows the moment a Zulu 'prince' who once appeared on South Africa Idol was shot dead by cops during burglary call at a Hawaii home.

Lindani Myeni, a married father-of-two from South Africa, was killed Wednesday evening by Honolulu police officers in the Nuuanu neighborhood.

Officials have released clips from two of the three bodycams worn by cops from the night of the incident; a third was not activated during the struggle.

The clips released show three gunshots rang out before an officer says, 'police.'

Police had said Myeni, who is black, 'charged' at two officers with a third cop arriving and deploying their taser before gun shots were fired.

Acting Deputy Chief Allan Nagata acknowledged police did not initially identify themselves but said: 'They were in the fight for their lives. They were very brave. They didn't shoot or discharge the firearm right away. This was not a case of overreaction.'

'They didn't identify themselves, but hey, let's be honest. They're in uniform, right? They're coming there with the police cars. Although it is dark, it's pretty clear.'

Myeni had assaulted the officers, punching one of them until the officer briefly lost consciousness, Nagata said.

He had entered a home, sat down and took off his shoes, prompting the scared occupants to dial the police, Chief Susan Ballard said Thursday.

Honolulu police body camera footage released Friday of a man's fatal shooting shows three gunshots rang out before an officer says, 'police.' Police released two brief clips from the shooting that killed Lindani Myeni, 29, Honolulu on Wednesday night

Myeni had entered a home, sat down and took off his shoes, prompting the scared occupants to dial the police, Chief Susan Ballard said Thursday. The officer yells repeatedly for Myeni to get on the ground. Shots ring out and then after a pause, an officer said, 'police.'

A Zulu 'prince', 29, who once appeared on South Africa Idol has been shot dead by cops in Hawaii after he allegedly charged at officers who were responding to a 911 call claiming he had followed a woman into her home. Lindani Myeni with his wife and two children

Lindani Myeni, a married father-of-two from the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa, was shot and killed Wednesday evening by Honolulu Police officers. Pictured in his South Africa Idol audition

But Myeni's American wife has described her husband as 'gentle' said he was not a violent person. She has suggested his actions may have been the result of cultural differences after he moved to Hawaii in January.

And his attorney Jim Bickerton said: 'Fight or flight is inevitable in that situation.

'All of us are required to obey the lawful order of a police officer. But we're not required to obey just the random order of people shouting at us to get on the ground when they're waving a gun.'

Myeni's death comes one week after Honolulu Police officers shot and killed 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap during a car chase on April 5. Both males killed in the officer-involved shootings are thought to have been unarmed at the time.

The first clip - which is badly lit - begins with a woman crying and telling an officer: 'That's him.'

Myeni, who did not have criminal history, is then seen in the driveway of the home. An officer tells him: 'Get on the ground now.'

After Myeni walks towards the cop a struggle ensues with the officer filming the altercation appearing to be knocked to the floor.

A second clip from a third officer on the scene shows Myeni engages in a struggle with the two other officers.

That third officer deploys his taser before a shot is fired. Three more then follow.

Towards the end of the video an officer then yells 'police.'

Police said Myeni, who lived nearby, followed a woman into her home, took off his shoes and exhibited 'odd' behavior

Myeni and his wife Lindsay who he met six years ago when she was on a Christian mission in South Africa

Officers had been responding to a 911 call at around 8:10pm Wednesday claiming he had followed a woman into her home, took off his shoes and exhibited 'odd' behavior.

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard had said the officers' 'lives were in jeopardy', before shots were fired. One cop was hospitalized with major facial injuries and concussion following the incident while the other two also sustained injuries.

Ballard said in a press conference Thursday that Myeni appears to have arrived at the property by car before allegedly following the woman into her home.

Once inside, he then sat down and took off his shoes, and was trying to talk to the homeowners, she said.

'From what we can gather at this time, he walked into the house, kind of erratic and odd behavior, ' Ballard said.

'He sat down, took off his shoes and was trying to talk to the people, but they were very upset and trying to get him out, and he eventually walked out.

'They didn't know who he was and were trying to talk to him. The homeowners were very shook up and upset.'

Myeni (pictured with his wife) then allegedly assaulted the three police officers who arrived on the scene with the police chief saying their 'lives were in jeopardy', before the cops fired four shots at him

Ballard said the taser was ineffective in subduing Myeni, who then charged at the third officer and punched him.

Myeni then allegedly ran back at the first officer who fired a single gunshot at him.

Ballard said the shot did not stop the Myeni, who tackled the officer to the ground, straddling him and punching him repeatedly.

At this point, the second cop fired three rounds at Myeni, who fell to the ground, police said.

'This all happened in less than one minute from officer one's arrival,' Ballard said.

Myeni was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition where he later died from his injuries.

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said in a press conference Thursday that one cop was hospitalized with major facial injuries and concussion following the incident while the other two also sustained injuries

Police are seen at the crime scene in the Nuuanu neighborhood in Hawaii Wednesday night

Ballard insisted the black man's killing was 'nothing to do with race' but insisted that the officers' lives were 'in jeopardy.'

'I think what we need to remember is it had nothing to do with race. It had to do with behavior and the fact that this person seriously injured the officers and their lives were in jeopardy,' Ballard said.

This comes as protests have erupted this week over the killing of 20-year-old black man Daunte Wright by a white female cop in Minneapolis - just 10 miles from the courthouse where another white cop Derek Chauvin is being tried for George Floyd's murder.

The three officers involved in Myeni's death have not been identified and their races, ages and genders are not known. They were all veteran cops with 23, 18 and 10 years of service.

Myeni's family has cast doubts on the police's version of events, with his American wife Lindsay (pictured together) saying he was not a violent person

She suggested his actions may have been the result of cultural differences after he moved to Hawaii in January. Lindsay said in the Zulu Kingdom it is customary to go into 'anyone's home' and taking off his shoes was a mark of respect

The identities of the homeowners have also not been revealed but both the police chief and Myeni's wife said the 29-year-old did not know them prior to the incident.

'They didn't know who he was,' said Ballard.

It is not clear if Myeni acted aggressively toward the homeowners or whether he was under the influence at the time with Ballard saying investigators were still looking into the incident. He had no prior criminal history.

Myeni's wife Lindsay Myeni, who was born in the US but met her husband while she was on missionary work in South Africa, told Hawaii News Now she does not know what led him to visit the home.

However, she dismissed the claims it was a burglary, describing him as the 'most gentle person' and suggesting different cultural norms may have meant his actions were misunderstood by the residents.

Myeni is from the Zulu Kingdom where it is customary for people to visit 'anyone's house', she told the outlet.

'In Zulu culture you can go to anyone's house. You can knock on anyone's door. It doesn't matter if it's 8 o'clock it's not a big deal. Neighbor are neighbors,' she said.

Lindsay added that the police account that he took off his shoes shows he believed he was showing the homeowners respect.

'It says he took off his shoes. I'm sure he did that as a sign of respect,' she told the outlet.

Lindsay said her husband had been on his way home to the house they shared with their two children just down the street from the now-crime scene.

He had been at the Pali Lookout earlier that day and seemed his usual self, she said, adding she had spoken to him less than 20 minutes before the incident unfolded.

The Economic Freedom Fighters Kwazulu-Natal released a statement on social media condemning Myeni's 'murder'

'He was on his way home. So for whatever reason, he stopped to talk to this neighbor - that literally is down the street from us,' she said.

'I don't know why he stopped at those people's house,' she said, adding that they didn't know each other.

She insisted he 'wouldn't burglarize' saying: 'We have money. We have everything we need. We're not looking for anything. He wanted to talk to them for some reason.'

Lindsay told the outlet she could not understand what had happened as he is the 'most gentle person... and the best father.'

She added: 'We've got two babies under 2. I've got to go to sleep every night without him.'

Myeni appeared on Idols (South Africa) in 2013 and was the nephew of a rural king's village in the Zulu Kingdom, meaning he has the rank of a prince.

He also used to play rugby for KZN club in Durban.

Myeni and his wife met six years ago when she was on a Christian mission in the country.

They lived in South Africa for three years before moving to the US and then relocating to Hawaii in January.

His death comes one week after Honolulu Police officers shot and killed 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap (pictured) during a car chase on April 5

Myeni was supposed to have his green card interview next week, his wife said.

'We dated, got engaged and got married before he ever came to America,' Lindsay told Hawaii News Now.

'He never wanted to come to America. It was never anything he was interested in. He loves his people. He is from the Zulu tribe. They speak Zulu.'

She added: 'We thought here we would be safe. What am I going to tell his family back home? They trusted me to keep him safe here. What am I going to tell my son?'

The Economic Freedom Fighters Kwazulu-Natal, a far-left political party, released a statement on social media condemning Myeni's 'murder'.

'The Economic Freedom Fighters Kwazulu-Natal notes with outrage the senseless killing of Richards Bay's Esikhaleni resident Mr Lindani Myeni (29) who was shot to death by three white US police officers outside his residence in Nuuanu in Hawaii on Wednesday night,' it read.

The race of the officers has not been revealed.

The statement went on to accuse the US of 'covert racism on Black people by continuously stereotyping them as possessing criminal elements, as the report alleges that there was a suspiciously looking man who was sitting in the car.'

Myeni's death comes just one week after Sykap, a 16-year-old from the U.S. territory of Guam, was shot dead by Honolulu police officers on April 5.

Sykap died from multiple gunshot wounds following a police chase that started on the East side of O'ahu and ended near Kalakaua Avenue.

Six people were in the car, with two of them shot by officers in the incident.

These officer-involved shootings come as the nation is reeling from multiple other police killings of predominantly black men across the US. Daunte Wright left and Adam Toledo right

Sykap was taken to a hospital where he died while the other person shot - a 14-year-old boy - survived.

Police said the car was involved in an armed robbery just 20 minutes prior to the shooting.

Bodycam footage has not been released in this case either with Ballard saying Thursday that officials have to be careful about releasing it because Sykap and some of his passengers in the car are juveniles.

There are over 50 body-worn cameras that have to be reviewed in that case, she said.

These officer-involved shootings come as the nation is reeling from multiple other police killings of predominantly black men across the US.

In Minnesota, a white female cop shot and killed Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old black father-of-one, on Sunday during a traffic stop after she allegedly confused her gun for a taser.

This sparked renewed protests in the state where tensions are already running high amid Chauvin's trial for the murder of black man Floyd.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, bodycam footage was released of the moment 13-year-old boy Adam Toledo was shot dead by a Chicago cop during a foot chase on March 29.
A teenager was allegedly found hiding in a bin after a joyride with friends in a stolen car turned into a dangerous hour-long police pursuit.

Just after midnight on Saturday police spotted a stolen Toyota sedan with a teenage driver and two passengers allegedly speeding east along Grand Junction Road at Rosewater, in Adelaide's west.

A police helicopter was immediately dispatched and tracked the car as it travelled through several suburbs towards North Adelaide, where officers on the ground laid down spikes at the intersection of Mills and Hill Streets.

But the stingers did little to deter the driver, who allegedly swerved around them and smashed into a police car before speeding away.

The helicopter continued to chase the rebellious teenagers as they fled north towards the Port River Expressway, where officers were again waiting with a fresh strip of tyre shredders.

In a last-ditch effort to avoid the spikes, the driver allegedly veered off the road and ploughed into a street sign, bringing the vehicle to a halt.

The two passengers, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy, were found at the scene but the driver had fled on foot.

The 18-year-old man was later arrested a short distance away after he was seen climbing into an industrial bin.

Police were forced to dispatch a helicopter to track the car after it failed to stop. Pictured: Police speaking to the three teenagers after the car came to a halt

The driver veered off the road to avoid a second set of spikes and ploughed into a street sign (pictured), finally bringing the car to a standstill

The three teenagers, all from Taperoo, were arrested and taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The 18-year-old man has been charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

He was refused bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

Both passengers were also charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle and released on bail.

The 19-year-old woman is due to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 26 May, while the 17-year-old will face the Port Adelaide Youth Court on 13 May.
Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy suspected in a shooting at a Nebraska mall that left one man dead and a woman injured, law enforcement officials said on Sunday.

Makhi Woolridge-Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree murder following the shooting on Saturday at the Westroads Mall in Omaha.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said that Mr Woolridge-Jones will be charged as an adult, 3 News Now reported.

Brandon Woolridge-Jones, 18, has also been arrested on a charge of being an accessory to the shooting. Police did not describe the relationship between the two young men.

A third man, whose name was not released, was identified as a person of interest in the shooting.

Shoppers were sent running for cover after gunshots rang out near a JCPenney store at the mall around noon local time on Saturday. Security footage showed two suspects fleeing the scene.

Police said that Trequez Swift, 21, was shot and later died of his injuries at Bergan Mercy Hospital.

A 22-year-old woman, JaKeya Veland, was wounded in the leg during the shooting and transported to a local hospital. Her injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

An investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing. Authorities described it as an isolated incident and not a random attack.

The shooting comes a month after Omaha Police Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck was shot four times by a 21-year-old man accused of shoplifting T-shirts from JCPenney. Mr Wittstruck survived the shooting on 12 March.

In 2007, a gunman killed eight people and himself inside the Von Maur department store at Westroads.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Musicologist and producer Kurt Riley, who co-curated the tunes for the iconic VERZUZ face-off between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, today magnified the Warlord, heaping praises on him for his unwavering defense of Jamaicas oppressed through his music, over the decades.

Rileys adulations came after Bountys recent expression of regret at some of the violent lyrics embedded in many of his songs, including phrases such as people dead!

At the same time the former Fame FM radio disc jockey, told Bounty Killer that he had other Dancehall anthems which addressed societys ills that he should always be proud of and from which he should never resile.

@grunggaadzilla Dont ever apologise for songs like Fed Up and Look Into My Eyes. As a dj it was an honor to hear someone speak for the voiceless, unseen and unheard. Even tho society told the rulers of radio to ban both songs and more, Riley, also known as the Party Animal wrote in a comment on Instagram.

Despite they called you ignorant and stupid behind you back and they also laugh at you, if you are removed from being that voice then, well, I really dont know. Bless up and nuff respect from a fan of your music. Btw, know that if you didnt do music the way you did, you made @kingbeenieman step up and both of you has propelled Dancehall globally. BE VERY PROUD MY DJ, Riley, who also served as Beenie Mans selector during the VERZUZ clash, said.

In a recent media interview, Bounty Killer had expressed regret for some of the violent lyrics embedded in many of his songs, and admitted that while some of his past actions and statements could be interpreted as condoning violent behaviour, he is now older and wiser and has learnt from his errors of the past.

I do learn from my mistakes  One of my mistakes was to sing seh murder informa, and people dead, and my gun nuh join lodge, and all these things, the One General had said.

I am growing, and I am trying to move past that. That is why I did an ad recently with Crime Stop I am going forward with Jamaica. I am for the country and for the people Im just a different man, Im not the same age, Im not at the same stage. But Im still Rodney. Im still the same person who born on 12 June 1972, he said.

So I dont think a person can change, Im surely rearranged. Im stepping different and Im seeing things different and Im going about things different. So people would call that a changebut Im same the man just smarter, wiser and bolder, the Callaloo Bed native had said.

After several users responded to his comment, Riley said the people who ridiculed Bounty and other Dancehall stars in the past, in most cases were jealous of them and their earning power.

Mi kinda feel a way when I saw the video. Jamaican Dancehall culture was never respect from DAY ONE. It really hurt me a swear fam. They never respect him, dem tease him about the way he speaks and his grammar but one the things they dont like is most ppl in dancehall never finish school or went to a so called good school nor college and make more money in 2hrs or less then those who went to the so called good schools and up deh in a year, Riley said.

Now I know ppl will see this and speak negative. But there is proof that education is relative and understanding your own common sense have many values in life. Sigh. Btw, ask what did they do to @bobmarley records so djs couldnt play them back in the day? GOD HELP US PLEASE  he said.

When one follower, imtheoneandonlyshae, said although she understood that when Bounty voiced the songs glorifying violence and crime, it was all about being lyrically bad, he was sure to have regrets due to the influence on these young shottas, Riley rose to the Warlords defence, indicating that those lyrics were simply art and not a directive from Bounty for people to engage in nefarious activities.

Like I said, to me its art. They are what made him who he is. Thousands of people gather in places large and small to hear djs play those same songs in a party, clash or festival. These song what he add added to the column of Dancehall. All those djs in and outside of Jamaica who has dem song deh on dub have gold. And ppl still cutting dem tunes today. But, i see your point. Blessed love, he stated.
India is reporting over 2 lakh new cases everyday since last three days. As India fight against Covid tsunami, states and union territories have ramped up testing and imposed fresh restriction, including partial lockdowns and night curfews, to curb the spread of infections.

India faces shortage of facilities amid massive rise in COVID-19 cases. India is reporting over 2 lakh new cases everyday since last three days. In the last 24 hours, 1,341 people lost their life due to the deadly virus. As India fight against Covid tsunami, states and union territories have ramped up testing and imposed fresh restriction, including partial lockdowns and night curfews, to curb the spread of infections. According to the Union Health Ministry, the active cases in the country have surpassed the 15-lakh mark.

The National Capital Delhi imposed weekend curfew starting from 17 April amid a covid surge in the state. 360 cases were filed and 164 people arrested by Delhi police for violating the weekend curfew norms in the state. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Tuesday had announced fortnightly long curfew-like restrictions but stopped short of calling it a lockdown. Many experts are speculating if weekend curfew would be of any much impact in Delhi since everything will go back to normal from Monday. On the first day over 1,900 people have been booked for allegedly violating the night curfew. The national capital recorded 24,375 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Friday, the highest single-day surge and if some necessary restrictions are not followed the cases would be skyrocketing.

With the lockdown possibility looming large, Mumbai records over 8K Covid cases in the last 24-hours and with such sudden spike several are debating whether to lockdown or unlockdown debate. Govt need to be show preparedness and restrict the unnecessary movement of people as they are putting themselves in grave risk and getting exposed to the incubators of viruses. Faced with a pandemic as well as a struggling economy, policymakers and experts are coming in terms with difficult choices on relaxing lockdown restrictions but without curbs and prohibitory orders the situation will be alarming in the next coming weeks.

Also Read: Bengal Assembly Elections LIVE Updates: 78.36% voter turnout recorded till 5:45 pm
A Neoclassical Gem for a Grieving Nation: Auckland War Memorial Museum in New Zealand

Larger Than Life: Art that inspires us through the ages

On April 25, 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. Their mission was to capture the Dardanelles, a strait in the northwest of the country, from the Ottomans, who were Germanys allies.

For over eight months, soldiers on both sides suffered greatly: 87,000 Ottoman Turks and 44,000 Allied forces, including 8,500 Australians and 2,779 New Zealanders, were killed. One in six of the New Zealanders sent to fight in Gallipoli died in battle.

Today, April 25 is ANZAC Day, a national day of mourning for Australians and New Zealanders to gather and commemorate their fellow countrymen who died to ensure peace for future generations. In New Zealand, one of the ways people honor their war heroes is by gathering for dawn services, the time when ANZAC troops landed in Gallipoli. The ceremonies held throughout the country are based on a traditional military funeral. In central Auckland, people gather outside the Auckland War Memorial Museum on the consecrated ground of the Court of Honorakin to a graveyard for all those who have fallenand the Cenotaph, an empty tomb.

Originally, the Auckland War Memorial Museum was created in 1929 to honor those who died in World War I, but now its a monument to all New Zealanders who have lost their lives in conflicts.

The Peoples Memorial

The Auckland War Memorial Museum was built for the people by the people. The building funds came from Aucklanders who donated after World War I in remembrance of their war dead.

In 1922, the Royal Institute of British Architects ran a competition for the building design, and the Auckland firm Grierson, Aimer, and Draffin won. The winning neoclassical design echoes a Greek or Roman temple. The buildings colonnades are nearly an exact copy of the Parthenons in Greece.

The original building has been extended twice, first in the 1950s and then more recently over the past two decades.

The decorations evoke an appreciation of patriotic valor. On the original buildings facade, scenes from World War I run along a frieze. And engraved above each window are battles where New Zealanders once fought.

And above the columns, engraved on the north facade entablature, is an excerpt from the profound funeral oration by the ancient Greek statesman Pericles, which was part of the annual public funeral for the dead of the Peloponnesian War. It states:

The whole earth is the sepulcher of famous men. They are commemorated not only by columns and inscriptions in their own country. But in foreign lands also by memorials graven not on stone, but on the hearts of men.

Auckland War Memorial Museum. (Ricardo Barata/Shutterstock)

Traditionally, the ANZAC Day dawn service concludes with the fourth verse of Laurence Binyons poem For the Fallen, which is inscribed on the above plaque: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old/ Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn/ At the going down of the sun and in the morning/ We will remember them. (Dan Campbell/Shutterstock)

The Auckland Cenotaph is a replica of Sir Edwin Luytens design of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The blueprints for the London Cenotaph were expensive, so one of the Auckland architects spent hours patiently watching movie theater newsreels, waiting for the London Cenotaph to appear, and sketching the design. (ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock)

An inscription on the Auckland Cenotaph. (Ricardo Barata/Shutterstock)

ANZAC Day: Every year on April 25, Australians and New Zealanders commemorate their fellow countrymen who died at war. In Auckland, New Zealand, soldiers gather for the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. (Auckland War Memorial Museum-Tamaki Paenga Hira)

People surround the Cenotaph for the Dawn Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on April 25, 2017. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

A veteran watches the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on April 25, 2017. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Poppies are placed on the Cenotaph following the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on April 25, 2017. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)

On April 25, 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, in Turkey. For eight months, they fought fiercely against the Ottomans, who were Germanys allies. (Ricardo Barata/Shutterstock)

Scenes from World War I run along the frieze at the top of the facade on the Auckland War Memorial Museum. (Bjankuloski06en/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Neoclassical architecture and native art can be seen throughout the Auckland War Memorial Museum. In the center, a frieze decorated with repeating Koru, an unfurling silver fern frond, can be seen. The silver fern is a New Zealand native and a motif that is traditionally used in Maori art to represent peace, growth, and strength. (EQRoy/Shutterstock)

The leadlight ceiling in the Auckland War Memorial Museum represents the coats of arms of all British dominions and colonies during World War I. (EQRoy/Shutterstock)

The stained glass in the World War Two Hall of Memories commemorates New Zealanders not represented in the memorial, such as nurses, and women who served in the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Also included are the elderly, women, and children who stayed at home. (ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock)
Four people have died after a light plane crashed into a field to the east of Paris earlier today.

A Robin DR400 aircraft that had taken off from Beauvais, northwest of the capital, later crashed into a field near Saint-Pathus.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident, the fire service added.

Four people have died after a light plane crashed into a field to the east of Paris earlier today

A Robin DR400 aircraft that had taken off from Beauvais, northwest of the capital, later crashed into a field near Saint-Pathus

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident, the fire service added

Reports from the Lognes-Emerainville airfield, which is about 28 miles to the east of Paris, suggested it was a training flight

Reports from the Lognes-Emerainville airfield, which is about 28 miles to the east of Paris, suggested it was a training flight.

The light aircraft was 'of French origin, limited by law to visual flights at altitudes of no more than 15,000 feet,' an airfield source said.

It crashed around 20 kilometres (13 miles) from France's biggest airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Pictured: Stock picture of a Robin DR400

The light aircraft was 'of French origin, limited by law to visual flights at altitudes of no more than 15,000 feet,' an airfield source said

It crashed around 20 kilometres (13 miles) from France's biggest airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle

Paramilitary search unit was dispatched to the scene, where a strong smell of kerosene filled the air, the fire service said

A search unit from the paramilitary gendarmerie police was dispatched to the scene, where a strong smell of kerosene filled the air, the fire service said.

Police and emergency services were seen at the site today as they investigated the scene.

It is currently unclear exactly why the light plane crashed.
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Aston Martin's stance over the aerodynamic rule changes for 2021, describing the complaint as "completely incomprehensible".

Even Mercedes' Toto Wolff, who is close to Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll and the Silverstone based outfit, suggested that the matter "should be left to rest now".

He is referring to Aston Martin boss Otmar Szafnauer's suggestion that the team is so upset about the 2021 aerodynamic rule changes that even legal action cannot be ruled out.

"It is legitimate for Aston Martin to ask what the motivation behind the rule change was," Wolff said. "I think perhaps the measures were aimed at us, and Aston Martin is now the collateral damage."

However, Wolff also moved to ease the heat of the affair.

"As a multiple world champion team, we don't want to immediately cry foul about a rule change," he told Sky Deutschland. "But it has been a clear disadvantage for the cars with a low-rake concept.

"As a team, we've also lost dramatically. If you then consider that Aston Martin is already a big and important brand and they are suddenly nowhere, then I understand where they are coming from."

Red Bull's Dr Marko, though, is far less understanding.

"This story is completely incomprehensible," he charged.

"When we dominated, there were two or three rule changes per season. Besides, Racing Point and Aston Martin also agreed to these changes, so I cannot understand the argument at all.

"Besides, they have a second Mercedes car, so they just have to make similar adaptations as Mercedes did. You can see that the flatter rake can also be successful," Marko added.

However, Wolff says that although Lewis Hamilton is on pole at Imola, Red Bull still has the fastest car.

"Lewis is really exceptional," he told the Austrian broadcaster ORF after qualifying, "because I think our current equipment is not at the Red Bull level.

"Lewis makes the difference as he doesn't make any mistakes."

(GMM)
Stakeholders at a consultative meeting on the passage of a broadcasting law to regulate broadcasting activities in the country have unanimously agreed that the time for such a law is more rife than ever.

According to them, the lack of a law to regulate the activities of the media was causing a lot of threats to the morale fibre of society due to the sharp rise in content such as portrayal of money doubling activities, rituals, pornography and the sale and advertisement of unapproved products, among others.





Regulations



The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, said the commission was constrained in ensuring that media organisations did the right thing, all we can do is appeal to them. Initially they agree but by the next day, you see them going back to their old ways as that was their only means of survival.



In recent times, people expect so much from the commission even though we live in an era of the rule of law and due process and not arbitrariness in taking decisions, he said.



Recounting some of the difficulties that the commission had faced, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said over the years, it had tried to translate some of its guidelines into regulations but faced obstacles as the government had repealed the criminal libel law and, therefore, it seemed as though it was giving with its right hand and taking away with the left hand.



It was, therefore, not prudent to translate the standards of broadcasting into regulations, he indicated.



Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh, himself a renowned journalist, stressed the need for a road map to direct broadcasting in the country, emphasising that the NMC was ready to support the passage of such a law.



We should let our MPs understand that the law is a priority that we want and, therefore, they must pass it, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said.



PHOTO: Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (left), Minister of Information, interacting with some stakeholders during the meeting. Among them are from left: Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Mr Andrew Danso Aninkora, President of GIBA, and Mr Affail Monney (right), President of the GJA. Picture: EBOW HANSON.



Parliament must act



The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Godfred Yeboah-Dame, said the Constitution itself recognised the need for reasonable limitations to be imposed by law based on public order and reality on broadcasting in the country.



He blamed the lack of passage of the bill on the inertia of Parliament ,saying it was responsible for the absence of the legislation which gave expression to the reasonable limitation.



According to him, the diversity and complexity of expression and broadcast in today's world, made it imperative to regulate the media.



He pledged his ministry's unflinching support to ensure the passage of the bill into law.



Regulate activities



The Minister of Communications and Digitisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, in her submission, said the passage of the law was long overdue.



She said what was happening in the current media landscape was unfortunate and thus there was the urgent need to regulate activities to bring sanity into the system.



The minister said working together, we will be able to craft a solution that will be acceptable to everyone and that it was absolutely critical to have a broadcasting regulation to guide the content that was produced.



She was of the view that since social media and traditional media had a thin line separating them, the rules which guide traditional media must be crafted in a way that will guide new media as well.



The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in an opening remark, said over the years, the country had worked to deepen its media freedom as majority of the people supported media freedom.



He said in the same vein, it was imperative that everyone helped to curb the emerging threats to media freedom in the country.



He enumerated some of the threats to include the sharp rise in content described as unwholesome by citizens.



Mr Nkrumah, who said he was of the belief that there was room to address the challenges, called on all to support efforts at passing the bill.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Ive written before about the evolving language and how newspapers are often slower to adjust than society at large.

We now use the singular they when subjects prefer it and capitalize the B in Black. Other choices are more subtle, and sometimes the change occurs without notice or comment.

Prison guards, for instance, prefer to be called correctional officers, which they believe better reflects their role. Id say we use both, depending on context.

Some changes reflect changing societal norms: newspapers nowadays typically dont use words like cripple, for example. The word handicap has similarly fallen by the wayside.

Journalists have a responsibility to bust through jargon of any kind to ensure clarity and accuracy. News organizations have moved away from officer-involved shooting, which means plainly a police officer shot someone.

We translate police jargon, changing adult males to men, juveniles to teens, canine unit to police dog.

A more recent trend in newswriting is considering the unintended harm done by labels.

Across many subjects, people first language is preferred. The Associated Press Stylebook says this as it relates to disabilities:

When possible, ask people how they prefer to be described (when the description is relevant). Some people, for example, refer to themselves as a disabled person or simply disabled, using identity-first language. Others prefer person with a disability, using person-first language. In describing groups of people, use person-first language.

Last week, the Marshall Project introduced a style guide of sorts, a primer on how the online news organization would refer to people going forward. In a preamble to its guide, it said:

Reporters and editors have long believed that terms such as inmate, felon and offender are clear, succinct and neutral. But a vocal segment of people affected by the criminal justice system argue that these words  and any other words that define human beings by their crimes and punishments  are dehumanizing.

Journalists for the Marshall Project, which focuses on criminal justice reporting, sought input from incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. While mindful that clarity is foremost in journalism, they acknowledged the stigma and material consequences of incarceration are so deep that what seems like a basic descriptor to journalists becomes a permanent, potentially life-altering label.

Labels in general are a tricky area for journalists. Readers often point out they feel we are quick to label something conservative but less likely to call something liberal.

I would say weve long had a mantra to describe people, their actions and their views, rather than use labels.

So what does this look like in practice? The Marshall Project says it will use use people in prison or similar language rather than inmates. The Oregon Department of Corrections refers to its prisoners as adults in custody or AICs. That is exactly the sort of jargon journalists should cut through, and we do.

Typically, we have used inmates or prisoners. Will we adopt the Marshall Projects recommendations? I cant say for sure just yet.

I have asked our crime reporters and editors to discuss this with our style and diversity committees. Many newspapers follow Associated Press style, for consistency. But many, like our newsroom, have their own style rules to ensure similar consistency for local references.

Many cities have a Skid Row. We have Skid Road. In logging country, we have caulk boots, which are often referred to elsewhere as cork boots. Speaking of which, we say loggers not lumberjacks. Out here we say something is kitty-cornered from something else, where Merriam-Websters dictionary prefers cater-cornered.

I am sure you can think of regionalisms common in other parts of the country. Typically, newspapers will reflect local usage  again, for clarity and understanding.

Ill let you know what we decide on criminal justice terms. Do you have a favorite language pet peeve? Do we misuse a term of art you are familiar with? What jargon grates on your ear?

We wont be perfect on any of these style rules. Journalism is a human endeavor and we sometimes fall short.

For its part, the Marshall Project concludes: As with all style rules, these are fluid. Language evolves and we will respond as it changes. As we do so, we will be guided by people-first principles and the journalistic duties of clarity and avoiding euphemism.

I agree on both counts. Language is constantly changing. The aforementioned Merriam-Webster set teeth on edge last year when it recognized irregardless as a word. Its definition? Regardless.

Hey, dont kill the messenger, as we like to say in the newspaper world. As for Merriam-Websters editors, they wrote in a blog post, We do not make the English language, we merely record it.

I would say newspapers must do more than simply record words people  and institutions -- are using. They must always look for obfuscation, lack of precision, and outright inaccuracy. Journalists also must consider, as they often do, what their choice of words truly conveys.
A former minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Inusah Fuseini, says although mining contributes to the development of the country, it must not be done to the detriment of the environment.



According to him, unregulated small-scale mining destroyed the environment, polluted water bodies and posed health challenges to the people in areas they were done.



"Past governments have attempted to deal with small-scale mining, all with little success; the recent one was the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Small-Scale Mining," he said.



Mr. Fuseini said this when he chaired the first plenary session of the just-ended National Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining which was held at the Accra International Conference Centre.



Theme



The two-day event was on the theme: "Sustainable Small-Scale Mining for National Development."



It was attended by a host of personalities and groups, including chiefs, representatives of political parties, Parliamentary Select Committees on Lands and Forestry, Mines and Energy and Environment, civil society organizations, and industry players.



The dialogue was opened last Wednesday by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who among other things called for consensus-building on issues regarding mining.



On day two of the dialogue, the sector Minister, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, hailed the bipartisan support lent to the event.



Discussants



Discussants at the plenary session identified the lack of enforcement of laws against unregulated mining as one of the key factors responsible for illegal mining across the country.



Moreover, they said influence from highly placed people in the institutions regulating the mining sector was another factor.



The discussants who said this were a representative of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Nii Laryea Sowah; a representative of the Ministerial Committee to Develop a Blueprint for Small-Scale Mining,



Mr Benjamin Aryee; the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Mr Martin Ayisi; the Finance Director of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, and the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Mr Suleman Koney.



Speakers



Setting the tone for the conversation, Mr Sowah said a poor licensing regime had resulted "in the mess that we find ourselves in".



In other jurisdictions, he said the regulatory authorities ensured that they decentralised the licensing of small-scale miners in order to regulate their activities.



For his part, Mr Ayisi said getting viable places for small-scale mining that was the main challenge.



The commission, he said, had designated over 4,000 square kilometres of lands, but it was just not enough to say those were places for small-scale mining.



Mr Ayisi said getting small-scale miners viable places to work was what the country had not done.



He said there were instances where there were allocated places but after some time, they moved to the concessions of people.



Mr Opoku said the major consideration of small-scale miners was getting viable and mineable places.



That, he said, was what was responsible for them moving to large-scale concessions of other people.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained two individuals who plotted a military coup in Belarus and an assassination attack on President Alexander Lukashenko, the FSB Public Relations Center said on Saturday."In a special operation conducted by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation alongside the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus (KGB), the illegal activities of Yuri Leonidovich Zyankovich, a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic of Belarus, and Belarusian citizen Alexander Feduta were prevented, as those had been scheming to stage a military coup in Belarus in accordance with the tried and tested color revolution scenario with the involvement of local and Ukrainian nationalists, as well as the physical removal of President Alexander Lukashenko," the FSB said, TASS reports.

The FSB said, "according to proactive information received from the Belarusian partners, in private chats of an internet messenger the ideologists of radical opposition Zyankovich and Feduta organized discussion of a plan of armed uprising in Belarus and decided to hold an in-person meeting in Moscow, using available measures of secrecy, with the opposition-minded generals of the republics Armed Forces."
President Joe Biden announced he will withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks plotted by al-Qaida that precipitated the war. Ive concluded its time to end Americas longest war, Biden said. Its time for American troops to come home.

Cartoonist Drew Sheneman of the Newark Star-Ledger captured the risks of the decision by depicting a U.S. infantryman standing atop a precarious tower of wooden blocks. Critics said Bidens decision would lead to the toppling of the Afghan government and resurgence of the Taliban. Supporters said U.S. objectives to dislodge terrorists from a safe haven and stand up the Afghan security force had long ago been achieved.

The weeks news also was filled with news about the violent deaths of Black men at the hands of police. After a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis, Daunte Wright was shot by a police officer who claimed she meant to fire a taser instead of a gun. The incident happened not too far from the site of the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer accused of killing George Floyd during an arrest last year. Before the week was out, Chicago police were facing criticism for last months fatal shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo after a foot chase. Police said the boy was armed with a gun but the video showed he had dropped it. Chicago Tribune cartoonist Scott Stantis depicts the citys grief in a riff on Michelangelos Pieta

Other topics in the cartoons include the back-and-forth over Bidens infrastructure proposal; a temporary suspension of Johnson & Johnsons Covid-19 vaccine over concerns about blood clots affecting a small number of recipients; and the death of Britains Prince Philip.

Cartoons were drawn by Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
Three people were killed in what Louisiana State Police described as a road rage crash in Jefferson Parish on Saturday evening.

The crash killed 49-year-old Paul Ferrara of New Orleans, and 31-year-old Raish-Nia Wright and 11-year-old Dezerra Wright, both of Tennessee.

Police said it happened at 5:47 p.m. on La. 18 near La. 541 in Avondale.

A 2010 Ford F-150 pickup was traveling eastbound on La 18, with a 2002 Dodge Durango -- driven by Ferrara -- following closely behind at a high speed, troopers said. As the two-lane road became four lanes, Ferrara's Durango moved to the left lane alongside the pickup, then struck it on the side.

Ferrara's Durango then rotated into the westbound lanes, causing it to crash into a 2016 Hyundai Elantra -- driven by Raish-Nia Wright -- traveling in the opposite direction, police said.

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Ferrara, Raish-Nia Wright and Dezerra Wright were all pronounced dead on the scene. Another 11-year-old child in Wright's car was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The driver of the F-150 was uninjured in the crash.

Ferrara and Wright were both wearing seatbelts; state police said they don't yet know whether the two 11-year-olds were properly restrained.

Troopers said the crash is still under investigation, and toxicology samples will be taken from all drivers.
NORTH CHARLESTON  As development shapes up across the Lowcountry, North Charleston sits at the center of it all.

The city is just north of the Charleston peninsula, which is running out of space for expensive new apartments. The state's third-largest municipality and leader in retail sales, North Charleston is home to major industries, such as Boeing and Mercedes-Benz.

The city is primed for a number of large-scale development projects, including plans to widen Interstates 526 and 26, redevelop much of the former Charleston Naval Base and install a mass-transit line.

Growth increases the demand for new apartments. But as the city gets more attention as a desirable place to live, North Charleston grapples with another problem facing cities across the region: expensive housing.

Throughout North Charleston, brightly colored apartments tower above the older communities that have long anchored the city. In a noticeable contrast, upscale and luxury-style dwellings sit beside working-class and low-income neighborhoods, where many who've long lived in the city can't afford to live in these newer apartments.

The Post and Courier looked at rent costs for seven of North Charleston's newest apartment complexes. Federal standards indicate housing that costs more than 30 percent of annual income is unaffordable. Using that standard, while also considering the city's median income, prices for one-bedroom and two-bedroom units at the seven complexes are not affordable to many people in the city.

The median household income in the city is $45,510, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. That means a couple should be setting aside $1,138 a month for rent. However, rent for two-bedroom units for the seven complexes ranges from $1,175 to $2,360.

Housing is also expensive for people living alone. The median income for a single person is $26,512. That suggests a person should be paying $662 a month. But one-bedroom units range from $965 to $1,985 in the seven new apartment complexes.

Young families needing a three-bedroom unit could spend over $2,000 a month.

All of this in a city that leads the nation in evictions, indicating that many residents struggle to afford even the most affordable dwellings.

The high prices are raising questions about who the new development is meant to attract.

Amethyst Ganaway, 30, grew up in North Charlestons Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood. Since graduating from the University of South Carolina, Ganaway has established a solid career as a chef and freelance writer.

She lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a city five times bigger than North Charleston. She said the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $800 to $900.

Ganaway decided to move back to North Charleston and started looking at houses for rent. She was surprised to see a single-family house in Accabee, a neighborhood thats struggled with crime on the south end, renting for $1,300 a month.

It blew my mind," she said.

She started looking for an apartment and found a one-bedroom unit in Windsor Hill off Ashley Phosphate for a little over a grand. Though Ganaway can afford it, she knows that many of North Charleston residents are underserved and working-class, and they couldn't pay to live in the citys newer apartments.

It seems really clear that the people who have been here, who are from here, kind of arent welcomed here," Ganaway said.

'Pushing people out'

Several apartments have been built within North Charleston in recent years, including:

The Factory at Garco, O'Hear Avenue: $1,295-$1,475 monthly for one bedroom

Abberly Crossing: Patriot Boulevard: $1,046-$1,985 monthly for one bedroom

Highland Exchange: Hanahan Road: $999-$1,119 monthly for one bedroom

Atlantic on the Avenue, Rivers Avenue: $995-$1,711 monthly for one bedroom

Ingleside Apartments, Blue House Road: $965-$1,110 monthly for one bedroom

Crescent Pointe Apartments, Crescent Pointe Drive: $1,150 monthly for one bedroom

Link Apartments Mixson, Mixson Avenue: $998-$1,490 monthly for one bedroom

The neighborhoods are scattered across the city, but several are south of Northwoods Mall, on the eastern side of the city.

Along Rivers Avenue, a busy thoroughfare that runs on the eastern edge of North Charleston, some of the new multifamily units almost look out of place. One new complex, a cluster of swank apartments surrounded by a wooden fence, contains an outdoor pool, fitness center and dog park. It sits beside a community with low-wealth residents.

Mayor Keith Summey said prices have skyrocketed in that area, where development has been a focus.

"It's gone up dramatically," Summey said. "It's not good that it's gotten that high."

Expensive rents pose a problem for North Charleston natives who grew up here and want to stay in their hometown.

Caitlin Rebuck, 30, was raised in North Charleston in a neighborhood near Northwoods Mall. She moved to Park Circle five years ago and works as a school counselor in Moncks Corner.

Though her home isn't close to work, Rebuck likes Park Circle because it's not far from downtown Charleston and because it's near family.

"Im close to my parents," she said.

Rebuck pays $1,500 for a two-bedroom apartment with her partner. But it's become too expensive, so she has decided to move.

With a teacher's salary, "it's really hard to find anywhere thats affordable to live," she said. When crime recently began to increase in the area, she said she could no longer rationalize paying the high rent.

Rebuck looked for a new place to live and settled on an apartment in Summerville.

I have not found any complex in North Charleston ... that would be in the same price range as where Im living," she said. "I feel like were just pushing people out by raising rent and housing costs.

Why is it so expensive?

Experts say the cost of housing in North Charleston is the result of many factors, including high construction and property costs. The area's low wages don't help, keeping some apartments out of reach for many. Experts also say the city is likely seeing the ripple effect of higher prices in downtown Charleston.

North Charleston is experiencing an offload of development due to limited space on the Charleston peninsula, where historic preservation and a focus on tourism also limit potential for massive development, said Bryan Grady, chief research officer at S.C. Housing.

In addition to its proximity to downtown, the fact that North Charleston is slated to host a large portion of the incoming Lowcountry Rapid Transit Line also makes the city attractive to developers, he said.

Link Apartments Mixson, which is in Park Circle and owned by Grubb Properties, said the company is concerned about affordability.

The luxury-style apartments at Mixson are adjacent to Liberty Hill, North Charlestons oldest neighborhood and a historic African American community founded by freedmen. Liberty Hill still points to that history, featuring three prominent Black churches.

But Mixson and the commercial revitalization of East Montague Avenue have raised concerns about gentrification, and whether the new development will raise the cost of living in Liberty Hill.

The company uses a revenue management tool to determine prices at Mixson. The tool is common in the multifamily industry to generate rental rates, using a number of data points, including the apartment's vacancies and comparable properties in the neighborhood.

To help with rising costs, Link Apartments Mixson has a companywide, long-term resident program that caps rent increases for residents who live in its communities for at least five years.

"Housing affordability is a significant problem across the country, including North Charleston," said Emily Ethridge, spokeswoman for Grubb Properties. "With our Link Apartments brand, we endeavor to create new multifamily communities in urban infill locations at price points that are more accessible to people in the workforce."

Low wages are also an issue.

Among 30 most common occupations in the state, 20 have an average hourly wage below $17.30, which is whats needed to afford a basic two-bedroom apartment in South Carolina without being cost-burdened, S.C. Housing's 2021 Housing Needs Assessment Report said. Those occupations include fast-food workers, retail sales workers, registered nurses and servers.

Wages are definitely part of the puzzle," Grady said. "Thought needs to be put into how do we make sure people who work in our communities can afford to live there.

To that end, the city of North Charleston several years ago raised wages to ensure that all full-time city employees make at least $15 an hour. The goal was to help people afford housing in the city. It was also meant to encourage businesses to offer a similar base wage.

"I don't think I can ask other companies to do it if we're not willing to live up to that mark ourselves," Summey said.

What's being done

Several steps are being taken by developers, nonprofit groups and the city to create more affordable, multifamily units.

The city OK'd a recent zoning decision to pave the way for the Greenwood Townhome development near Remount Road. Monthly mortgage payments for the units will be around $900 a month, the mayor said.

The city also is in the early planning stages of an affordable housing project in the U.S. Highway 78 corridor.

The North Charleston Housing Authority has worked to address the issue by recently issuing bonds to finance the $9.4 million renovation of Filbin Creek Apartments. The apartments will be preserved as affordable housing for 20 years, said Franklin Scott, the Housing Authority's executive director.

Along the Rivers Avenue thoroughfare, the city plans to create a special zoning district in preparation for a bus rapid-transit system. The zoning will encourage developers to keep some of multifamily units affordable.

But some feel the city can do more.

North Charleston's neighbor to the south, the city of Charleston, has had some successes.

In 2017, a voter-approved $20 million fund made way for Charleston to lend money to developers who to build or redevelop affordable rental housing.

When asked if North Charleston would consider a similar approach, Summey said that decision would have to come before City Council.

His recommendation would be for something like that to be done in conjunction with the North Charleston Housing Authority.

"I dont want to get in the housing business," he said. "I dont think thats our role.

Omar Muhammad, president of the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities, applauded some of the city's efforts in zoning and wages, but criticized the mayor's viewpoint.

It's unfortunate to hear those types of statements," he said. "It's definitely the citys business to get into the affordable housing issue.

The region is continuing to grow.

People like Ganaway, Rebuck and others want to live and invest in the city where they grew up. They have family and friends in this city. It's home. But as North Charleston becomes more expensive, these longtime residents may be forced farther out in search of more affordable places.
Flood water from the Comite River rushes over Greenwell Springs Road, background, and down Cherryl Drive near Central midday Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The water was several feet deep and moving quickly just east of Comite Baptist Church and North Flannery Road. Greenwell Springs Road was closed Friday night and Saturday.
Kendall Jenner put on an ultra stylish display on Saturday night as she grabbed dinner in West Hollywood.

The 25-year-old runway maven was seen arriving to the celeb-friendly restaurant Craig's, which is frequented by the likes of Katy Perry and Paris Hilton.

Jenner gracefully slid out of her luxury vehicle's backseat rocking a pair of high-waisted black trousers with flared legs.

Stylish: Kendall Jenner put on an ultra stylish display on Saturday night as she grabbed dinner in West Hollywood

She styled her flattering bottoms with a checker print crochet top that she left slightly unbuttoned in order to showcase her toned midriff.

The KUWTK star slipped her feet into a pair of square toed heels and carried her essentials in a black leather handbag.

Kendall wore her brunette hair parted down the middle and accentuated her features with a bit of peach toned blush and generous amount of lip gloss.

Keeping accessories to a minimum, Jenner sported a single gold ring on her left hand.

Hotspot: The 25-year-old runway maven was seen arriving to the celeb-friendly restaurant Craig's, which is frequented by the likes of Katy Perry and Paris Hilton

A little flare: Jenner gracefully slid out of the luxury vehicle's backseat rocking a pair of high-waisted black trousers with flared legs

Before entering the restaurant, Kendall made sure to throw on a face mask in order to adhere to California's strict COVID-19 protocols.

After dining, Jenner exited Craig's in the company of a bodyguard who politely carried her leather jacket, as well as a bottle of her very own 818 Tequila, for her.

Removing her mask from her face, the model eagerly made her way into the backseat of her chauffeured vehicle and headed home.

Statement piece: She styled her flattering bottoms with a checker print crochet top that she left slightly unbuttoned in order to showcase her toned midriff

Kendall's night out comes just one day after her and the other four Kardashian-Jenner sisters unloaded several group shots to their Instagram pages.

'the bands back together,' captioned Kendall's 23-year-old sister Kylie on one image which showed the stylish quintet hanging out together on beige couch.

Kylie, Kendall, Khloe, 36, Kourtney, 42, and Kim, 40, eagerly posed up a storm on the large sofa as they modeled their busty retro chic outfits for the camera.

Sister squad: Kendall's night out comes just one day after her and the other four Kardashian-Jenner sisters unloaded several group shots to their Instagram pages

All together: 'the bands back together,' captioned Kendall's 23-year-old sister Kylie on one image which showed the stylish quintet hanging out together on beige couch

Kendall selected a pair of snakeskin print boots to go with her sleek orange leather trousers and tantalizing strapless top.

Meanwhile, Khloe was decked out in a skintight jumpsuit with a polka dot print reminiscent of the 1970s.

Kim slipped into a maroon mini-dress that showed off her knockout legs which she emphasized with stiletto boots.

Stunners: Kylie, Kendall, Khloe, 36, Kourtney, 42, and Kim, 40, eagerly posed up a storm on the large sofa as they modeled their busty retro chic outfits for the camera

Kylie was a busty sensation as she settled onto the couch in a black peekaboo cocktail dress that flashed her cleavage.

Finally, Kourtney selected a slightly sheer white crop top in order to show off her enviably chiseled midriff to its full advantage, while also rocking a pair of gleaming black sequined slacks that turned into fishnets near the hems to a dazzling effect.

Prior to unloading their sister squad on their Instagram following, Kendall appeared on her Instagram Story in a more humble ensemble.

Dressing down: Prior to unloading their sister squad on their Instagram following, Kendall appeared on her Instagram Story in a more humble ensemble

'sleepy girl' she captioned the post that showed her in a flannel shirt with her hair pulled back.

The family's long-running E! show Keeping Up With The Kardashians is in the midst of airing its 20th and final season on the network.

Once that show ends the Kardashian-Jenner women are heading over to a mystery project distributed by Hulu in America and Star abroad.
The Morrison government is strongly supportive and exploring the prospect of bringing cutting edge vaccine manufacturing onshore to ensure Australia can combat present, and future, pandemics.

The plan could set Australia up as a regional manufacturing hub over the next decade for mRNA vaccines, and could allow the highly effective Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to be made here - as well as future cancer drugs and other vaccines.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives to receive his second Pfizer dose. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Only a handful of countries including the United States, Belgium and Germany are able to make these new vaccines, which must be stored at ultra-low temperatures and involves a very complex manufacturing process.

Health Minister Greg Hunt told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age the government is strongly supportive of onshore mRNA manufacturing.
tvN's "Vincenzo" has shared dropped another behind-the-scenes footage of the recent episodes. This time, it can be clearly seen that Song Joong Ki is not one to hold back a compliment when he truly sees something pretty and that he has an infectious, comedic personality that can make working with him quite fun.

Song Joong Ki Admires Jeon Yeo Bin's Beauty in Hanbok

In a scene where Song Joong Ki had to pretend to be a shaman, he has to work with Jeon Yeo Bin in a beautiful hanbok.

The actor however, had to take time and express his admiration when he saw the actress in the traditional Korean wear. In the clip, Song Joong Ki can be heard offscreen telling the Jeon Yeo Bin she looks so good in this clothing she should star in a historical drama one day. "You look so pretty," he added.



Jeon Yeo Bin good-naturedly accepted the compliment. Smiling, the actress bows down playfully in the actor's direction.

The new behind-the-scenes also revealed more of Song Joong Ki's playful side. When Song Joong Ki becomes possessed for the scene, he went off-character and attempted to pull off Jun Jin Gi's sock, sending all those in the scene in a huge fit of laughter after the scene ends.

Watch the whole behind-the-scenes video below:

"Vincenzo" Netflix Unexpected Delay

"Vincenzo" is also airing in Netflix, which means it has a worldwide following. However, it was recently announced that there would be a delay in showing its episode 17.

It was confirmed that episode 17 of the hit Korean series would not be airing in its usual slot on tvN; the national television network in South Korea, which therefore means a delay probably in Netlfix as well. The reason? Nothing personal or scandalous - but the drama producers only wanting to make sure their subsequent episodes are of top-notch quality, if the show can get any more better.

The drama's producers explained that the short break was "in order to improve the quality of the drama."

It is unclear how exactly the producers plan to do that, or if this specifically involves direct re-shoots of particular scenes, but it is more likely include a change in the postproduction. The show has four episodes left, so there might be editing in any of these or all four of them.

Vincenzo Hitting Many Right Notes

The show truly has a following. It has been described as the hottest show right now, which is not that surprising, since most of Song Joong Ki's projects always ended up with positive reviews. According to Korea Portal, this is proven in the ratings game. For the second week of April, Song Joong Ki's "Vincenzo" took over "The Penthouse 2" at No.1 spot. The show achieved a whopping 10.572% nationwide and 11.6% in Seoul. Song Joong Ki plays a lawyer and an Italian mafia consigliere in this hit show.

Even though there are four episodes late, it is certainly not too late to start watching - since there's the ever reliable Netflix.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Annie Dee
Gaze through the glass and observe: that terrifying menace to democracy, that elusive predator of the polling place, that enemy of integrity whose insatiable appetite for electoral participation you have been taught to fear and loathe.

Behold! The Fraudulent Voter.

Emblazoned with the scarlet letter F, we present Crystal Mason  46, mother of three, grandmother of three, and ostensibly, voter fraud mastermind who served 11 months in prison after voting illegally in Tarrant County in 2016.

How did she pull off this most shameful of dastardly deeds? Did she conspire? Accept a bribe? Tamper with some elderly nursing home residents mail-in ballot?

No. She drove through the rain to vote at Baptist Tabernacle Church in Rendon, near Fort Worth. Her name wasnt on the list. She says a poll worker suggested she cast something called a provisional ballot, which would count only if she was deemed eligible to vote. She carefully scrawled out all the required information from her ID card. She left and didnt give it a second thought.

Until months later. With Donald Trump in the White House making claims that widespread voter fraud had cost him the popular vote, Mason found herself arrested and charged with voting illegally.

In the end, her vote didnt help Tarrant County go blue. In fact, her vote didnt count at all. Mason was deemed ineligible because she was still on supervised release tied to a 2011 federal tax conviction. Mason and her then-husband had inflated tax refunds filed on behalf of clients. It was a terrible mistake, she says, and she paid the consequences: five years in prison.

That was the hardest thing ever in my life, to be taken away from my kids, Mason said in an interview. So, I had a goal. I had a plan. I came out, I came out running. Show my kids that even though you hit a bump in the road, you can still get back on track.

At the time of the 2016 election, she had completed her time in prison but had two more years left on federal supervised release. She maintains she didnt know that she had to wait until that period was over before she could register to vote again in Texas.

The law didnt care. She was convicted in a one-day bench trial of a second-degree felony. She was torn from her children and the life she was trying to rebuild.

She went from a confused voter to a useful prop in a carnival magic act, one in which the Texas GOP thrills its trembling audience by making the phantom of voter fraud appear out of thin air.

Except, Mason isnt a side show act. Shes a person. With a family. With flaws, yes. But also with the right to make an honest mistake if thats all it was. Shes currently on bond awaiting an appeal of her voter fraud conviction and lives in fear of going back to prison.

Think about waking up every day with your freedom on the line, she said. Imagine my mental state knowing its a possibility that I might leave my kids.

The grand illusion of voter fraud may be entertaining at times, easy fodder for late-night comics and captivating to true-believing GOP voters, but it isnt a victimless act. Although people are rarely prosecuted because voter fraud is nearly non-existent in this country, the Republican pursuit of it ensnares ordinary people, largely minorities, whose lives are interrupted if not upended, whose freedom may be deprived with a jail sentence, whose minor errors are depicted as subversive threats.

All this is happening for one reason: to justify harsh election restrictions targeting minority voters who tend to vote Democratic. Indeed, the American Civil Liberties Union estimates that Black and Latino voters, most of them women, have made up 72 percent of Attorney General Ken Paxtons voter fraud prosecutions since 2015.

Its part of a century-long scheme to preserve white conservative hegemony in state politics.

But do step right up, folks, and observe  not the reigning villain of Republican imaginations, but the victim of a cruel reality.

When Mason voted in 2016, she was recently out of prison, enrolled in beauty school and ready to take up her civic responsibility, which her mother had always taught her included voting.

My mama, soon as the kids turn 18, she got the voter registration cards, shes taking you to get your IDs and stuff, Mason said. She holds those cards like theyre gold.

What Mason didnt know and what no one told her, a probation official confirmed at trial, is that because she hadnt finished supervised release, she wasnt allowed to vote.

She was so sure that the judge would agree it was all just a big misunderstanding that she took her attorneys advice and opted for a bench trial  with no jury, just a judge deciding her fate.

Turns out, though, Texas law doesnt care whether a voter intended to deceive anyone. All prosecutors had to prove is that Mason knew two things simultaneously: that she was still under federal supervision and that she was casting a vote. Case closed.

On appeal, she argued that not only was she unaware of the rules but that the provisional ballot should have protected her from prosecution because it worked just as intended: allowing officials to check her vote and to toss it out when they deemed her ineligible. The courts disagreed, saying provisional ballots are only meant for eligible voters, to verify such things as whether the ballot was cast at the right place.

In upholding Masons conviction, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals acknowledged that the evidence does not show that she voted for any fraudulent purpose, but that her motive didnt matter. Not knowing the law is no excuse.

While that may be the letter of the law, we cant imagine its the spirit of the Texas election code, touted repeatedly by lawmakers as a weapon to root out actual fraud. Although far too often these efforts are aimed at individual voters rather than politicos who stand to gain the most from stealing an election.

In a cruel twist, Masons illegal voting conviction violated the terms of her federal supervised release and landed her back in jail for 10 more months even though she would have otherwise remained free during her state appeal.

Its this very kind of circular punishment, where shes getting jail time on both sides, says Thomas Buser-Clancy, a Texas attorney for the ACLU involved in the case. She never should have been prosecuted.

Masons provisional ballot was one of more than 67,000 cast in the 2016 Texas election, according to federal data. More than 50,000 of them were rejected, but Mason was the only one prosecuted.

In a hopeful development, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recently agreed to review Masons case and will decide if she remains free or if she goes back to prison for five years.

It should be an easy decision.

Mason doesnt belong back in prison any more than she belongs in a political sideshow. She should have checked her eligibility before she voted, but the system caught the mistake and protected the integrity of the election. By continuing to punish her so harshly, the state shines a light on its real motives: intimidating voters.

Fortunately, it didnt work on Mason or her family. Her kids not only got fired up  they got involved, eventually as volunteers for Beto ORourkes 2018 close-but-no-cigar U.S. Senate campaign.

They were walking up and down the street, encouraging people to vote, telling people my story, she says, noting that shes been telling everyone that voting is the best way to thwart the election fraud trap.

Im walking on faith, and Im trusting God, she says. I know that the right thing is going to be the outcome.

Thats never a foregone conclusion in Texas. But if the good Lord and the folks on the Criminal Court of Appeals want to give justice a hand, we urge them to step right up.
Coal mining in the Hunter Valley is set to decline, possibly rapidly, in coming decades, according to the NSW Treasury, market analysis and one of the regions biggest miners.

The downward trend is at odds with rhetoric from candidates vying for votes in the crucial Upper Hunter byelection, with all parties but the Greens and one independent talking up the industry. Coal companies are also pushing for approvals for new mines that may never be fully developed.

The Mount Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter. Credit:Janie Barrett

Nationals leader and NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro last week described coal as a forever industry in the Upper Hunter, while Labor leader Jodi McKay described coal as the powerhouse of the economy of the state.

However, analysis released by Treasury as part of its intergenerational report shows that while mining itself is the states most productive industry  extracting $225 in gross value added output per hour worked  the outlook for coal is grim.
"Assam has been a hotbed of insurgency over the last few decades. Various parts of the state have been under the strict vigilance of the Indian Army. However, with continued efforts over time, many of the insurgency affected districts are gradually returning to normal," army press office said in a statement.

With incidents of violence at their lowest in nearly three decades, deployed troops of the Red Horns Division are being withdrawn from active insurgency (CI) operations from some districts of western Assam.

The Army has vacated the large Hatsingimari camp in South Salmara.

Camps in Mankachar has also been vacated.

"The camp has been successfully handed over and will now be administered by the local civil administration and the security forces," an army officer in Western Assam said.

The camp's area of responsibility has seen no incidents in the recent past, the officer said.

"Local populace and Ex-servicemen were also present at the time of troops moving out of Company Operating Base. The moving out of the troops was welcomed by the local populace and they thanked the Army for their contribution towards achieving peace and restoring normalcy in the district," they added.

This area has witnessed high pitch insurgency by the ULFA and the Bodo rebel groups in the past.

"When Bangladesh sheltered northeast Indian rebels, these districts were the favourite ingress-egress route of the rebels. But after Hasina government cracked down against them, the area became less volatile," said retired IN official Benu Ghosh who has served in the area.

--IANS

subir/skp/
 Flash

China has expressed "grave concern" over Japan's decision to dump nuclear wastewater into the sea and urges the Japanese government to take a responsible attitude toward its own people and the international community, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said.

Despite opposition from its own people and doubts from the international community, the Japanese government unilaterally made the decision without fully consulting neighboring countries and the international community and without exhausting the means of safe disposal, the ministry told Xinhua.

"As a close neighbor of Japan and a stakeholder, we are seriously concerned about this decision," said a spokesperson with the ministry.

It is hoped that the Japanese government will conduct further in-depth study and deliberation of various means of safe disposal and discharge paths, release information in a comprehensive and timely manner, and make prudent decisions after full consultation with stakeholders, the spokesperson said.

The ministry also said there is a fundamental difference between the wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant after the accident and the liquid effluents from the normal operation of nuclear power plants in terms of their source, radionuclide type and difficulty of processing.

The ministry said it will closely follow the situation, carefully assess the possible impact on the marine ecology, strengthen the monitoring of marine radiation, and ensure the safety of China's marine environment.




Eight people from the Capital Region are among the 2,218 U.S. troops who have died in the war in Afghanistan:

Army Lt. Col. Todd J. Clark, 40, Guilderland

Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Denier, 26, Mechanicville

Army Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley, 24, Nassau

Army Major Gen. Harold J. Green, 55, Guilderland

Pfc. David T. Miller, 19, Wilton

Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, Niskayuna, 31

Army Specialist Rafael A. Nieves Jr., 22, Albany

Army Specialist Benjamin D. Osborne, 27, Queensbury

Source: icasualties.org

___

How does a country end a war it has neither decisively won nor definitively lost? That question has dogged the United States for years in Afghanistan, and now President Joe Biden has answered it: It just ends it.

The United States went to war in Afghanistan for a legitimate reason: To hold accountable those responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., and those giving them safe haven. It has remained there for nearly 20 years, making it Americas longest war, for increasingly more complex and convoluted ones.

That war, as weve known it with troops on the ground, is to finally come to an end by this Sept. 11, President Biden announced last week.

This is long overdue. The original mission was arguably concluded a decade ago with the death May 2, 2011, of 9/11 mastermind and al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden. And yet the U.S. has remained another 10 years out of varying concerns  that the Afghan government is incapable of holding power; that the Taliban, the fundamentalist group that had harbored al-Qaida, would take over the country again; that Afghanistan might again become a haven for terrorists and a staging ground for attacks on the U.S.; and that what progress had been made, particularly on womens rights, would be lost.

Moreover, as reporting by The Washington Post revealed in 2019, many military officials concluded years ago that this war wasnt winnable, even as the U.S. government misled the public. They werent even entirely clear who the enemy was anymore. Americans were left to wonder how it was possible to have constant progress, as the government was claiming, yet still never approach anything resembling victory. It seemed Afghanistan was once again living up to its nickname of the graveyard of empires, the U.S. being only the latest power to be thwarted in trying to tame that hostile country.

The question to ask at this point, perhaps, is not whether there are reasons to remain, but whether those reasons alone justify continuing to put several thousand U.S. troops still there in jeopardy. Or, to frame it another way: Would the U.S. start a war in Afghanistan today for the sake of keeping a repressive regime like the Taliban out of power? Would it undertake the enormous task of nation building? Why only Afghanistan, then, when there are plenty of other nations and regimes that fit that bill?

The Biden administration says the U.S. can still try from a distance to promote stability and make sure that Afghanistan doesnt become a staging ground for terrorist groups. At this point, that seems a better option than a war of attrition that the Taliban seems determined to wage as long as it takes.

Its apparent that whatever the war in Afghanistan has become, it will not be won, but it quite possibly could be lost, with yet more loss of American lives. It is as bad a time as ever to leave. But we would only be deluding ourselves to think there might someday be a better time to go.

The list of Capital Region casualties has been updated to include Lt. Col. Todd J. Clark, whose listed address was Evans Mills because of his assignment to Fort Drum. He was, however, a lifelong resident of the Capital District.
Michigan Wont Issue COVID-19 Lockdown Amid Spring Surge, Whitmer Says

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said her state wont carry out another COVID-19-related lockdown amid a spring spike in cases, following Republican-led lawsuits in 2020 that argued she overstepped her constitutional authority.

I have been sued by my legislature. I have lost in a Republican-controlled Supreme Court, and I dont have all of the exact same tools [that I had 15 months ago], Whitmer, a Democrat, told NBCs Meet the Press on April 18.

She said the lawsuits left her without the authority to unilaterally implement a lockdown amid a new resurgence in cases of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

Republicans have said that lockdowns are damaging to the economy and the livelihood of residents, while pointing to states such as Florida and Texas, which have eschewed lockdowns in recent days, as models to follow. COVID-19 cases in both states have appeared to level off in recent days, although officials have said that spring break vacationers in Florida sparked an increase.

Well, at the end of the day, this is going to come down to whether or not everyone does their part. Thats the most important thing, Whitmer said. Were imploring people to take this seriously, mask up, get tested.

If youve been around someone whos positive, stay home. And if you do get COVID, use one of these monoclonal antibodies so that we can keep you out of the hospital and help you retain your health.

Last year, Michigans Supreme Court ruled that Whitmer didnt have the constitutional authority to continue extending a state of emergency that was declared due to the pandemic. Around the same time, Whitmer was sharply criticized by Republicans who said the lockdown orders were too harsh and would harm businesses.

We conclude that the Governor lacked the authority to declare a state of emergency or a state of disaster under the EMA after April 30, 2020, on the basis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we conclude that the EPGA is in violation of the Constitution of our state because it purports to delegate to the executive branch the legislative powers of state governmentincluding its plenary police powersand to allow the exercise of such powers indefinitely, wrote Justice Stephen J. Markman for the Supreme Courts majority.

Whitmers office has come under criticism recently after Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel traveled to an Alabama Gulf Coast resort area earlier this month.

The sheer brazenness of Gov. Whitmer and her staff is truly something else, Michigan GOP spokesman Ted Goodman told Fox News on April 14, adding that Whitmers position on the draconian lockdown orders is simplerules for thee, but not for me.
United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says the Zimbabwean should implement constitutional reforms and embrace national dialogue for the benefit of citizens, who are striving for peace and development.

In his independence message posted on the U.S State Departments website today, Blinken said, As the people of Zimbabwe celebrate their Independence Day, we recognize their continued struggle to secure the rights and freedoms enshrined in their constitution. We encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to support reforms to advance these constitutional rights and embrace an inclusive national dialogue that upholds the universal values Zimbabweans have fought so hard to gain.

He said the United States supports all Zimbabweans who aspire to a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future.

To that end, we will join with the Zimbabwean people to strengthen democratic institutions, promote equitable economic growth, boost public health, and improve food security.

On behalf of the Government of the United States, Blinken congratulated the Zimbabwean people on the 41st anniversary of their countrys independence. Please accept my best wishes on this auspicious day.

The USA imposed targeted sanctions on some Zanu PF officials and several companies, citied electoral fraud and gross human rights violations.

Mnangagwa and other government officials have urged USA to remove the sanctions claiming that its government is implementing sweeping political and economic reforms.
A topless eco-activist accused of baring her breasts to mourners at Prince Philip's funeral yesterday has been charged with causing 'harassment, alarm and distress.'

TV cameras whirred as the protestor, believed to be demonstrating about climate change, took off her upper clothing while the service took place a few hundred yards away in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

The woman was swiftly restrained and arrested by officers who took her to Windsor Police Station to be interviewed.

Marissa Scott, 55, was today charged with causing harassment, alarm and distress and released on bail. She will appear at Slough Magistrates' Court on June 10.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

TV cameras whirred as the protestor, believed to be demonstrating about climate change, took off her upper clothing near Windsor Castle in Berkshire yesterday

The apparent protest took place in just a few seconds near the statue of Queen Victoria at the entrance to Windsor Castle.

Footage shows the woman running in front of a crowd following the minute's silence for the Duke of Edinburgh.

She can be seen running onto the road shouting 'save the planet' while onlookers begin clapping after the silence.

The woman jumped onto a statue of Queen Victoria before police officers removed her from the scene on Castle Hill.

Footage shows the woman running in front of a crowd and shouting 'save the planet' following the minute's silence for the Duke of Edinburgh

The woman was swiftly restrained and arrested by officers who took her to Windsor Police Station to be interviewed on Saturday afternoon

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: 'A woman has been charged in connection with an incident of public order at the funeral of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip yesterday.

'Marissa Scott, aged 55 years, of Merstham, Surrey, was charged this morning with one count of causing harassment, alarm or distress under the Public Order.

'The charge relates to an incident just after 3pm near to Windsor Castle.

'Scott will appear before Slough Magistrates' Court on June 10.'
The meeting of the national cabinet will aim to get the nation's vaccine program back on track and discuss ways to ease international border restrictions, perhaps later in the year.

One route in and out of the country has already eased, after restrictions on two-way travel between Australia and New Zealand were loosened on Sunday night.

'It is another significant milestone for Australians,' federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.

'That is the first step of a progressive opening ... guided by safety, and in partnership with the states and territories and the Australian people.'

The national cabinet will meet on Monday for the first of what will be twice-weekly gatherings following the vaccine rollout being thrown into disarray (Scott Morrison at a press conference on April 9)

The national cabinet will meet on Monday for the first of what will be twice-weekly gatherings following the vaccine rollout being thrown into disarray.

Included in discussions will be changes to Australia's vaccination policy, including state vaccination implementation plans, in the wake of new advice around the AstraZeneca vaccine and additional supplies of Pfizer doses.

Just over a week ago health authorities recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to those over the age of 50 after blood-clotting was linked to younger people.

A woman who died from blood-clotting last week was the third case linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia. The first two cases are still in hospital.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is now approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week.

He said GPs continue to be the cornerstone of the program but going forward, with very strong support from governments around the country, national cabinet will consider ways the states can assist with larger vaccination clinics.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is now approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to show up to a vaccine centre and get jabbed without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that three family members diagnosed with Covid-19 in NSW hotel quarantine picked up the virus from fellow returned travellers.

Health authorities believe the three picked up the virus from a family of four who stayed in the adjoining room of the Adina Apartment Hotel at Sydney's Town Hall.

'This latest story again just reinforces the need for a speedy and effective rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines,' Labor's health spokesman Mark Butler told reporters in Adelaide.

'But still Australia is not even in the top 100 nations of the world per head of population in vaccinations. We need to do better.'


Location: United States of America St Louis

Location: Kansas City - Kansas

Location: Omaha - Nebraska

Job Description The "Business Unit" Lead is a technical resource for Rockwell Automation products within their area(s) of responsibility; Architecture & Software, Power, Industrial Controls, and/or Services & Solutions. They are capable of articulating capability and benefits of the portfolio when involved in product-centric pursuits. They are responsible for maximizing the Rockwell Automation sales within their assigned geography and business. They are responsible for commercial support for a specific range of products within a defined geography. The "Business Unit" Lead will assist in commercial marketing activities, interface with Product Business Units (and in EMEA, the Commercial Engineering team), advise on proposal and pricing strategies for pursuits, and interface between customers and the Global Product Businesses. Key Responsibilities Provide timely information to support effective management of the business to all levels. Ensure regional selling resources maintain the appropriate competencies across assigned products and services. Co-operate with the sales force in promoting the product offering for which they are responsible. Plan and execute commercial programs related to product responsibility. Define and articulate product differentiators and values versus competition. Analyze competitive product lines, have knowledge of competitor's strategy, further define competitive differentiators. Participate in trade shows, seminars and/or similar marketing activities, ensuring technical resources are able to support. Lead launch of new products to the sales force and channel. Actively seek out and participate in both formal and informal training opportunities to continuously develop technical skills. Ensure market access (System Integrators and Distributors) can articulate value and identify opportunities for new products and technologies within assigned product business. Provide product gap and development feedback to appropriate business unit. Collaborate and share insights with regional and global peers. Understand business models, organization and go to market strategy; leverage where appropriate. Knowledge of the industry strategies, familiarity with outcome-based selling. Understands the business drivers and KPI's of the customer. Keep sales and customer relationship management data up to date in tools (i.e. SFA), optimizing activities by using tools consistently Skills, Knowledge, Education, and Experience Provide timely information to support effective management of the business to all levels. Ensure regional selling resources maintain the appropriate competencies across assigned products and services. Co-operate with the sales force in promoting the product offering for which they are responsible. Plan and execute commercial programs related to product responsibility. Define and articulate product differentiators and values versus competition. Analyze competitive product lines, have knowledge of competitor's strategy, further define competitive differentiators. Participate in trade shows, seminars and/or similar marketing activities, ensuring technical resources are able to support. Lead launch of new products to the sales force and channel. Actively seek out and participate in both formal and informal training opportunities to continuously develop technical skills. Ensure market access (System Integrators and Distributors) can articulate value and identify opportunities for new products and technologies within assigned product business. Provide product gap and development feedback to appropriate business unit. Collaborate and share insights with regional and global peers. Understand business models, organization and go to market strategy; leverage where appropriate . Knowledge of the industry strategies, familiarity with outcome-based selling. Understands the business drivers and KPI's of the customer. Keep sales and customer relationship management data up to date in tools (i.e. SFA), optimizing activities by using tools consistently Temperament Exhibit strong teamwork, customer service and organizational skills. Act courageously by sharing viewpoints openly and directly with others, providing relevant and timely information and feedback, as required. Make sound and difficult decisions even in the face of multiple obstacles, particularly when under pressure or in high stakes situations. Retain and convey a positive attitude in challenging circumstances. Maintain a positive demeanor during periods of uncertainty, conflict and stress. Remain open to ideas; integrate multiple perspectives in decision-making. Ability to motivate others and him/herself Demonstrate enthusiasm for relationship building and partnership across the organization at all levels to leverage ideas, capabilities, and processes. Information Processing Capacity Exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Leverage business insights in proposing solutions and facilitating change. Manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously, ensuring stakeholder expectations are managed appropriately. Ability to manage competing demands, accept criticism and constructive feedback, while being adaptable and flexible. Seek out and embrace relevant perspectives when assessing a situation or making a decision; demonstrate clear understanding of multiple viewpoints. Distill information from disparate data sources and the capability to tell the 'story' behind it, as well as recommendations for next steps. Anticipate and act upon evolutionary trends in the industry and the unique adaptations required by the Company to sustain competitive advantage. Accepts Role Requirements Influence and operate across a highly matrixed organization. Values working in a team-oriented culture and building consensus with stakeholders before making key decisions. Actively pursues personal continuous learning, development of skills and knowledge in job-related technical and professional areas. Actively participates in calls and meetings via phone or in-person, as needed. Travel to customers within assigned geography will be required. Key Performance Metrics Achieve AOP order & sales targets for specific products. Pro-actively close identified skill gaps. Ensure alignment of all goals, objectives, and activities with company priorities and changing market requirements by thinking strategically and decisive Focus Area Software and Control - Control & Visualization, IS Software, Safety Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Ability to travel 50% of time or more

Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. Preferred Qualifications Valid driver's license.

Software industry experience

Prior experience in technical sales, industrial distribution, manufacturing operations, systems integration, or an engineering firm

Experience working with all levels of an industrial automation plant (customer) including VPs, plant engineers and OEM machine builders.

Demonstrated ability to sell at the senior management & executive levels and convey Rockwell Automation's products & services in a manner which demonstrate tangible economic value. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our services team at +1 (see application details).


Peru's Congress banned former president Martin Vizcarra, following allegations of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine by jumping and cutting the queue for the said jab. The former president of the country was banned by the members of the congress in a unanimous vote of 86, Reuters reported.

It can be remembered that the ex-president was reported to receive two shots of COVID-19 vaccines in October 2020. Apart from Vizcarra, his family, government consultants, cabinet members, and lobbyists also received the COVID-19 jab despite the vaccine queue. The vaccine scandal in Peru was called "vaccine-gate."

READ NEXT: Argentina President Decries COVID-19 Vaccine Scandal

Peru Congress on Ex-President Vizcarra

Because of the unanimous decision anchored from the vaccine scandal he has participated in, Reuters noted that the Peruvian Congress temporarily banned Vizcarra from taking public office for about 10 years.

This means that the ex-president will not be able to occupy the deputy seat he won during the legislative elections which were held last Sunday, at the same time as the first round of presidential elections, France24 reported.

However, Vizcarra noted that the decision of Congress is not fair. The former president disagreed with the decision of Congress to ban him from taking public office.

Al mismo estilo de las dictaduras, este Congreso, que ha perdido toda legitimidad, pretende eliminar a sus enemigos politicos a traves de unos cuantos votos. Esto no ha terminado nos defenderemos en todas las instancias hasta revertir esta ilegal e inconstitucional decision.  Martin Vizcarra (@MartinVizcarraC) April 17, 2021

"This is not over, we will defend ourselves in all instances until this illegal and unconstitutional decision is reversed," said Vizcarra's translated tweet from his account. Vizcarra also noted that Congress has lost its "legitimacy" as it dethrones political enemies through few votes. Earlier in the year, the former president claimed that he and his wife took the Sinopharm vaccine last October as volunteers for the trial in Peru. However, the university that hosted the trial denied his claims.

Apart from Vizcarra, two public officials were also banned by Congress from taking public office. Former Health Minister Pilar Mazetti was not allowed to hold public office for eight years. On the other hand, former Foreign Minister Elizabeth Mastete was banned from holding public office for a year.

Both former ministers participated in the vaccine scandal which made them resign from their post. However, both former ministers, including the president, denied that they have used their positions to get the jab against coronavirus.

Peru's Former President

The former president took public office in March 2018 as he promises to eliminate corruption among offices. However, he was impeached by Congress in November 2020 for separate corruption charges. Vizcarra also denied the allegations.

Peru's vaccine scandal was estimated to be the participation of about 500 people cutting the line or queue for the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report from The Conversation. The reported people were able to acquire a "courtesy" dose of the Sinopharm vaccine while still negotiating with the company.

El Pleno del Congreso incurre en el delito de abuso de autoridad al continuar con la sesion de hoy sin permitirme ejercer mi derecho a la defensa, violando el debido proceso; tal como lo hizo la Sub Comision.

El Congreso no esta por encima de las leyes y la Constitucion.  Martin Vizcarra (@MartinVizcarraC) April 16, 2021

"The Plenary of Congress incurs the crime of abuse of authority by today's session," said Vizcarra in another tweet. The former president of Peru also noted that Congress did not allow him to exercise his right to defend himself, emphasizing that the group violated due process.

The former president of Peru has shared with reporters in Lima that he has no doubt the situation he's in will be reversed.

READ MORE: Ecuador and Peru Continue Their Election Amid COVID-19 Crisis

WATCH: Nearly 500 people secretly vaccinated in Peru - from Associated Press
A suspected gunman has been charged after two people were allegedly killed in a double shooting at a Queensland townhouse.

The men, aged 23 and 37, were allegedly gunned down at the complex on Lower King Street at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Paramedics found the men lying at the front of the complex and transported them to Caboolture Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The suspected gunman, 24, remained on the run for several hours before he was arrested at Cornubia, about 80 kilometres away, at 9pm.

The men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were allegedly gunned down at the complex on Lower King Street at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, at 5.30pm on Saturday (pictured, paramedics are seen attempting to revive a man at the townhouse complex)

A crime scene was established with detectives investigating the alleged double shooting (pictured)

He was taken to Caboolture where he was placed in police custody and held for questioning.

He has been charged with two counts of murder, possess shortened firearm, unlawful possession of a weapons category A, B or M and authority required to possess explosives.

The man will front Caboolture Magistrates Court on Monday.

Terrified residents recalled hearing several loud bangs at the time of the alleged double shooting.

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said he and his partner thought a front door had slammed very loudly in a domestic dispute.

'There is a lot of domestic violence in the area,' he told ABC.

'That's what we just originally thought it was  the next minute, we saw a cop car pull up in front of ours.'

'Then we checked outside the window and just saw two dead bodies.'

Another local said he was visiting a friend at his nearby home at the time when he heard the loud bangs.

'I was in shock... I knew straight away it was a shooting ... It was awful,' he said.

One terrified couple said they had a son living at the complex and feared for his safety after they were unable to call him.

Officers were working into the night on Saturday to scour the townhouse complex and surrounding streets for clues

'Thankfully we got into contact with him, and he was down at the police station,' they told Courier Mail.

'He is being very helpful with the police investigation.'

Officers were working into the night on Saturday to scour the townhouse complex and surrounding streets for clues.

Up to nine ambulance crews were reportedly dispatched to the scene after receiving the emergency call.

Acting Detective-Inspector Michael Hogan said police were still determining the motive of the alleged double shooting.

'At this stage, we don't know what the reason for it is and that's what we're investigating,' he said.

'There's a lot of forensic evidence needs to be combed through, in addition to that the investigators will be trying to ascertain what happened through the process of the interview,' he said.
Alison Grady and Ernest Brown made a spreadsheet of places they wanted to live a few years ago, and Oakland came out on top. Within a day of moving to The Town, Brown found a salsa dance class near Lake Merritt that he said was truly diverse, not hashtag diverse.

The politically active couple, who grew up in the South, fell in love with the city. But they knew they were living on borrowed time.

You cant go to a party or a house or a bar with twenty-somethings without the high cost of housing coming up, said Brown, who chairs the board of the pro-housing YIMBY Action organization. Because however much fun people are having, theres a low sense of dread constantly that this party can end at any moment if theres a rent increase.

Same goes for people who need more space to start a family. Thats where Grady and Brown are now.

Both are 30 years old and hold solidly paying health care jobs, but felt the financial pressure of living here. They were paying $1,500 a month to split the bottom unit of a two-story duplex in downtown Oakland with another couple. They love the location and their roomies, but Grady said, Were 30, and its so silly to be living with housemates.

Brown is African American and Grady is white, and Brown said part of the appeal of staying in Oakland would be that they could raise a child in a place with a meaningful Black population.

But ultimately, they couldnt make it work. They just moved to Atlanta, where they can buy a bigger place in a similar downtown neighborhood for half as much.

They said the final straw came last year when California voters rejected Proposition 15, which would have raised property taxes on commercial property to help schools and local governments. Its rejection made the couple wonder if the public school system would ever improve.

The decision to under-invest in the public infrastructure that is particularly important to families raising children in California makes (living here) such a hard bargain, Brown said.

Other young, middle-class couples are facing the same decision, he said.

What that leaves behind are just people who couldnt afford to move, or who have so much money that they can ride it out, kind of no matter how bad things get, Brown said.

We are not a sob story, said Grady, a former head of East Bay Young Democrats. Like, Im genuinely excited to be moving to Atlanta.

But they wanted to stay.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
This image from Chicago Police Department body cam video shows the moment before Chicago Police officer Eric Stillman fatally shot Adam Toledo, 13, on March 29, 2021. (Chicago Police Department via AP)

Prosecutor Placed on Leave After He Failed to Fully Present the Facts About Adam Toledo Shooting

An attorney with the Cook County State Attorneys Office has been placed on administrative leave after he failed to fully present the facts surrounding the shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo.

In court last week, an attorney in our office failed to fully present the facts surrounding the death of a 13-year-old boy. We have put that individual on administrative leave and are conducting an internal investigation into the matter, a spokesperson from the office said in a statement to the media.

It comes after the attorney implied in court during an April 10 hearing related to the shooting that Toledo was holding a gun when he was shot. The hearing was for 21-year-old Ruben Roman, who was with Toledo when the boy was shot on March 29.

The officer tells [Adam] to drop it as [Adam] turns towards the officer. [Adam] has a gun in his right hand, Assistant State Attorney James Murphy said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The officer fires one shot at [Adam], striking him in the chest. The gun that [Adam] was holding landed against the fence a few feet away.

Following the hearing, Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx told reporters: An attorney who works in this office failed to fully inform himself before speaking in court. Errors like that cannot happen, and this has been addressed with the individual involved. The video speaks for itself.

Foxxs comments came after Chicagos civilian police oversight agency released footage of the fatal shooting.

The bodycam footage shows Officer Eric Stillman running after Toledo and telling the boy to stop running. In the split second that Toledo complies by turning around while raising his hands, he is shot. The officer immediately calls dispatch to alert that shots had been fired by police and asks for an ambulance. He then turns to provide medical assistance to Toledo.

Footage from a second responding officer shows a handgun on the ground behind the fence opening where the boy had stopped.

Foxxs spokeswoman, Sarah Sinovic, suggested on April 16 that Murphy may not have had access to all the videos that were released to the public on April 15 when he made the comments. She told the Sun-Times: Its still under investigation what videos were available to [Murphy]. Were still trying to figure out what he had access to when he made the statements in court.

Chicago Police Union President John Catanzara characterized the officers action as justified, as he had less than a second to assess whether Toledo was still holding a gun in his hand as he turned around.

There is no way a rational person can say they can process that, and their muscle reaction would be less than one second, Catanzara told CNN. The officer does not have to wait to be shot at or shot in order to respond and defend himself.

It is 100 percent justified. That officers actions were actually heroic. There is a very good reason he only shot once. Like I said, he could have been shot multiple times, but the officer assessed in a split second. Unfortunately, he committed to the first shot already, justifiably so.

Tim Grace, attorney for Stillman, said in a statement that there was irrefutable evidence that Toledo had been firing a gun.

There is irrefutable evidence that the shell casings recovered from that location match the handgun that was in the hands of the juvenile when he was tragically shot by the officer, he said. The officer had no place to take cover or concealment, the gun was being orientate [sic] in his direction, and he was left with no other option.

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked controversy among some members of the Little Village neighborhood where the shooting occurred. Some believe that Toledo was unjustly killed, while other community members questioned why the 13-year-old boy was out in the middle of the night.

Little Village is home to Cook County Jail, and the community has been plagued by persistent gang warfare for decades. The federal government had previously designed a community-wide program in an effort to reduce gang activity in the Little Village area.

Roman was arrested at the scene on misdemeanor charges of resisting or obstructing a peace officer but was later charged with felony counts of child endangerment, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless discharge of a firearm after investigators determined that he had been the one to fire the gun several times before police arrived. He then passed on the weapon to Toledo, according to police.

Roman remains in custody at Cook County Jail after a judge ordered him held on $150,000.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on Friday selected Elon Musks SpaceX to develop the first commercial human lander that will carry two American astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972.

For this purpose, SpaceX has been awarded a $2.89 billion contract by the U.S. agency to build the Artemis lunar lander, which involves testing the prototype Starship spacecraft at SpaceXs South Texas facility.

SpaceX defeated Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Blue Origin and Alabama-based defense contractor Dynetics for the contract to be the sole provider for the system.

With this award, NASA and our partners will complete the first crewed demonstration mission to the surface of the Moon in the 21st century as the agency takes a step forward for womens equality and long-term deep space exploration, said Kathy Lueders, NASAs Associate Administrator for Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate.

This critical step puts humanity on a path to sustainable lunar exploration and keeps our eyes on missions farther into the solar system, including Mars.

NASA plans to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2024. It aims to land the first woman and the first person of color to land on the lunar surface under the Artemis program.

We should accomplish the next landing as soon as possible, Steve Jurczyk, NASAs acting administrator, said during the video conference announcement. The NASA team will have the insight into the progress that SpaceX is making and if theyre hitting their milestones we may have a shot at 2024.

The agencys powerful Space Launch System rocket will launch four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for their multi-day journey to lunar orbit. There, two crew members will transfer to the SpaceX human landing system (HLS) for the final leg of their journey to the surface of the Moon.

After approximately a week exploring the surface, they will board the lander for their short trip back to orbit where they will return to Orion and their colleagues before heading back to Earth.

SpaceX has been working closely with NASA experts during the HLS base period of performance to inform its lander design and ensure it meets NASAs performance requirements and human spaceflight standards. A key tenet for safe systems, these agreed-upon standards range from areas of engineering, safety, health, and medical technical areas.

SpaceXs HLS Starship, designed to land on the Moon, leans on the companys tested Raptor engines and flight heritage of the Falcon and Dragon vehicles. Starship includes a spacious cabin and two airlocks for astronaut moonwalks. The Starship architecture is intended to evolve to a fully reusable launch and landing system designed for travel to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations.

This is an exciting time for NASA and especially the Artemis team, said Lisa Watson-Morgan, Program Manager for HLS at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

During the Apollo program, we proved that it is possible to do the seemingly impossible: land humans on the Moon. By taking a collaborative approach in working with industry while leveraging NASAs proven technical expertise and capabilities, we will return American astronauts to the Moons surface once again, this time to explore new areas for longer periods of time.

Musk tweeted about the announcement on Friday afternoon starting with NASA Rules!! followed by We are honored to be part of the @NASAArtemis team.

We are honored to be part of the @NASAArtemis team  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 16, 2021

Additionally, SpaceX also responded on Twitter, tweeting, We are humbled to help @NASAArtemis usher in a new era of human space exploration.
Who does he think he is, Donald Trump?

That was my thought when I read that Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has been fighting against a plan to allow parking on the streets near his Rhode Island vacation home.

If the mayor were a rich Republican like the Donald, this would be no big deal. Trump boasts of the exclusivity of his properties.

I was in Florida last month covering a Trump speech. I decided Id check out his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. There are No Parking signs for a mile in either direction.

Youd expect that from Trump. But you wouldnt expect it from a liberal Democratic mayor who in 2014 penned a piece for the HuffPo site headlined As American Cities Grow, New Urbanism Must Be Inclusive.

In it, Fulop argued that in rebuilding our cities, they must be not just for the wealthy but for working families as well.

So much for the cities. How about beach towns?

Fulops Narragansett crib sits right at the access road for Point Judith, arguably the best wave on the East Coast. When its firing, you cant keep the surfers away.

You can try, however. Some years ago the wealthy people in Fulops neighborhood prevailed upon the town council to put up No Parking signs on the streets. The signs were largely ignored until recently, when some anonymous busybody started calling the cops on the surfers and fishermen who frequent the point.

The current town council is more amenable to access. In January, they held an online hearing on a proposal to permit parking in the area, which includes Calef and Pilgrim avenues, at the intersection of which sits the mayors house.

I grew up here my entire life, testified one local guy. I went out there to surf with my father at Pilgrim Avenue. We used to just park there all the time. Recently I got a ticket Im not happy about. Ive been lifeguarding for the last 13 years. Take down those signs.

After him, the council heard from Fulop, who said I live at 84 Calef, and also said My family isnt new in Narragansett. Were lifetime residents. Were not transplants.

We? I checked the mayors bio. He is a lifetime resident of New Jersey. Its his wife who grew up in town. Good for her.

But I fear that when it comes to beach access, her husband is  in the parlance of my fellow New Jersey surfers  a kook.

There isnt a week that goes by where we dont have countless surfers stripping down and changing on the street, Fulop said.

I dont know if Fulop has ever gone into the ocean at Point Judith. I have. Its cold. You need a wetsuit.

When I phoned one of the pro-parking members of the town council, Patrick Murray, he said the Point Judith area used to be a bungalow community. But in recent years the owners have done what Fulop did a few years ago: knock down a shack and erect a castle.

Every year people come from different zip codes building these big houses, Murray told me. God bless em. I dont want to encroach on their property, but I dont want them encroaching on my parking.

When Murray voiced similar concerns at the meeting, Fulop responded by raising the heat on his rhetoric.

In my entire life I have never been as embarrassed by an elected official as I have been by the conduct of Patrick Murray tonight, he said when he got a second chance to comment. He added, pitting lifetime residents against new residents is wrong. Its just wrong.

Wrong? As a student of the Shore, I chalked this up as a typical summer-people-vs.-locals turf fight of the sort we have in Jersey all the time.

Murray told me he considered Fulops attack a badge of honor.

Im not lying awake nights because some mayor in some other state is upset about having access next to his summer house, Murray said.

As for Fulop, his re-election campaign sent me a statement saying, He has no issue with anyone parking on the street and he is a supporter of public beach access, it read. The mayors main objection was to a part of the proposal that would widen the street, the campaign said.

Murray said the widening is nothing more than a plan to put down some crushed stone on soft shoulders that get dug up by cars.

As for the parking, its going to be enacted by the council before summer, Murray said. He had this bit of advice for what Fulop can do if he doesnt like it:

He could take that big Jersey pension and move to Palm Beach.

I can think of at least one issue the Donald and his new neighbor would agree on.

BELOW - A GOOD DAY AT THE POINT:
A community worker has described seeing scenes of violence in Belfast of a ferocity he had not witnessed since the start of the Troubles.

Isaac Andrews was on the scene on the Springfield Road earlier this month as the PSNI used water cannon to quell crowds for the first time in six years.

Trouble flared following a loyalist protest at the peace wall gates at Lanark Way on Wednesday April 7 following successive nights of protests, some of which ended in violence, across Northern Ireland.

Scores of police officers were injured after being attacked with petrol bombs, fireworks and stones.

The PSNI use a water cannon on youths on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

While loyalists clashed with police on one side of the gate, nationalist crowds were involved in clashes on the Springfield Road on the other side.

Mr Andrews described seeing over 100 people on the Springfield Road and he rushed to close an open pedestrian gate at the Workman Avenue, a short distance along the peace wall from Lanark Way.

He said he came under attack as he prevented them gaining access to the Shankill, before republican community worker Sean Murray joined him and they did their best to secure the area.

I was basically surrounded by about 150 nationalists who were trying to get through the gate to get into the unionist area, it was me singly trying to get a gate locked, he told the PA news agency.

The Workman Avenue pedestrian gate had been left open in the midst of everything that was happening at Lanark Way.

I was attacked two or three times with bottles, bricks and planks of wood thrown at me.

Five or 10 minutes into that, I heard someone shouting from the other side of the road which happened to be Sean Murray, and I was shouting back to him to help.

Shortly after police arrived and after that the keyholder arrived.

He said Farset International community centre and hostel was later surrounded by a crowd of 200-300 before police pushed them back, and the violence on both sides of the peace wall went on until around 1am.

Mr Andrews said really vicious violence continued on the Springfield Road on Thursday night into the early hours of Friday.

For me personally, what I witnessed over those two days was very reminiscent of what you would have seen in the early 1970s in street disorder, thats how bad it was, he said.

It was ferocious at times and it was sectarian.

It was like a flashback to the past and very frightening.

Theres been good relations here, weve had our bad times but good relationships have been built up and at a drop of a hat, you can see relationships disintegrating and people going back into their trenches.

The violence moved to north Belfast on Friday and has not resparked since.

The PSNI has ruled out orchestration of the violence by paramilitary groups.

Mr Andrews described the violence at Lanark Way as spontaneous.

If it had been organised by paramilitaries, it would have been a lot more serious, he said.

But what happened on the Springfield Road was something completely different, what I witnessed was organised, it was not spontaneous.

These crowds did not just appear.

Mr Andrews said social media has played a part in heightening tensions with often false reports gaining traction.

He has been involved in community work for more than 20 years, working with hard to reach youth during the day and voluntarily keeping the peace on interfaces in the evenings.

For years I have built up trust and confidence with a lot of people who live along these interfaces, and if I can help out anybody or resolve anything in any way that I can, regardless of who rings me, I will be there for them, he said.

Its tiring, its hard work, its risky work but if I can make anybodys life a bit easier, Ill be there for them.

He described unrest in the loyalist community as murmuring for two-three years.

There is a feeling of loss of identity, culture being eroded, he said.

In terms of Brexit, people were looking at what would happen along the border, watching the nationalist protests and all this talk that we cant even have a camera on the border or we could return back to violence.

Many in unionism and loyalism feel that threat was appeased and we have ended up with this Northern Ireland Protocol and another border has been created.

You had all that built up and then the Bobby Storey funeral.

Its not an orange or green issue, it affects families across the divide.

My own mother when she passed away, we had to stand and watch her final moments on this earth on a screen.

When that investigation was over and no prosecutions followed, it was seen as another appeasement.

The Rangers fans came out, wrongly, and within days there were fines, yet six months down the line from thousands of people being out on the streets for Storey, nobody is fined.

And this is government breaking their own restrictions.

And you have to put in the mix, we have been in lockdown for so long, there is frustration particularly among young people, its a release to get out.

Then the protests started, violence in some areas and peaceful protests.

But for me personally, whoever arranged the protest on Lanark Way, bringing a protest to an interface was complete and utter madness, and it was very predictable what would happen afterwards.

However I did not expect to witness what I witnessed afterwards on the Springfield Road.
Vernon Kay has revealed he finds his wife Tess Daly 'stunningly beautiful' when she's not wearing makeup.

The presenter, 46, opened up about his and 52-year-old Tess' relationship in a new interview, saying: 'I'm always telling her not to put makeup on.'

Hew told The Sun: 'Her beauty really shines through when she's got no makeup on.'

Sweet: Vernon Kay, 46, has revealed he finds his wife Tess Daly, 52, 'stunningly beautiful' when she's not wearing makeup

Reflecting on his home life after making it to the final of I'm A Celebrity, Vernon went into detail about the moment he was reunited with his wife after spending three weeks in Wales' Gwrych Castle.

The doting father - who returned home on Saturday while Tess was filming Strictly Come Dancing - revealed he didn't reunite with his wife until the following morning, as he was exhausted.

'She is always pumped with adrenalin after Strictly, so she very graciously went in the spare bedroom,' Vernon said.

The former T4 host also revealed Tess was a fan of his two and a half stone weight loss, as it reminded her of Vernon's slimmed-down frame when they first met in 2000.

Natural beauty: The presenter opened up about his and Tess' relationship in a new interview, saying: 'I'm always telling her not to put makeup on'

It comes days after the veteran presenter put on a loved-up display with his wife, sharing a series of blissful throwback holiday snaps - including one of himself sitting in a hot tub during his T4 days - on Thursday.

In the first photo posted on Instagram by Vernon, he cuddled up to Tess, 52 aboard a speed boat as they whizzed across the ocean.

A second snap showed a fresh-faced Vernon sitting in a hot tub when he was a T4 presenter. Vernon hosted T4 from 2000-2005.

The third photo in Vernon's post showed him and Tess sitting on swings while holidaying in the Maldives, while the fourth and final snap featured Vernon on the same holiday standing on a pier in shorts and a T-shirt.

Longing for another holiday, the father-of-two captioned his post: '#TBT Holidays seem like a lifetime ago..We can see the light we'll be on a beach and riding the waves soon!!(We hope...)'

He added: 'Some #TBs here, the hot tub is from a #T4 Ibiza trip...Post @pachaofficial I think! Good times, Great vibes!'

It comes after Vernon returned to UK screens Saturday night with his brand new show Game Of Talents.

Throwback: Vernon put on a loved-up display with Tess on Instagram on Thursday when he shared a series of throwback holiday snaps

The veteran presenter was joined by Tess in episode one of the new series, with the Strictly star posting a sweet series of snaps of herself and her husband having fun on set ahead of the first episode.

Taking to Instagram, Tess posted snap of herself looking gorgeous in a blue jumpsuit, with Vernon - who looked sharp in an all black suit - lovingly placing his arm around his wife's waist.

In a new interview, Vernon opened up about working with wife Tess for the first time in 14 years.

The presenter told of their time together: 'We did have a little bit of banter'.

Tropical: The third photo in Vernon's post showed him and Tess sitting on swings while holidaying in the Maldives

Vernon, who last worked with Tess on singing contest Two Of Us back in 2007, detailed what it was like being back in the studio with the Strictly Come Dancing host, telling The Sun: 'You'd be surprised! We did have a little bit of banter.'

He added of Tess' appearance: 'Tess does throw me under the bus a couple of times and we get to find out who her big crush is, which was unexpected and caused her to blush a few times.'

The show sees celebrities team up with members of the public to guess the hidden talents of the public to win a big money prize.

Vernon and Tess - who married in 2003 after dating for two years - are doting parents to daughters Phoebe, 16, and Amber, 11.
Byron Baes was supposed to be one of Netflixs most celebrated productions - a local reality show that would send a strong signal that the global streaming giant was committed to investing in Australian content. Instead, it has caused anger in one of NSWs most famous coastal towns.

A group of locals has united to try and stop the $US242 billion ($313 billion) streaming services attempt to create its first locally-commissioned reality series and some of Byron Bays most popular cafes, restaurants and clothing stores are refusing to sign filming permits.

They are demanding answers about why Netflix failed to properly consult the community before it decided to commission a program focused on the town.

Byron Bay locals want Netflix show Byron Baes to be shut down.

Its a multinational company trying to exploit the towns name when the community doesnt want it and think they can just come in and use us as a commodity, says local musician Ben Gordon, who owns cafe The Byron Bay General Store. They dont realise theyve got a big fight on their hands.
Farmers surprised by elephant reserve move By Wasantha Ramanayake View(s): View(s):

Farmers said they were taken by surprise by the gazette issued on April 9 establishing the Hambantota Managed Elephant Reserve despite having been in talks on human-elephant conflict amelioration with Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.

Walawa Left Bank Joint Farmers Association President Mahinda Samarawickrema said the gazette issued by State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake stated the reserve covered an area of 23,746 hectares more than the 25,000ha declared in the original allocation.

Minister Rajapaska had assured farmers that he would discuss matters with them before the elephant reserve was declared, he claimed. The Minister promised a complete package of establishing an electric fence with lights, and a road around the reserve, and establishing dedicated bee, milk and watermelon farming villages, Mr. Samarawickrema said.

Milk farmers should have grasslands for their cows, and these areas should be clearly marked in the map issued with the gazette, the farmers leader said.

Farmers needed assurance followed by concrete action on the management of wild elephants within an agreed time frame. Otherwise, the farmers satyagraha campaign in Walsapugala, Hambantota, launched on January 18, would continue.

Mr. Samarawickrema said he found it suspicious that the gazette had been issued with an outdated map showing the demarcated area of the proposed elephant reserve. This is an old map. It doesnt show the expressways to Hambantota Harbour or to Mattala Airport, nor does it depict the number of reservoirs where animals quench their thirst, he said.

Farmers object to the previously undisclosed reservation of some 1,700ha, allegedly for development, without any purpose mentioned for the development. Another 2,600 acres had been given to some foundation, the farmers leader charged. We were not informed as to from where and for what purpose these lands are going to be acquired.

He said there were two large-scale solar electricity farms and quarries inside the reservation that were not depicted. These things should be clearly shown on the map, Mr. Samarawickrema said.

The farmers engaged in the satyagraha are demanding: the gazetting of the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve; erection of an electric fence around the reserve; relocation of wild elephants who roam into villages; a stop to the exploitation by large-scale commercial cultivators of water sources used by traditional farmers; allocation of grasslands for grazing of milk cows; a stop to claimed extensive politically-backed land-grabbing in Hambantota.

We are fighting for these demands but no politician or government official informed us about the gazette coming out, Mr. Saramawickrema said. We only came to know about it through the media.

Out of 21 grama niladhari divisions in the Sooriyawewa Divisional Secretariat area, 17 are affected by wild elephants while Ambalantota, Hambantota and Sevanagala and Lunugamvehera, Thanamalvila Divisional Secretariat areas and Hambantota Municipal Council area constantly experience elephant attacks.

Mr. Saramawickrema claimed that recently a large but unspecified amount of land had been illegally acquired in or close to the reserve by parties backed by politicians. Blocks of 40 acres and 50 acres had acquired by companies.

How the district and divisional secretaries helped them to illegally acquire those lands within the reserve should be investigated, he alleged, adding that both government and opposition were responsible for illegal land-grabbing inside the management reserve.

Mr. Samarawickrema said the initial allocation of forest land for the proposed elephant management reserve was 25,000ha. This move, in 2011, followed large-scale clearing of forests around Hambantota area in 2005 that caused a rise in human-elephant conflict and led to the formulation of a national policy on conservation of wild elephants in 2006.

Report warned rushed projects would harm jumbos A high-level report in 2018 warned that expedited development projects in the Hambantota area would affect the survival of elephants. In his Performance Report on Department of Wildlife March 2018, then Auditor General H.M. Gamani Wijesinghe stated, As the wild elephant management reserve in Hambanthota was not declared, the expedited development projects taking place in those areas [had a severe impact] on the corridors and habitats of fauna including wild elephants. As such, it is concluded that human-elephant conflict in such areas will escalate. This forecast proved to be too true as the following year saw the worst in human-elephant conflict, with 405 elephant deaths by humans and 121 human deaths by elephants, according to the Department of Wildlife. Most deaths were caused by human encroachment into elephant habitats, the fragmentation of habitats and deprivation of the elephants natural grounds and movement. The report found that the authorities had failed to establish the proposed Hambantota Wild Elephant Management Reservation for the protection of wild elephants prior to the construction of the Hambantota Harbour and Mattala Airport as required by the Environment Impact Assessment Reports of both projects. Sri Lanka recorded the highest annual elephant deaths and second highest human deaths in the world last year, according to the Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts (COPA). Environment activist and lawyer Raveendranath Dabare called for island-wide reserves facilitating the unhindered movement of elephants without human interference. We have filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal seeking orders compelling relevant authorities to set up country-wide elephant management reserves based on years-long scientific observations of movement of elephants, he explained. He noted that construction of electric fences should only be carried out by government authorities. The erection of electric fences by individuals and private parties haphazardly everywhere has aggravated human-elephant conflict, he stressed.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 65F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 65F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Businesses which rely on oil and gas activity off Louisiana's coast fear that fossil fuels could track a similar demise as the coal industry and that jobs could disappear without enough renewable fuels jobs to replace them.

President Joe Biden wants to substitute fossil fuel production and consumption with policies that promote renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, and could be a problem if tackled too quickly.

"It's going to devastate our communities," Paul Danos, CEO of Houma-based Danos, said during a recent industry panel discussion. "We know that long term, there is going to be an energy transition  but it's got to be done in a way that's paced appropriately. We're not going to flip a switch; it's not going to happen like that," he said.

The Houma-based oilfield services business holds a three year contract to supply 144 workers across Royal Dutch Shell's offshore fleet ferrying crews to oil platforms on helicopters regularly.

State and federal officials have acknowledged there needs to be an equitable transition for Gulf Coast residents, but there were few references to Louisiana during a recent virtual public session hosted by the U.S. Department of Interior. And there were no representatives with strong ties to Louisiana involved in the meeting, which some industry advocates say was a misstep.

The Department of Interior expects to draft a report for the Biden administration  while there is a temporary ban in place on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. An auction of federal leases in the Gulf was halted in March, and one scheduled in November likely won't happen either.

Faced with no new offshore lease auctions for at least a year, some wonder how that might affect future activity in the Gulf, although companies do have a stockpile of leases from previous auctions that have not yet been drilled and could be used.

"It would be a tragic mistake for the federal government to hastily restrict offshore development," said Chett Chiasson, executive director of Port Fourchon.

Port Fourchon is a hub for upward of 90% of deepwater oil production-related activity in the Gulf of Mexico, and there are more than 250 tenant companies at the site in Lafourche Parish, between Houma and New Orleans. Each day, hundreds of large supply vessels travel along the port channels. It is also the land-based hub for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, which transitioned from an import terminal to exports as production ramped up in the U.S. in recent years.

Serving on the panel, Chiasson argued that industrial development is not always at odds with the environment and that local businesses want work, whether it's fabricating wind turbines for offshore or oil rigs.

"I know the companies in Bayou LaFourche in our region. If anything needs to be fabricated and go offshore, they want to be able to do it, no matter what type of energy services," he said. "We have the technology and expertise; we want to be a part of it."

Chiasson criticized the lack of new jobs created after solar farms are constructed.

While south Louisiana is on track to become a larger hub for solar farms in the coming years as utilities look to purchase more renewable energy, each solar project requires only a handful of jobs after construction.

"There's no correlation between what we see in the oil and gas sector and in particular the offshore oil and gas sector in terms of job numbers created to what we're seeing in renewables. On the construction side, yes, but on the permanent jobs, no, and that's a major concern," Chiasson said.

He also noted the manufacturing of renewable energy products, such as a wind turbine or solar panel, still requires the petrochemical industry for components that go into their development. Offshore wind is another potential for the Louisiana coast, likely near its border with Texas where winds are stronger.

"It's about a realistic transition," he said.

Separately, Biden has proposed establishing 10 facilities to demonstrate retrofits and installations to capture carbon from processes in the petrochemical and refining industries and putting thousands of people to work capping orphaned oil and gas wells around the country; there are more than 4,500 in Louisiana.

Danos' CEO said that his workers have asked about whether there are any renewable energy jobs in their communities in Louisiana, and for now, the answer is no.

Founded in the 1940s as a tugboat business, Danos has grown to offshore services, construction, fabrication and logistics over the years. It has more than 2,300 employees around the globe across nine offices. The company has branched out to renewable project maintenance in recent years and hired a crew to work on electrical repair of a solar farm in Arizona, but it's not the majority of the company's business.

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Meanwhile the number of people required to run offshore oil platforms has largely stayed the same, even while onshore oil wells have needed fewer workers as more technology is leveraged in the field. At Shell's Auger oil platform which began production in 1994, it still requires 192 workers on board to operate as those technology upgrades are not replacing jobs.

Family-owned Galliano Food Store has seen the boom and bust cycle of the oil and gas sector impact on its own workforce. The grocery store caters to oil and gas services businesses and workers because it sells grocery items for many boats near the Gulf Coast. In recent years, the company has grown to upward of 60 employees and contracted to as few as 30 workers; this year, it has 50 employees so far.

"It just depends on what's going on in the economy," said Jaedon Burregi, director of sales at Galliano Food Store, which his grandfather founded decades ago.

Burregi, who participated in the panel discussion on the Gulf lease ban and future of the fossil fuels industry, was concerned about whether there would be enough demand for groceries if supply boats stopped going offshore.

The industry has been struggling in recent years with a glut of oil produced using advanced drilling technology and then reduction of demand during the coronavirus pandemic. During the initial oil price crash in 2015, Louisiana lost 18,000 oil and gas production jobs, and through last year's pandemic and declining fuel demand edged down to 28,700 total jobs in September. While economists at LSU's Center for Energy Studies project gaining back 2,600 jobs by the end of this year, the number dwindled to 27,700 jobs statewide in January.

Louisiana fossil fuel industry groups sent letters to new Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in last week regarding the upcoming interim report about the federal oil and gas leasing program recommendations. The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association touted the industrys strides toward environmental stewardship during the oil and gas extraction process offshore and noted how offshore royalties funding is critical for the states coastal erosion master plan. That includes $389 million in revenue projected in the next three years.

The Gulf Economic Survival Team requested that the Department of the Interior collaborate with state and local community leaders in the Gulf Coast states who are directly impacted by the current offshore leasing ban.

In Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes alone, there are more than 5,400 workers in the energy industry with annual salaries of $81,402, which support $24 million in local property taxes. Port Fourchon estimates 15,000 people are flown on helicopters to offshore oil platforms supported by the port.

Oil futures for U.S. benchmark oil, at around $60 per barrel in January 2020, dropped to negative $36 in late April 2020. Since then, it's been on a relatively steady upward climb, driven more recently by expected future demand as vaccination efforts roll out across the globe and demand for jet fuel and gasoline increase. The price hit $65 per barrel in March.

During that period, overall U.S. crude oil production dropped to 11.3 million barrels per day on average in 2020, down 8% compared with 2019.

Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil production accounts for 17% of all U.S. crude oil production and was on track to hit new records in 2020 before the pandemic. Instead, it was hardest hit as average production dropped by 13% to 1.65 million barrels of oil per day during 2020.

Oil production is expected to increase through 2022 as projects are brought online, according to the Energy Information Administration forecast released in mid-April. There are 13 new projects on track to bring 200,000 more barrels of oil each day or 12% more production. It is expected to reach 1.75 million barrels of oil each day by 2022.

New projects such as Shell's Vito oil field anticipated to drill in 2022 are estimated to break even with oil prices below $35 per barrel.

All of those oil platforms were shut down during the busiest hurricane season on record as hurricanes Marco and Laura prompted work to halt in August. Crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico during that time dropped to its lowest in seven years, totaling 1.2 million barrels of oil each day in August compared with nearly 2 million barrels each day in 2019.

There were 12 active oil and gas rigs off the coast of Louisiana for the week of April 1, down from 18 active rigs one year earlier, according to Baker Hughes data. In early April 2014, there were 42 active rigs off the coast of Louisiana.

Environmental activists questioned the strength of market demand for more federal oil and gas leases offshore because the vast majority are not producing oil. Industry representatives have countered that offshore development often takes years and millions of dollars to develop because only profitable wells are tapped for oil and gas, meaning it's not a fair snapshot of market demand.

+2 Shell looks to Gulf of Mexico for lower carbon oil drilling; here's what it means for Louisiana Despite headwinds from corporate mandates to reduce carbon emissions, a temporarily halt for new federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico while th

There are 12 million acres of federally managed offshore waters, and 77% are either not producing oil or sit unused so far.
Austin police are searching for a man who shot and killed three people in Austin on Sunday.

Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the assailant has been tentatively identified as Stephen Nicholas Broderick, 41, who allegedly shot three people he knew in the 9600 block of Great Hills Trail, near Rain Creek Parkway, around 11:40 a.m.

Officials are asking people to avoid the area. Broderick, a former detective with the Travis County Sheriffs Office, is considered armed and dangerous.

But police have lifted a request that residents there stay home and shelter in place, saying they dont know if Broderick is on foot or in a vehicle or even if he still is in Austin. Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts should contact police immediately.

Weve exhausted every effort in searching this particular area for the suspect, Chacon said. We are going to continue to look for this individual because he continues to be a threat to this community.

Two Hispanic women and a Black man died in the shooting, which police called a domestic incident. The victims have not been identified.

Obviously this is a tragedy, Chacon said. Were going to be doing our very best to conduct the best investigation that we can and also to get this person into custody as quickly as possible and hopefully with no other loss of life.

Officers from multiple local police departments are assisting in the investigation and FBI agents from Austin and San Antonio also are working with Austin police, said Special Agent Michelle Lee, public information officer for the San Antonio FBI.

A section of Loop 360 was shut down in both directions between Spicewood Springs Road and U.S. 183. Some roads in the area remain closed as police investigate the crime scene.

andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon
A procession of former PMs could appear before a 'Line of Duty'-style Parliamentary inquiry into lobbying, it was revealed today.

A roll call of power players is expected to be summoned by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee after it vowed to expose issues with the system.

David Cameron, who has faced a wave of criticism about his lobbying of ministers on behalf of Greensill, has already indicated he would give evidence.

Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major are also considered likely to be called as the committee looks at the 'revolving door' between government and business.

Theresa May is the only living premier who might not be grilled, as she is still an MP serving in the Commons.

The PACAC probe is one of a bewildering array of inquiries being launched into ties between politics, Whitehall and business.

Mr Johnson has ordered a Cabinet Office investigation overseen by legal expert Nigel Boardman as he scrambles to defuse the lobbying row.

Mr Cameron has been hit with criticism over securing access to ministers for finance firm Greensill, whose collapse now risks thousands of jobs, particularly in the steel sector. He has denied breaking rules, but admitted he should have used more formal routes to make approaches.

The saga deepened last week after it emerged the former head of government procurement, Bill Crothers, took a part-time position with the firm while in his Whitehall post.

In the latest revelations today:

Emails sent by Mr Cameron in which he lobbied on behalf of Greensill Capital were revealed;

Environment Secretary George Eustice confirmed the official probe by Nigel Boardman will not make recommendations about tightening rules;

Mr Johnson is set to name a new adviser on ministerial interests tomorrow after the dramatic departure of Sir Alex Allan over his Priti Patel report;

Tories are hunting for a suspected group of Labour moles in government thought to have been leaking damaging stories;

Mr Cameron is facing calls for an investigation into a meeting with Philip Hammond amid suspicion that he may have used it to urge Government to support a 700million UK-China investment fund.

David Cameron (left), who has faced a wave of criticism about his lobbying of ministers on behalf of Greensill, has already indicated he would give evidence. Tony Blair (right) could also be called

Theresa May is the only living former PM who might not be grilled, as she is still an MP serving in the Commons

Gordon Brown and John Major could be summoned by the Parliamentary Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to discuss the issues of links between government and business

Hunt for Labour 'moles' in government A network of Labour Party 'spies' is operating at the heart of Whitehall, feeding secret information to Sir Keir Starmer's team to destabilise the Government, senior Tory sources claim. The moles  Labour-sympathising civil servants  are believed to have played a key role in triggering the lobbying scandal which has allowed Sir Keir's party to construct a narrative of 'Tory sleaze' by leaking details of David Cameron's contacts with Ministers and officials. They are also suspected of using leaks to try to 'sabotage' the Brexit withdrawal negotiations last year, and to provide advance notice to the Labour leader about Government policies in the pipeline  giving him time to structure his responses. The Tory spy-hunters believe a 'cell' of Labour supporters, centred on the Cabinet Office, was activated last year after Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson's former senior adviser in No 10, declared that a 'hard rain' was coming for the Civil Service as part of planned reforms to break up Whitehall's grip on the establishment. Mr Cummings is a long-standing critic of the Whitehall establishment, describing the permanent Civil Service as 'an idea for the history books' and proposing the abolition of senior civil servants' roles. Advertisement

Mr Wragg told the Sunday Telegraph: 'PACAC may not be the AC12 of Whitehall, nor do we envisage encountering anything quite as exciting as in a TV drama.

'However, it is at least a sense of duty that motivates our work, just as duty and service motivates the vast majority of those in public life.

'We must not let the questionable judgment of a few tarnish all.'

One source told the paper the committee 'will be keen to get the experience of other former PMs'.

Mr Johnson was today warned failure to tackle the 'shameful' lobbying storm could cost him votes as a crucial round of elections loom.

Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin appealed for the PM to get a grip after a slew of revelations in the wake of Greensill Capital's collapse into administration.

Unless he is more 'transparent' the row could hit the 'Red Wall' support that delivered Mr Johnson's historic 2019 majority, Sir Bernard said.

The scale of damage could become clear within weeks, with a wave of elections on May 6 including councils, mayors and a by-election in Hartlepool - a seat traditionally held by Labour but within the grasp of the Conservatives if their working-class surge continues.

In interviews this morning, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the Government would be looking at whether changes were required - but insisted the current system for declaring interests was 'pretty good'.

He told Sky News' Ridge On Sunday: 'I think the right thing is for these reviews to go through their process, to conclude, to work out exactly what did and what did not happen and then yes, of course there may come a time after that when it is right to consider tweaks to policy.

'But fundamentally, I think the systems we have in place with ministers declaring interests with the ministerial code and the focus on that and how ministers conduct themselves in office is actually a pretty good one.

Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin (right) appealed for Boris Johnson (left) to get a grip after a slew of revelations in the wakes of Greensill Capital's collapse into administration

'But that is not to say you couldn't make tweaks or changes, and also there will be a time and a place for that after these reviews have concluded.'

Mr Eustice insisted Mr Cameron had not broken any rules or 'taken advantage' of the arrangements.

'Well look, he himself has said that with hindsight it probably would have been better if, rather than texting ministers, if he had instead written letters to set out his views more formally,' Mr Eustice said.

'But I think the real point is. 'has he done anything wrong?' Well, on the face of it, no. There's a review that is going on, we mustn't prejudge that.'

Pushed on whether Mr Cameron exploited the rules, Mr Eustice added: 'I don't think he took advantage of any rules, no. He meticulously observed the rules there that he himself actually put in place after some concerns around lobbying a decade ago.

'He put in place these restrictions on what ministers can do for a period of two years.

'But look, he himself has conceded that with hindsight, if he had his time again, he wouldn't have texted Rishi Sunak and wouldn't have texted others  he would instead have written through formal channels.'

Writing in The Observer, Sir Bernard said the 'lines between public service and private gain' had become 'blurred'.

The MP, chair of the powerful Commons Liaison Committee, described the current situation as 'shameful' and 'utterly corrosive of public trust in government'.

'This should matter to Boris Johnson,' Sir Bernard said.

'He does not need to pretend to be a saint, but his ''red wall'' voters, who gave him his majority, will start to dismiss him unless he can show he is more open, more transparent and very different from the out-of-touch elite he defeated in the 2016 referendum and ousted from government.'

Labour is determined to keep the lobbying issue alive, believing the issue of Tory sleaze in Westminster is cutting through to voters.

Commons standards chief calls for probe into suspicion David Cameron lobbied Philip Hammond to back investment fund set up by friend Lord Chadlington

An inquiry into lobbying by David Cameron should also examine a meeting that the former Prime Minister had with Philip Hammond amid suspicion that he may have used it to pressure the Government into supporting a lucrative 700million UK -China investment fund, according to the Chairman of the Commons Standards Committee.

As PM, Mr Cameron  the subject of an independent inquiry by lawyer Nigel Boardman over his lobbying of Ministers and Whitehall officials on behalf of loans firm Greensill Capital  hailed a 'golden era' in trade relations between Britain and China.

After leaving Downing Street, he seemingly hoped to cash in with a new private equity fund proposed by his friend Lord Chadlington, who had donated thousands of pounds to his Tory leadership campaign.

By January 2018, Mr Cameron was back in Beijing, this time for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured together) about the initiative which could potentially net him millions

Mr Cameron flew to Beijing in September 2017 to discuss the plan with China's Vice Premier Ma Kai.

In October that year  15 months after stepping down as PM  he met with Mr Hammond, the then Chancellor, and two months later the Treasury gave its crucial support for the fund for which Mr Cameron was to be Vice-Chairman.

By January 2018, Mr Cameron was back in Beijing, this time for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the initiative which could potentially net him millions.

'Excellent meeting & enjoyable dinner with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, to talk about the 'Golden Era' in UK-China relations & plans for the new UK-China Fund,' he tweeted at the time.

Mr Cameron's office last night said his meeting with Mr Hammond had been only to seek Government support for the 'concept of a bilateral fund' and he had not lobbied Ministers on behalf of the fund's investors or partners.

He informed the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which advises former Ministers and civil servants on outside employment, about the meeting, his representatives added.
Sexual abstinence and 'purity culture' are often conflated but aren't the same, Tim Keller explains

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What's often referred to as "purity culture" is not the same thing as remaining sexually abstinent outside of marriage, though many conflate the two, according to Tim Keller, founder and former pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City.

Keller explained in a Facebook post that in the early church, the Christian sexual ethic  that "sex was only for within a mutual, whole-self-giving, super-consensual life-long covenant"  was "revolutionary," given the prevailing Greco-Roman ethic of the day.

"It was based on a radical egalitarian principle that the husbands body belonged to the wife, and the wifes to the husband (1 Corinthians 7:4). That meant that anyone who within marriage exploited or abused was violating the Christian sex ethic just as much or more as those who had sex outside of marriage," he said.

In the Greco-Roman era, men of higher social status were permitted to demand sex of anyone of lower social status even if they were married.

By contrast, purity culture is a phenomenon that arose in recent decades in some churches with the ascendancy of the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris, a book Harris has since apologized for and now rejects.

The book overshot Scripture and elevated specific behaviors, including sex outside of marriage, as "unforgivable sins," Keller said, and "went far beyond the Christian sex ethic to argue that you should not date or even kiss someone unless you were sure you were going to marry them."

"However, to say sexual abstinence outside of marriage is automatically 'purity culture' is at best historically naive and uninformed and at worst deliberately dishonest. They are not the same. Those who are angry at the abuses of purity culture are right to be so," Keller added.

"It has done harm and it should be called out and lamented. There is a difference."

His words come two years after Harris apologized for his book and subsequently announced that he no longer identifies as a Christian and his marriage was over. Harris' public deconstruction came amid an ongoing push within some progressive religious voices, such as Bromleigh McCleneghan, author of Good Christian Sex: Why Chastity Isn't the Only Option - And Other Things the Bible Says About Sex, who are calling for the abandonment of the historic Christian sexual ethic altogether, in part because of the damage that the purity culture of the 1990s has wrought.

Other voices, such as Juli Slattery, who leads a ministry called Authentic Intimacy and is the author of Rethinking Sexuality: God's Design and Why It Matters, have since responded to the pushback against purity culture, acknowledging the harms that it caused while distinguishing between the overemphasis on sexual morality and abstinence within purity culture and God's redemptive plan for human sexuality showcased in the entirety of Scripture.

"Every sexual issue is at heart a spiritual issue. When sex becomes confusing, it causes us to reexamine what we believe about God. Getting sex wrong usually begins and ends with getting Gods character wrong," Slattery wrote in a March 3 blog post on the overreach of purity teachings.

"The purity movement taught a God who gave us moral rules to follow, but underemphasized His redemptive nature. In our current day, we teach about Gods love and mercy, but tend to skip past His holiness and righteous judgment. This is a grave danger of which every Church generation must be aware," she said.
An elderly woman gasped for air at the main 1,000-bed Covid hospital in Mumbai, India, even as a ventilator pumped oxygen into her lungs. She collapsed after hours of struggling for each breath, but came round again after doctors performed CPR to stimulate her heart back to life.

Dr Sharad Awachar knew she would not survive. The infection had ravaged her lungs. Her daughter was called from the hospital and told: Your mother has a few hours.

The daughter was furious at first, replying: Do not say this doctor, all I have is her. But like hundreds of thousands of other Indians in this pandemic, she had no choice but to accept the toll taken by Covid-19 on her family.

India was hit hard by coronavirus last year, recording one the highest caseloads in the world alongside the US and Brazil. But numbers started declining rapidly after last summer and by January this year, as vaccines started to roll out, the health minister proclaimed the country had reached the end of the pandemic.

But after months with few restrictions, and just as life was starting to look normal again, cases have suddenly exploded, with a tsunami of infections sweeping the country and putting ICUs into what doctors have called a war-like situation.

With many other nations making rapid progress on vaccinations, the country is now the global epicentre for the disease, while concerns are mounting about the new variants involved.

Doctors in the Indian states facing the worst pressure paint a grim picture, describing a chaotic and overwhelming intake of desperately sick patients.

Loved ones wailing outside hospitals, ambulances queued up with patients, crematoria and graveyards drowning in dead bodies, failed resuscitations and families scrambling for beds, plasma, and even basic medical supplies such as oxygen, stretchers and ventilators: these are common scenes witnessed across India.

What we are dealing with here is a catastrophe. I have to look after 75 beds of an ICU daily and the input of patients is way more than the output. We are at full capacity, Dr Awachar says.

Patients are dying suddenly of hypoxia. There are more patients here than the doctors could attend and all the monitoring equipment has been exhausted. We are suffering, a resident doctor from Mumbais state-run Sion hospital tells The Independent, on condition of anonymity.

Maharashtra, the state where Mumbai is located, has for several weeks been painted as an outlier in terms of the new outbreak, but the situation is now no better in the capital Delhi, where Dr Atul Gogoi of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital says ICU beds and even general wards are out of capacity. He says the situation is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day.

Having to remain aloof during this war-like fight against the disease is taking its toll, he says. We are worn out physically as the workload is constantly increasing, [but also] mentally as we regularly deal with emotional breakdowns of elderly people.

Indias outbreak is worse now than it was at any point last year, with the country registering a series of grim milestones in the past few weeks. As well as overtaking Brazil in total caseload, the country has recorded daily spikes of more than 200,000 new infections over a 48-hour period in the last week.

While there remains insufficient data to attribute the new wave to any one cause, scientists say an indigenous variant of the virus called B.1.617 is likely to be fuelling the flames, coupled with a fatigue with safety precautions that has seen a return to crowding and a reluctance to wear masks across the country.

Mass gatherings of people are thought to have played a role in the recent resurgence of cases (AFP via Getty Images)

It may be that multiple more infectious variants are at play here. Testing has shown the presence of the UKs B.1.1.7, South Africas B.1.351 and Brazils P1 spreading among the population. These variants have been found in Maharashtra, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi, and Karnataka states, which between them contribute a high proportion of new cases.

However, the greatest concerns swirl around Indias B.1.617, which has been dubbed the double mutant variant in media reports, although it actually has 15 mutations from the original virus. This is because it carries two specific and concerning mutations in its spike protein that have cropped up elsewhere during the pandemic  known as E484Q and L452R. It is the first time that these genetic changes have evolved together in a single variant.

In the UK, 77 cases of this new variant have now been discovered.

Based on experience from other countries about E484Q and L425R strain we expect it to spread faster and to evade antibody responses in people who had infections or vaccination, says virologist Shahid Jameel, who is part of Indias Covid genomics consortium (Insacog), an association of 10 national laboratories formed in January by the government to conduct genomic sequencing of variants.

India is restricted by the fact it is currently sequencing less than 1 per cent of Covid-19 samples. Experts believe both B.1.617 and the UK variant are likely to be far more widespread than the figures suggest, but its impossible to know just how prevalent they have become.

I wouldnt be surprised if one component of the increase is this variant, says Professor Deenan Pillay, a virologist at University College London echoing opinions of several other experts.

This biologically distinct double mutation could make things even worse overall, says Aris Katzourakis, a professor of evolution and genomics at Oxford University, and raises the possibility that B.1.617 is very well-adapted to reinfecting those individuals who have acquired immunity through infection or injection.

However, Prof Pillay explains that the variants defining characteristics will be the result of a whole constellation of mutations that it has acquired in the so-called spike protein  the part of the virus responsible for gaining entry to human cells.

If this three dimensional structure changes significantly through evolution, he says, the virus can better penetrate our cells or evade the neutralising effects of antibodies, which are designed to latch on to the spike proteins and prevent the binding process.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, which has 50 per cent of the current national caseload, laboratory testing has shown that B.1.617 accounted for 61 per cent of sampled infections between January and March. To the north, in Punjab, some 80 per cent of cases have been caused by the highly transmissible UK variant instead.

But Prof Jameels hunch is that the virus has spread across several states, including West Bengal, where election rallies continued unabated, and the northern state of Uttrakhand, where millions gathered to take a dip in the Ganges during the Kumbh Mela festival  the largest human pilgrimage anywhere in the world, and which was allowed to go ahead in spite of the pandemic.

The attendees of the festival, who numbered in their millions on some days, might have now carried the virus to the length and breadth of India.

The prevalence of the Indian variant in Maharashtra is certainly evidence that the B.1.617 variant is more infectious than the older strain as it has replaced it so rapidly, says Prof Gautam Menon from Ashoka University in Delhi.

Anecdotally, compared to the first wave there seems to be a larger proportion of asymptomatic infections as well as patients with non-standard symptoms. The overall age of those with the disease seems to be younger than earlier, Prof Menon says.

India has been slow to study the B.1.617 variant, says Dr Gagandeep Kang, microbiology professor at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, a lapse that is leaving officials in the dark about what level of interventions will have to be put in place. She said we know nothing about the variant as government officials are not putting together data to draw conclusions.

What we did is we sequenced a bit initially and then we took a holiday and then after variants came back we started sequencing again. Even now we have not ramped up to a level we should, she says. Doing patchy on-again-off-again surveillance, reporting randomly, is not how a surveillance system is conducted.

As to how B.1.617 first emerged, Professor Julian Tang, a virologist at Leicester University, speculates that it could be the product of what is known as a recombination event. This involves the sporadic co-infection of two different variants in the same person, he says.

Under these circumstances, the different viruses can swap chunks of their genetic coding relevant to the spike protein to produce a progeny that carries a combination of the different mutation patterns. Regardless of how it came into being, B.1.617 is potentially a worrying variant to keep an eye on, adds Prof Tang.

Experts have warned that India needs to ramp up its vaccination efforts (Getty Images)

Even so, scientists are hopeful that the current generation of vaccines will remain effective against the variant, and others like it, even if they have developed the power to evade parts of the bodys immune response.

Vaccines becoming a bit less effective over time is a phenomenon seen with many diseases and some protection is always better than no protection, says Prof Pillay. And that protection is what could make the difference between a person who doesnt develop symptoms at all, and one who ends up becoming hospitalised and dying.

However, with the clock ticking in the face of this latest surge, the real challenge is rolling out Indias vaccine supplies as quickly as possible. The pace of vaccination is relatively better than in most countries but not at the desired level, says Giridhara Babu, a professor of epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India.

India needs to cover at least 10 million doses per day to protect the vulnerable in the next few months. The expansion and faster coverage of vaccines can be more helpful in reducing mortality.
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Education and Soft Skills  the Combination Needed to Make You a Leader Fun and Learning at the Che Adventure Park with NCHS View(s): View(s):

Tertiary education, commonly referred to as higher education, is the period of education that equips the students with the knowledge that lays the foundation for the rest their lives. It is necessary therefore to select a degree programme that will provide interest and set the stage for the future.

Dont Limit Yourself: Follow Your Dreams!

The Nawaloka College of Higher studies (NCHS) is a provider of globally recognized higher education qualifications. Located in the heart of Colombo as well as in Kandy, the NCHS campus consists of modern facilities, providing students with an international learning environment. With a strong commitment to provide high quality education, NCHS offers distinctive benefits that are tailor made to suit the needs of each individual student.

The Culture at NCHS is totally different from any other educational institute. Students should be very careful in selecting a place to continue highest studies. I can guarantee that NCHS is the right place to be in! explained Madawa Udawatte, an IT Student at NCHS

Leadership and Soft Skills  Making students all rounded and employable

In order to be employable graduates, it is essential that students not only excel in studies, but also acquire the soft skills needed such as leadership, team building, public speaking etc.

Understanding this, NCHS organises extra events to equip students with the skills needed to be industry ready. The Adventurous day-out of NCHS USA Degree Programme students was one such event.

Adventurous day-out of NCHS USA Degree Programme students

Held at the CHE Adventure Park, Kosgama on the 2nd of April, the event was a day filled with fun and learning. It enabled students to learn life skills in a dynamic environment, while forming relationships with each other, as well as the NCHS staff and faculty and the Edulink team.

Students and staff enjoyed activities including rock trekking, paint balling, flat water rafting and were fueled with tasty food and snack!

USA Degree programmes

In order to give students the maximum opportunities, NCHS has affiliated with numerous USA universities, allowing students to study in America with least hassle.

Through the collaboration, students will be offered transfer programmes to these prestigious universities. Students are given the opportunity to complete the first two years at NCHS, and thereafter transfer to an American university of their choice. explained CEO/ Deputy Chairman of NCHS, Victor Ramanan. It was added that they even have the option to complete their full degree in Sri Lanka.

Course content that makes knowledge deployable

At NCHS, students enjoy smaller classes, focused learning and one-on-one time with the teachers, giving every opportunity to succeed in studies.

NCHS has helped me to become what I dreamt of becoming. Joining NCHS has opened so many doors for me and it has been overall a very good experience that helped me become a better version of myself! Dileepa Fernando, an Engineering student reiterated.

The study programmes conducted at NCHS are identical to that of the partner universities and follow the same curriculum, methods of teaching and evaluations, ensuring high quality and international standards. These identical industry-informed and industry-engaged study programmes at NCHS are specially designed to combine rigorous academic studies with practical knowledge essential for the academic and career success of the students.

Students now have the opportunity to register at the Colombo or Kandy colleges, and simultaneously enroll in the American university of their choice!

Make the Right Decision Today! Call

0777 799 997/0777 899 998 or email info@nchs.edu.lk for more information
After Ashutosh Rana, Wife Renuka Shahane And Their Children Contract COVID-19, Namish Taneja Stuck In Maldives After Testing Positive

It had been a few weeks since Ashutosh Rana and his wife Renuka Shahane had taken their first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite that, Ashutosh Rana has tested positive for the virus on the first day of Navratri. Now, his wife too has tested positive for the virus, along with their two sons.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Renuka Shahane (@renukash710)

According to a report in ETimes, Renuka tested positive despite having received the first jab of the vaccine. Their sons, Shouryaman and Satyendra also tested positive and their report had come last evening. They have isolated themselves and are taking full precautions!

TV actor Namish Taneja has also tested positive for COVID-19. In fact, he had left for a vacation to Maldives with girlfriend Aanchal. Talking to Etimes, he said, "As per the protocol, everyone is required to take a COVID-19 test before departure and on arrival, in India. We were COVID negative when we left for Maldives and landed here on April 10. Since we were supposed to leave after four days, on April 12, we again underwent the test. My tests were positive and thankfully Aanchal tested negative for the virus." In fact, he convinced Aanchal to leave for Mumbai and is now alone quarantining in Maldives.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Namish Taneja (@tanejanamish)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Namish Taneja (@tanejanamish)

We are praying for their speedy recovery.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
A week after a cop shot and killed Daunte Wright in Minneapolis, protesters in Miami joined a chorus of justice seekers roiled by the death of yet another Black man killed by police.

Wright, 20, died on April 11 after being pulled over by police in Brooklyn Center, a Minneapolis suburb.

Kim Potter, the officer who pulled the trigger, resigned after the shooting. Potter, who said she thought she was firing her Taser and not her gun, has been arrested and charged in Wrights death.

In the days since the shooting, protesters across the country have taken to the streets demanding justice for Wright.

Local participants gathered Sunday at the Torch of Friendship at 401 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami.

Stand in solidarity with our komrades in Minnesota, the poster for the event said. Abolish the system that continues to murder and kidnap our families.

Organizers included Miami Dade Antifa and the Youth Liberation Front.

As of Sunday, more than 255,000 people had signed a Change.org petition seeking justice for Wright.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan
He added that he and others at OAN disagreed with much of the channels coverage. The majority of people did not believe the voter fraud claims being run on the air, Mr. Golingan said in an interview, referring to his colleagues.

He recalled seeing a photo of someone in the Capitol mob holding a flag emblazoned with the OAN logo. I was like, OK, thats not good, Mr. Golingan said. Thats what happens when people listen to us. (Mr. Golingan said he was fired on Monday, the day after this article was published online.)

Charles Herring defended OANs coverage. A review process with multiple checks is in place to ensure that news reporting meets the companys journalist standards, he said. And, yes, weve had our fair share of mistakes, but we do our best to keep them to a minimum and learn from our missteps.

Mr. Golingan added that, since Inauguration Day, OANs news director, Lindsay Oakley, had reprimanded him for referring to Mr. Biden as President Biden in news copy. Ms. Oakley did not reply to requests for comment.

OANs staff White House reporters use the term President Biden and then may use Mr. Biden, Charles Herring said. The term Biden or Biden administration may also be used. He declined to reply to a question on the channels use of President Trump for Mr. Trump.

Allysia Britton, a news producer, said she was one of more than a dozen employees who had left OAN in the wake of the Capitol riot. She criticized some of what the channel had reported, saying it was not up to journalistic standards.

Many people have raised concerns, Ms. Britton said in an interview. And the thing is, when people speak up about anything, you will get in trouble.
David Hirtz didnt need an alarm clock to tell him it was 3:30 Sunday morning and time to get up.

Its in the DNA, he said an hour later, standing on a San Francisco street corner in the dark with his wife, Virginia. My body knows when the 18th of April is here.

That meant the 115th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake that struck at 5:12 a.m., cracking open gas lines that fed a conflagration that did not stop until it hit Van Ness Avenue, heading west. Every year that moment is commemorated at Lottas Fountain, where the citys stunned populace had met to search for lost loved ones and signs of hope.

Last years commemoration was canceled because of the citys stay-home order, and this years commemoration was not approved until Thursday night and was never announced. But Hirtz has been coming to these for 40 years. He had a hunch something would be happening  and he was right.

By the time theyd driven downtown from Sutro Heights, there were around 35 believers, including the mayor and Da Mayor, standing on the traffic island at the intersection of Market, Kearny and Geary. I thought I would be here alone, quipped former Mayor Willie Brown, who claimed to have been passing through on his usual nocturnal wanderings, dressed in a varsity jacket with white leather sleeves and red trim to match his shoes.

The other mayor, London Breed, who arrived in full period dress topped by an authentic Edwardian hat, called the small civic event the first time a gathering of this size has happened that wasnt a protest, in a year and a month. Its a sign of good things to come.

To ensure that pandemic protocols were respected, the event was intentionally subdued. There was no bar set up for Bloody Marys and screwdrivers, as in years past, and just before the ceremony began, Donna Lillie Coit Huggins was informed by organizer Lee Houskeeper that there would be no singing of San Francisco.

Huggins, who has attended every one of these events since 1974, took this news hard, notwithstanding the fact that she had been up since 3:30, lacing into her corset and boots. Ive been practicing my singing for two weeks, she complained. When this got her nowhere, Huggins crossed the street to stand off by herself and sing San Francisco all the way through, to an audience of only herself.

Ive done it every year, and Ill be damned if Im not going to do it this time, she explained. It always makes me cry.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

By 5 a.m. the crowd had swelled beyond the usual historians in period dress. It was just supposed to be a few people, said Ron Ross of the San Francisco History Association, adding that the police chief would not be happy.

Among those standing around was Addison Zamora, age 6. Her dad, Francis Zamora, is with the Department of Emergency Services, and she attended her first commemoration when she was 2 weeks old. Her dad had lured her out of bed by frying bacon at 3 a.m. to go with tater tots.

Former Mayor Brown, who turned 87 in March, began the program with a somber recitation of the day the earth shook and the sky burned. Before the fires were finally beaten back, half of the citys 450,000 residents were homeless.

The city began to fall apart, and before it was over it had fallen apart, he said. But this city always comes back.

Hulton Archive / Getty Images 1906

In her own remarks, Mayor Breed made a point to recognize the first responders then and now, and even referenced that other earthquake that never gets its own annual tribute with people in period costume  the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989.

Were San Franciscans, she said. We go through earthquakes. We go through pandemics. We go through things. Breed was just warming up when her speech was cut short so the traditional minute of silence to honor the 3,000 people who died could be observed at 5:11 a.m.

Then, at 5:12, the bell rang on a firetruck standing by, followed by a long and too loud siren. Then Huggins was allowed to lead the singing of San Francisco after all, by mayoral decree. The choir sounded muffled, owing to the fact that most people were singing through masks.

It had all just ended when a foursome of Kaitlyn and Owen Mullin, Rob Turnage and Nikki Munro arrived after a long march from the Marina.

Its a bucket list item. It seemed like a cool tradition, said Kaitlyn Mullin, who did not know this for sure because we missed it by one minute, she admitted. We were a few blocks away when we heard the firetruck. Now well have to come back next year to knock it off the list.

The hard-core celebrants packed up to caravan to Dolores Park, to pay additional homage to the fire hydrant painted gold that is credited for being the only one to work on April 18,1906, thus containing the fire. But Kaitlyn Mullins foursome was not about to make that additional walk.

Were going to look for something to eat, she said. It was 5:30 a.m. The nearest Starbucks did not open until 6.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-19 05:42:23|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO -- At least 11 people were killed and 98 others were wounded in a train derailment on Sunday in the Delta city of Toukh, north of the Egyptian capital Cairo, the Egyptian Health Ministry said.

A total of 60 ambulances have been sent to the scene and the wounded have been transferred to three public hospitals, the ministry said in a statement. (Egypt-Train Derailment-Casualties)

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BAGHDAD -- Five rockets on Sunday struck an Iraqi military air base in Iraq's Salahudin province north of capital Baghdad, wounding two security members, the Iraqi military said.

A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) said that the rockets were fired from al-Dojama, an area located across the Tigris River in the neighboring Diyala province, and landed on the Balad Air Base, some 90 km north of Baghdad. (Iraq-Military Base-Rockets)

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KHARTOUM -- Sudan on Sunday called on African countries to support the efforts in reaching comprehensive and satisfactory solutions to all parties regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Sudan's Foreign Minister Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi on Sunday held a virtual meeting with Ambassadors of African Union (AU) Member States accredited to Sudan, said Sudan's foreign ministry in a statement. (Sudan-African Countries-Nile Dam)

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JERUSALEM -- Israel and Greece have signed their "largest ever" security procurement deal, the Israeli defense ministry said on Sunday.

The agreement, signed in Athens on Friday, includes the establishment and operation of a 5.4 billion shekels (about 1.65 billion U.S. dollars) training center for the Hellenic Air Force over a period of 22 years. (Israel-Greece-Security Procurement) Enditem
Greensill

Britains spending watchdog has launched an investigation into Greensill Capitals access to the Governments Covid-19 support schemes.

The National Audit Office will probe how the now-collapsed financial services company came to be given access to the programmes and what monitoring took place afterwards.

In a statement issued online, the watchdog said the investigation would cover Greensills involvement in Covid-19 schemes, how and why it was accredited, and oversight arrangements in the months that followed.

The investigation is one of several to be launched in recent days, with the Government and various Parliamentary committees also initiating probes into the role of Greensill and wider questions posed by its activities.

The scandal first erupted after it emerged that David Cameron lobbied the Government to increase Greensills access to state-backed emergency loan schemes months before it collapsed and left the taxpayer liable for potential losses.

Mr Cameron became an adviser to Greensill two years after leaving office in 2016.

However, during his time as prime minister, Lex Greensill, the Australian financier and founder of the company, was brought into Government as an adviser.

David Cameron and Lex Greensill during a trip to Saudi Arabia - Wall Street Journal

The former prime minister privately messaged a number of ministers, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to try and secure the largest possible allocation of government-backed loans for Greensill under the Covid corporate financing facility, or CCFF.

His attempts ultimately proved unsuccessful, but questions have been asked as to why Greensill was given access in the first place.

Subsequent disclosures over senior civil servants and public figures who also went on to work for Greensill have cast a spotlight on the role of lobbying and the revolving door between Whitehall and the private sector.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Bill Crothers, the former Governments former chief commercial officer, took on a role advising Greensill two months before he left the civil service in 2015.

And on Thursday, it emerged that a second Cabinet Office official, David Brierwood,had combined a role as a crown representative in the Cabinet Office with being a director at Greensill for three and a half years.

The Cabinet Office stressed that his role was nothing to do with supply chain finance, Greensill's area of business, and all crown representatives go through "regular propriety checks". There is also no suggestion of wrongdoing.
Thomas Detry was even par through 54 holes of the Austrian Open. By the end of the day Sunday, however, Detry had fallen 34 spots on the leaderboard and was 10 over.

His scorecard tells some kind of story.

Fellow European Tour player Eddie Pepperell called attention to the colorful card on Twitter, asking Detry to simply walk us through it.

Detrys response? Get your glass of red ready Eddie! It might take a while

Playing at Diamond Country Club near Vienna, Austria, Detry, of Belgium, opened with eagle at the par-5 first and added birdies at Nos. 3 and 7. Back-to-back bogeys followed at Nos. 9 and 10. The back nine was a wild ride.

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Detry made double at No. 12 followed by a birdie on No. 13. The two par 3s, Nos. 14 and 18, he played in a total of 12 over  making a 10 on No. 14 and following with an 8 on No. 18. In addition there was another bogey at No. 17 and also three birdies.

All that added up to an 82, his highest score of the week by 10 shots.

Sometimes its your day, and sometimes it isnt.

Related
A Carrigaline man caught with a stash of cocaine and cash at a house where he was living in Ballinhassig last July got a suspended jail term for the crime.

Detective Garda Andrew OMahony said gardai obtained a warrant to search the home of Christopher Naughton in Ballinaboy, Ballinhassig, County Cork, on July 19 2020.

On arrival of gardai, Naughton handed over cocaine which he had in the house in 15 small packets and one large packet.

The cocaine had a total street value of 4,800.

Cash to a total of 1,820 was also seized.

The 28-year-old is originally from Carrigaline, County Cork, and did not come to the adverse attention of gardai since he was caught last July.

The young man pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply.

Judge Sean O Donnabhain imposed a two-year sentence which he suspended on the basis that the defendant would do a residential treatment programme.

He has, to a large extent, weaned himself off drugs. He is ready for a residential treatment centre as soon as that becomes available, the judge said.
HONG KONG - Ant Group is exploring options for founder Jack Ma to divest his stake in the financial technology giant and give up control, as meetings with Chinese regulators signaled to the company that the move could help draw a line under Beijings scrutiny of its business, according to a source familiar with regulators thinking and two people with close ties to the company.

Reuters is for the first time reporting details of the latest round of meetings and the discussions about the future of Mas control of Ant, exercised through a complicated structure of investment vehicles. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Ma had offered in a November meeting with regulators to hand over parts of Ant to the Chinese government.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma. Credit:AP

Officials from the central bank, Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), and financial regulator China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) held talks between January and March with Ma and Ant separately, where the possibility of the tycoons exit from the company was discussed, according to accounts provided by the source familiar with the regulators thinking and one of the sources with close ties to the company.

Ant denied that a divestment of Mas stake was ever under consideration. Divestment of Mr Mas stake in Ant Group has never been the subject of discussions with anyone, an Ant spokesman said in a statement.
PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic said on Monday Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government will consider further steps.

Acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said he had asked fellow European Union foreign ministers for "an expression of solidarity" at a video conference on Monday.

"I expect that also on the basis of this..., we will learn about more expressions of support and it will be up to member states if they add some concrete decisions."

The central European country ordered the Russian diplomats out on Saturday, saying it suspected Russian intelligence was involved in explosions at an ammunition depot in October and December 2014.

"The reaction (by Russia) is stronger than we had expected, it is more diplomats than the number of intelligence officers we expelled," Hamacek told a televised news conference.

"I will meet the prime minister and discuss whether and when it will be needed to take some further steps from the Czech side."

The Czech government has said it has reasonable suspicion that two Russian intelligence agents accused of a nerve agent poisoning in Britain in 2018 were behind the ammunition depot blasts four years before that killed two people.

Russia's Foreign Ministry criticised Prague's decision not to disclose all details of the investigation to Moscow, describing the affair as a blow to bilateral relations.

"This is proof that this whole story is a fabricated, dirty, disgusting fake," RIA news agency cited Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.

The row is the biggest between Prague and Moscow since the end of decades of Soviet domination of central and eastern European countries in 1989.

The Kremlin, commenting on the allegations that Russian intelligence was involved in the explosions and on the subsequent diplomatic expulsions, called the Czech Republic's actions "provocative and unfriendly".

The Czech Foreign Ministry said the Russian Embassy in Prague had 129 diplomats and other personnel, and two regional consulates - about twice the size of the Czech Embassy in Moscow, which the Russian countermeasure left severely hit.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka in Prague, Alexander Marrow in Moscow; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Australia should address climate change as a national security threat at the Earth Day climate summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, according to a former director of the Australian Department of Defence.

Cheryl Durrant, a specialist in intelligence analysis and scenario planning during her military career who is now an academic and councillor with the Climate Council, said Mr Biden had raised the significance of climate change as a security threat in his invitation to world leaders.

A man tries to access his house in a flooded neighbourhood of Jakarta in January, when 17 people were killed. Credit:Getty

She said Australia was falling behind other nations in integrating climate policy with national security.

The two major security threats facing the world at present were global war and climate change, said Professor Durrant.
In three months, Joe Biden has effectively erased all American norms. Worse, hes done so by executive fiat rather than the legislative process. Its likely that only Democrats (and not even all Democrats) support him. Nevertheless, a Pew poll, which the media is shilling, assures us that hes got a 59% approval rating. Dig into the poll, though, and its a lie -- just as CBS lied when it shaved footage from the video of Adam Toldeos shooting to hide the firearm hed been holding. In other words, we are being sold a narrative that has nothing to do with the truth.

First, about that poll. The Hill touted it:

Biden hits 59 percent approval rating in Pew poll https://t.co/vqUL6c4myu pic.twitter.com/ESESelMFW0  The Hill (@thehill) April 17, 2021

Fifty-nine percent? Really? While we can reasonably accept that the Democrat faithful support Bidens policies, are there really that many other Americans on board with open borders, gas prices rising 35% or more, a plan to greenlight Irans nuclear development, ending voter ID, obsessive efforts to destroy race relations and demonize white people, packing the Supreme Court, and adding two new states?

It turns out that, as to some of those things, we know that most Americans oppose Bidens policies. On Court-packing, an October poll that the New York Times conducted showed that 58% of likely voters oppose it. Americans feel even more strongly about voter ID: 75% of them support it. Americans also disapprove of Bidens border policy, with 55% of them saying hes doing a bad job and only 29% saying hes doing a good job.

If youre wondering how that translates into a 59% approval rating, just remember the line about lies, damn lies, and statistics. When people delved into Pews sampling, it turned out that the poll gave Democrats a huge advantage. (H/t Twitchy)

It is the unweighted sample size, not sure where they still skewed it a little more towards Dems 52-43. pic.twitter.com/PhnN7Dr93V  harold chasen (@haroldmchasen) April 17, 2021

The raw sample was D+31. Any decent pollster would tell you you can't wait such a sample and get anything that's not biased. Not to mention weighting to D+9 is nuts also  SJ on Nantucket (@SJonNantucket) April 17, 2021

Theres something downright Soviet about puffing up support for a politician that way.

And then theres CBSs effort to create more racial strife and violence in connection with 13-year-old Adam Toldeos death. Lil Homicide as he was known on the streets, ran with a violent gang. He was out at 2 a.m. with a 21-year-old and one or the other was shooting at cars.

When the police caught up with Toledo, the bodycam on the police officer who fired the shots showed that Lil Homicide had a gun in his hands which he threw aside 1-2 seconds before the officer fired  a time period too short for the police officers brain, which had recognized a lethal threat, to recompute and hold his fire.

CBS didnt like that narrative, so it changed it. (H/t The Gateway Pundit.)

Full video here. *At best*, CBS News looked at an explosive issue like a controversial police shooting & prioritized mobile screen viewing optimization over showing the full body camera footage (and thus edited out a key fact leading up to the shooting).https://t.co/b1P814LGjN  Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) April 16, 2021

This video is deceptively edited and cuts out the portion of the police officers body camera footage that showed that the suspect was holding a gun https://t.co/FC4C6W1CZi pic.twitter.com/f9JUAaUYAn  Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 16, 2021

I dont blame the police officer. I blame whoever was responsible for a 13-year-old boy who was out running with guns and shooting at people in the middle of the night. And if Toledo deliberately escaped from someone trying to keep him safe, 13 or not, hes responsible for his own death. Remember that, in a pre-modern era, 13-year-olds were adults and expected to live (or die) with adult consequences.

But back to my main point: No matter what the polls and the media tell you while Biden is in the White House, dont trust it; always verify it. They might be telling the truth, but the chances are excellent that theyre actively lying or simply shading the truth to present a narrative in which Biden is a competent, pro-American president, police are mowing Blacks down in a second Holocaust, and our abandoning liberty and giving ourselves up entirely to leftism is the answer to all our problems.

IMAGE: Adam Toledos gun. Twitter screengrab.

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Russia is menacing Ukraines borders, China is sending increasingly ominous signals over Taiwan and Iran is accelerating its uranium enrichment to unprecedented levels.

The big picture: Ukraine, Taiwan and Irans nuclear program always loomed large on the menu of potential crises President Biden could face. But over the last several days, the lights have been blinking red on all three fronts all at once.

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Driving the news: Within 24 hours beginning last Sunday, an explosion rocked Irans underground nuclear site at Natanz, 25 Chinese warplanes entered Taiwans air defense zone, and Ukraine announced that the number of Russian troops massing in Crimea and on its eastern border had risen to 80,000.

Russia has now assembled enough troops for a limited military incursion, CIA director Bill Burns warned Wednesday.

Moscow has avoided such overt intervention in Eastern Ukraine since the war there began in 2014, but could strike now in an attempt to push further into Ukrainian territory or secure a source of much-needed water for occupied Crimea.

After a flurry of phone calls from Washington to Kyiv to signal support for Ukraine, Biden called Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and proposed a summit to discuss Ukraine and other issues.

The state of play: U.S. European Command commander Gen. Tod Wolters said Thursday that there was a low to medium risk of a Russian invasion in the next few weeks.

The threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is less urgent, but carries a far greater risk of plunging the U.S. into a direct military confrontation.

Beijing has repeatedly threatened to take control of the self-governing island by force. Biden, meanwhile, has continued the longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity, with the U.S. signaling that its prepared to defend Taiwan without explicitly pledging to do so.

After Mondays air incursion, the largest to date, Biden dispatched three former senior U.S. officials to Taiwan, a move Beijing described as playing with fire. China reacts furiously to any gesture that treats Taiwan  a flourishing democracy and global tech hub  as an independent country.

The state of play: Admiral Philip Davidson, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, has said theres a real and rising risk that China will invade in the next several years, but that the more worrying short-term scenario is an accident or a miscalculation that leads to escalation.

After the apparent act of Israeli sabotage at Natanz, Iran announced it would begin enriching uranium to 60%, approaching the levels required for a nuclear weapon.

Story continues

Both the attack and the Iranian response have threatened to derail the negotiations aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal.

The state of play: The talks resumed on Thursday in Vienna, but back in Tehran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei implied that Iran might soon walk away from the table. If the talks falter and Iran continues to accelerate its enrichment, further flash points are likely.

What to watch: Just about all thats missing from this cocktail of crises is another North Korean missile test.

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After two decades of war in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has abundant justification for withdrawing all U.S. troops by Sept. 11. Yet his decision has the feel of a loss because of what is likely to follow.

Sept. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that led to the U.S. invasion. The short-term goal was clear  to obliterate the terrorist infrastructure that supported the attacks. And that goal largely was met through the rout of the Taliban and, in 2011 in neighboring Pakistan, the death of al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.

But because the U.S. never established a concrete long-term goal for the occupation, it is hard to even measure success or failure. Attempts to establish democratic governance produced enthusiasm among the populace but epic corruption among political leaders. The reach of fundamentalist terrorists was such that U.S. and allied soldiers often were killed by Afghan soldiers. The welfare of women clearly improved as the loosening of the medieval Talibans grip on the society opened opportunities for education, employment and mobility.

The lesson is the same as it was regarding Vietnam, Somalia and Iraq. The United States, at the beginning of any such incursion, must have not only justification for going in but clear objectives and a plan for getting out.

The impending withdrawal will save American lives and money. But the resulting cost to Afghan people, whom the United States purported to champion, is going to be high.
A 16-year-old was arrested Saturday and charged in the shooting of a 1-year-old in Newark, announced Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. OHara.

This afternoon, our Fugitive Apprehension Team arrested a 16-year-old male who fired at the vehicle where the 1-year-old child, two other teenagers and a male adult were seated that day, OHara said. This shooting was the result of a senseless dispute between the childs mother and a group of individuals.

Police said that at approximately 2:06 p.m. on Monday, units responded to a ShotSpotter notification of gunfire in the area of 14th Avenue and South 6th Street and were alerted that a 1-year-old had arrived at University Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.

The child is reportedly in stable condition.

Detectives arrested the 16-year-old today after observing video footage of him firing at the childs mother, Tytaneisha Wilder, of East Orange, who initially pointed a handgun at the group she was disputing with.

Police recovered the handgun used by Wilder on April 12. She was arrested and faces three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The 16-year-old male faces five counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose.

We are confident that these arrests will close out this incident, and that there is no threat to the community, OHara said. I would like to commend the Newark Police Major Crimes detectives for their diligence and perseverance by not resting until those responsible were brought to justice.

The New Jersey Department of Child Permanency and Protection has been notified of this incident.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Prince Philips funeral in hallowed St. Georges Chapel was thoroughly Christian

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The ceremonial funeral Saturday of Prince Philip was a theologically orthodox service as expressed through the timeless Anglican rites of the Church of England, observers said.

It also came at a time when faith in the public square is more often than not watered down to accommodate the panoply of beliefs and nonbeliefs.

It was a fitting liturgy for a man in whom the traditional and the modern combined, the Right Rev. Anthony Clavier said. Originally from England and today a cleric in the Episcopal Church, he noted the late duke of Edinburghs steadfast service to God, the Queen, the nation and the Commonwealth.

Others in the Anglican tradition  Queen Elizabeth II is supreme governor of the Church of England, the mother church of the wider Anglican Communion  were impressed with the funerals overt Christianity, which was reflective of the deeply rooted faith held by Philip.

With minor exceptions, the order of service was essentially the liturgy of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. It also blended seamlessly with the pomp and pageantry that the British do so much better than anyone else.

The service was very traditional, said Lord George Carey, archbishop of Canterbury from 1991 until 2002. It echoed the funeral service for Princess Margaret, which I took part in some 20 years ago.

Philip, born the grandson of the Danish and Greek kings, was baptized into the Greek Orthodox Church. Later, he was received into Englands Anglican state church before marrying the then-Princess Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in 1947. His mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria who lived out her later years a Greek Orthodox nun. Her aunt, the Lutheran-turned-Anglican-turned-Orthodox Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia, is canonized as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church.

He had a questioning faith, Carey said, but was a strong believer.

Of a lesser rank than a state funeral, Philips ceremonial funeral was equivalent to the funerals of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 2002 and Philips uncle, the Earl Mountbatten, in 1979 with one notable exception. While those funerals brought together hundreds, Saturdays funeral included just 30 mourners  the maximum number allowed under the U.K. governments coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.

Although Prince Philips service had the ornaments of royalty and military honor, at the core of the service was the hope of eternal life available to all, said the Rev. Steven J. Kelly, rector of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Detroit. Whether at St. Georges Chapel, a local church or graveside, the words strike to the same core truth.

Presiding within the quire of a socially distanced St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. and Right Hon. Justin Welby, and the Right Rev. David Conner, dean of Windsor and a former suffragan bishop in the Church of England.

This is like every other funeral and distinct from every other funeral, Welby told Sky News on the eve of the funeral. Its like every other funeral because the family is the family is the family and its distinct because they are having to bear this loss and sorrow in the glare of, goodness knows, how many people watching [the royal family] from around the world.

St. Georges Chapel, built between the reigns of King Edward IV in 1475 and King Henry VIII in 1528, is one of the finest examples of perpendicular Gothic architecture. It has regularly served as the backdrop of royal occasions, including the 2018 wedding of the present duke and duchess of Sussex in which the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church gave the sermon.

One of the chapels most notable architectural features is the elaborate fan vaulting above the quire, where the service took place. This dates to the late 15th century.

Before the pandemic the chapel was open to visitors as part of admission into Windsor Castle. Another way to get inside was attendance at one of the regular church services. Both paid admission and free services are expected to resume May 17, when some U.K. government coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

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Aaron Sorkin's historical legal drama The Trial Of The Chicago 7 was among the big winners at the American Cinema Editors' 71st annual Eddie Awards on Saturday.

The film picked up the coveted Best Edited Feature Film award in the drama category at the virtual ceremony, which honors the best in film and television editing.

In the comedy division of Best Edited Feature Film, Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti's acclaimed comedy Palm Springs was the top film.

Top prize: Aaron Sorkin's historical legal drama The Trial Of The Chicago 7 was among the big winners at the American Cinema Editors' 71st annual Eddie Awards on Saturday

The Trial Of The Chicago 7 looks back on the eight individuals charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with intent to incite a riot following the chaotic protests during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The group was eventually cut down to seven defendants after Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale had a mistrial declared in his case.

The film has received strong reviews from critics, though some have complained about writerdirector Sorkin's lack of style and his attempts to soften the more radical statements of his real-life characters.

Alan Baumgarten, who won the award for editing the film, was also on hand with Sorkin to accept.

Historical: The Trial Of The Chicago 7 looks back on the individuals charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines with intent to incite a riot following the chaotic protests during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago

Praised: The film has received strong reviews from critics, though some have complained about writerdirector Sorkin's lack of style and his attempts to soften the more radical statements of his real-life characters

Winner: Alan Baumgarten, who won the award for editing the film, was also on hand with Sorkin to accept

Co-editors Matthew Friedman and Andrew Dickler both accepted the top award for the comedy Palm Springs, which was directed by Max Barbakow and written by Andy Siara.

Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti star as guests at a wedding at a moment of crisis  before they're sucked into a Groundhog Daylike pattern in which they repeat the day of the Palm Springs wedding over and over.

Kevin Nolting took home the award for Best Edited Animated Feature Film for Disney and Pixar's Soul

Top comedy prize: Co-editors Matthew Friedman and Andrew Dickler both accepted the top award for the comedy Palm Springs, which was directed by Max Barbakow and written by Andy Siara

Do-over: Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti star as guests at a wedding at a moment of crisis  before they're sucked into a Groundhog Daylike pattern in which they repeat the day of the Palm Springs wedding over and over

The dramatic feature film award cements The Trial Of The Chicago 7's status as an Oscar frontrunner and makes Baumgarten the favorite for the Academy Awards' editing prize.

Other Oscar hopefuls participating in the ceremony were Promising Young Woman star Carrie Mulligan and writerdirector Emerald Fennell.

Mulligan stars as a woman who begins hunting men in hopes of catching sexual predators, with sometimes extreme methods.

Leslie Odom Jr. joined the proceedings as part of a tribute to filmmaker Spike Lee, which also featured Jodie Foster, who appeared in his hit film Inside Man, plus Lee's former editors Barry Alexander Brown, Adam Gough, Nancy Novack and Sam Pollard.

Presenters: Other Oscar hopefuls participating in the ceremony were Promising Young Woman star Carrie Mulligan and writerdirector Emerald Fennell

Chilling thriller: Mulligan stars as a woman who begins hunting men in hopes of catching sexual predators, with sometimes extreme methods

Paying tribute: One Night In Miami star Leslie Odom Jr. joined the proceedings as part of a tribute to filmmaker Spike Lee

Old friends: Jodie Foster appeared in Lee's hit film Inside Man and was part of the tribute

Riz Ahmed's film Sound Of Metal didn't win out in the drama film category, but he made an appearance to rep the film about a drummer losing his hearing.

Viewers at home also got a dose of cuteness when the acclaimed child actors from Minari, Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho, stopped by.

Among the television shows, Ozark's Cindy Mollo won the award for Best Edited Drama Series for Non-Commercial Television for the show's episode Wartime.

Poignant: Riz Ahmed's film Sound Of Metal didn't win out in the drama film category, but he made an appearance to rep the film about a drummer losing his hearing

Rising stars: Viewers at home also got a dose of cuteness when the acclaimed child actors from Minari, Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho, stopped by

Chris McCaleb and Joey Liew won the Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television Award for Better Call Saul's episode Bad Choice Road.

Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein and actor/co-creator Brendan Hunt were on hand to represent their Apple TV+ series, which won Best Edited Comedy Series for Non-Commercial Television for the episode Make Rebecca Great Again.

Catherine O'Hara has been scooping up acting awards for her role as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek, so it was fitting that she helped represent the series when it won the Best Edited Comedy Series for Commercial Television prize.

Comedy winners: Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein and actor/co-creator Brendan Hunt were on hand to represent their Apple TV+ series, which won Best Edited Comedy Series for Non-Commercial Television for the episode Make Rebecca Great Again

Continuing the streak: Catherine O'Hara has been scooping up acting awards for her role as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek, so it was fitting that she helped represent the series when it won the Best Edited Comedy Series for Commercial Television prize

Other winners include My Octopus Teacher for Best Edited Documentary (Feature), while the first episode of the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance won the non-theatrical documentary award.

Adult Swim's Rick & Morty series earned the non-feature animated award.

Seth Meyers' late night series wasn't up for any awards at the ceremony, but he did film a clip from his set to present one of the awards.

The award for Best Edited Variety Talk/Sketch Show or Special ended up going to Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's film American Utopia.

Netflix's The Queen's Gambit took home the prize for Best Edited Limited Series, while the reality series Cheer won for non-scripted series.

The editors Lynzee Klingman and Sidney Wolinsky took home the lifetime achievement awards for the ceremony.

Good sport: Seth Meyers' late night series wasn't up for any awards at the ceremony, but he did film a clip from his set to present one of the awards

Primetime soap: Some of the biggest television stars popped up at the Eddies ceremony to present awards. This Is Us matriarch Mandy Moore and her co-star and on-screen husband Jon Huertas were featured together

Musical star: Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, a musical comedy on NBC, also got plenty of representation thanks to star Jane Levy, who announced the Spike Lee tribute

Some of the biggest television stars popped up at the Eddies ceremony to present awards.

This Is Us matriarch Mandy Moore and her co-star and on-screen husband Jon Huertas were featured together.

Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, a musical comedy on NBC, also got plenty of representation.

Star Jane Levy helped announce the tribute to Spike Lee, while her costar Mary Steenburgen, who plays her mother on the show, also was featured.
More than $30,000 has been raised in less than a day to bolster search efforts for a missing fisherman whose boat was found empty and motoring in circles.

Trent Riley is believed to have fallen overboard while fishing in Brisbane's Moreton Bay on Wednesday afternoon.

The 26-year-old's small aluminium boat was found by police off Mud Island, near the Port of Brisbane, about 3.30pm.

He had posted two short clips to his Instagram stories just two hours before, showing followers his fishing rod and the seemingly calm water on the Bay.

A fundraising effort is underway for fisherman Trent Riley (pictured) whose boat was found empty and motoring in circles in Brisbane's Moreton Bay

Queensland Police found Mr Riley's unmanned small aluminum boat driving 'uncontrolled' off Mud Island about 3:30pm on Wednesday

A GoFundMe page set up to help his family 'continue the search for Trent' and cover expenses has raised more than $30,000 of a $40,000 goal since it was posted on Saturday.

'Any support is greatly appreciated and will help keep Trent's family focusing on their main goal - bringing Trent home,' organiser Caitlin Ennis wrote on the page.

A Facebook page - Let's find Trent Riley - has also been set-up, with friends detailing their search efforts in the hope of finding the missing fisherman.

Queensland Police Acting Inspector Mark Mooney said Mr Riley's Instagram posts at 1.27pm on Wednesday featuring calm conditions on the bay showed his last known whereabouts.

'That's the last we heard of him, of his posting or interaction,' he told reporters on Thursday.

Insp Mooney said the boat was not damaged, indicating there had not been any collision, but one of Mr Riley's three fishing rods were missing.

Mr Riley had posted two videos on social media showing calm waters two hours before he went missing on Wednesday. He is pictured here in a photo from last year

He said a dry bag Mr Riley would have taken with him if he had 'voluntarily' got into the water was still in his boat.

'We're not totally aware at this stage how he's fallen out of the boat,' Insp Mooney said.

Water Police, Volunteer Marine Rescue, helicopters and volunteer coastguard have been involved in the search.

At the time he went missing Mr Riley was wearing a long-sleeved grey fishing shirt, black jeans, black shoes and a bucket hat.

He is described as being Caucasian, about 183cm tall, with a proportionate build and brown hair.




Syria is to hold a presidential election on May 26, the parliament speaker announced Sunday, the country's second in the shadow of civil war, seen as likely to keep President Bashar Al-Assad in power.







Syrians abroad will be "able to vote at embassies" on May 20, Hamouda Sabbagh said in a statement, adding that prospective candidates could hand in their applications from Monday.







Assad, who took power following the death of his father Hafez in 2000, has not yet officially announced that he will stand for re-election. He won a previous election three years into Syria's devastating civil war in 2014, with 88 percent of the vote.







Under Syria's 2012 constitution, a president may only serve two seven-year terms  with the exception of the president elected in the 2014 poll. Candidates must have lived continuously in Syria for at least 10 years, meaning that opposition figures in exile are barred from standing.







Candidates must also have the backing of at least 35 members of the parliament, which is dominated by Assad's Baath party. This year's vote comes after Russian-backed Syrian government forces re-seized the vital northern city of Aleppo and other opposition-held areas, placing Damascus in control of two-thirds of the country.







But the poll also comes amid a crushing economic crisis. The decade-long civil war has left at least 388,000 people dead and half of the population displaced. (AFP)


Other proposals to reduce police interventions have caught on elsewhere. In February, Berkeley, Calif., barred officers from pulling over motorists for not wearing a seatbelt, misuse of high-beam headlights or expired registrations. The moves were in part based on research showing that Black motorists in the city were about six times more likely to be pulled over than white motorists were, although the police union raised concerns that the reforms created significant safety consequences for citizens and officers.

In Virginia, a law went into effect last month limiting the minor traffic violations for which officers should stop vehicles. It also prohibits officers from conducting searches solely based on smelling marijuana.

As a Black woman who understands theres been a disproportionate abuse of Black and brown people by police officers, we had to do something to prevent these injuries and killings of people of color, said L. Louise Lucas, a Democratic state senator from Virginia, who proposed the bill and spoke of her own mistreatment by law enforcement. This is an age-old story for Black people, she added.

Many of the new rules adopted by states and cities have similarities, focusing on the use of force or accountability after the fact. Two of the countrys largest states, California and New York, have been at the forefront of that push  and some cities have taken more dramatic steps.

Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco, for example, last year proposed cuts to their police department budgets. Activists have called for reducing police funding and diverting some of that money to mental health initiatives and social services. But those demands have often met with resistance, not only from law enforcement but also from Black residents and officials who fear that crime would surge.

In fact, in Oakland, some of those cuts, which were enacted because of a budget deficit, were reversed after a spike in murders and attacks on Asian-Americans.
The sprawling hacking campaign deemed a grave threat to US national security came to be known as SolarWinds, for the company whose software update was seeded by Russian intelligence agents with malware to penetrate sensitive government and private networks.

Yet it was Microsoft whose code the cyberspies persistently abused in the campaign's second stage, rifling through emails and other files of such high-value targets as then-acting Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf  and hopping undetected among victim networks.

This has put the worlds third-most valuable company in the hot seat. Because its products are a de facto monoculture in government and industry  with more than 85% market share  federal lawmakers are insisting that Microsoft swiftly upgrade security to what they say it should have provided in the first place, and without fleecing taxpayers.

Also read: Months after massive hacking campaign, US set to announce sanctions on Russia

Seeking to assuage concerns, Microsoft this past week offered all federal agencies a year of advanced security features at no extra charge. But it also seeks to deflect blame, saying it is customers who do not always make security a priority.

Risks in Microsoft's foreign dealings also came into relief when the Biden administration imposed sanctions Thursday on a half-dozen Russian IT companies it said support Kremlin hacking. Most prominent was Positive Technologies, which was among more than 80 companies that Microsoft has supplied with early access to data on vulnerabilities detected in its products. Following the sanctions announcement, Microsoft said Positive Tech was no longer in the program and removed its name from a list of participants on its website.

The SolarWinds hackers took full advantage of what George Kurtz, CEO of top cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, called systematic weaknesses in key elements of Microsoft code to mine at least nine US government agencies  the departments of Justice and Treasury, among them  and more than 100 private companies and think tanks, including software and telecommunications providers.

The SolarWinds hackers' abuse of Microsofts identity and access architecture  which validates users' identities and grants them access to email, documents and other data  did the most dramatic harm, the nonpartisan Atlantic Council think tank said in a report. That set the hack apart as a widespread intelligence coup. In nearly every case of post-intrusion mischief, the intruders "silently moved through Microsoft products vacuuming up emails and files from dozens of organizations.

Don't miss: SolarWinds, Microsoft, FireEye, CrowdStrike defend actions in major hack

Thanks in part to the carte blanche that victim networks granted the infected Solarwinds network management software in the form of administrative privileges, the intruders could move laterally across them, even jump among organizations. They used it to sneak into the cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes and to target customers of Mimecast, an email security company.

The campaigns hallmark was the intruders ability to impersonate legitimate users and create counterfeit credentials that let them grab data stored remotely by Microsoft Office, the acting director of the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency, Brandon Wales, told a mid-March congressional hearing. It was all because they compromised those systems that manage trust and identity on networks, he said.

Microsoft President Brad Smith told a February congressional hearing that just 15% of victims were compromised through an authentication vulnerability first identified in 2017  allowing the intruders to impersonate authorized users by minting the rough equivalent of counterfeit passports.

Microsoft officials stress that the SolarWinds update was not always the entry point; intruders sometimes took advantage of vulnerabilities such as weak passwords and victims lack of multi-factor authentication. But critics say the company took security too lightly. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., verbally pummeled Microsoft for not supplying federal agencies with a level of event logging that, if it had not detected the SolarWinds hacking in progress, would at least have provided responders with a record of where the intruders were and what they saw and removed.

Microsoft chooses the default settings in the software it sells, and even though the company knew for years about the hacking technique used against US government agencies, the company did not set default logging settings to capture information necessary to spot hacks in progress, Wyden said. He was not the only federal lawmaker who complained.

When Microsoft on Wednesday announced a year of free security logging for federal agencies, for which it normally charges a premium, Wyden was not appeased.

This move is far short of whats needed to make up for Microsofts recent failures, he said in a statement. "The government still wont have access to important security features without handing over even more money to the same company that created this cybersecurity sinkhole.

Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., had pressed Smith in February on the security logging upsell, comparing it to making seat belts and air bags options in cars when they should be standard. He commended Microsoft for the one-year reprieve, but said a longer-term conversation is due about it not being a profit center." He said "this buys us a year.

Even the highest level of logging doesn't prevent break-ins, though. It only makes it easier to detect them.

And remember, many security professionals note, Microsoft was itself compromised by the SolarWinds intruders, who got access to some of its source code  its crown jewels. Microsofts full suite of security products  and some of the industry's most skilled cyber-defense practitioners  had failed to detect the ghost in the network. It was alerted to its own breach by FireEye, the cybersecurity firm that first detected the hacking campaign in mid-December.

Read more: Tech execs face round two of Congressional grilling over SolarWinds breach

The intruders in the unrelated hack of Microsoft Exchange email servers disclosed in March  blamed on Chinese spies  used wholly different infection methods. But they gained immediate high-level access to users' email and other info.

Across the industry, Microsofts investments in security are widely acknowledged. It is often first to identify major cybersecurity threats, its visibility into networks is so great. But many argue that as the chief supplier of security solutions for its products, it needs to be more mindful about how much it should profit off defense.

The crux of it is that Microsoft is selling you the disease and the cure, said Marc Maiffret, a cybersecurity veteran who built a career finding vulnerabilities in Microsoft products and has a new startup in the works called BinMave.

Last month, Reuters reported that a $150 million payment to Microsoft for a secure cloud platform was included in a draft outline for spending the $650 million appropriated for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in last month's $1.9 trillion pandemic relief act.

A Microsoft spokesperson would not say how much, if any, of that money it would be getting, referring the question to the cybersecurity agency. An agency spokesman, Scott McConnell, would not say either. Langevin said he didn't think a final decision has been made.

In the budget year ending in September, the federal government spent more than half a billion dollars on Microsoft software and services.

Many security experts believe Microsoft's single sign-on model, emphasizing user convenience over security, is ripe for retooling to reflect a world where state-backed hackers now routinely run roughshod over US networks

Also read: SolarWinds security practices questioned by lawmakers following cyber attack

Alex Weinert, Microsoft's director of identity security, said it offers various ways for customers to strictly limit users access to what they need to do their jobs. But getting customers to go along can be difficult because it often means abandoning three decades of IT habit and disrupting business. Customers tend to configure too many accounts with the broad global administrative privileges that allowed the SolarWinds campaign abuses, he said. Its not the only way they can do it, thats for sure.

In 2014-2015, lax restrictions on access helped Chinese spies steal sensitive personal data on more than 21 million current, former and prospective federal employees from the Office of Personnel Management.

Curtis Dukes was the National Security Agency's head of information assurance at the time.

The OPM shared data across multiple agencies using Microsoft's authentication architecture, granting access to more users than it safely should have, said Dukes, now the managing director for the nonprofit Center for Internet Security.

People took their eye off the ball."
A man, later identified as Anderson, got out of the Toyota, opened the victims driver side door, displayed a gun and demanded that she exit the vehicle, the states attorneys office said. The woman got out of the car and began to run, but Anderson caught up to her and took her purse before returning to the victims car. At that point, both the Toyota and the victims Honda fled the scene.
Prominent Democrats continue to urge a skeptical President Biden to cancel $50,000 in federally held student loan debt via executive action (as opposed to legislation passed by Congress).

In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) explained why she and others believe that cancellation would have a stimulus-like effect on the U.S. economy.

"Its going to be a huge, huge boost to our economy," Warren, who chairs the Subcommittee on Economic Policy at the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, told Yahoo Finance Presents (video above). "Good for the individual borrowers. Good for closing the racial wealth gap. Good for the economy overall."

Warren noted that when the payment pause on student loans ends in October, "families all across this country are all of a sudden going to be hit with payments  the average payment is going to be just around $400. Now for some families, theyre simply not going to be able to pay it. And thats just going to throw that family over a financial cliff."

A graduate toasts with her family at a restaurant on Manhattan's Upper West Side on July 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Student loan payments, Warren argued, would be going "into the federal government instead of getting spent in your local community, instead of getting spent at restaurants and retail stores, instead of being spent on back-to-school expenses in September. We need that money moving through the economy."

Goldman Sachs analysts disagreed in a December 2020 note, stating that they had "several reasons to be skeptical that forgiving student debt would provide a large boost to consumption."

The analysts argued that most student loans were being held by households "that have high earnings potential and are less likely to be resource constrained" and that the tax implications of forgiveness could hold back any boost to consumption. (The stimulus bill passed in March included a provision, backed by Warren and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), that made student loan forgiveness tax-free until 2026.)

Story continues

There are nearly 45 million borrowers holding more than $1.56 trillion in federal and federally-backed student loans, according to recent data from the Department of Education (ED). Out of the 36 million student loan borrowers who would benefit from $50,000 in cancellation, 9.4 million  a little more than a quarter  are currently in default.

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Cancelling $50,000 in student loan debt is a proposal Warren and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have pushed since before the 2020 presidential election and continue to press the Biden administration to take executive action on.

The Biden administration is still today very much open to what we are doing  no one question about it, Schumer, speaking about student debt forgiveness, told a town hall organized by Student Debt Crisis and other groups on Thursday. "And in fact, Senator Warren and I ... and a few others are planning with the president again shortly to reiterate our claim  this is still going, and going strong.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain recently told Politico that the president asked Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to "prepare a memo on the president's legal authority" before any decision.



Aarthi is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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Interview: CPC committed to ensuring extensive public participation in economic growth, says former Brazilian president

Xinhua) 08:59, April 18, 2021

SAO PAULO, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has successfully integrated public opinion with policy-making and China is an excellent cooperative partner of developing countries, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said.

"Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government has successfully integrated public opinion with policy-making, and promoted people's livelihood through economic development," Lula, also founder of Brazil's Workers' Party (PT), told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"The ruling ability of the CPC is admirable, and I especially admire the CPC for being good at listening to public opinion," he said.

Talking about the global impact of China's development and South-South cooperation, Lula said China's development achievements indicate that development should benefit the people, and promote social integration and social progress.

"I think China could become a model for many countries. China is and will continue to be an excellent partner for the countries of the South," he added.

Praising China's economic model, Lula said "China in the last 30 years saw extraordinary economic growth," and economic growth started to become more successful when people began to lift themselves out of poverty and have study opportunities, better jobs and higher earnings.

"China has evolved in an extraordinary way, and I am pushing for other countries to follow China's example," he stressed.

The PT has a good relationship with the CPC, he said. "A lot of PT leaders have travelled to China and have discussed with the leaders of the CPC."

"I personally and my party have a deep respect for the CPC. Taking care of the number of people that the CPC takes care of, ensuring that the economy grows as it did ... I think it is magnificent," Lula said.

As the CPC is turning 100 years old and stronger, it can only be a good thing for the Chinese society, he said.

Congratulating China for its efforts to combat COVID-19, Lula said he would like to visit China again once the pandemic is over.

"I want to go back to China ... I want to learn more about how the economy works," he said.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Ghana has assured Canadian investors of her readiness to serve as the entry point to the Sub-region for opportunities in the regional market.



Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCF) there is an estimated market size of over 1.2 billion consumers with a growing middle class.



Mr Alan Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry, said this when Madam Kati Csaba, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, called on him in Accra.



He said Ghana and Canada had enjoyed close bilateral relations for over a century, covering high level of cooperation in trade, investments, development, and humanitarian assistance.



The Trade Minister said that had reflected in both countries sharing common membership in many international organisations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organisation, where in most cases Ghana and Canada found common grounds on many global issues.



He recounted Canadas contributions to the development of the country in many critical roles stimulating sustainable economic measures and reducing barriers to doing business.



It was also evident in climate-smart agriculture as an engine for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, improving access to and use of affordable and nutritious foods, increasing access to sanitation and hygiene services in under-served areas and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, Mr Kyerematen said.



"Trade between the two countries has grown steadily and doubled over the past decade from about $201 million in 2010 to over $540 million in 2019," he said.



Mr Kyerematen said the country intended to leverage that strong bilateral relation by making Canada a destination market for value-added goods under Ghanas Industrial Transformation Programme.



In that regard, he said, Ghana could benefit from Canadas experience in vehicle assembly and manufacturing of machinery and component parts, fertilizers and industrial chemicals.



The Ministry would actualize that by establishing strategic platforms such as the GhanaCanada Business Council Act to address potential commercial relations challenges and facilitate trade and investments between the two countries.



The Council would further support the Ministry's ongoing efforts to identify business opportunities and other trade and investments related activities that could be exploited by private sector operators of both countries for the enhancement of bilateral economic, trade and investment co-operation, Mr Kyerematen said.



Madam Csaba, on her part, said Canada was looking forward to exploring investment avenues in Ghana, especially opportunities offered by governments One District, One Factory programme.

Source: GNA









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Masks must still be worn indoors, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said

Israel has dropped its almost year-long outdoor mask mandate as it inches towards total immunisation of its adult population.

The restriction, which required masks to be worn outdoors unless exercising, was lifted on Sunday as Reuters reported that the country had vaccinated around 80 per cent of its adult population.

'The rate of infection in Israel is very low thanks to the successful vaccine campaign in Israel, and therefore it is possible to ease [restrictions],' Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said on Thursday, adding that masks will still be required indoors.

Israel's highly successful vaccination campaign has seen close to five million of its 9.3million people vaccinated, according to Reuters.

Israel has dropped its almost year-long outdoor mask mandate as it inches towards total immunisation of its adult population. Pictured: Israelis watch the sunset in Tel Aviv on Sunday

The restriction, which required masks to be worn outdoors unless exercising, was lifted on Sunday as Reuters reported that the country had vaccinated around 80 per cent of its adult population

Israel's highly successful vaccination campaign has seen close to five million of its 9.3million people vaccinated, according to Reuters. Pictured: People out and about in Jerusalem on Sunday

The drive has drastically cut hospitalisations and deaths from coronavirus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained millions of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in part by agreeing to share with Pfizer medical data on the product's impact.

The vaccines have transformed life in Israel. In mid-January the country had a peak of some 10,000 new infections a day but the rate is now about 200 cases a day.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained millions of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in part by agreeing to share with Pfizer medical data on the product's impact

The rate of new infections has remained low even after in-person learning resumed and restrictions were loosened on bars, restaurants and indoor gatherings.

Strict measures also remain in place for anyone entering the country with citizens and foreigners alike required to self isolate.

'We are leading the world right now when it comes to emerging from the coronavirus,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters. '(But) we have still not finished with the coronavirus. It can return.'

The vaccines have transformed life in Israel. In mid-January the country had a peak of some 10,000 new infections a day but the rate is now about 200 cases a day

The vaccine drive The drive has drastically cut hospitalisations and deaths from coronavirus

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla was a guest of honour at a government ceremony on Wednesday evening marking the 73rd anniversary of the founding of Israel.

'Together we are demonstrating that through mass vaccinations we can defeat the Covid-19 pandemic and save lives,' Bourla said in a video address.

Throughout the festivities marking the anniversary, thousands of people held barbecues, lounged on beaches and celebrated at parties, often without masks.

On Wednesday, Israel announced a plan to allow vaccinated foreign tourists to return in groups beginning May 23, more than a year after closing its borders to most tourists to prevent the spread of the virus. Pictured: People out and about in Jerusalem on Sunday

Strict measures also remain in place for anyone entering the country with citizens and foreigners alike required to self isolate. Pictured: People watch the sunset in Tel Aviv on Sunday

On Wednesday, Israel announced a plan to allow vaccinated foreign tourists to return in groups beginning May 23, more than a year after closing its borders to most tourists to prevent the spread of the virus.

Israel's easing of restrictions stands in contrast to the occupied West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip, where infection rates remain high and vaccinations are low.

Rights groups say Israel must supply vaccines to the 4.8million Palestinians living there.

Israel has supplied a relatively small number to Palestinians, saying they must obtain their own shots.
Its shocking and disappointing to see some media members and verified Twitter handles are peddling this trash as truth, Lightfoot said. If people hadnt noticed, we have major challenges in Chicago we need to address TOGETHER. This nonsense that some apparently have the luxury of indulging in has not fed one person, stopped the pandemic, housed anyone living on the street or saved one young person.
Washington:

President Donald Trump has discussed a "range of options" with his top military advisors to respond to North Korea's provocative missile and nuclear tests as two American heavy bombers flew over the Korean peninsula in a show of force against Pyongyang.

North Korea has fired 22 missiles during 15 tests since February, drawing a sharp reaction from the US and its allies. North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test in recent weeks, creating new tension in the region.

Trump on Tuesday met his top advisors, including Defence Secretary James Mattis and Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, the White House said.

"The briefing and discussion focused on a range of options to respond to any form of North Korean aggression or, if necessary, to prevent North Korea from threatening the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons", the White House said.

Read more: North Korea hacked South Koreas war plan: Report

During the meeting, Mattis and Dunford gave a briefing to Trump and his national security team on North Korea.

Trump has engaged in an escalating war of words with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un amid rising tensions between the two countries. Trump even said that diplomatic efforts have not worked in dealing with North Korea.

"Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid", Trump tweeted on Saturday.

It "hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of US negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!", Trump said, hinting at taking military action against the regime.

Two B-1B Lancers based in Guam flew a mission in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, the US Pacific AirForces said in a statement, in an apparent show of force against Pyongyang.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden / Korea Times file



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Almost a dozen international human rights organizations sent a joint letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to prioritize human rights in his North Korea policy and negotiations.



According to the letter released Thursday, 11 non-governmental organizations and coalitions asked the Biden administration to incorporate human rights issues into strategy discussions and future negotiations with North Korea and urged the South Korean government to do the same.



"We recognize the significance of North Korea's threats to global security, and we understand why policymaking by the U.S and its allies focuses on counter-proliferation issues. But decades of failure to hold the North Korean government accountable for its human rights abuses have only served to entrench totalitarian rule, and this has made the work of weapons counter-proliferation even harder," the letter reads.



"Negotiations with North Korea need to address improvements on human rights issues and bring the country into the international community."



They also requested more action at the United Nations level, asking the U.S. government to "use its seat at the Security Council to re-establish regular discussions on North Korea's human rights record as a critical component of any assessment of the risk posed by Pyongyang on the Korean Peninsula and the region."



The letter encouraged the U.S. to nominate a high-level ambassador to the special envoy on North Korean human rights and place the envoy at all negotiations with North Korea.



The groups also asked for more information to be made available to the North Korean people, protection for North Korean refugees and the provision of humanitarian relief.



They emphasized international cooperation in promoting health and safety in North Korea amid the COVID-19 pandemic, asking the U.S. as well as South Korea, China, Japan and the European Union to urge the Kim Jong-un regime to restart imports of food and basic necessities and accept monitored humanitarian aid, which have been suspended since early last year following the North's border shutdown amid the pandemic.



The list of human rights groups include Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Human Rights Watch, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, Liberty in North Korea and The 88 Project.



The Biden administration is currently reviewing its policy regarding North Korea and human rights issues have emerged as a key agenda item in line with the U.S. government's pledge to prioritize human rights in its foreign policy.



U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his March visit to Seoul, "The authoritarian regime in North Korea continues to commit systemic and widespread abuses against its own people. We must stand for fundamental rights and freedoms and against those who oppress them."



Concerns have been rising that such a pledge by the Biden administration could make it hard for the U.S. and South Korea to make a coordinated stance on North Korea policy, as the Moon Jae-in administration has put engagement with the North before human rights. The Moon government sought to ban sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, and this was approved by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea-led National Assembly last December.



Regarding the leaflet ban, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a U.S. bipartisan caucus of the House of Representatives advocating freedom of speech, held a virtual hearing, Thursday (local time), and expressed worries.



"The law has been widely criticized inside and outside of South Korea of suppressing speech because it appears to cover third countries, and for using vague and overly broad language," Rep. James McGovern of the Democratic Party, representing Massachusetts's second district, said during the hearing.


Research that has now sparked ethical debate involves growing human stem cells in monkey embryos. In breakthrough research, a team consisting of biologists from the US and China developed a human-monkey hybrid in laboratory settings. For this purpose, scientists injected human stem cells in embryos in Macaques monkeys and then observed them for 20 days, before all of them got destroyed on their own.

"As we are unable to conduct certain types of experiments in humans, it is essential that we have better models to more accurately study and understand human biology and disease," says senior author Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a professor in the Gene Expression Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences. "An important goal of experimental biology is the development of model systems that allow for the study of human diseases under in vivo conditions."

It is not the first time researchers have attempted to create what they term Chimeras. Since the 1970s, there have been experiments to combine non-human mammals, however, experiments using human cells started in 2017. For this particular experiment, scientists were led by Prof Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte of the Salk Institute in the US, who, in 2017, helped make the first human-pig hybrid.

The Study

Six days after the monkey embryos had been created, researchers injected each of them with 25 human cells. The cells were from an induced pluripotent cell line known as extended pluripotent stem cells, which have the potential to contribute to both embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues. After one day, human cells were detected in 132 embryos. After 10 days, 103 of the chimeric embryos were still developing. Survival soon began declining, and by day 19, only three chimeras were still alive, as reported by eurekalert.org.

A Human-Monkey blastocyst, Credits: Weizhi Ji, Kunming University of Science and Technology

'Pandora box'

While the experimenters argued that the stem cells not only survived inside monkey embryos for 20 days but also multiplied, it has now drawn flak for ethical reasons. Many from the community have called for public debate over the implications of creating part human/part nonhuman chimeras. Speaking to BBC News, Prof Julian Savulescu, director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics and co-director of the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford, warned the research "opens Pandora's box to human-nonhuman chimeras". He further substantiated his point stating that while these embryos were destroyed within weeks, it was just a matter of time before human-nonhuman chimeras are successfully developed, perhaps as a source of organs for humans.

Image Credits:Weizhi Ji, Kunming University of Science and Technology
gettyimagesbank



By Kim Rahn



A man has been jailed for swindling his girlfriend's mother out of over 30 million won by lying about his academic record and career, a local court said, Sunday.



The man told the victim's family he graduated from prestigious schools here and abroad. But in reality, he was a day laborer with no such credentials.



The Daejeon District Court said it recently sentenced the man, 47, to 18 months in prison on charges of fraud.



"It was a typical romance scam, swindling money out of the girlfriend and the family by lying about academic achievements and career. The victim and her daughter not only suffered financial losses, but serious mental pain as well," the court said in the ruling.



The man told the mother of his girlfriend in January of 2016 that he had graduated from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and obtained a doctorate of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He said he had worked at General Electric in the U.S. and was working as a freelancer in Korea at the time.



After gaining the trust of the mother and pretending he wanted to marry her daughter, he asked her to lend him 2 million won ($1,790) saying he was embroiled in a lawsuit with his stepfather and would pay back the money when he won the suit; a request to which she complied by giving him the loan.



The man continued borrowing money from her, citing an additional lawsuit and some other reasons, totaling 32 million won on 17 different occasions from January 2016 to April last year.



The family eventually turned to the police as their suspicions grew. A police probe found he had no diplomas from the prestigious schools; was not involved in a lawsuit with his stepfather; and that he was a day laborer.



"The accused took advantage of the girlfriend's affection for him and the mother's maternal love," the court said. "The victim was swindled out of money which she had kept for her retirement and the daughter's marriage. The accused has not yet provided any compensation for the damage and he is also unlikely to do so in future. We set the sentence by taking note of the fact that the victim is calling for heavy punishment and that the man has a previous fraud conviction."


The wants and habits of our consumers evolve by the day, Mr. Cheeks wrote to his staff in a memo last week. He effusively praised Ms. Zirinsky as an indefatigable driver of powerful journalism while suggesting that it would fall to the next generation of CBS leaders to usher in the modern era: Z has helped position the division for success.

Ms. Zirinsky, in the interview, said that every part of my being believes this transition is right, at the right time, with the right ideas. She conceded she would be lying if she claimed ratings were unimportant, but she noted that Evening News had narrowed its deficit in the key demographic and that she had shored up a newsroom that, after the convulsions of recent years, had felt a bit abandoned.

Ms. Zirinsky signed the star anchor Gayle King to a new contract at CBS This Morning, which had lost momentum after the exit of its former co-anchor Charlie Rose over claims of workplace misconduct. On March 8, the show beat ABC and NBC for the first time on the strength of its exclusive excerpts from Oprah Winfreys CBS interview with Meghan Markle. 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning remained highly respected and highly rated.

Some of Ms. Zirinskys strengths  a love of producing; an encyclopedic knowledge of the network  proved double-edged. Accustomed to the banter of the control room, she sometimes mused aloud about personnel changes, prompting unease and unauthorized leaks; trained to report every fact, she spent months seeking input about her next moves, delaying big decisions.

By the time Ms. ODonnell was officially named Evening News anchor in May 2019  days after the announcement had leaked to The New York Post  Ms. Zirinsky had openly told colleagues that the network presidency could be an awkward fit for her. The Post reported last week that Ms. Zirinsky, during a lengthy corporate budget meeting, scrawled I hate my job on a sheet of paper and held it up.

I am transparent, Ms. Zirinsky said, when asked about her expressions of frustration with the job. The passion that I feel sometimes gets misinterpreted. I wouldnt have traded this for anything. If I was asked today to step into this role, I would do it all over again.

CBS News has tried a number of approaches over the years to lift its fortunes.

The Evening News tried a megawatt star (Katie Couric) and a lesser-known homegrown prospect (Jeff Glor). CBS This Morning was a revolving door of anchors and producers. David Rhodes, who had worked at Fox News before he became the CBS News president in 2011, ran the division in the style of a technocrat before he was replaced by Ms. Zirinsky, the old-school shoe leather journalist.
A 3D biomaterial scaffold design to slowly release stem cells has worked to ensure implanted stem cells stick around to relieve pain and reverse arthritis in mice knee joints. This reduces the use of stem cells by 90 percent, thus avoiding the challenge of redness, swelling and scar tissue that can arise from large doses of such stem cells, and potentially opening a path to reversal of osteoarthritis in humans for the first time.

The results were published in Chemical Engineering Journal on February 25.

There is currently no treatment that can reverse the course of osteoarthritis, and our sole options are to try to relieve pain. Stem cell therapy potentially offers hope and has been shown to alienate the disease, but a 'goldilocks' dose of stem cells remains out of reach. Too much of a dose of stem cells and the subject suffers redness, swelling and scar tissue. Too little and the therapy is only successful for a limited period due to gradual cell loss.

To overcome this dosage problem, researchers with the Department of Orthopedics at the Union Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology seeded umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on a 'cryogel' biomaterial.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate themselves into other types of cells. MSCs are sourced from bone marrow, fat, or umbilical cord tissue. Umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UCMSCs) have emerged in recent years as popular therapeutic transplant cells because of their abundant supply, high proliferative capacity, and non-invasive harvesting procedure, and because they pose relatively minor ethical issues.

Cryogels are gel matrices that are formed at subzero temperatures. They have interconnected macropores (pores larger than 10 micrometers in diameter), much like a sponge. And, because like a sponge, these holes can allow mass transport of small particles in them, cryogel biomaterials potentially have a range of biomedical uses.

Upon seeding of the stem cells on the cryogel biomaterial, the researchers found that the cells became stronger and showed enhanced therapeutic effects with regard to osteoarthritis in mice. The cryogel also, crucially, ensured the implanted stem cells stayed in the knee joint area for a much longer time. This in turn allowed a reduction of the dosage of stem cells by 90 percent.

"It takes about two weeks for half of the implanted cells to leave, but their regenerative effects stick around for longer," said corresponding author Wei Tong from the Department of Orthopedics of Union Hospital. "So it is possible that the therapeutic result comes indirectly, via the stem cells secreting epidermal growth factors, which stimulate cell proliferation and healing, rather than directly becoming newly formed cartilage in the joint."

The researchers also found that the cells were very powerful in reducing joint pain in the mice resulting from inflammation.

Following this proof of concept in mice, the researchers now want to test it out on non-human primates, and then ultimately use the stemcell-cryogel complex in clinical trials in humans with the hope of developing a new treatment for osteoarthritis that works to reverse the disease.

###

The Orthopaedic Department of Wuhan Union Hospital Affiliated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology was founded in the 1950s, and started to admit candidates for its Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Medicine programs since the 1980s. In 2016, Wuhan Union 3D Digital Orthopaedic Research and Development Centre was established, and the English journal Biomaterials Translational, co-published by the Orthopaedic Department was launched in 2018. At present, the Union Hospital has over 600 beds and 8 unites including joint, spine, oncology, trauma, and so on. In addition, the hospital also has five international cooperative diagnosis and therapy centers. In the past three years, the Orthopaedic Department has received more than 100 grants with over 50 million CNY, including grants for two national key R & D projects.
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today announced that the Personal Injuries Guidelines will come into effect on Saturday, April 24.

The Guidelines set out the level of damages that may be awarded or assessed in respect of personal injuries. The Guidelines reduce award levels for most categories of personal injury and will be used by both the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) and the courts to assess compensation in such claims.

Speaking at the announcement Minister McEntee said: This is a very significant step in meeting our commitment to make insurance more affordable for consumers, businesses and community groups. The commencement of the Personal Injuries Guidelines should reduce costs, and in time, boost competition in the Irish insurance market.

It is now important that the insurance industry follows through and brings down the cost of insurance.

The Personal Injuries Guidelines apply to applications already made to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) except where an assessment has been made. The Book of Quantum will continue to apply where Personal Injuries Assessment Board assessments have been made or where a hearing is already before the courts.

Minister McEntee added: Our overriding concern in Government is to urgently address the economic impacts of high insurance costs, while ensuring fair compensation when someone is injured through no fault of their own. It is my hope that the new Guidelines address those concerns by bringing consistency, and reducing litigation and awards, which are a major driver of insurance costs.

Under the Action Plan on Insurance Reform, the Department of Justice will report on the implementation and early impact of the Personal Injury Guidelines by December 2021.

The Guidelines are required, under the terms of the Judicial Council Act 2019, to be reviewed within three years of being adopted and every three years thereafter.

Minister McEntee continued: Bringing the Guidelines into operation is a key action of the Justice Plan 2021 and delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to recognise the work of the Judicial Council, in providing guidance on personal injury claims.

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD said: The commencement of these guidelines is a really important step in the implementation of our Action Plan for Insurance Reform, the Governments plan to drive down the cost and increase the availability of insurance for motorists, homeowners, businesses and voluntary groups alike. I want to see the reduction in payouts reflected in lower premiums in the near future

Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Robert Troy TD added:

The availability of insurance cover at a reasonable and fair price is crucial to the effective functioning of the economy and society as a whole. The commencement of the Guidelines along with reform of PIAB represents an important opportunity to improve the situation. The Guidelines should have a dampening effect on the level of personal injuries awards which we know have been too high for too long.

Minister of State with responsibility for insurance Sean Fleming TD concluded: I welcome todays announcement by Minister McEntee. The commencement of the Personal Injuries Guidelines represents a key milestone in the insurance reform agenda and should have a positive impact by reducing costs, and in time, boosting competition in the Irish insurance market.

"I have been meeting with the main insurers in the Irish market this month to press the need for premium reductions in response to the implementation of the new Guidelines. The engagement to date has been positive, with all insurers indicating that they will begin to reduce premiums in response to these developments. This will continue to reinforce the trend whereby motor insurance premiums, as measured by the CSO, have reduced by about a third since their mid-2016 peak level.
On a day of meticulous planning, it was the one and only off-the-cuff decision. And it turned out to be a masterstroke.

As the limousines drew up to take mourners from the Galilee porch of St George's Chapel back to Windsor Castle's private quarters, Prince Charles used the briefest of gestures to send them, empty of their royal passengers, away.

Impromptu perhaps, common sense even, but it was a signal every bit as eloquent as the spine-tingling music that accompanied the coffin containing the earthly remains of his 'dear papa' to its resting place in the royal vault.

For instead of hiding behind the bulletproof glass of their chauffeur-driven cars, the family walked side by side together, ripped off their face masks and talked.

This could have been a moment of risk, instead it allowed us the first glimpse of the possibility that somehow William and Harry can put their bitter split behind them and rebuild that once whisper-close bond.

Sad return: Charles takes out his handkerchief as he follows Andrew

Chat: Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Prince William talk as they walk away from the service

It is hard to read too much into this encounter, for it was all too brief, but if there is to be reconciliation between the brothers, this was surely the moment of its inception.

More than a year has passed since they were last seen in public together, a year in which so many assumptions about their relationship have been torn asunder.

The fall-out from Harry and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview is still raw and its issues, not least the claims that a member of the Royal Family had made racist comments about the colour of their son Archie's skin, remain unresolved.

That it should be Kate playing the role of peacemaker was significant too.

Her sister-in-law had discourteously referred to Kate's pre-marriage 'Waity Katie' nickname during the interview and claimed that it was the Duchess of Cambridge who had made her cry over the bridesmaids dresses for her wedding  a claim that was met with deafening silence.

For Charles, who needs both his sons now as never before, this was the first sign of his new role as head of the family.

In the past week his life has changed utterly and he now must, above all, ensure that his own difficult and often misunderstood relationship with his father is not repeated with his sons.

Was this what was going through his mind as he led the sombre line of mourners out of the chapel into the sunshine?

Unscripted: The royals walk after Charles sends his car away after the service

By sending his car away he was laying down his first act as the Royal Family's new paterfamilias. The others had to follow and did.

What it demonstrated was that, for all the military precision and formality of the funeral behind which bereavement could seek refuge, there was a willingness to show that the Windsors were as bereft as any family losing a loved one.

Clambering into cars to travel silently back to the castle might have preserved royal dignity, but going by foot allowed us to see them in all their vulnerability.

Crucially it also provided a chance to build bridges between William and Harry and it was Kate who seized the opportunity.

As they emerged into the castle precincts she was already chatting animatedly with Harry. With no cars to collect them there was no alternative but to walk.

Soon William, who had exchanged pleasantries with the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner, had joined them.

And just as she had arrived at Harry's side, Kate then melted away.

Service over: Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Prince William thank the Dean of Windsor

By now both brothers had removed their Covid masks and there was just a flicker that the frost between them might be thawing as they began the walk up Chapel Hill.

'Make no mistake, this was as much for the benefit of the cameras as anything substantial', says a royal figure. 'Don't read too much into it. Baby steps maybe.'

All the same the fact that they were talking at all seemed anything but likely when they had emerged from the castle an hour or so earlier.

The distance between them then looked unbridgeable with the impassive Peter Phillips, their former rugby-playing cousin, sturdily between them.

This could have been a moment of risk, instead it allowed us the first glimpse of the possibility that somehow William and Harry can put their bitter split behind them and rebuild that once whisper-close bond.

Prince William was as inscrutable as on that September day almost 24 years ago when he walked behind his mother's coffin. He looked neither left nor right, keeping his gaze steadily ahead.

For his part Harry seemed to be taking in the pageantry of the occasion, perhaps in the knowledge that it no longer plays any part in his life now he has stepped back from royal duties.

At the steps to the chapel's west door the cortege paused for the national minute's silence and Peter appeared to pull back as if to allow the brothers a chance to move together.

They did not and William proceeded to his seat along with Peter while Harry walked to his with their other cousin David (the Earl of) Snowdon.

Once inside the chapel they sat apart too. William and Kate on one side of the quire, Harry facing them directly opposite, but alone. If they did make eye contact, the television cameras did not record it.

If there had been hope that their grandfather's death and funeral might mean some kind of royal reconciliation, the hopes at that moment looked to have been dashed.

Since his return to Britain a week ago, Harry had been isolating at Frogmore Cottage, the house given to him and Meghan as a wedding present by the Queen.

But his presence had brought about one change to Saturday's proceedings: the royals' decision not to wear military uniform.

This was to spare Harry, who was no longer entitled to ceremonial dress since being obliged to give up all his military patronages.

There were reports that the brothers had exchanged texts but nothing more.

After the service as they walked back to the castle the two continued to talk and this time Kate was with them.

Making peace? Prince William and Prince Harry still in conversation after the service

For a moment it was just like turning back the clock to the years before Meghan came into his life when Harry shared everything  on and off duty  with William and Kate. But with no formal wake because of social distancing the funeral party broke up quickly.

'Everyone stood around in the quadrangle chatting for a little while and then left,' says one insider.

It is understood that Prince Edward and his family did stay for tea with the Queen.

For Prince Charles, his is a future of dizzying and perplexing family problems, not eased by his father's passing but deepened by it.

He must be a rock for the Queen who will depend on him more than ever, but also find the will to restore the unity of the Royal Family by bringing his sons together.

Talk of a family summit and even of Charles taking his son for a walk round Windsor to look at the flowers left in tribute to Prince Philip  just as he did after Diana's death all those years ago  are, I am told, wide of the mark.

As the limousines drew up to take mourners from the Galilee porch of St George's Chapel back to Windsor Castle's private quarters, Prince Charles used the briefest of gestures to send them, empty of their royal passengers, away.

Although Harry is understood to have an open return air ticket  meaning he could travel at any time  he is anxious to return to America to be with Meghan, who is thought to be seven months pregnant with their second child.

It is inevitable that Charles will look to William to take the lead in this.

The one hope is a date in the calendar both princes have  the unveiling of the statue of their mother on what would have been her 60th birthday on July 1.

It does not involve their father but it can surely only happen if the brothers are properly talking.

This week Charles has been concentrating on the wider family, speaking to them all and sharing memories of his father.

He has asked them all to pull together to help the Queen. Many watching on were shocked by the Queen's apparent frailty at the funeral but the prince knows that his mother will not slacken her pace.

Life for her revolves around Windsor Castle. All being well, next year will mark her platinum jubilee, 70 years on the throne, and it is already being planned.

For Charles, as sad as his father's passing undoubtedly has been, the priority now is the reintegration of Harry into royal life.

There was palpable tension at Windsor on Saturday.

Some reports yesterday said that neither his aunt Princess Anne nor his uncle Prince Edward acknowledged Harry before or during the service.

If there is to be a dividend from the sadness of Philip's death, Charles will fervently hope that it will come thanks to his decision to send away the cars and force his sons to start to bury their differences. An awful lot depends on it.
New Delhi, April 18 : Mitali G Dutta is a Guwahati-based entrepreneur whose passion to learn and imbibe knowledge, led to her culinary venture 'Food Sutra by Mitali'.

Dutta trains women in the rural areas of Assam through 'FSM Food Trails' -- organising tours in culinary training and dining concepts. These tours help women share different traditional recipes of local cuisine with food tourists and go on to host them for the meal.

This idea behind the concept was to empower locals in rural areas through a sustainable model. The same has been considerably appraised by celebrity chefs, renowned food bloggers across India, travel writers from the country and abroad, she says.

IANSlife spoke to Dutta to find out more details on her venture and how she empowers women to get financially independent.

Q: How did the journey of a food entrepreneur start? A: The inception of my entrepreneurship goes back a few years when I chose to be a "stay-at-home parent". I yearned to do something to be financially independent as I had been earlier when I was a working professional in the corporate sector.

Skillful cooking has been my domain for quite a while, it's a skill passed on from my mother. Being determined and focused, I started off with cooking and baking sessions in 2015 from my home; at the time I had just one student. Gradually the number of students increased, and the digital platforms helped me reach a much wider audience.

Today, over 3000 students from different parts of India and abroad have learnt baking and cooking from me, leading to most of them becoming financially independent.

Q: How do you empower people both in rural and urban areas? A: In cities, I conduct baking workshops for baking enthusiasts and for rural communities I have designed culinary tours with training and dining concepts. In these tours, the rural women share different traditional recipes of local cuisine with food tourists and they earn from these experiences.

This is how I am trying to empower both in rural and urban areas through cooking and baking skills.

Q: How do you believe traditional recipes from various tribes and culinary skills in local communities help tourism in Assam? A: The culinary tours are the best souvenirs you can take from a place. Through these tours tourist can immerse themselves into a destination's traditions and culture.

These experiences give the local communities form of income generation through age-old traditional food culture. They welcomed this idea with open arms and it has been hugely accepted by the local communities. These paid culinary experiences give them a sense of empowerment. Food Tourism will definitely boost tourism and has high potential.

Q: You train people in remote areas of Assam. How do they get business after the training or make it a viable business? A: For this kind of tourism model to sustain itself we provide them with training in culinary hospitality, code of conduct in hosting tourists, digital promotions for visibility on online platforms, market linkages and also help them with basic business plans that give them a road map to move ahead.

Q: You have trained family members of ex-poachers. Tell us your experience.

A: After the training, the response has been amazing. They became confident about shaping this into a community-based tourism enterprise -- an alternative source of livelihood.

This new interest in travellers from different parts of the globe, coming to experience rural remote villages and learn local cuisine has also generated a sense of confidence and inclusiveness in them.

Q: Cooking and baking is a profitable business in the pandemic? A: Cooking and baking home-based businesses flourished during Covid times. When it comes to baking, online lessons got a tremendous response and home baking businesses got their highest boost during this time, as dining options became limited.

Home chefs gained confidence in their culinary skills and with the help of technology and digital marketing many of them started their food entrepreneurial journeys through cloud kitchens. As dining out becomes limited in Covid-19 people have opted for home cooked delicious food deliveries.

(Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in)
A driver allegedly threw an unknown chemical at a cop before he chucked a lit Molotov cocktail at a New York City police car on Saturday morning, the latest brazen act as the city experiences a surge in crime.

The NYPD released a video of the beginning of the incident, which took place just before 8am on Saturday morning in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

In the video, a police officer gets out of their patrol car and approaches the driver's side of the vehicle, a 2000 Lincoln Town Car, while another officer approaches from the other side of the vehicle.

The driver had allegedly run a red light prior to being pulled over.

One officer knocks on the driver's side window of the car and the motorist rolls down the window.

The NYPD released video of a shocking attack on an officer during a traffic stop on Saturday

The traffic stop began around 8am, when police pulled over a 2000 Lincoln Town Car after the driver of the vehicle allegedly ran a red light in East Flatbush, Brooklyn

Officers approached the vehicle asking for a license and registration, which the driver claimed not to have

The cop asks the man behind the wheel for license and registration, which the driver says he doesn't have.

The police officer then makes note of the darkness of the windows, asking if there are curtains covering them up.

The officer asks the driver for his license and registration again, but the driver begins getting out of the vehicle.

'What are you getting out for?,' asks the officer.

After some cross talk, the officer gives the man permission to open the door to the car.

Suddenly, the driver's side door flings open and the motorist chucks an unknown liquid chemical on to the officer, who recoils and backs away.

The driver proceeded to get out of the vehicle and toss a liquid chemical at the officer

After dumping the liquid on the officer, the cop recoiled and the suspect fled the scene

'Ah s**t,' the officer exclaims several times, as the other officer asks what just happened.

PIX 11 reports that the officers called for backup as the driver fled the scene in his vehicle.

A few blocks away from the scene of the chemical throw, the 44-year-old suspect - who has not been identified - stopped his car, got out, and threw a lit Molotov cocktail at a cop car, according to police.

Police say the projectile missed the vehicle and shattered on the ground, with no officers injured by the errant throw.

Pictured: One of the Molotov cocktails police discovered. The suspect threw a lit Molotov cocktail at the police, missing his target as the projectile shattered on the ground

Afterwards, the driver allegedly hit a parked SUV with his car and police were able to take the driver into custody, where charges against him are pending.

Three additional Molotov cocktails were found in the suspect's vehicle after his arrest, according to police.

The NYPD posted a picture of one of the Molotov cocktails on Twitter.

The officer who was doused with the unknown chemical was treated at the hospital for chemical burns, as well as for blurry vision.

Officials told ABC7 that the chemical may have been bleach or peroxide, but it's not confirmed at this time.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted about the incident on Saturday afternoon.

'Words matter,' Shea said, alluding to the anti-police discourse in the wake of the high-profile police shootings of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo.

'Earlier this week we said that again after graffiti that proclaimed 'kill cops.' This morning..a Molotov cocktail thrown at an occupied marked police car. Now more than ever is the time to come together, to move forward together.'

Shea also said, 'NYPD cops will not relent in their mission to keep you safe.'

Footage on the Citizen app showed the aftermath of the Lincoln Town Car's crash

The NYPD faces a challenging mission, as New York City is in the middle of one of its biggest crime surges in recent memory.

Saturday's incident comes as shootings have increased 77 percent over the past year as of March, according to the New York Police Department.

The NYPD reported 99 shooting incidents in March 2021, compared to 56 a year ago, representing an increase of nearly 77 percent, even as police drastically stepped up their efforts to arrest suspects on weapons charges.

There were also 492 gun arrests citywide last month, which is an increase of nearly 67 percent compared to March 2020.

Overall crime went up 2.4 percent according to the March statistics, compared with the same time last year.

That increase is driven by a 36 percent jump in murders and a 35 percent increase in auto thefts.
The former FedEx employee who fatally shot eight workers at a company facility in Indianapolis on Thursday legally purchased two semiautomatic rifles months after police confiscated his shotgun, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said on Saturday.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the rifles used in the attack and discovered that the shooter purchased them in July and September 2020. IMPD chief Randal Taylor and the FBI confirmed that police confiscated a shotgun from the shooter in March 2020, after the shooters mother called police over fears her son would attempt suicide by cop.

However, Chief Taylor said the fact that the shooter was able to legally purchase a much more powerful weapon than a shotgun indicated that no decision was made to activate Indianas red flag law in this case. Indianas red flag law allows the state to prevent a person from purchasing weapons if the person presents an imminent risk to himself or others.

It is unclear whether a red flag determination was pursued following the March 2020 incident. The Marion County Prosecutors Office did not respond to a request for comment by the New York Times.

Eight people were killed in the Thursday shooting before the attacker killed himself. The shooters family released a statement on Saturday saying they were devastated by the attack.

We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of [his] actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed. Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy, the family said.

More from National Review
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- By Alberto Abaterusso





Investors who are looking for value opportunities could be interested in the following stocks since their prices are trading at a discount to the intrinsic value calculated by GuruFocus' earnings-based discounted cash flow calculator.

Furthermore, Wall Street sell-side analysts have issued optimistic recommendation ratings for these stocks, suggesting a positive future in terms of share price performance.





Albertsons Companies

The first stock that meets the criteria is Albertsons Companies Inc. (NYSE:ACI), a Boise, Idaho-based operator of grocery stores in the U.S.

The stock traded at $20 per share on Friday, which is lower than the intrinsic value of $30.23 from the discounted earnings model, for a margin of safety of 33.84%.

The share price has increased by 29.5% over the past year for a market capitalization of $9.31 billion and a 52-week range of $12.91 to $20.62.

A Trio of Undervalued Stocks to Consider

GuruFocus has assigned a score of 4 out of 10 to the company's financial strength and 5 out of 10 to its profitability.

On Wall Street, the stock has a median recommendation rating of overweight and an average target price of $20.35 per share.

Stephen Feinberg is the largest top fund holder of the company with 32.12% of shares outstanding. He is followed by Lubert-Adler Management Company LP with 12.49% of shares outstanding and Massachusetts Financial Services Co. with 1.28%.

Vistra

The second stock that qualifies is Vistra Corp (NYSE:VST), an Irving, Texas-based independent producer of electricity.

The stock closed at $17.8 per share on Friday, which stands lower than the intrinsic value of $19.04 from the discounted earnings model, yielding a 6.51% margin of safety.

The share price has risen 5.39% over the past year, determining a market capitalization of $8.57 billion and a 52-week range of $15.73 to $24.2.

Story continues

A Trio of Undervalued Stocks to Consider

GuruFocus has assigned a score of 4 out of 10 to the company's financial strength and 5 out of 10 to its profitability.

On Wall Street, the stock has a median recommendation rating of overweight and an average target price of $23.80 per share.

Vanguard Group is the company's top fund holder with 9.42% of shares outstanding. Next is FMR LLC with 6.33% of shares outstanding, followed by Howard Marks (Trades, Portfolio) with 6.19%.

Jefferies Financial Group

The third stock that makes the cut is Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF), a New York-based financial conglomerate company with activities in North America and internationally.

The stock closed at $32.54 per share on Friday, which is below the intrinsic value of $65.97 from the discounted earnings model, yielding a 50.67% margin of safety.

The share price has increased by 158.25% over the past year, determining a market capitalization of $8.04 billion and a 52-week range of $11.82 to $34.86.

A Trio of Undervalued Stocks to Consider

GuruFocus has assigned a score of 5 out of 10 to both the company's financial strength and its profitability.

On Wall Street, the stock has a median recommendation rating of buy and an average target price of $38 per share.

Vanguard Group leads the group of top fund holders of the company, owning 8.28% of shares outstanding. BlackRock is second in the group with 7% of shares outstanding, followed by First Pacific Advisors (Trades, Portfolio) with 5.62%.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any securities mentioned.

Read more here:

3 Stocks Trading Below Intrinsic Value Estimates

3 Stock Picks for a 'Buy and Hold' Approach

3 Capital-Intensive Stocks to Consider







Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Secretary of State Antony Blinken has defended the U.S. decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, saying terrorism threats have moved elsewhere and that Washington needs to focus its energy and resources on other important issues, such the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.



"The terrorism threat has moved to other places. And we have other very important items on our agenda, including the relationship with China, including dealing with everything from climate change to COVID," Blinken told ABC's This Week on April 18.



President Joe Biden announced on April 14 that the United States would withdraw all remaining U.S. forces from Afghanistan before September 11.



The withdrawal comes despite a deadlock in peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban militant group.



Meanwhile, national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said on April 18 that the United States would stay focused on terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan. But he stressed that no one can make any guarantees about what will happen inside Afghanistan after international troops leave the country.



"All the United States could do is provide the Afghan security forces, the Afghan government and the Afghan people resources and capabilities, training and equipping their forces, providing assistance to their government. We have done that and now it is time for American troops to come home and the Afghan people to step up to defend their own country, Sullivan told Fox News Sunday program.



Opponents of a U.S. military exit this year have argued that the move could plunge Afghanistan deeper into violence and leave the United States more vulnerable to terrorist threats.



The United States currently has around 2,500 troops in Afghanistan from a high of over 100,000. Thousands more serve as part of a 9,600-strong NATO force, which will withdraw at the same time.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP




Haiti - Eloquence contest : TV5 MONDE 2021 Audience Award (vote online)





It is with enormous pride that the city of Cap-Haitien welcomes the news of the qualification for the final of Capoise Rose Lumane Saint Jean, at the prestigious International Eloquence Competition of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. "The presence of Rose Lumane Saint Jean in the final of this competition shines the image of our city on an international scale, it is also a source of pride for the youth of Capoise," declared Yvrose Pierre Mayor of Cap-Haitien



8 finalists for 4 Prizes, the grand finale (25 May 2021) will decide between the young orators with promising talent.



With the Public Prize, vote for Rose Lumane Saint Jean and showcase the excellence of academic eloquence. Awarded by Internet users, the TV5 MONDE Audience Award rewards the speaker who collected the most votes based on their performance in the semi-final which took place on April 14 at the Sorbonne.



See the performance of Rose Lumane Saint Jean :







Click here to vote : https://eloquence.pantheonsorbonne.fr/concours/prixdupublic2021



The Town Hall of Cap-Haitien invites Capois, Capoises from here and elsewhere to vote in large numbers until May 25, 2021, to win our finalist.



S/ HaitiLibre


















It has been 100 days since Twitter banned Donald Trump from its platform. The left breathes easier: My blood pressure has gone down 20 points, Gary Cavalli, 71, said. The right cries censorship: I miss having his strong, conservative, opinionated voice, Kelly Clobes, 39, said. But most everyone agrees that a strange quiet cloaks the portal.

ARTS AND IDEAS

The pandemic Oscars

Our critic at large Wesley Morris took a close look at the changes to the Academy Awards:

The last year mightve tricked a person into believing that anything could really happen. And by nomination day, something had. The academys vow to do better with respect to racial, ethnic and gender representation, essentially, bore out.

The Oscars have never featured a less white class of major nominees; women fill 40 percent of the director slots; there are three people of Asian descent in the acting categories. There are enough identity-oriented milestones that enumerating them feels thanklessly actuarial. Instead, you just look at the mix of names and titles and think: Was that so hard? Maybe. All it took was a pandemic.

Now we can toast marshmallows by the hearts warmed by the range of experiences (and faces) in this group of nominees. Im not wild about most of these movies, but seeing their posters assembled on nomination day was gladdening. This is how things should look. But those are optics, which have their function but cant be everything.

The ceremony is on Sunday, April 25. Heres the list of nominees.

PLAY, WATCH, EAT

What to Cook
One country has asked women to hold off getting pregnant amid the coronavirus pandemic, with new variants presenting more challenges for pregnant women.

The recommendation comes as Brazil continues to be one of the global epicentres of the pandemic, with more Brazilians dying of the virus each day than anywhere else in the world.

Brazil has recommended young women put off getting pregnant amid the coronavirus pandemic. Source: EPA via AAP

Hospitals are buckling under the strain and stocks of drugs needed for intubating severely ill patients are running perilously low, with Brazil turning to international partners for help with emergency supplies.

"If it's possible, delay pregnancy a little until a better moment," Health Ministry official Raphael Parente said during a news conference on Friday.

According to CNN, he said the government "cannot" say such a thing to those aged in their 40s, but could to younger women who could afford to wait a little.

Parente said the recommendation was partly due to the stress on the health system but also due to the more easily transmissible Brazilian variant known as P.1.

"The clinical experience of specialists shows that this new variant acts more aggressively in pregnant women," Parente said.

Previously, Covid-19 cases during pregnancy were focused on the final trimester and birth, whereas lately there have been more serious cases in the second and occasionally first trimester, he said.

Parente did not give any more details.

The P.1 variant, first discovered in the Amazon city of Manaus, has quickly become dominant in Brazil.

It is thought to be a major factor behind a massive second wave of infections that has brought the country's death toll to more than 350,000  the second highest in the world behind the United States.

Brazil to probe president's response to pandemic

Brazil's Senate has launched a probe into President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story continues

The congressional investigation, known by its Portuguese acronym as a CPI, can result in a number of actions, including the referral of possible wrongdoing to law enforcement.

In practice, the inquiry is a political headache for Bolsonaro, who is already facing record disapproval amid Brazil's worst coronavirus wave.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly called Covid-19 the "little flu" and ignored health advice. source: AP

Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism for his approach to the coronavirus, which he has described as a "little flu".

He has repeatedly ignored calls of health experts to wear masks and railed against the use of lockdown measures.

Angered by attempts to have him investigated, Bolsonaro has blasted lawmakers.

With Reuters

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Los Angeles, CA, April 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratom is widely used for pain relief, to improve concentration, and to combat opiate withdrawal.

Therefore its no surprise that many have taken to Reddit to express their concerns and experiences with different online kratom vendors. Theres no better place to look than Reddit for real reviews, verified customer issues, and complaints.



As such, this review of the best kratom vendors has taken on board comments and posts left on Reddit forums and threads. Continue reading to discover everything there is to know about the top kratom vendors on the market.

View the Single Most Mentioned Kratom Vendor on Reddit Here

How the Top Kratom Vendors were Evaluated

In addition to posts and feedback left on Reddit, a number of other factors were also taken into consideration.

Price - Buying anything online always comes down to price. More often than not, if a product is priced way outside anyones budget, itll never sell. Thats why this review was careful to select kratom vendors that offered their products at reasonable prices or at least with various discounts and loyalty points available for their customers.

Strains - Not everyone is looking to get the same kick out of using kratom. Different strains suit different people. As such, vendors that offered a wide variety of strains and useful guides explaining each strains unique benefits were preferred.

Customer Support - Support is a must for any online business. But even more so when it comes to products that boast potential medicinal benefits. As such, kratom vendors with excellent customer support for both first-time and experienced users rated higher on this list.

Lab Testing - Frequent and thorough lab testing is necessary to ensure the quality of a kratom vendors product doesnt decline. Thats why this review made sure to look for kratom vendors that carried out frequent tests on their kratom strains.





The Best Kratom Vendors Reddit Users Loved:

1. TGM (The Golden Monk) - Best Overall Kratom Vendor According to Reddit

Golden Monk is one of the most newly established Kratom vendors to be found online. Having said this, they already have a firm foot in the trade and many positive mentions on Reddit. This Canadian company was launched back in 2016, their goal being to provide the best quality kratom capsules and powder while offering good customer service.

The Golden Monk Positives According to Reddit:

Great prices for US users

Good for longer-term purchases

Lots of varieties

Fast shipping

10% discount for first-time buyers

The Golden Monk Drawbacks:

Support could be better

Occasional mistakes on orders

Its products are sourced from reputable wholesalers across the globe and directly from Indonesian farmers. To guarantee the integrity and purity of the product, the packaging is next-generation and climate-controlled. The company also ensures the quality of their product by carrying out at least six lab tests per 1000KG of Kratom that is imported.

New customers can take advantage of a 10% discount on their first order; this discount is reduced to 5% on second orders. Golden Monk offers no freebies, although the company does have a rewards program for your consequent orders. Same-day shipping is provided free of charge for all orders except those placed on Sundays.

If youre unhappy with the product you receive, you can take advantage of their 100% money-back guarantee.

2. Kratom Spot - Best Kratom Vendor for Bulk Orders

Based in Irvine, California, Kratom Spot is one of the largest online Kratom vendors globally and frequently upvoted on Reddit. They provide more than 30 different high-quality leaf strains at competitive prices. The company boasts that all its products are free from additives, contaminants, and fillers/chemicals.

Kratom Spot Positives According to Reddit:

Well-known across the Reddit community

Quick and easy shipping

Top customer service

100% money-back guarantee

Kratom Spot Drawbacks:

 Some of the newer products only rate as being OK

Unlike some other vendors, bulk purchases are allowed online, ensuring that you can buy an excess of 20 strains in large quantities at rock-bottom prices.

Some of the best-known strains sold by the company are White Borneo, Maeng Da, White Sumatra, Green Thai, Red Bali, Super Green, Green Malay, White Indo, and Red Thai. Payments can be made by Discover, American Express, MasterCard, or Visa.

Shipping is available worldwide and is free when you spend at least $50. Lastly, the company offers a 100% money-back guarantee.

3. Kraken Kratom - Voted by Redditors as the Best Kratom for Opiate Withdrawal

Reddit users across the US regard Kraken Kratom as a reputable seller. Bali Kratom, Red Vein, and Super Indo are some of their most popular strains. All their products have passed stringent quality controls and are GMP-compliant.

Kraken Kratom Positives According to Reddit:

A wide variety of kratom products

Quick shipping

Consistent, high-quality products

Good customer service

Rewards program

Kraken Kratom Drawbacks:

Website design could be improved

Some Redditors reports issues with deliveries

Some extracts can be weak

The company originated in Portland, Oregan, in 2014, and takes pride in the fact that they were the first to be recognized as a qualified Kratom Vendor in the US by the American Kratom Association GMP.

The company also offers a reward program. Customers gain points for posting on social media, rating products, and subscribing to the newsletter, 100 points equaling $1.

All products are same-day shipped for free, using USPS. Payments can be made by MasterCard or by Visa.

4. Organic Kratom USA - All-Natural Kratom From Indigenous Sources

Organic Kratom USA is another popular vendor on Reddit known for affordable, high-quality strains of kratom powder. Information on their website indicates that they use leaves of only the highest quality from well-known and licensed suppliers who have a clean reputation.

Organic Kratom USA Positives According to Reddit:

Frequently referred by customers and review sites

Kratom sourced directly

Various kratom capsules available

Reading material available for customers

Money-back guarantee

Organic Kratom USA Drawbacks:

Perhaps too many varieties

Quite expensive

To ensure that their products meet their high standards, they are subjected to lab testing. Some of the different strains they sell are capsules and powders in red, green, yellow, and white strains.

One unique aspect noted by Reddit users is the customers ability to create their own blends, mixing different strains as they wish. Bulk orders at wholesale prices are also available.

Same-day, free shipping via USPS is available on all orders over $89. A money-back guarantee is offered, and Visa and MasterCard payments are accepted.

5. Kratom Crazy - Best Kratom Vendor Selling Unaltered Strains

Despite so much competition, this fairly new Kratom vendor already has a good reputation. What sets this vendor apart from its competitors is that it concentrates on selling only unaltered strains.

Kratom Crazy Positives According to Reddit:

Professional website

30-day money-back guarantee

Kratom products directly from the source

Redditors report a positive shipping experience

Kratom Crazy Drawbacks:

 Some Reddit users have reported issues with payments

Purity and high quality are ensured by lab testing in the US before shipping via USPS. A thirty-day money-back guarantee covers all of their products, and in the case that you are not entirely satisfied with the product you receive, you can also file a complaint.

After your initial purchase, you will be automatically added to the Kratom crazy club, a loyalty program that offers discount coupons of up to 20% on your future kratom purchases.

If you buy more than 25kg, you can also take advantage of wholesale prices. Some of the most commonly sold products include Red Borneo, Kratom Capsules, White Borneo, Red Bali, Super Green, and Meng Da. Payments can be made with either MasterCard or Visa.

6. Happy Hippo - Best Up-and-Coming Kratom Vendor According to Reddit

Reddit users are really impressed by whats on offer from Happy Hippo. With over thirty different strains and discounts of up to 20% available when you pay by Bitcoin, mobile check, or eCheck, its easy to see why. Same-day shipping is offered, with prices ranging from around $14 to $17.

7. Botanical Bunny - Best Customer Support

Redditors have noted Botanical Bunny as a company that is genuinely cautious in how they promote kratom. The company also offers soaps, essential oils, and other herbs.

What Reddit users love about this vendor are the excellent customer service and the high-quality products. The strains are high quality, and prices range from $5 for one ounce to $90 if you wish to bulk buy 1000g.





Best Kratom Vendors According to Reddit FAQ

Q: What is Kratom?

A: Kratom thrives naturally in Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea and is a natural extract sourced from the evergreen tree. Kratom leaves have been used for centuries to produce an extract that has stimulating and sedative properties.

Q: Is Kratom Safe?

A: As kratom has the same effect on the brain as opioids, many people believe that you will get addicted. Over time, you will indeed build up a tolerance in the same way you would to conventional opioids, and addiction is possible.

Studies have shown that animals can die from kratom in large doses, the risk increasing when the kratom is mixed with drugs or prescription medications. To date, Kratom is not FDA-approved for this reason.

Q: Are There Health Benefits of Kratom?

A: Kratom boosts your metabolism, increasing energy levels and ensuring more of your sugar intake is converted to energy. Kratom also promotes better blood circulation, meaning that cells get enough energy to metabolize the food you ingest.

Relief From Chronic Pain

Kratom targets pain receptors found in the nervous system, binding them together and preventing them from sending signals of pain to your brain.

Improved Concentration

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Contact kimberly@farrinstitute.org

Visit farrinstitute.org for more product comparisons and reviews.

Disclaimer: The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy. Any purchase made from the above press release is made at your own risk. Consult an expert advisor or professional before any such purchase. Any purchase made from this link is subject to the final terms and conditions of the websites selling mentioned in the source. The content publisher and its downstream distribution partners do not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the company this news is about. The links contained in this product review may result in a small commission to the author if you opt to purchase the product recommended at no additional cost to you.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige recently noted that Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vares-Lum made history as the first Native Hawaiian female to attain the rank of general officer in the Army.

Her 34 years in the Army  leading up to her retirement in a ceremony last week on the fantail of the battleship Missouri  charted the increasing inclusivity of the military.

"We lead the way, really, in diversity and inclusion in our nation, " said Vares-Lum, who most recently was mobilization assistant to the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Oahu. "In fact, we've seen it over the last century, paving the way to integration for all races and women (having a seat ) at the table."

Vares-Lum, who joined the Army Reserve as a private first class in 1986, said that if anyone had told her she would work for two four-star admirals at Indo-Pacific Command, "meeting the most incredible people around the world, I know I would not have believed you."

Both Ige and Adm. Phil Davidson, head of Indo-Pacific Command, pointed to Vares-Lum's strong connection to Hawaii and ability to make an impact in her home state and around the Pacific as part of a U.S. military that's historically rooted in the islands.

Davidson said that after he took command about three years ago, he charged Vares-Lum with direct management of advancing Indo-Pacific Command's "deep and enduring " relationship with the Aloha State. Since then she's taken on wider engagement duties across the region.

"She has inculcated a common sense of respect for the land, the people and the culture of Hawaii, " Davidson said.

Ige said Vares-Lum has been a "trailblazer " who is a "Wahiawa girl at heart and a proud public school graduate of Aiea High School."

She also is a 2017 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, "one of the nation's most prestigious awards given to individuals who have shown outstanding commitment to serving the nation while exemplifying the values and spirit of America, " Ige said.

Vares-Lum said in an email that her mother is from Tokyo and her father, who grew up in Paia, Maui, was of Native Hawaiian, Chinese, Tahitian, English and Portuguese descent.

Her father, who retired as an Army sergeant first class, met her mother while he was stationed in Japan.

Vares-Lum, in her retirement remarks aboard the Missouri, pointed to the high level of U.S. military service in the region.

"A study of recruiting data found that Pacific Islandersand of course that includes our Native Hawaiian communityjoin the U.S. Army at a rate of 249 % higher than any other ethnic group, " Vares-Lum said. "I believe this stems from the connection the Department of Defense has to our islands, and the strong desire to protect it and our families."

She added that "Hawaii is my home, in the middle of this vast Pacific Ocean, the blue continent, and it is the crossroads of the Pacific, a place that upholds the values of aloha, that brings together the diversity of cultures, languages and traditions nested in Hawaiian values and American values."

Vares-Lum, 53, a University of Hawaii graduate, spent most of her career in Hawaii but also was in Germany from 1990 through 1993 and deployed in 2005 to Iraq as the first female senior intelligence officer with the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Davidson said Vares-Lum was the first woman to perform the duties of acting Indo-Pacific deputy commander and acting chief of staff.

She's been Davidson's principal adviser on "homeland " issues in Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

Her "relentless advocacy and engaging with government and civic leaders " have paved the way for critical systems including the Guam Defense System, a tactical over-the-horizon radar in Palau and the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii, Davidson said.

Vares-Lum helped with the development of "divert " airfields in Tinian and Saipan, Davidson said, and established at Indo-Pacific Command a joint-use land board to facilitate retention and continued training at key areas such as the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai and Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island.

The Indo-Pacific commander called Vares-Lum "one of Hawaii's hometown heroes " and said she is an "ambassador of awesome."

Vares-Lum said she was "proud to announce " that Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Mark Hashimoto, who hails from Honolulu, will replace her at Indo-Pacific Command.

The next phase of her life as a civilian includes Vares-Lum Indo-Pacific Consulting and a role as strategic adviser to the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii's Military Affairs Council.

This article is written by William Cole from The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
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Prince William asked for Peter Phillips to stand between him and Harry during Prince Philip's funeral procession yesterday, it has been claimed.

The brothers were separated by Princess Anne's son as they walked behind the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin while it made its way to St George's Chapel in Windsor yesterday afternoon.

It was the first time William and Harry had appeared together in public since Megxit saw the Duke of Sussex leave for LA with wife Meghan.

The brothers seemed to reconcile as they left St George's Chapel after the service, however there appeared to be a degree of tension between them beforehand.

Sources have now told The Mail on Sunday that Harry has experienced 'a great deal of frostiness' from many of his relatives since arriving in Britain a week ago and self- isolating at Frogmore Cottage, the house given to him and Meghan as a wedding present by the Queen.

Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie failed to acknowledge Harry before or during yesterday's service, it was claimed.

'Ironically the only one who has expressed any sympathy towards him is Prince Andrew,' said one source.

'He knows from Sarah Ferguson  and now first-hand  how it feels to be the outsider, which Harry very much is.

'As far as the others are concerned, there is a deep sense of protection towards the Queen and resentment towards Harry. There is little sympathy for him after what he and Meghan said on Oprah.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the Royals of institutional racism during the bombshell 90-minute interview last month and claimed one member of the family  not the Queen or Prince Philip  questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

'They are still very upset,' the source added. 'They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.'

Prince William and Prince Harry were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips as they walked behind Prince Philip's coffin yesterday

However, the brothers appeared to share a long conversation after leaving the funeral service

Earlier: Prince William (centre) and Prince Harry (right) walked either side of their cousin Peter Phillips (left) at Windsor today

Prince William (left) and Prince Harry (right) walk either side of Peter Phillips and behind Prince Andrew at Windsor today

Prince William and Kate Middleton (left) sit on the opposite side of St George's Chapel to Prince Harry (right) who sat alone

The siblings had maintained stony expressions yesterday as they walked behind their grandfather's cortege, separated by Peter Phillips.

The Duke of Cambridge strode ahead of his brother as they entered the 15th Century chapel, and once inside the atmosphere remained frosty.

William sat with Kate directly opposite Harry but did not appear to make eye contact, instead preferring to focus his gaze towards his grandfather's coffin.

However, it was reported last week that William had spoken briefly with his brother on the phone, although the source said communication had been 'more texts than calls'.

Harry has spoken to his cousin Princess Eugenie who remains a steadfast friend. 'He is thought to have seen Eugenie, most likely outside since she's being strict with her new baby,' said the insider. According to one report, William requested that Peter Phillips stand between him and Harry during the funeral cortege.

Asked about the claim, a friend of Harry said: 'He's just doing what he's told and getting on with it.'

The last time the brothers were seen together in public was on March 9 last year when they attended a Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey  with the tension between the Cambridges and Sussexes clear to see.

Aides were yesterday reported to have 'been walking on eggshells' all week as the funeral plans were tweaked, but there was relief that the brothers have spoken and done so publicly.

The princes talked while walking out of St George's Chapel following the service, in a sight which triggered hopes among royal fans of a reconciliation.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence during the funeral of Prince Philip

Prince Harry speaks to Prince William as they leave the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle yesterday afternoon

As the Royals filed out of the chapel, Prince William spoke to the Right Reverend David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, while Harry chatted with Kate behind them.

William was initially ahead of his wife and brother but turned back towards them to speak to Kate while Harry exchanged pleasantries with the Dean.

Harry then caught up with his brother and sister-in-law and they walked together for a while as William removed his face mask.

Then, Kate stepped away to speak to the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise  leaving the brothers alone.

The brothers' discussion came following an impromptu decision by some of the Royal Family to walk back to the castle, despite state cars having been put on for them - and it gave the cameras a chance to see them talk.

Harry's friend Tom Bradby, who was presenting ITV's coverage of the funeral today, said: 'Funerals are a time of reconciliation and that a sight, let's be honest, that's many wanted to see. Not least the family itself.'

Members of the Royal Family walk behind the Land Rover hearse carrying Prince Philip's coffin

Pallbearers of the Royal Marines carry the coffin at the West Steps of St George's Chapel

The Queen wiped away tears and was forced to mourn alone away from her family in St George's Chapel during Prince Philip's Covid-hit Windsor Castle funeral yesterday as she said an emotional final goodbye to her 'strength and stay' after their extraordinary 73-year life together.

Her Majesty looked grief-stricken and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved husband's coffin on its final journey while their eldest son Prince Charles cried as he walked behind the casket into church followed by other devastated royals.

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers with a handwritten note from his wife as pallbearers placed him on to his extraordinary self-designed green Land Rover Defender hearse in the castle's quadrangle packed with hundreds of armed personnel.

The Queen kept her husband poignantly close during the service by carrying special mementoes from their life together inside her handbag.

According to a Royal insider, the Queen was planning to include one of Philip's trademark white handkerchiefs, made by his Savile Row tailors Kent & Haste. The crisply folded squares, inserted into the breast pocket of a sharply cut suit, were an enduring feature of the Duke's classic sartorial style.

In honour of their long marriage, she is also said to have carried a small photograph of the two of them together, thought to have been taken in Malta.

A picture of the then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Malta, where the Duke of Edinburgh was stationed with the Royal Navy. There is no suggestion the Queen kept this photo with her during the funeral

The emotional Queen wipes away a tear in the back of the royal Bentley as she saw the procession

A tear rolled down Prince Charles' cheek as he walked behind his father Prince Philip's coffin at Windsor Castle

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with His Royal Highness's Personal Standard is carried to the purpose built Land Rover

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence prepare to set off from the castle behind the coffin

The purpose built Land Rover Defender hearse waits for Philip's coffin to be carried out from the castle

The island was a deeply special place for both the Queen and Philip. As newlyweds they lived in Villa Guardamangia, on the outskirts of the capital Valletta, between 1949 and 1951, while the Prince was stationed there as a naval officer with HMS Magpie.

The Queen later described it as one of the best periods of her life as it was the only time she was able to live 'normally'. The couple returned often, including to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007.

During her husband's Covid-secure Windsor Castle funeral, the grief-stricken monarch left a personal, handwritten message to Philip placed alongside a wreath of white lilies, small white roses and white freesia chosen by her.

Photos from yesterday afternoon show only a glimpse of the note, which appears to be written on official card from Buckingham Palace. However, the Palace has not yet confirmed the content of the note.

After the eight minute procession and the 50 minute service, Prince Philip's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault yesterday afternoon.

A lament was played by a lone piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Last Post was then sounded by buglers of Philip's beloved Royal Marines who then played Action Stations at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh.

(top row, left to right) Zara and Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie, (front row, left to right) the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of Wessex, James Viscount Severn, the Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales during the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

Around 700 members of the Armed Forces were involved in the organisation of the funeral - the ceremony planned by Prince Philip before his death

The Royal Family stand at the bottom of the steps of St George's Chapel as the coffin is carried up into the church

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks emotional as she leaves the funeral at Windsor yesterday

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pronounced the Blessing before the 30 royal mourners silently filed out of the church into cars to take them the short journey back to castle. Harry and William decided to walk back with Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and were seen smiling speaking animatedly as they were reunited for the first time in a year where their relationship became fractured.

The emotional Queen had arrived at the funeral as the national anthem played and the royal Bentley stopped next to her beloved husband's coffin, where she poignantly paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in remembrance of the duke, wiping tears from her eyes.

Her Majesty was then driven to St George's Chapel with her lady in waiting Susan Hussey, before being sat alone at the front of the church where she stood and bowed her head during the national minute's silence. She looked at the coffin throughout the poignant service, where the majority of her children and grandchildren were on the verge of tears.

Following behind the coffin was the royal procession, led by Philip's children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, followed but the feuding brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, viewed as a 'peacemaker' between the two.

The Duke of Cambridge entered the chapel one place ahead of his younger brother, as the mourners filed into the historic gothic chapel without saying anything to each other. But they later spoke as they walked back to the castle, with Kate taking a step back to let them spend time alone.

The Queen had decided that no royals should wear military uniform after Prince Andrew demanded to dress as an Admiral and Prince Harry was stripped of his titles. They were allowed to wear their medals, however. Andrew was seen driving away in a casual suit and aviator sunglasses around an hour after the funeral ended.

The Queen wore Queen Mary's Richmond Brooch, while Camilla wore the Rifles Brooch. The Duchess of Cornwall wore the brooch in July 2020 when Philip's role as Colonel-in-Chief of the infantry regiment The Rifles was formally handed over to her.

Kate wore a necklace and earrings borrowed from the Queen.

After the funeral ended at 3.49pm, the Queen led the Royal Family from the chapel, followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

She had a brief conversation with the Dean of Windsor outside the chapel before being driven away.

Other members of the royal family walked away from the chapel in small groups, chatting as they walked through the sunlit grounds, including William and Harry.

Many of the royals only stayed at the castle for a short period before heading home.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.  A carjacking suspect from Pennsylvania man was arrested after a chase through several New Jersey towns over the weekend, police said.

Atlantic City police said Sunday a patrol officer heard a woman screaming just before 2 p.m. Saturday. The officer then saw a 46-year-old Deptford woman pulling at the drivers side door of a vehicle and ran to help her, but the vehicle sped off.

The woman and witness said an unknown man entered the passenger seat as she was in the drivers seat and tried to lock the car doors. The woman immediately got out of the vehicle, and he then moved to the drivers seat and sped off, police said.

Police said the driver led them on a pursuit into Pleasantville, and an Atlantic City police supervisor ended the pursuit when it became too dangerous for pedestrians on Main Street.

Linwood police later got a 911 call about an erratic driver that turned out to be the same vehicle. Two officers spotted it and ordered the driver out but he fled, the Press of Atlantic City reported. The car later went out of control and was driven onto the front lawn of a home, striking bushes and the residence, police said.

After the driver refused to get out of the vehicle and locked it, officers gained entry by breaking the window, police said.

Kevin Wade, 59, of Philadelphia, was charged by Atlantic City police with carjacking, criminal attempt, eluding, burglary, and simple assault, police said. In addition, Linwood police filed charges of resisting by flight, criminal mischief and obstruction of the administration of law.

Wade was taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility; it wasnt immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

ALSO READ: Woman killed by elderly father had moved in to help him: Cumberland County prosecutors
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hit out at the Biden administration for telling the public to keep wearing masks and to maintain social distancing even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

My view is if you get a vaccine, the vaccines are effective, youre immune, and so, act immune, the Republican told a crowd in Lakeland, Florida on Friday.

If you got a vaccine, youre immune, the governor said.

You should enjoy yourself and have confidence.

DeSantis criticized President Biden and his top medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, for terrible messaging on the vaccine, saying that keeping in place mitigation measures will discourage wary Americans from getting the shot.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hit out at the Biden administration for telling the public to keep wearing masks and to maintain social distancing even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine

DeSantis criticized President Biden (right) and his top medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci (left), for terrible messaging on the vaccine, saying that keeping in place mitigation measures will discourage wary Americans from getting the shot

I also think it's a problem that people, where, you're telling people to get a vaccine and yet people who have been vaccinated for months are wearing two masks, DeSantis said on Friday.

"If the vaccine is effective, why would you be wearing two masks? Like some of these folks are doing.

It doesn't make sense.

Public health officials in recent weeks have encouraged the public to wear two masks in order to offer protection against coronavirus variants that are believed to be more contagious.

'If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective, and that's the reason why you see people either double masking or doing a version of an N95,' Fauci said in February.

New data from Moderna's phase III clinical trial showed its vaccine is 90% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection six months after the second dose. Pictured: A healthcare worker holds a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in New York City, January 2021

Recent data shows that those who get the vaccine are largely protected from getting infected with COVID-19.

Moderna Inc says its vaccine is 90 percent effective at protecting against COVID-19 six months after the second dose.

This is a downgrade from estimates in its earlier clinical trials, which suggested it could prevent 94.5 per cent of infections, but is proof of long-lasting protection.

The updated data, from the company's phase III clinical trial, also showed that the jab was still 95 percent effective specifically against severe COVID after 24 weeks.

Although the 90 percent figure is lower than hoped, it is not a shock. Other major vaccine-makers AstraZeneca and Pfizer also saw their efficacy estimates drop.

Oxford and AstraZeneca revised their efficacy down from 79 per cent to 76 per cent after a US trial that saw them criticized for muddling study data.

And Pfizer's real-world efficacy in a trial in Israel was estimated at 94 per cent, down from 95 per cent in studies.

All of the vaccines that have been approved for emergency use in the United States have been shown to prevent seriously hospitalizations and deaths.

Nonetheless, the Biden administration's top public health officials have been hesitant to rescind recommendations that people wear masks, avoid travel, and avoid large gatherings even after getting vaccinated.

The mask guidance remains in place largely because COVID-19 case numbers continue to be stubbornly high in the US - a development that health experts blame on coronavirus variants that are circulating around the country.

The CDC says that it still gathering data to understand the risk posed by people who are vaccinated and may still spread the virus to others. It is urging the public to continue mitigation measures until more definitive data could be obtained.

Bill Maher ripped into liberals and the media for pushing 'panic porn' on Real Time on Friday

Maher also praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for protecting his elderly population better than New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo has repeatedly come under fire for his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic

Those who are fully vaccinated are urged to avoid visiting others at increased risk of COVID-19 without a mask while indoors. Large or medium-size gatherings should also be avoided for the time being, according to the CDC.

Indoor gatherings with others who have been fully vaccinated are permitted.

But the American public appears to be showing signs of pandemic fatigue and is eager to return to the pre-mask days.

DeSantis on Friday was praised by HBO Real Time host Bill Maher, who credited him with protecting his states elderly population more effectively than New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo, a Democrat who was widely hailed for his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, has been engulfed in scandal after it was learned his administration concealed the number of COVID-linked deaths in nursing homes.

Maher said liberals and the press were promoting panic porn and that they unfairly criticized DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who lifted his states mask mandate last month.

'Texas lifted its COVID restrictions recently and their infection rates went down, in part because of people getting outside and letting the sun and wind do their thing,' Maher said.

'But to many liberals, that can't be right because Texas and beach-loving Florida have Republican governors.'

There have been 31,627,701 total cases in the United States as of Saturday night with 566,893 deaths. Those numbers were up from 31,567,744 total cases and 566,240 on Saturday morning.

Fauci, the nations foremost infectious disease expert, has been the face of government efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

His support for measures including masks and social distancing has drawn the ire of Republicans who claim that the mitigation efforts have caused damage to the economy.

The tension was on display on Thursday when House Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican from Ohio, pointedly challenged Fauci during a hearing of the House Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee.

'We had 15 days to slow the spread turned into one year of lost liberty,' Jordan said during the tense session.

'What metrics, what measures, what has to happen before Americans get their freedoms back?'

'Youre indicating liberty and freedom. I look at it as a public health measure to prevent people from dying and going to hospital,' Fauci told Jordan and said the US will return to normal when enough people are vaccinated.

'You don't think Americans' liberties have been threatened the last year, Dr. Fauci? Jordan added.

They've been assaulted!

Fauci then told Jordan 'you're making this personal' when the lawmaker said no one was allowed to criticize him.

'You need to respect the chair and shut your mouth!' House Rep. Maxine Waters, the Democrat from California, then interjected and snapped at Jordan.

It came after she opened her testimony by saying: 'Dr. Fauci, I love you.

Fauci was also chided by another Republican, House Rep. Steve Scalise, as he testified alongside Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky.

Scalise held up pictures of packed border facilities and accused the U.S. government of operating with a double standard.

'COVID-positive migrants are released into the country, and that's allowed - but a vaccinated person can't go to a restaurant?' Scalise said. 'Kids packed in crowded, poorly ventilated cells six inches, not six feet, apart for 20 hour a day or more - but we can't open schools for in-person learning?'

Fauci answered Scalise's questions more delicately, while pushing back on Jordan's assertions.

'No doubt it's a very difficult situation at the border,' Fauci told Scalise. 'I mean obviously everyone would like to see that situation fixed, I know that it's a very difficult situation,' he added after the Louisiana Republican asked if migrants in custody should be following COVID-19 social distancing protocols.

Jordan brought up the border too, pointing out how the Biden administration was violating the freedom of the press, by not letting journalists into the overcrowded facilities that Scalise had brought pictures of.

'Guess what! The press isn't allowed in those facilities,' Jordan said.

Fauci deployed a different tactic, telling Jordan, 'I think you're making this a personal thing and it isn't.'

'You are, that is exactly what you're doing,' Fauci charged.

'My recommendations are not a personal recommendation, it's based on the CDC guidance, which is underscored ...' Fauci continued, before being interrupted by Jordan.

Jordan demanded, again to know 'what measures have to be attained before Americans get their First Amendment liberties back.'

'I just told you that,' Fauci said.

'No, you haven't given anything specific,' Jordan shot back.

'Right now we have about 60,000 infections a day, which is a very large risk for a surge, we're not talking about liberties, we're talking about a pandemic that has killed 560,000 Americans, that's what we're talking about,' Fauci replied.

Jordan pointed to businesses being closed and people not being able to go to church and continued to press Fauci for a number.

'When 90 per cent of the members of Congress get vaccinated,' inserted the chairman of the committee, House Rep. Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, hitting the gavel to tell Jordan his time was up.
London: Seeking to salve an old wound at a time of sorrow for Britains royal family, the political leader of the Irish republican movement has apologised for the 1979 assassination of Louis Mountbatten, an uncle of Prince Philip.

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Fein, which was once the political wing of the underground Irish Republican Army, told a London radio station, Of course, I am sorry that happened; of course, that is heartbreaking.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Credit:Getty

McDonald offered the landmark apology a day after the Queen buried her husband, Philip, in a ceremony at Windsor Castle that paid tribute to his military career. His uncle Lord Mountbatten, a celebrated commander during World War II who later served as the last viceroy of India, overseeing its partition and transition to independence, was killed after a bomb exploded on his fishing boat off the coast of Ireland.

The assassination, carried out by members of the IRA, was one of the highest-profile attacks during the Northern Ireland Troubles, and the one that struck closest to the heart of the royal family. In addition to his ties to Philip, Lord Mountbatten was friendly with the Queen and a mentor to the couples eldest son, Prince Charles.
UPDATE: N.J. man who died in skydiving incident in Monroe County was experienced in the sport, police say

A 74-year-old Bergen County, New Jersey man has been pronounced dead following a skydiving incident in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, the county coroners office said.

The victim was identified by the Monroe County Coroners Office as Ed Harney of Paramus. Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac said an autopsy is scheduled later this week to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

WFMZ-69 News reported the incident happened near Sarah Way. Skys the Limit Skydiving Center, on Airstrip Road, is located in the vicinity where police were called to investigate, according to the report.

Representatives of Skys the Limit did not immediately return an email request for information Sunday afternoon. A dispatcher with the Pennsylvania State Police Stroudsburg station said police would be sending out a news release later Sunday with more information on what led to the incident.

Editors Note: This story has been updated with the victims name and age.

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A mosque has become embroiled in a sexism row after it banned female worshippers during Ramadan, but continued to stay open for men.

Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre in Slough, Berkshire, claimed it closed its women's prayer area on Tuesday to comply with the government's 220 person capacity restrictions.

However the masjid refused to say why the men's section was allowed to stay open and operational.

During mosque prayers male and female Muslims remain separated praying in designated spaces.

It's thought that the mosque took the decision to only allow men in for Tarawih prayer - a special kind of prayer carried out during the holy month of Ramadan.

But furious locals have blasted the decision, claiming it stems from a 'mindset that tells men they can decide whether women can go and pray in a mosque'.

Activist and worshipper Julie Siddiqi MBE told her Facebook followers that the issue 'goes way beyond covid and Ramadan'

Activist and worshipper Julie Siddiqi MBE said: 'What can I say, I'm angry, I'm upset. I feel let down and I really feel I need to speak about this publicly.'

The 49-year-old - who was awarded an MBE for her inter-faith work - explained her belief that the decision was sexist in a video posted to Facebook.

She added: 'Last night my local mosque here in Slough confirmed that they won't be allowing women to come and pray in the mosque next week for Tarawih prayers during Ramadan.

'Let me just say that I understand about health and safety, I don't need to be lectured on stuff to do with health and safety when it comes to Covid and places of worship.

'I was part of the Government roundtables discussing these issues with all faith communities...all of last year.

Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre in Slough, Berkshire, claimed it closed it's women's prayer area on Tuesday to comply with the government's 220 person capacity restrictions

'The Government liaised with faith communities to try and do this stuff safely for everyone, so I get it.

Covid restrictions on places of worship: From 12 April the government has permitted places of worship in England to open for the following purposes: A person, or single household, which may include an existing support bubble where eligible, entering the venue to pray on their own. The number of individuals or households permitted in a place of worship at any one time will be dependent on the size of the building and ability to socially distance therein. When inside a place of worship visitors must not mingle with anyone outside of their household or support bubble. Limits for communal worship should be decided on the basis of the capacity of the place of worship following an assessment of risk. Funerals must have no more than 30 people. Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies must have no more than 15 people present. Source: Gov.uk Advertisement

'This particular mosque has a lot of space, so in terms of space and making this work, it's totally, totally doable with this mosque.

'Let's just be clear. This is way beyond Covid, this is a mindset. This is a mindset that tells men whether women can go and pray in a mosque, in this case during Tarawih prayers during Ramadan, in other cases all year round.

She added: 'I have been hearing stories over so many years of women, and myself, who have been mistreated, who've been let out who've been made to feel in a certain way for far too long, and enough is enough.

'You know it's not easy to talk about this stuff publicly.(...) We've been talking about it as women mainly for so many years and really enough is enough now. So as I say this goes way beyond covid and Ramadan, it's much deeper than that, much broader, much more of a big issue.'

Julie explained that Tarawih prayers are open to everyone, as are all prays - but added that she had faced a degree of sexism and been made to feel uncomfortable for exercising her right to play in various religious places during her 30-years as a Muslim.

Another local woman, Ni Tarafet, who doesn't worship at the mosque but is aware of the closure said: 'That specific mosque has had problems with the women's section for [a long] time.

'And it's completely against the Islamic religion [to close off the mosque to women] and I think there is more of a cultural agenda behind it.'

Ni, a student, added: 'It's getting ridiculous now and something needs to be done!'

Mosque secretary Latif Khans said: 'There comes a time when we have to take with good faith decisions which safeguard everyone.

'Come June 21 I can categorically state if everything goes as planned they (women) will be there on the first day.'

Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre has been contacted for further comment.
Tennessee church celebrates over 1,000 baptisms in 4 months; pastor stresses need for 'silence and solitude'

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Pastor Robby Gallaty said his church has baptized more than 1,000 people from 15 different states over the last four months after he went through a year of silence and solitude.

Gallaty, the senior pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, told Faithwire that his church has baptized 1,048 people since Dec. 20, after he spent time with the Lord for 10 months. The pastor started by sitting with the Lord for 20 minutes, then 40 minutes, until he worked up to spending an hour to two hours a night with the Lord.

The church also become a praying church by setting up a 24/7 prayer movement online.

Easter weekend they baptized 201 people.

I began sitting with the Lord for 10 months. Then, finally, Dec. 15, 2020, Im on the porch, and I hear as clear as day these words in my head, after a season of silence and solitude: Spontaneous baptism, the pastor is quoted as saying by CBN News.

However, the following Sunday, the church witnessed its lowest attendance at the service since he started serving at Long Hollow five years ago.

The attendance was due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections at the time, but Gallaty said he was still confident about what God had told him about many being ready for baptism.

As many as 99 people were baptized that day, he recalled, adding that as he was sitting outside his house that evening, God showed me, These are the heavy raindrops, Robby, before the torrential downpour thats coming.

The pastor said he then shared his vision with his fellow church leaders and, on the following Tuesday, which was three days before Christmas, they held a baptism-only service. Another 81 people showed up that day for baptism.

As Gallaty streamed the service online, many traveled to his church and its two satellite campuses later for baptism, and at least two of them came all the way from Maine, more than 1,300 miles away.

Gallaty stressed that the revival he saw wouldnt have been possible had he not dealt with the sin in his own life  pride, jealousy and arrogance.

I went to the porch every night to sit with the Lord, thinking that He was going to fix the problems in my church, he shared. I was really frustrated.  I said, Lord, you fix the problems in my staff. I need you to fix the problems in my church. I need you to fix the deacons. I need you to fix the country. And heres what the Lord showed me. About two months in, God showed me, The problem is not with your church. Its not with your staff. The problem is you. Youre the problem.

The church describes its mission as: We exist to be disciples who make disciples of all nations.

The church's website says Gallaty battled a drug addiction for three years, which ravaged his life. "A $180 a day heroin and cocaine addiction forced him to steal $15,000 from his parents. After living without gas, electricity, and water for months, losing eight of his friends to drug-related deaths, watching six friends be arrested, and completing two rehab treatments, Robby remembered the Gospel that was shared with him by a friend in college and was radically saved on Nov. 12, 2002."
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
Nine have merely been noted  including numerous attempts to place greater responsibility on the private sector to tackle the problem. Loading Renee Carr, executive director of campaign group Fair Agenda, said there were massive gaps in the governments response. This moment of reckoning demands concrete commitments for a safer future for all of us in our workplaces, she said. One crucial recommendation the government is yet to embrace is a proposal to amend the Sex Discrimination Act so employers have a positive duty to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sex discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation, as far as possible.

This would put the onus on employers to change their culture and the practices of managers, rather than on victims to complain. Under the proposal, the Australian Human Rights Commission would monitor compliance and enforce the law. While the government insists it is serious about stamping out sexual harassment, it also wants to avoid duplicating laws already in place. Its aim is to simplify the law and ensure that employers obligations are well understood  not create a more complex framework. Assistant Minister for Women Amanda Stoker told ABCs Radio National: Part of the problem with employers meeting the standards is that they are trying to meet three different standards in three different places. Theyve got the Sex Discrimination Act that theyre trying to comply with; theyve got the Workplace Health and Safety rules theyre trying to comply with; and theyve got the Fair Work Commission. Business groups have raised similar concerns, noting employers were already obliged to make workplaces safe under national Work Health and Safety rules. Organisations can also be sued for vicarious liability if they fail to put necessary provisions in place to protect employees.

So what this idea of positive duties would mean is that you dont just have to prevent sexual harassment and deal with individual complaints, but youd also have a sense of collective responsibility. The onus isnt just on the individual. Professor Sara Charlesworth Head of workplace policy for the Australian Industry Group Stephen Smith says, Thats like a positive duty in itself. Were very supportive of the fact that employers should have policies, procedures, training, and disciplining of people that breach those policies. But this needs to be thought through carefully given theres so many pieces of legislation trying to deal with the same thing. Most agree consistency is needed but a 2018 national survey showed many victims of sexual harassment do not feel comfortable enough to lodge a complaint, let alone raise concerns about systemic problems in their workplace. The survey of 10,000 people conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission showed only 17 per cent of people who experienced sexual harassment in the workplace over the prior five years made a formal report or complaint. Most who did simply told their line manager or supervisor. Only 3 per cent took a complaint to an external anti-discrimination agency, such as a Human Rights Commission, and 3 per cent to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Part of this is a fear of repercussions. Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins, who alleged she was raped by a senior colleague in the parliamentary office of then defence minister Linda Reynolds, later withdrew her complaint out of concern that she would jeopardise her career. Professor Charlesworth says there is gross under-reporting. So what this idea of positive duties would mean is that you dont just have to prevent sexual harassment and deal with individual complaints, but youd also have a sense of collective responsibility. The onus isnt just on the individual. After the stories about sexual misconduct in Federal Parliament, Mr Morrison also announced last week that the Sex Discrimination Act would be amended to include MPs and judges, who are exempt under current sexual harassment laws. States and territories have until the end of June to deliver their own response to the report, and will be required to help the Commonwealth implement at least 12 of the recommendations.

Loading These include removing exemptions on state public servants to make them accountable for sexual harassment in the workplace; delivering training and resources for tertiary staff and students about the drivers of gender-based violence; and potentially reforming the courts to protect alleged victims of sexual harassment who are witnesses in civil proceedings. The Victorian Labor government has instituted a ministerial taskforce on sexual harassment and is looking at strengthening occupational health and safety law. It also recently announced a mandatory reporting scheme requiring employers to report incidents to Worksafe. Next months meeting of health and safety ministers is a test, womens groups say. A proposal will be considered to amend the existing federal Work Health and Safety regulation to take into account psychological health, and to develop guidelines on sexual harassment to pave the way for a clear Code of Practice. Georgie Dent, executive director of The Parenthood said that, without action there, to actually ratify and strengthen the workplace safety laws, the governments conversation about its commitment to making workplaces safer for women is empty.
Kris Ferguson and his wife Marcia Ferguson-Roa always promised each other that if they lived to 80, theyd take their yacht out to sea and pull the plug.

But Ms Ferguson-Roa, 59, didnt get to enjoy a final sail. She died at Sydneys St Vincents Hospital in December a week after being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called dermatomyositis. It is a variation of myositis (inflammation of the muscles) that affects the skin.

Kris Ferguson and his wife Marcia Ferguson-Roa at Uluru in 2017. Credit:Kris Ferguson

Ms Ferguson-Roa never woke from a coma, and her family quietly brought her greyhound Matilda in via the hospitals fire escape to say goodbye.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is rare. Only nine in a million people have it.
Carla Zampatti was reportedly battling early stages of Parkinson's disease prior to her tragic death on April 3.

Friends of the designer allegedly told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday that Carla had been keeping her illness a secret for some time.

The news comes after Carla's friend Kerri-Anne Kennerley revealed heartbreaking details about how 'frail' Carla was before her tragic death.

Secret health battle: Carla Zampatti (pictured) was 'secretly battling Parkinson's disease' prior to her tragic death

According to the mystery insiders, the Australian fashion icon's Parkinson's disease symptoms became more pronounced over the past year.

However, this has yet to be officially confirmed by an official source close to Carla.

Speaking To The Daily Telegraph last week, journalist Kerri-Anne, 67, said: 'Carla has [had] been quite frail for a long time, she was so tiny.'

'I'm assuming when she fell she hit her head very badly and eventually that's led to her demise,' the TV host added.

She finished: 'I think she cracked her head and neck, at the age and stage you just don't recover.'

Health: Friends of the designer told The Daily Telegraph, Carla had been keeping her illness a secret but her symptoms became more pronounced over the past year

Earlier this month, Kerri-Anne paid tribute to her 'dear friend' on social media.

'Carla was a brilliant designer, but more importantly a very kind and generous woman and dear friend,' she wrote.

'As neighbours, we became closer thanks to her escape artist pup and have had many fond memories and fun times since. All my love, KAK,' she added.

Sad details: It comes after Kerri-Anne Kennerley revealed some heartbreaking details about her tragic death

Paying tribute: Kerri-Anne paid tribute to her 'dear friend' on social media

Carla, 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.

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.

Fashion icon: Carla, 78, died on April 3, days after a fall at an outdoor opera performance. Her designs have been worn by some of Australia's most influential women, including Princess Mary of Denmark and Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard

Last week, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Carla was a role model for generations as Australians.

The trailblazing fashion designer was farewelled at a state funeral at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral on Thursday.

Carla 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.
Sohum Shah Confirms Tumbbad 2 Is Happening, Says He's Won't Rush The Project Or Worry 'What If People Forget'

Actor-producer Sohum Shah says the team has begun work on the sequel to their acclaimed mythological horror film "Tumbbad" but the writing will take time as they are yet to lock the idea for the new part.

The 2018 film, directed by Rahi Anil Barve, earned rave reviews and has since found a loyal fan-following.

Shah, who had produced and acted in the horror-fantasy, said he is flooded with requests to take the film's universe ahead with a franchise but he won't do anything to simply cash in on its popularity.

"The writing for 'Tumbbad 2' is on, we had cracked a few story ideas too but they didn't quite work at the screenplay level. But I am in no rush to cash in on the franchise or worry that 'what if people forget.'

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sohum Shah (@shah_sohum)

"I am not playing that game. The team is trying to crack an idea. Our aim is to make it as good as the first one, if not better. We need to get convinced with the idea first before we proceed," Shah told PTI.

The film featured Shah as a man in search of a hidden treasure in the 20th century British India village of Tumbbad, Maharashtra.

"Tumbbad" was in production for nearly six years with the film even re-written and re-shot before it eventually released theatrically.

Shah, who has also backed the acclaimed 2013 release "Ship of Theseus", said "Tumbbad" exceeded its original budget by four times but if he comes across another such project, including the film's sequel, he will not hold back.

"I produce films from my heart, not from a business point of view. I put in four times more money than the original budget for 'Tumbbad'. When you start making a film, you really are pulled into it. As a businessman, I know if I can get a pay off.

"If a director asks for 60 days to make a film, as a producer I give 65 days because those five days will add to its quality. I give freehand to makers. The businessman mind thinks that first the film has to be good, creatively," he added.

The actor was recently seen in Abhishek Bachchan starrer "The Big Bull", released on Hotstar.

Shah credited "Tumbbad" for opening up acting opportunities for him as makers saw what he was capable of, after featuring in acclaimed films like Meghna Gulzar's "Talvar" and a brief appearance in Hansal Mehta's "Simran".

"I have actually been fortunate to get such diverse roles so far. A 'Ship of Theseus' has been different from a 'Simran' which was completely different from 'Tumbbad' or 'Talvar'. Someone watched 'The Big Bull' and told me how they couldn't identify me in the film."
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The Gambia has secured financing for its COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Response Project to strengthen immunisation systems and service delivery capacity supporting the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out
New Delhi, April 18 : Production lines in India, making at least 160 million doses of Covid vaccine a month, will come to a halt in the coming weeks unless America supplies 37 critical items, The Economist reported.

A report in The Economist said last week, the billionth dose of Covid-19 vaccine was produced.

It is a sign of how greatly manufacturing capacity has expanded over the past six months that the next billion doses could be produced by May 27th, according to Airfinity, an analytics firm.

"Yet this ambition is at risk from American export controls on raw materials and equipment. Production lines in India, making at least 160 million doses of Covid vaccine a month, will come to a halt in the coming weeks unless America supplies 37 critical items," the report said.

Earlier, the world's largest vaccine maker, Serum Institute of India's (SII) Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla on Friday appealed to US President Joe Biden to lift the US embargo on exporting raw materials for Covid-19 vaccine production.

SII is manufacturing Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine is not only being used in India but also exported to a number of countries.

Tagging the Twitter handle of the President of the United States, Poonawalla wrote, "Respected @POTUS, if we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the US, I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the US so that vaccine production can ramp up." With the number of new Covid-19 cases nearly doubling over the past two months, approaching the highest infection rate the world has seen during the pandemic, the unequal distribution of vaccines is not only a moral outrage, but economically and epidemiologically self-defeating, the head of the UN health agency told a special ministerial meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Friday.

"Vaccine equity is the challenge of our time," World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the gathering in his opening remarks. "And we are failing." Driving that point home, he said that of the 832 million vaccine doses administered, 82 per cent have gone to high or upper middle-income countries, while only 0.2 per cent have been sent to their low-income peers. In high-income countries alone, one in four people have received a vaccine, a ratio that drops precipitously to 1 in 500 in poorer countries.

Rapidly spreading variants, the inconsistent use and premature easing of public health measures, fatigue with social restrictions and the "dramatic" inequity in vaccine coverage; all have led to an alarming spike in new cases and deaths, he said.

The WHO chief called on countries with enough vaccines to cover their populations "many times over" to make immediate donations to COVAX.

In March, the WHO called on all countries to drop restrictions on the export of vaccines and vital components, as a rush for Covid-19 jabs puts pressure on global supply, Irish Times reported.

Several countries around the world have imposed bans or restrictions on exports of doses and key vaccine ingredients amid a scramble for stock, causing logjams in complex international pharmaceutical supply chains that could slow progress to end the pandemic, the global health body warned, as per the report.

"Some countries have imposed legal restrictions on the export of critical supplies. This is putting lives at risk around the world. We call on all countries not to stockpile supplies that are needed urgently to ramp up production of vaccines," the WHO chief said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended a meeting of the Party Central Committees Theoretical Council in Hanoi on Saturday to review the councils performance in the 2016-21 tenure, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

COVID-19 Updates

-- The Ministry of Health reported zero COVID-19 cases on Sunday morning. The countrys tally stood at 2,781, with 2,475 recoveries and 35 deaths.

Society

-- Two people were killed and another remained missing after being swept away by a flash flood triggered by a downpour in the northern province of Lao Cai on early Saturday morning.

-- Two nine-year-old twin sisters drowned after falling into a pond while playing in front of their house in the north-central province of Quang Binh on Saturday.

-- Multiple streets in Hanoi were inundated following a torrential rain brought about by a cold front on Saturday morning. More downpours are forecast to dampen the capital on Sunday.

-- A former police chief in Tu Nghia District, located in the central province of Quang Ngai, was killed after being allegedly slashed by his younger brother on Saturday.

-- Police in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City confirmed on Saturday that a 32-year-old man had stabbed his 25-year-old girlfriend to death before committing suicide by crashing his motorbike into an automobile on Friday night.

Business

-- The U.S. Treasury has removed Vietnam and Switzerland from the list of countries labeled as currency manipulators, reversing a decision of the administration under President Trump last December, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Queen faces her loneliest birthday this week, her first without Philip in seven decades.

The widowed monarch will turn 95 on Wednesday, surrounded only by the tiny coterie of staff that make up her Windsor 'bubble'.

Plans to mark the day with a new portrait of her are set to be shelved because she is still in the official period of royal mourning for her beloved husband.

The glaring absence of Prince Philip will be impossible to ignore and the run-up to what should have been a joyous day is set to be overshadowed by speculation about the major rift in her family.

While onlookers were heartened by the sight of William and Harry in conversation as they left their grandfather's funeral on Saturday, sources said a meaningful reconciliation between the brothers was still some way off.

Harry was yesterday said to be flying back to Los Angeles very soon after being seen with his brother and sister-in-law Kate for the first time in more than a year.

The Queen, 94, bows her head as she attends Prince Philip's funeral in St George's Chapel, Windsor

Her Majesty, who was married to the Duke of Edinburgh for 73 years, was forced to sit alone during the Covid-secure ceremony

The monarch was photographed leaving her Windsor home behind the wheel of a green Jaguar earlier today

That gives little time to heal open wounds and it is not known whether the 36-year-old saw his father Prince Charles outside of Saturday's emotional proceedings.

Kate seemingly broke the ice outside St George's Chapel by speaking to Harry, with whom she had once been so close.

As the family group walked back from the ceremony  an impromptu decision, as a fleet of state cars had been laid on for the mourners  she hung back slightly so the brothers, driven apart by Harry and Meghan's acrimonious decision to quit royal duties and move to the US, could talk.

The body language was stilted and the exchange appeared to be little more than polite chit chat, but it was a start.

Senior royals, including the Queen, Charles, William and Harry, spent more than an hour together outside in the castle grounds before going their separate ways by 6pm.

It was unlikely they had any serious discussions but it was the most time they had spent together as a family since Harry and Meghan quit the UK more than a year ago.

Royal sources however last night warned that 'one swallow does not a summer make' and the rift between the two men, particularly after the string of hurtful and highly damaging allegations made by the Sussexes in their bombshell Oprah interview last month, remained deep.

One insider went so far as to suggest that the acrimony between the brothers could take years to heal, if ever.

And they stressed there was still widespread anger in the Royal Family and the household at large at the accusations levelled against them by the couple  in particularly the claims of racism and that Meghan was left suicidal through lack of support.

Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon and Timothy Laurence follow the coffin in the ceremonial procession

Prince Charles walks behind the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin at it makes its way to St George's Chapel

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Cambridge look towards Philip's coffin before it is lowered into the Royal Vault

Prince Harry was sat directly across from his older brother and his wife Kate having flown in without his wife Meghan

Philip's coffin had his standard, navy cap and a sword given to him by the Queen's father when they married 73 years ago

The allegations are strongly contested by the family privately, who believe Harry and Meghan have behaved 'appallingly', although they are attempting to put on a conciliatory public face.

It is unlikely that the two brothers would spend much time together before Harry flies back to the US, but it is hoped that a dialogue has now been started.

The scenes at Windsor Castle played out as the eyes of the nation saw the Queen forced by coronavirus rules to sit alone to say goodbye to her beloved husband at St George's.

The farewell note from his dear Elizabeth Wreath of white blooms on top of Prince Philip's funeral Perched amid the wreath of white blooms on top of her husband's coffin, the card  edged in black  was handwritten. There has been much speculation that the Queen used her childhood nickname, Lilibet, in her last message to Philip. It was a surprise to some, it has to be said. As a 13-year-old girl, she was besotted with her future husband from the moment she laid eyes on him. But, even so, the now 94-year-old monarch has never been known for highly public expressions of emotion. In fact, the message, pictured, read simply: 'In loving memory, Elizabeth.' Advertisement

Sources say she is likely to spend her birthday as she has done most other days this year  driving herself to Frogmore, one of her favourite parts of the estate, to walk her new puppies, Fergus, a dorgi, and corgi Muick.

That is where she was yesterday, taking solace in the familiar as she comes to terms with the rest of her life without Philip.

The monarch drove herself alone from the castle for some quiet contemplation at Frogmore, where the cherry trees are still in bloom and spring flowers adorn the banks of the ornamental lakes.

It is this kind of routine which, sources say, is helping to keep life on an even keel.

It is just a few minutes from Frogmore Cottage, where Harry has been staying.

When he lived there with Meghan, the Queen would sometimes walk or ride down to say hello.

While official national mourning ended at 8am yesterday, with the Union flag being returned to full mast on government buildings, the Queen and her family will remain in mourning until Thursday, the day after the landmark birthday.

There will be no gun salute to mark the occasion with the traditional 41-gun and 21-gun salutes in Hyde Park and the Tower of London both cancelled, the Ministry of Defence said last night.

It is understood the Queen will at most receive visits from Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, probably along with his wife Sophie. There will be calls from the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and others.

The Queen is expected to be back working the following day as normal, dealing with her boxes of red papers.

Aides are already quietly working behind the scenes on a series of low-key engagements from Windsor, most probably via video call.

Sources said last night that the Queen had shown 'remarkable' resilience and fortitude last week and had 'led by example'.

They have also confirmed her first public engagement outside of the castle will be when she attends the state opening of Parliament on May 11, with her son and heir, Prince Charles.

Last week the Mail revealed that the monarch will never be allowed to 'walk alone' by her family following the death of her beloved husband of 73 years.

Those who will be seen at her side are the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princess Anne.

Sources stressed that the elderly monarch, who says Prince Philip's death has left a 'huge void' in her life, will continue to meet as many commitments as possible once the two weeks of mourning end.

They point out that the Queen has always undertaken solo engagements, both before and after her husband officially retired in 2017. But there is a concerted effort under way to ensure she has more support in the future, should she need it.

Top row, left to right: Zara and Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie. Front row, left to right: The Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of Wessex, James Viscount Severn, the Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales during the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of York during the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in St George's Chapel

Princess Eugenie of York (right) and her husband Jack Brooksbank (left) during the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral

Members of the Royal family march behind the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of Prince Philip

The Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillip walk up the West Steps outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Princess Anne (right) and Prince Edward (left) walk together during the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip

In California, Meghan issued a press release to announce that she was watching the funeral from home.

It was sent out by her and Harry's 'Global Press Secretary' and read: 'I can confirm that The Duchess will be watching from home as she was hopeful to be able to attend, but was not cleared for travel by her physician at this stage in her pregnancy.'

It raised eyebrows in royal circles after it made great play of describing how Harry and his grandfather 'hold a unique connection in their shared active service  including in combat  as part of the British Armed Forces'.

It went on to list Harry's achievements in his ten-year military career, including two tours of duty on the front line in Afghanistan.

However Prince Andrew also enjoyed a 21-year military career and fought in the Falklands War.

The announcement struck another slightly jarring note by noting the wreath the Sussexes laid for Philip in St George's Chapel  and including a heavy plug for its maker.

Buckingham Palace had declined to discuss floral tributes from members of the Royal Family, saying they were 'personal and private'.

Princes Charles and William 'will lead summit within weeks to decide the entire Royal Family's future including how many members it will have and who will do what after Prince Philip's death and Megxit'

By James Gant for MailOnline

Princes Charles and William will meet to discuss the future of the monarchy after the death of Prince Philip, reports say.

The two heirs will reportedly plan with the Queen which members of 'The Firm' will be working Royals and what they should do.

It comes after the Duke of Edinburgh's death on April 9 raised questions over if his hundreds of patronages should be passed down.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure complicated matters by reducing the number of people available to help the monarch in high-profile roles.

Princes Charles (pictured at his father's funeral on Saturday) and William will meet to discuss the future of the monarchy after the death of Prince Philip, reports say

The two heirs (pictured, William at his grandfather's funeral on Saturday) will reportedly plan with the Queen which members of 'The Firm' will be working Royals and what they should do

Senior royals including Princes Charles and William gather to walk behind Prince Philip's coffin during Saturday's funeral in Windsor

Duke of Edinburgh's death (pictured, his funeral on Saturday) on April 9 raised questions over if his hundreds of patronages should be passed down

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's (pictured during their Oprah chat) departure complicated matters by reducing the number of people available to help the monarch in high-profile roles

Sources told the Telegraph official and personal duties cannot be decided separately because they are too closely linked.

Prince Charles is said to be taking the lead in the talks due to him becoming king first and because any immediate decisions will impact his reign.

But he is understood to have wanted his son the Duke of Cambridge involved every step of the way for major policies that affect him when he inherits the throne.

Meanwhile Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are believed to be stepping into the void left by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's exit.

They are expected to take on bigger roles despite already fulfilling 544 duties as of the last year before the coronavirus lockdown.

Harry and Meghan did 558 jobs between them in 2019, meaning the Royals have to review how these will be redistributed.

Prince Andrew, who stepped back from duties after his Newsnight interview over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, also has roles that may need to be dished out.

The Duke of York, Prince Philip and Prince Harry have hundreds of patronages and military titles that now need to be taken on.

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex (pictured with their children on Saturday) are believed to be stepping into the void left by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's exit

Prince Andrew (pictured on Saturday), who stepped back from duties after his Newsnight interview over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, also has roles that may need to be dished out

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are expected to decide over the next few weeks and months how they will tackle the issues.

They are said to have rocketed in importance for the Queen and Charles after Harry and Meghan's review period ended last month.

But the decline in the Duke of Edinburgh's health followed by his death just over a week ago shifted the focus.

Prince Charles had wanted a smaller monarchy made up of the Queen, Prince Philip, himself, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, the Cambridges and Prince Harry.

In these plans the Duke of Sussex was expected to help out until William and Kate's children George, Charlotte and Louis grew up and took on roles.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge (pictured with the other royals on Saturday) are expected to decide over the next few weeks and months how they will tackle the issues

Insiders revealed Charles, William and the Queen (pictured on Saturday) will need to discuss whether to continue with thousands of engagements annually or cut them down

Insiders revealed Charles, William and the Queen will need to discuss whether to continue with thousands of engagements annually or cut them down.

A source said: 'The question is whether you start off by deciding how many patronages and engagements there should be, and then work out how many people are needed to achieve them, or whether you decide how many people there should be, which will dictate how many engagements and patronages they can take on.'

Prince Charles took part in 550 Royal duties in 2019 while the Duke of Cambridge focused on 220.

Prince William is believed to prefer a targeted approach so he can lend more support to each cause.

Currently around 15 members of the Royal Family take part in more than 3,000 duties per year.

Prince Harry 'may delay return to LA to stay for Queen's birthday this week after two hours of peace talks with brother William after Prince Philip's funeral', royal sources claim

Prince Harry may delay his return to Los Angeles to stay for the Queen's birthday on Wednesday, reports say.

The Duke of Sussex is said to have booked an open flight to the US - meaning he could go back after his grandmother turns 95.

It comes after it was reported he held two hours of peace talks with his older brother Prince William.

They are said to have met with their father Prince Charles after Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday.

Prince Harry's plane ticket means he could spend Wednesday with the Queen for her first birthday without her beloved husband.

It would mean a delay in seeing his 23-month-old son Archie and his wife Meghan Markle, who is pregnant with their second child.

The Duke of Sussex (pictured on Saturday)is said to have booked an open flight to the US - meaning he could go back after his grandmother turns 95

It comes after it was reported he held two hours of peace talks with his older brother Prince William (pictured together on Saturday)

As the limousines drew up to take mourners from the Galilee porch of St George's Chapel back to Windsor Castle's private quarters, Prince Charles used the briefest of gestures to send them, empty of their royal passengers, away.

Prince Harry's plane ticket means he could spend Wednesday with the Queen (pictured in October) for her first birthday without her beloved husband

A source told the Sun: 'If all goes well, he could stay for the Queen's birthday.'

The Duke of Sussex had to quarantine at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor when he flew in from the US where he lives in a 11million Montecito mansion.

Travellers from America are supposed to self-isolate for ten days but are allowed to go to funerals on compassionate grounds.

Reports say Harry used the UK Government's test-and-release scheme so he could leave isolation after five days following a negative Covid test.

He went to Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday and was seen talking to Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton after the ceremony - raising hopes they could make up.

The Duke is reported to have later had a meeting with his brother and Prince Charles for two hours after the encounter.

It would have been the first time they have spoken in person since Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah Winfrey chat earlier this year.

They are said to have met away from the television cameras in Windsor Castle after Saturday's coverage ended.

The warring brothers are expected to meet again in the summer when they unveil a new statue to Princess Diana at Kensington Palace.

Insiders hope the July 1 event - done to commemorate what would have been their mother's 60th birthday - will help heal their relationship.

A source said: 'It's early days but you'd hope this is exactly the first step Philip would have wished for.'

Prince Harry rocked his family with bombshell accusations during his and his wife's interview with Ms Winfrey in March.

They 36-year-old claimed his 38-year-old brother and 72-year-old father were 'trapped' in 'The Firm'.

All three of them were said to have talked after the interview but they were believed to have been 'unproductive'.

The Duchess of Sussex, who also levelled claims against the Royal Family in the chat, did not travel with Harry after doctors advised against it due to her pregnancy.

Instead the 39-year-old watched the ceremony on TV and sent a hand-written note to leave with a wreath at the funeral.

Harry and William were seen talking after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at St George's Chapel on Saturday.

Prince William (left) and Prince Harry (right) walk either side of Peter Phillips and behind Prince Andrew at Windsor Saturday

Prince William and Kate Middleton (left) sit on the opposite side of St George's Chapel to Prince Harry (right) who sat alone

They were separated by The Queen and Prince Philip's eldest grandson, Peter Philips, during the funeral procession.

But in a sign of a possible reconciliation the brothers were seen speaking as they left the chapel and walked towards Windsor Castle.

Harry was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate but she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her.

The chat came after an impromptu decision by some of the Royal Family to walk back to the castle.

This was despite state cars having been put on for them - and it gave the cameras a chance to see them talk.

Meanwhile sources told The Mail on Sunday Harry experienced 'a great deal of frostiness' from many of his relatives since arriving in Britain.

Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie failed to acknowledge him before or during the service, it was claimed.

One source said: 'Ironically the only one who has expressed any sympathy towards him is Prince Andrew.

'He knows from Sarah Ferguson  and now first-hand  how it feels to be the outsider, which Harry very much is.

'As far as the others are concerned, there is a deep sense of protection towards the Queen and resentment towards Harry. There is little sympathy for him after what he and Meghan said on Oprah.'

The Sussexes accused the Royals of institutional racism during the bombshell 90-minute interview.

They claimed one member of the family  not the Queen or Prince Philip  questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

'They are still very upset,' the source added. 'They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.'

The siblings maintained stony expressions as they walked behind their grandfather's cortege.

The Duke of Cambridge strode ahead of his brother as they entered the 15th Century chapel and inside the atmosphere remained frosty.

William sat with Kate directly opposite Harry but did not appear to make eye contact, instead preferring to focus his gaze towards his grandfather's coffin.

But it was reported last week William had spoken briefly with his brother on the phone - although the source said communication had been 'more texts than calls'.

Harry has spoken to his cousin Princess Eugenie who remains a steadfast friend.

'He is thought to have seen Eugenie, most likely outside since she's being strict with her new baby,' said the insider.

According to one report, William requested that Peter Phillips stand between him and Harry during the funeral cortege.

Asked about the claim, a friend of Harry said: 'He's just doing what he's told and getting on with it.'

The last time the brothers were seen together in public was on March 9 last year when they attended a Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey.

Aides were reported to have 'been walking on eggshells' all week as the funeral plans were tweaked, but there was relief the brothers spoke and did so publicly.

The princes talked while walking out of St George's Chapel following the service, in a sight which triggered hopes among royal fans of a reconciliation.

As the Royals filed out of the chapel, Prince William spoke to the Right Reverend David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, while Harry chatted with Kate behind them.

William was initially ahead of his wife and brother but turned back towards them to speak to Kate while Harry exchanged pleasantries with the Dean.

Harry then caught up with his brother and sister-in-law and they walked together for a while as William removed his face mask.

Then, Kate stepped away to speak to the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise  leaving the brothers alone.

Harry's friend Tom Bradby, who was presenting ITV's coverage of the funeral on Saturday, said: 'Funerals are a time of reconciliation and that a sight, let's be honest, that's many wanted to see. Not least the family itself.'

The Queen wiped away tears and was forced to mourn alone away from her family as she said an emotional final goodbye to her 'strength and stay' after 73 years.

Her Majesty looked grief-stricken and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved husband's coffin on its final journey.

Their eldest son Prince Charles cried as he walked behind the casket into church followed by other devastated royals.

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers with a handwritten note from his wife.

Pallbearers placed him on to his self-designed green Land Rover Defender hearse in the castle's quadrangle packed with hundreds of armed personnel.

The Queen kept her husband poignantly close during the service by carrying special mementoes from their life together inside her handbag.

According to a Royal insider, the Queen was planning to include one of Philip's trademark white handkerchiefs, made by his Savile Row tailors Kent & Haste.

The crisply folded squares, inserted into the breast pocket of a sharply cut suit, were an enduring feature of the Duke's classic sartorial style.

In honour of their long marriage, she is also said to have carried a small photograph of the two of them together, thought to have been taken in Malta.

The island was a deeply special place for both the Queen and Philip.

As newlyweds they lived in Villa Guardamangia, on the outskirts of the capital Valletta, between 1949 and 1951, while the Prince was stationed there as a naval officer with HMS Magpie.

The Queen later said it was one of the best periods of her life as it was the only time she was able to live 'normally'.

The couple returned often, including to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007.

The grief-stricken monarch left a personal, handwritten message to Philip placed alongside a wreath of white lilies, small white roses and white freesia chosen by her.

Photos show only a glimpse of the note, which appears to be written on official card from Buckingham Palace. It has not been confirmed what it said.

After the eight-minute procession and the 50 minute service, Prince Philip's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault.

A lament was played by a lone piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Last Post was then sounded by buglers of Philip's beloved Royal Marines.

They then also played Action Stations at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pronounced the Blessing before the 30 royal mourners silently filed out of the church into cars to take them the short journey back to castle.

Harry and William decided to walk back with Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and were seen smiling speaking animatedly as they were reunited for the first time in a year where their relationship became fractured.

The emotional Queen had arrived at the funeral as the national anthem played and the royal Bentley stopped next to her beloved husband's coffin.

She poignantly paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in remembrance of the duke, wiping tears from her eyes.

Her Majesty was then driven to St George's Chapel with her lady in waiting Susan Hussey, before being sat alone at the front of the church.

She stood and bowed her head during the national minute's silence.

She looked at the coffin throughout the poignant service, where the majority of her children and grandchildren were on the verge of tears.

Following behind the coffin was the royal procession, led by Philip's children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The grandchildren, including William and Harry, followed but the brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, viewed as a 'peacemaker' between the two.

The Duke of Cambridge entered the chapel one place ahead of his younger brother as mourners filed into the historic gothic chapel without speaking.

But they later chatted as they walked back to the castle, with Kate taking a step back to let them spend time alone.

Massed military bands stood still as the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin past by in a Land Rover that he had built himself

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin on the back of the Land Rover with royal family members walking behind

The Queen had decided that no royals should wear military uniform after Prince Andrew demanded to dress as an Admiral and Prince Harry was stripped of his titles.

But they were allowed to wear their medals. Andrew was seen driving away in a casual suit and aviator sunglasses around an hour after the funeral ended.

The Queen wore Queen Mary's Richmond Brooch, while Camilla wore the Rifles Brooch.

The Duchess of Cornwall wore the brooch in July 2020 when Philip's role as Colonel-in-Chief of the infantry regiment The Rifles was formally handed over to her.

Kate wore a necklace and earrings borrowed from the Queen.

After the funeral ended at 3.49pm, the Queen led the Royal Family from the chapel, followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

She had a brief conversation with the Dean of Windsor outside the chapel before being driven away.

Other members of the royal family walked away from the chapel in small groups, chatting as they walked through the sunlit grounds, including William and Harry.

Many of the royals only stayed at the castle for a short period before heading home.
Health officials have this evening confirmed the lowest daily number of new Covid-19 cases in Ireland for more than four months.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) reported a further 269 cases of the coronavirus in Ireland tonight - the fewest since December 14.

Since the pandemic began, 243,508 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Ireland.

Sadly, one new Covid-19-related death was also confirmed by Department of Health officials.

This newest death brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths here to 4,836.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn spoke this evening of the "the fantastic impact" of vaccination amongst the country's healthcare workers and in our nursing homes.

However, Dr Glynn said that the declining incidence across all age groups in recent weeks could not be attributed to vaccination alone, but rather was down to "the enormous efforts of people across society to keep themselves and their families safe."

"If we can keep incidence relatively low over the coming weeks, vaccination will increasingly play a role in suppressing this virus," he said.

The Deputy CMO said this would make it easier for the country to balance the risks associated with Covid-19 while also allowing the gradual easing of public health measures.

Of the cases notified today:

133 are men;

131 are women;

70% are under 45 years of age;

The median age is 31 years old

The five-day moving average of the virus in Ireland is now 369.

As of 8am this morning, 181 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, 47 of whom were in intensive care units.

Six new hospitalisations have been reported in the past 24 hours.

Vaccines

As of Friday, April 18, 1,188,354 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland.

838,644 people have received their first dose, while 349,710 have got their second jab and are fully vaccinated.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, 82 further cases have been confirmed by health officials.

There were no new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, meaning the total Covid-19 death toll in the North remains 2,135.

To date, 119,032 the number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus to 119,032 people since the pandemic began.

No prioritisation of vaccines for under-30s

Meanwhile, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has backtracked on a proposal to altering Ireland's vaccine rollout to inoculate younger people first.

On Saturday, it was reported that the Minister was considering a move to vaccinate people between the ages of 18 and 30 once all those over 60 are vaccinated.

Mr Donnelly admitted that he had put forward the idea of prioritising younger people and had asked for a review.

However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn reportedly dismissed the proposal.

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly. Fie Picture

"The NIAC (National Immunisation Advisory Committee) in their original prioritisation identified younger cohorts as cohorts who had a higher prevalence of the disease and what they said was if the data on transmission gets to a point where vaccinations show a very significant decrease in transmission, then this group should be prioritised," the Minister said on Newstalk on Sunday.

Mr Donnelly said health officials had told him that there was not sufficient data available to support such a move.

"There is no plan to do this, no proposal to do this. I was just checking in with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to see where the data was," he said.

Cabinet to set out plan for further re-opening of society

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has indicated that Cabinet will be setting out a plan in the coming days for the further re-opening of society from early May onwards.

Speaking at the Fianna Fail 1916 commemoration at Arbour Hill, the Taoiseach said the Government would initially look at getting all construction reopened next month.

May could also see the return of non-essential retail, as well as personal services.

Pedestrians and social distancing signs on St. Patrick's Street in Cork city. Picture: Denis Minihane.

The Government signalled that hotels and guest houses will be allowed to reopen in June. The ban on inter-county travel is also expected to be lifted at this point.

In his speech this afternoon, the Taoiseach said that Covid-19 restrictions have worked in helping curb the spread of the virus.

"Restrictions have been tough, but they are working.

"The commitment of the Irish people to respecting the restrictions has dramatically reduced the spread of a virus which is today much more contagious than it was 12 months ago," he said.

"Weve begun the gradual steps of lifting some restrictions, and if we can maintain control of the virus we Weill go as fast and as safely as possible in lifting more."
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co is to launch two rye whiskies in the UK.

The distillers Single Barrel Rye (55.25% abv) and Small Batch Rye (55% abv) will be available from 26 April via Master of Malt, Native Spirits and The Whiskey Exchange. Both expresions are priced GBP80 (US$110) per 70cl bottle.

We are forever grateful for our friends in the UK who have genuinely embraced the resurrection of our pre-Prohibition brand from the beginning, said Peerlesss director of global marketing and strategy, Cordell Lawrence. It is our sincere honour and privilege to now share a dram of Peerless with our friends across the Atlantic.

GlobalData figures show that consumption of American whiskey in the UK has grown consistently in recent years. Between 2015 and 2019, the category swelled at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%. And, after an 8% volumes slide in 2020, the category is set to resume growth, albeit at a stunted CAGR of just over 7%.

In December, Moet Hennessey acquired a stake in US rye whiskey producer WhistlePig to expand the brand outside of its home market.



Why new standards herald a new dawn for Japanese whisky  click here for a just-drinks comment
Many who know me might be shocked by this: I shot my first pistol when I was 8 or 9, taught by my father, a physician, aiming at targets in our basement. At summer camp, I loved riflery the way some kids loved art. Staring through the sight, down the barrel, I proved an excellent shot, gathering ever more advanced medals from the National Rifle Association. As a reward, for my 13th birthday, my uncle gave me a .22 Remington rifle.

I did not grow up on a farm or in a dangerous place where we needed protection. I grew up in the well-off, leafy suburb of Scarsdale, New York.

When I entered high school in the 1970s, I joined the riflery team and often slung my cased gun over my shoulder on my mile-long walk to school for practice. It didnt seem dissonant that, on other mornings, I went to the train station to join protests against the Vietnam War.

Since then, the United States has undergone a cultural, definitional, practical shift on guns and what they are for.

Once mostly associated in the public mind with sport, guns in the United States are now widely regarded more as weapons to maim or kill  or to protect from the same. Guns used to be on a continuum with bows and arrows; now they seem better lumped in with grenades, mortars and bombs.

In the 1990s, by which time I was an emergency room doctor at a Level 1 trauma center in New York City, I became acquainted with the damage that small-caliber handguns could cause. When I started treating gunshot victims, I marveled at how subtle and clean the wounds often were, externally at least. Much cleaner than stabbings or car wreck injuries.

We searched for a tiny entrance wound and the larger exit wound; they were often subtle and hard to locate. If you couldnt find the latter, you would often see the tiny metal bullet, or fragments, lodged somewhere internally on an X-ray  often not worth retrieving because it was doing no damage.

These were people shot in muggings or in drug deals gone wrong. Most of these patients had exploratory surgery, but so long as the bullet had not hit a vital organ or major vessel, people survived.

No one was blown apart.

An assault-style weapon was allegedly used last month to kill 10 people in a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket, just as one has been used in more than a dozen mass-casualty shootings, leaving four or more people dead, since 2017.

Guns and the devastating injuries they cause have evolved into things I dont recognize anymore. My Remington .22 has about as much in common with an assault-style weapon as an amoeba has with a human life. The injuries they produce dont belong under one umbrella of gun violence. Though both crimes are heinous, the guy who shoots someone with an old pistol in a mugging is a different kind of perpetrator from the person who, dressed in body armor, carries a semi-automatic weapon into a theater, house of worship or school and commences a slaughter.

Certainly many American gun owners  maybe a majority of them  are still interested in skill and the ability to hit the bulls-eye of a target (or a duck or deer, if youre of the hunting persuasion). But the adrenaline in todays gun culture clearly lies in paramilitary posturing, signaling to the world the ability to bring mayhem and destruction. Add a twisted mind with the urge to actually bring mayhem and destruction, and tragedy awaits.

Before Congress passed an assault weapons ban in 1994, Americans owned about 400,000 AR-15s, the most popular of these military-style weapons. Today, 17 years after Congress failed to reauthorize the ban, Americans own about 20 million AR-15-style rifles or similar weapons.

Why this change in the nature of gun ownership? Was it because 9/11 made the world a much scarier place? Was it NRA scaremongering about the Second Amendment? The advent of violent video games?

Now, not just emergency rooms but also schools and offices stage active-shooter drills. When I was an ER doctor, we, too, practiced disaster drills. A bunch of surrogate patients would be wheeled in, daubed with fake blood. Those drills seem naive in 2021  we never envisioned the kinds of mass-shooting disasters that have now become commonplace.

And, frankly, no disaster drill really prepares an emergency room for a situation in which multiple people are shot with todays semi-automatic weapons. You might save a few people with careful triage and preparation. Most just die.

I gave up riflery as a teenager when other options  boys, movies, travel  came along. Maybe Ill take it up again someday, if assault-style weaponry is banned and the word gun again brings to mind sport and not a spinoff of war.



Elisabeth Rosenthal of Kaiser Health News wrote this opinion piece.

(KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.)

(c)2021 Kaiser Health News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
CASS CITY  A major expansion of an agriculture facility in Tuscola County is being proposed.

(The Dairy Farmers of America) is seeking to expand their dairy operations in our industrial park, said Cass City Village Manager Debbie Powell. I am very happy to share this information that DFA officials are pursuing a phase two expansion in Cass City."

DFA issued a prospectus for a joint-venture milk processing opportunity in the village, Powell said.

However, the proposal is in the very early stages of development.

DFAs announcement is to lay the groundwork to explore the possibility of a joint venture of a milk processing opportunity in the village, and to get the word out to prospective companies that might be interested in a partnership.

Cass City always knew there was the potential for expansion of the DFA plant in our industrial park, but now that DFA has released their plans to seek a partner for a joint venture, we are very excited about the proposed development, said Powell. I look forward to working with DFA on phase two of their dairy processing plans.

The prospectus is basically a fishing expedition looking for a company to partner with.

The prospectus is seeking to have a joint partner in a new venture," Powell explained. "The plan will be determined after a new partnership is formed.

It is not truly an (expansion) announcement," she said. "The prospectus provides information to potential investors concerning this opportunity.

So what exactly the joint venture will be depends who responds to the proposal. It could be a domestic or it could be an international company.

In 2010, members of the dairy cooperative started looking at processing options to meet the growing milk supply and demand in the Thumb region. At that time, it was determined Cass Citys industrial park was the prime location for the new condensing facility.

In 2015, DFA built a $40 million, 43,900-square-foot milk plant at 4105 N. Division St., in the villages 48-acre industrial park, which left plenty of room for expansion.

At the time that facility was built, DFA was already considering a second expansion, and the site is perfect for development because of the space that is available and has its own stand-alone waste-water treatment plant.

That facility was built with plenty of support. The Michigan Strategic Fund provided a $500,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant and a $1 million Community Development Block Grant, while the Michigan Economic Development Corporation contributed $300,000 in corporate funds.

Plus, at that time, MSF also awarded the village an Agriculture Processing Renaissance Zone designation for the project. That designation provides for multiple tax breaks with the company only having to pay Unemployment Insurance, Social Security taxes, workers compensation, Michigan Sales Tax, sewer/water fees, special assessments, and voted debt millage until 2028.

DFA is the largest dairy cooperative in the nation with more than 14,000 farmer-members with 6,000 employees at dozens of manufacturing facilities across the country that process milk along with a variety of other dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, butter and ice cream.

DFAs 239 farmer/members in Michigan produced an estimated combined 3.54 billion pounds of milk in 2020, of which about 43 percent was in the Thumb.
Jaffna traders squeeze farmers with old Tiger war chest tax By Sandran Rubatheesan in Jaffna 22 years after a time of terror, an old injustice thrives View(s): View(s):

Seasoned Jaffna farmer Subramaniam Kandasamy stopped taking his prized vegetables to the local market because he was broken by the illegal tax previously forced on farmers by the separatist Tiger rebels and now exacted by local wholesale traders.

The 68-year-old farmer has looked to other markets, even though they are far away from his farm at Kopay, Jaffna, to escape the unofficial 10 per cent levy and ensure he has a decent profit to support his family of five.

Nearly three years ago, Mr. Kandasamy began to take most of his red onion, potato and cabbage harvest to the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, almost 250km from Kopay, or sell them at Jaffna collecting points of leading supermarket chains that transport vegetables from the north to other parts of the country.

Despite the war ending 12 years ago, the Tigers forced levy is still very much active.

With the rebels gone, wholesale traders in local markets have become the beneficiaries of this unofficial tax, demanding one-tenth of the crop from farmers as a mandatory discount on grounds the quality of the produce varied. If farmers refused to pay the discount they would not be able to sell their goods as traders operate collectively inside the market.

Over the years, it increasingly became more difficult to engage in farming on a large scale as I used to do in the past. Now, labour costs and other farming expenses have increased significantly. I cannot afford to sell at a discount price at local markets, so I prefer sending my vegetables to other markets, Mr. Kandasamy explained.

He said the increasing overheads had forced him to sell land, reducing his former 40 parappu (400-perch) farm by half over the years.

It is a similar story for M. Shritharan, a farmer from Kuppilan, a rich agrarian village in Valikamam, south of Jaffna, who has suffered the impost since childhood.

Ultimately, we dont get a full return on the produce we take to market. We have to pay the tax across all our crops. How can we go on farming with these practices in place and the increasing costs of labour and farm materials? Mr. Shritharan asked.

Northern farmers said they suffer this decades-long injustice due to inaction by local government bodies, who oversee local markets.

Farmers federations across the north have raised the issue for years but no lasting solution has been achieved, merely posters put up in local markets stating the discount practice was illegal and should not be encouraged.

At the two major vegetable markets in the north, Chunnakam and Maruthanarmadam, there were no such posters inside the market.

With the local economy battered by the global pandemic since last year, Mr. Shritharan said farmers were under tremendous strain to ensure a decent income for their families.

We spend months to cultivate crops for the market but these traders make quick bucks within minutes, he said, disgusted.

The traders impost on farmers works simply: when a local farmer takes his crop of 100kg of red onions to any market in the north, 10kg is considered the mandatory discount and the farmer is only paid for 90kg.

The farmers also have to pay the government-imposed levy of 4 per cent of the total crop.

In order to collect that levy, the areas local government body calls for open tenders every year to lease the respective public market complex for the purpose of collecting government taxes and running the market. Usually, the bids are in millions given the returns expected.

The lessor employs staff to weigh produce brought to market to collect the 4 per cent tax. The lessor also gains income from charging parking fees, licence money from traders (traders also pay fees directly to the government).

Farmers are caught by the fact that the weighing of produce to calculate the legal 4 per cent tax and the illegal 10 per cent tax is carried out by the same set of people at the markets  the lessors employees, who are often family members.

Farmers said anonymously that lessors and traders operated like a virtual mafia against farmers.

A Right To Information (RTI) application filed by the Sunday Times at the Chavakachcheri Urban Council, which oversees the public market in the town, revealed that the winning tender bid for the current year was Rs. 9 million.

The Chairperson of Chavakachcheri Urban Council, Sivamankai Ramanathan, acknowledged the existence of the illegal levy while stressing the council could take action against wholesale traders demanding the discount if farmers lodged complaints against them.

It has been going on like a secret understanding between the two parties, she said. We have instructed farmers and wholesale traders not to engage in this practice any more with notice boards put up inside the market and our officials also deployed to monitor activity. But we havent received any complaints yet, Mrs. Sivamankai said.

The reason why farmers are not willing to come forward and lodge complaints against traders who insist on the unofficial levy is that if they do, they will not be able to sell their products the next time they bring their produce as traders operate as collectively in the market.

If local bodies take stern action against traders by temporarily suspending their trading permits, these activities can be minimised, but they are not willing to take such steps, Mr. Shritharan said.

The wholesale traders do not exact the 10 per cent levy for vegetables they buy from other regional markets such as Dambulla, Colombo, Nuwara Eliya and others.

The President of Federations Farmers Union in Jaffna, Kandaiyah Thiyagalingam, said the forced unofficial tax has forced farmers to look for other regional markets to sell their produce.

Nowadays, many farmers sell their harvest to regional markets through middlemen just to avoid being charged the levy by local wholesale traders. We have repeatedly taken up this case at every meeting but nothing happened, Mr. Thiyagalingam said. He too sells his crop of red onions to other regional markets.

According to locals, the 10 per cent levy commenced during the 1970s, through mutual agreement between farmers and traders, with the introduction of a mandatory discount on the purchase of edible root vegetables such as carrot, potato, manioc (maravalli), beetroot, palmyra root etc. where loads were weighted down by soil and heavier sacks etc.

In the 1980s, the Tigers extended the levy to cover all crops.

At every Jaffna District Development Committee (DDC) meeting, representatives of farmers federations had taken up the issue but it had been sidelined by other critical issues raised at the meetings.

On February 2, however, at a DDC meeting presided by Governor of the Northern Province, Mrs. P.S.M. Charles, the DDC passed a resolution unanimously to take adequate steps to resolve this issue without delay.

That action came after Jaffna District Secretary K. Mahesan in October last year issued a directive to local authorities to fix the price of vegetable cultivation by quality through public auction in order to prevent traders appropriating 10 per cent of the farmers produce as a discount.

On March 1, the Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government in Jaffna, M. Sulochana, issued a directive to all heads of local bodies such as pradeshiya sabhas and urban councils to take urgent steps to prevent farmers being subjected to the rogue levy at public markets and subject errant traders to the force of the law.

The directive also instructed the officials in local bodies to form a committee consisting of council chairman, the local (4 per cent) income levy official, market supervisor and a representative of the local farmers federation to ensure that the unofficial practice is stopped.

The directive stressed that receipts for agricultural cultivation based on weight be issued after farmers complained that receipts were not given in some markets.

Recalling yesteryears, a farmer described how LTTE cadre in civilian clothes would be deployed in local markets to ensure the imposts were being carried out and how the unofficial levy went directly to the separatist outfit for its war chest.

After the war ended in 2009, to circumvent the impost, some local authorities came up with pilot programmes called Uzavar Santhai (Farmers Market) where farmers could sell directly to the public without going through middlemen or wholesale traders, but the initiative did not last long.

You cannot expect farmers to sell their products on their own at market by waiting for hours as most of them work around the clock on their farming activities. It is not reasonable. All we ask is a decent and full price for our vegetables, Mr. Thiyagalingam said.

Sasitharan Punyamoorthi, a retail vegetable seller at Chavakachcheri market, said many northern farmers did not wish to sort their produce based on quality, as farmers did in other regional markets, because they wanted to gain higher prices for low-quality vegetables by mixing them with good produce.

They blame us for the discount but if the quality of cultivation is mixed, how can we sell it to customers at a fixed price? he asked, suggesting that if the farmers loads included perishing vegetables the traders would have to sell the whole lot in a single day to not lose money.

Prem Ram, Manager at Keells Vegetable and Fruit Collecting Point in Kopay, said the company bought selected local produce directly from farmersat a higher rate of Rs. 10-30 a kilo above the local market price.

This week, the price of locally cultivated potatoes went down to Rs. 60-75 a kilo but the Keells collection point continues to purchase from local farmers at Rs. 110.

Our top priority is the quality of the cultivation. Depending on availability of seasonal crops, we transport thousands of kilos of local cultivation daily. These days, we purchase more than 800kg of red onions from farmers, Mr. Ram said, pointing out that Keells has also initiated farmer-empowering projects through seed grants, bank loan facilities and other assistance.
(Newser)  The family of the shooter who went on a rampage at an Indianapolis FedEx facility has spoken out. Per USA Today, Brandon Hole's family issued a brief statement Saturday and declined all media interviews. We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of Brandons actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed," the statement read. "Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy. We are so sorry for the pain and hurt being felt by their families and the entire Indianapolis community." A former employee of the facility, 19-year-old Hole opened fire first in the parking lot Thursday before continuing to fire inside the building and ultimately killing eight before turning the gun on himself.

story continues below

Per the Washington Post, the family had previously tried to warn police about Hole's instability. Last spring, Hole's mother told officials she feared he would commit "suicide by cop." The FBI says authorities interviewed Hole, detained him temporarily because of mental health concerns, and seized a shotgun from his home. Agents found no evidence of a crime or that Hole harbored racist views. The gun was not returned, but Hole was subsequently able to legally purchase the two assault rifles he used in the attack, per The Hill. While Indiana does have a longstanding "red flag" gun law, Indianapolis MPD Chief Randal Taylor told the New York Times that Hole must not have been deemed subject to it. The law requires police to argue to a judge within two weeks of seizing a gun that the owner should be barred from having a firearm. (Read more Brandon Hole stories.)
Red-crowned cranes, an endangered bird species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)s Red List of Threatened Species, were spotted at the Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province, located in southern Vietnam, after one year of disappearing from the area.

Three red-crowned cranes were seen perching at Tram Chim on Friday afternoon, confirmed Le Thanh Cu, deputy director of the nature reserve.

Do Minh Chanh, a guard at the Tram Chim National Park, said the family of three were sighted in this area from 2017 to 2019.

However, no red-crowned crane was seen at Tram Chim, as well as other locations in Vietnam, in 2020.

The cranes usually descend on the park from December to May, which is southern Vietnam's dry season, to forage and mate prior to the onset of rainy weather, according to news site VnExpress.

The birds may only stay in Tram Chim for a few days this year, as it has already been April, said Nguyen Hoai Bao, deputy director of the Center for Forest and Wetland Research.

Red-crowned cranes are spotted flying above Phu My Lepironia articulate grass fields in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Hoang Tuan

As it has started raining in the dipterocarp forest in Cambodia, the grass foliage there began to prosper, bringing in insects and frogs," Bao explained.

"Hence, the [red-crowned cranes] tend to return there to hunt and save energy for the mating season."

The consistently high water level in the forest during past months, which did not fully recede until April, had hampered the normal hunting activity of the red-crowned cranes and deterred the birds from revisiting the national park in 2020, he pointed out.

Its still too early to celebrate," Bao said.

"We are working to change the way the local system is managed so that the habitat for the cranes is recovered, but it may take years."

The red-crowned cranes have returned to the area for about half a month, according to Lam Hong Tuan, deputy head of the wildlife conservation management authority at Phu My Lepironia articulate grass fields in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

This year, they have abandoned the regular Lepironia articulate grass fields and retreated to more remote areas, Tuan added.

They head to Phu My during the day, then go to Anlung Pring in Cambodia in the afternoon, Tuan said.

They will leave when they see humans.

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The German defense minister says she wants to help bring some Afghan employees of her country's military to Germany as NATO allies prepare to withdraw their remaining troops from Afghanistan after nearly two decades.

"I feel it is Germany's sincere duty to not leave these people without protection now that we will permanently withdraw," Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told the German news agency dpa in comments published on April 18.

U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO announced on April 14 that they would pull out the roughly 10,000 international troops still in Afghanistan by September 11. The troop withdrawal is expected to begin on May 1.

Germany is the second-largest contingent in Afghanistan, with nearly 1,100 troops and about 300 local employees, including interpreters.

The Welt am Sonntag newspaper cited the Interior Ministry as saying that Germany plans to set up an office in Kabul and probably also one in Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan to help process cases.

Since 2013, Germany has taken in 781 Afghans at risk in their own country after working for the foreign military, as well as about 2,500 family members.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
A NSW man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly driving over a woman a number of times in the backyard of a Caboolture property.

Police allege the 27-year-old man drove to the Namatjira Court property in a white Nissan Patrol about 11pm on Saturday night and did burnouts in the backyard.

When a 47-year-old woman went to confront him, he drove the car over her repeatedly, police allege.

The woman suffered significant injuries to her left foot and leg, with paramedics taking her to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The 2021 SARL Virtual AGM held yesterday

The 2021 SARL Virtual AGM started at 10:00 CAT on the Bluejeans platform with Nico, ZS6QL the SARL President welcoming all the delegates.

About 168 members attended the AGM, either by logging in on the online platform or submitting a proxy.

Nico presented his report to the meeting, which can be found in the 2021 Annual Report.

Chris, ZS6GM presented the Financial report as shown in the AGM Booklet. Noel, ZR6DX spoke about the ICASA licensing system and Hans, ZS6AKV spoke about the Type Approval regulation. The two motions were presented to the meeting and discussed.

The voting on these motions as well as the financial motions will start at 00:01 CAT on Saturday 24 April and close at 23:59 CAT on Monday 3 May 2021.

A SARL Communication will be sent out with more details during this week
Businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) were confident in their performance in the first quarter and stood upbeat on Q2 growth, a report by the Standard Chartered showed.

The gauge of business confidence of companies operating in GBA hit 53 in Q1, above the 50 neutral benchmark and 50.2 in Q4 2020, according to quarterly surveys carried out by the Standard Chartered and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Firms expect an even stronger second quarter, with the expectations index for business activity shooting up to 62.7 after a small dip to 54.1 in Q4 2020.

Manufacturers in the regions were among the firms that showed the most optimism, with retail and wholesale sector businesses coming in second, according to the report.

Worldwide vaccine rollout likely fuelled the broad-based improvement, the report said, adding that a robust performance in Q2 could offer more cushion for policymakers to taper stimulus.
British filmmaker Authur Jones, teamed up with American historian Steven Schwankert to find the lost history of six Chinese survivors on the doomed passenger liner Titanic. What they found was racism and bias that still haunts the world today.

British filmmaker Authur Jones, along with his collaborator Steven Schwankert, speaks at the premiere of "The Six: The Untold Story of RMS Titanic's Chinese Passengers" in Beijing, April 8, 2021. [Image courtesy of Hero High-Quality Film]

"I am most interested in human stories related to family relationships and social issues. I felt this time we could do a Titanic documentary our own way, which is more like a detective film," Jones told China.org.cn. His new documentary film "The Six: The Untold Story of RMS Titanic's Chinese Passengers" hit Chinese screens on Friday.

Jones, born in Yorkshire in the north of England, has lived in China since 1996 and speaks fluent Chinese. He was once a journalist for Hollywood trade magazine Variety. Schwankert, a New Jersey-born American researcher and historian interested in maritime history, traveled to China in the late 1980s and was also a former reporter for Variety.

The two longtime friends and collaborators are now based in Shanghai. Their last project was the 2013 documentary film "The Poseidon Project," which was about the search for a British submarine that sunk in Chinese waters in 1931.

Titanic, the largest ship at that time, sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City in the early hours of April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. The tragic event was turned into a blockbuster in 1997 by the legendary filmmaker James Cameron.

There were an estimated 2,224 passengers and crew onboard the ship, and more than 1,500 died. However, Jones found there was still a missing part of the puzzle: the Chinese. It surprised him that there were eight Chinese passengers on board the British ship, but the world knew very little about the survivors and their whereabouts later.

Jones and Schwankert summoned a team of international investigators in 2015 to discover the truth. They traveled to over 20 cities around the world, interviewed over 100 people, and reviewed more than 1,000 archives and historic documents.
New Delhi, April 18 : In an act of support for those who have tested Covid-positive and are currently isolating, noted comedian Amit Tandon has begun to speak to sets of 15 such people in daily 30-minute Zoom sessions where they will "talk and hopefully laugh together". After the first session on Friday, Tandon told IANSlife that the second wave has been worse, as "there was at least some light at the end of the tunnel" last year.

Tandon made the announcement on these sessions titled 'Talk Positive' on social media on Thursday, evoking positive reactions from the comedian fraternity including Rohan Joshi, Mallika Dua, Rahul Dua, Kaneez Surka, Aishwarya Mohanraj and Sahil Bulla. Since then, over 1,000 emails from Covid-positive patients have reached Tandon. Notably, there is no money involved in these sessions.

He also plans to have a separate session for doctors. "This initiative is just for the Covid-audience, I'm doing my professional shows separately,'' he specifies. Tandon speaks to IANSlife about his latest initiative: Q: How did you come up with this initiative?

A: This was more of an impulsive decision. The second lockdown so far has been much worse than the first lockdown. Last year, there was at least some light at the end of the tunnel. But, now it's different and kind of disturbing and I thought it might be even more difficult for those who have tested positive. So, I thought why not communicate with them to lighten the situation and make them laugh a bit and talk it out.

Q: What were your thoughts behind this initiative? A: The thought process was simple, I feel good when I talk to people in my low times, similarly, I think even people who are in isolation would want to talk and share what they feel. As social life has gone for a toss for everyone, this is just an attempt to make it count.

Q: How long would this continue for? What topics will you cover? A: The interaction session starts on April 16 but not sure about the last date yet. Initially, I was thinking of doing only 3-4 sessions but I am overwhelmed with the responses that I am getting and I think I will continue for more than 6-7 sessions at least, and let's see where it goes. No topics as such, it will be a free-flowing conversation, probably I will crack some jokes, and make them feel better.

Q: The sessions are free of cost but do you intend to get money involved? A: No, this is just an initiative where we can raise some money, and if I get any sponsors on board then that money will straightaway go to charity.

Q: Will you invite international audiences? A: Indians from Sydney, Singapore joined me in the initial sessions. The content that I make is usually a mix of Hindi and English so I am expecting more Indians, but if there is anybody from another country then we are open for them too.

Q: Finally, are you going to do a comedy section for them? A: I think comedy will happen in the process, I am hoping some people will laugh but I am not selling this as a comedy show. This is more of a connection session with people and trying to make new friends and talk.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 13:29:10|Editor: huaxia

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by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- India is at present reeling under the second COVID-19 wave, with over 200,000 new cases being registered each day recently and the national tally feared to cross the 15-million mark early next week.

India reported another fresh high of 234,692 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the total tally to 14,526,609, according to the data released by the federal health ministry.

Amid local media reports of bed and oxygen shortages, both central and state governments claim adequate medical facilities and supplies at both government and private hospitals.

As the rate of COVID-19-related deaths rises across the country, long queues are seen outside crematoriums and graveyards with people waiting to pay last respects to their near and dear ones who died due to the pandemic.

The outpatient departments at most government hospitals have stopped their services, with focus shifted to attending to COVID-19 patients on priority.

NEGLECT OF DANGER

Complacency and casual behavior among people at large are the reasons most commonly cited behind the COVID-19 explosion in the country.

At a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month, it was emphasized that the sharper rise in cases could be mainly attributed to a decline of COVID-19-appropriate behavior (CAB), primarily in terms of use of masks and maintenance of social distancing. Other reasons include pandemic fatigue and a lack of effective implementation of containment measures at the field level.

Since the beginning of this month, there have been huge public gatherings across the country for political and religious reasons, where people were seen in large numbers defying COVID-19 protocols.

Political rallies were organized by the country's major political parties in five states, namely West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, which went to Assembly polls. People attending these rallies were in close proximity without face masks.

Besides, hundreds of thousands of people have been congregating at Haridwar, a holy town in the northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, to take a holy dip in river Ganga during the ongoing Kumbh festival.

Federal Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday made an appeal to the public to stick to the CAB.

"Our biggest fight this time is to teach CAB to the people. People have adopted a casual approach which is very dangerous. CAB is the biggest social tool we have to break the chain," he added.

BIG POPULATION IN CLOSE PROXIMITY

Dr R.C. Purohit, principal at the Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district, said the situation had almost come under control, but then people started behaving in a most casual manner. Most of the people stopped following the basic protocols, like wearing face masks, washing hands regularly and maintaining social distancing.

"Till February we were left with only four-five COVID-19 patients, but now again the figure is increasing day by day. Presently we have around 50 patients at our institute," Purohit told Xinhua over phone.

The institute is a Level-3 COVID-19 Center, which means it caters to the needs of the most critical patients suffering from the pandemic. It is one of the major COVID-19 centers in the western part of Uttar Pradesh, adjoining Delhi.

According to Purohit, one more reason behind the COVID-19 situation is the gigantic size of the country's population and its dense distribution at places.

In some places, particularly in the urban areas like slums, many people stay inside a closed room or a hutment of a very small size. And, the level of hygiene is also not up to the mark, he said, adding that the overall living standard is quite low in India.

He further said that the level of education in the country is low, too. "As a result, people ... don't follow government's directions and protocols, thus resulting in situations like the one prevailing now in the country."

The principal also said that the double mutant variant found in the country is more dangerous than the original virus as it affects the human body's immune system more gravely.

According to him, a second wave of the virus was very much expected, as in a few other countries.

DOUBLE MUTATION OF VIRUS

According to media reports, it has been revealed that the double mutation coronavirus B.1.617 may be one of the most common and prevalent forms of COVID-19 variant in India.

The double mutant variant refers to the merging of two mutations of a virus strain that go on to form a third, more infectious strain. It contains mutations from two separate variants, namely E484Q and L452R.

The first case of double mutation in India was discovered in the south-western state of Maharashtra, said a report in English daily The Times of India.

Carrying the genetic codes from two other mutations, the double mutant variant can become all the more easy to break into the human immune system and invade the organs, therefore doing more damage than a single original COVID-19 strain. Enditem
The departure of Gina Liano from the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne has left fans up in arms.

Now Foxtel's Brian Walsh has revealed the real reason Gina, 55, has made an exit from the reality show, revealing the past year of lockdowns and the Covid pandemic saw the barrister reevaluate her life and rediscover her passion for the law.

'It gave her an opportunity to re-evaluate and rediscover her love of practising law and she conducted a lot of her business virtually last year and she rekindled that great deep affection she has for her profession,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

Out: The departure of Gina Liano (pictured) from the fifth season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne has left fans up in arms. Now Foxtel's Brian Walsh has revealed the real reason Gina, 55, has made an exit from the reality show

Brian says that Gina has moved from Melbourne to Sorrento to begin a new life.

He added: 'She said to me you know what Brian, I love the Real Housewives and I had so much fun on the show but I love work more.

'I love what I do in my professional life and this journey for me is important. I just don't feel I'm right to come back to the show and want to put all my focus and energy into law.'

New life: Foxtel's Brian Walsh has revealed the real reason Gina, 55, has made an exit from the reality show, revealing the past year of lockdowns and the Covid pandemic saw the barrister reevaluate her life and rediscover her passion for the law

It comes after long-time viewers lashed out after learning that original cast members Gina and Lydia Schiavello won't be back.

Many flocked to social media to express their outrage, with a handful of fans vowing to boycott the series now that Gina and Lydia are gone.

'No Gina, No Lydia - why bother?' snapped one, while another wrote: 'Please don't bother releasing it without Gina & Lydia. There, I said it.'

Backlash: It comes after long-time viewers lashed out after learning that original cast members Gina and Lydia Schiavello (left) won't be back

'Why no Gina and Lydia,' raged another. 'This season is gonna be crap.'

'Gina being gone was a gut punch but they took Lydia from us too? Throw it away,' wrote one.

Some fans also expressed disappointment that Pettifleur Berenger wasn't back either despite her recent appearance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Gina told fans in an Instagram post last week: 'I will miss you all and look forward to watching you in season 5!' before thanking her fans and producers

Gina told fans in an Instagram post last week: 'A big congratulations to the cast of The Real Housewives of Melbourne season 5!!! How exciting and welcome to the 4 newbies.'

'I will miss you all and look forward to watching you in season 5!' she added, before thanking her fans and producers.

The Real Housewives of Melbourne will return later this year with Janet Roach, Jackie Gillies, Gamble Breaux, and new cast members Simone Elliott, Anjali Rao, Cherry Dipietrantonio, and Kyla Kirkpatrick.
Bengaluru, April 18 : Alarmed by the rapid surge in new cases, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Sunday directed the state government to bring the Covid situation under control soon.

"Take all necessary steps to bring the Covid situation under control at the earliest," he told top officials at an emergency meeting he convened at the Raj Bhavan.

As Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is under treatment for Covid at a private hospital in the city, Vala called Chief Secretary P. Ravi Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, E.V. Ramana Reddy, and state Health Secretary Jawaid Akhtar for the meeting.

"The Governor advised the officials to ensure enough oxygen supply, drugs and beds for Covid patients in hospitals across the state," a Raj Bhavan communique said.

Vala's intervention came on a day when a record 19,067 new cases were reported from across the state, with Bengaluru accounting for 12,793 of them.

The new cases took the state's Covid tally to 11,61,065, including 1,33,543 active cases and the city's tally to 5,46,635, including 97,897 active cases.

The infection also claimed 81 lives in the last 24 hours, with 60 in Bengaluru, taking the state's death toll to 13,351 and the city's toll to 5,063.

Of 620 Covid patients in ICUs, 134 are in Bengaluru hospitals, 109 in Kalaburagi, 44 in Kolar, 42 in Tumakur, and 40 in Mysuru.

In a related development, state Revenue Minister R. Ashoka called for a meeting of Bengaluru's MPs, legislators and ministers on Monday to take stock of the Covid situation in the city.

"The meeting will be held at the state Secretariat and the Chief Minister is likely to attend it through virtual mode from the hospital," he told reporters here.

As the all-party meeting, which was to be held on Sunday, had been postponed after Yediyurappa tested positive on April 16, he directed Ashoka to hold the special meeting along with Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Health Minister K. Sudhakar and the lawmakers from the city.

"The meeting will deliberate on additional measures to be taken to contain the virus spread in the city, which accounts for 75 per cent of the active cases in the state," said Ashoka.

The state government has imposed 'Corona curfew' in 8 districts, including Bengaluru between 10 p.m.-5 a.m. from April 10-20 to check surging cases due to the second wave.

Meanwhile, the state government directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to raid private hospitals in the city which have not reserved 50 per cent of their beds for treating Covid patients, as directed.

"Many private hospitals, including those run by corporates, have set aside only 10-15 per cent of their beds for Covid patients despite assurances that they would reserve 50 per cent of them," Ashoka said.

The action came following complaints on social media and news channels by affected people.

Admitting that the response of private hospitals on reserving half their beds for Covid patients had not been satisfactory, Sudhakar said legal action would be taken against those not complying with the government order.

He also denied shortage of oxygen in ICUs in either state-run or private hospitals, saying the Centre had agreed to rush 300 tonnes, in addition to 800 tonnes produced in the state.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
China and the United States came forward over climate change issue and releases joint statement. Let us share that in the statement it is agree that stronger pledges to fight climate change should be introduced before a new round of international talks at the end of the year, the two countries said in a joint statement. Let us share that the statement came after a meeting between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, in Shanghai on Thursday (April 15) and Friday (April 16), China`s environment ministry said.

Their joint statement said that "The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis,". Added further that The two countries will continue to discuss "concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach."

To be noted that Kerry arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday (April 14) night under tight COVID-19 protocols and was transferred to a secluded hotel not open to the public. He subsequently traveled to Seoul.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison : Australia is in no hurry to open its borders

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Poor funding is the major reason Nigeria failed to meet the pledge it made in 2012 to achieve a modern contraceptive prevalence rate (MCPR) of 27 per cent among women by 202O, health experts have said.

The family planning (FP) 2020 goal was to enable 120 million additional women and girls of reproductive age, globally, to have access to contraceptives by the year 2020.

At the dawn of the deadline, the FP 2020 target indicators show that Nigeria has only 12 per cent MCPR for women in the country.

FP advocates say the government continuously failed to meet its counterpart funding commitment for the goal thereby hindering progress.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how no money was budgeted for counterpart funding in the 2019 FP budget.

But apart from poor budgetary allocations, several other challenges are hampering the delivery, acceptance and use of contraceptives.

A coalition of health advocacy groups are now taking the lead in confronting several obstacles hindering the progress of family planning initiatives in Nigeria.

Nigeria Family Planning Conference 2020 (NFPC)

Health minister Osagie Ehanire at the 2020 biennial Nigeria Family Planning Conference (NFPC) held in Abuja last December announced the extension of the 2020 target to 2024.

This target once again has been rebased to 27 per cent by the year 2024 to allow more time for ongoing efforts to yield results, given the changing realities and emerging challenges, including those imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the minister said.

The Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in partnership with the health ministry and a cross-section of development partners organized the 6th NFPC held between December 7 and 11, 2020.

AAFP is a national coalition of FP advocates that evolved into a civil society organisation that has been driving FP agenda in Nigeria for years.

The theme of the event was Post FP2020 Agenda and Safeguarding Investments in Emergencies: Adaptation, Innovation, Resilience.

Last Tuesday, a report and a communique detailing the outcome and recommendations from the NFP conference was released.

The report highlighted various gaps and obstacles that could scuttle the 2024 target.

It also underscored efforts and the role of AAFP and other supporters such as the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC)/PACFAH@scale project in improving FP services.

DRPC Accountability Network

While funding has shrunk, FP advocates believe both donor and local funding commitments that have been released for FP have not yielded commiserate results. From 2017 to 2020, there was only a two per cent increase in MCPR.

To ensure adequate use of budgetary releases for FP, the DRPC set up an accountability network in several states to track the progress of initiatives and how funds are spent.

Stanley Ukpai, DRPC/PACFAH@scale program officer, at the launch of the NFPC report, shared how the accountability network was set up and how it operates.

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One of our major focus is to hold government to account in terms of utilization of funds for FP.

What we did was that in 2019, we partnered with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to train local CSOs on tracking and monitoring budgetary releases for FP.

In holding government to account, it makes sense that civil societies are prepared at the state level to become accountability platforms, he explained.

Mr Ukpai said the network was initially set up in Kano, Kaduna, Niger, and Lagos State with the aim of expanding to other states.

He said out of the process, scorecards on how money was used were produced.

Scorecard and other DRPC/PACFAH@scale interventions

Ejike Orji, the AAFP Technical Management Committee chairman, further shared how DRPC supported the development of the scorecards that helped to understand the true situation on the ground.

The scorecards showed there were a lot of stockouts in the FP sites. While funding was inadequate, the releases were not consistent with the timing, Mr Orji explained.

The DRPC/PACFAH@scale funded the recruitment of staff for tracking of budgets and monitoring the CSO accountability network in the states.

The official said the DRPC is a major sponsor of the AAFP, including payment of office accommodation for the former. Their support has been core. DRPC/PACFAH@scale supported us to chart a new part for the association till 2025, he noted.

Mr Orji said data is important in improving FP reach and services. He said the AAFP goal is to come to the one-stop shop for FP data.

Data is so key in FP. We should have some level of data consensus.

Family planning and COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria experienced a further decline in funding for FP, the report noted, further widening the gap of meeting the 2024 target.

Realities of COVID-19 hindered the responses expected from various advocacy efforts and resulted in gains being lost.

Nigeria largely depends on grants for its FP interventions, a situation President Muhammadu Buhari had described as a frightening prospect if we sit idly by and expect handouts from so-called development partners.

As a result of the economic downturn caused by weeks of lockdowns in the COVID-19 pandemic era, many donor funds are no longer coming as every country faces its own COVID-19 nightmare.

The negative effects of the COVID 19 pandemic escalated due to the structure of the pace and pattern of the countrys population and preparedness of our health system, according to Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Department of Economics, University of Ibadan.

The effects of these emergencies on family planning have important implications for the countrys progress in harnessing the demographic dividend as well as attaining the sustainable development goals, he said.

The report highlighted how resources for FP2024 target should be mobilised amid COVID-19 through networking and improved technology.

Recommendations

The NFPC report focused on improving access and awareness to FP services among young people.

Four areas we need to focus on if there will be a paradigm shift in FP for young people, according to Segun Fatusi, Vice-Chancellor, Ondo State University, are:

1) ensuring that we have adolescent responsive FP services; 2) integration of services to expand the reach to young people and also reach the unreached; 3) improving social accountability and 4) build community, social and stakeholder support into the agenda of family planning for young people.

The report made the following recommendation for improvement of FP services in Nigeria:

Government:

1. Federal government should support state governments to strengthen the capacity of Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities across the country by training healthcare workers on youth friendliness through the provision of Minimum Package of Service Standard in all PHCs.

2. The National Health Insurance Scheme should fully integrate family planning services

3. Prioritize the inclusion of AYSRH including contraception services in the State annual operational plans and cost implementation plans while ensuring adolescent and youth-focused interventions in states where the family planning unmet need among young people is high and increasing; as well as invest in Post pregnancy family planning programs for first-time teenage mothers and married adolescents.

4. Integrate young people into the state Reproductive Health/Family Planning Technical Working Group to ensure meaningful engagement of Adolescents and Young People (AYP) in program design, implementation, and evaluation at all levels. Also, improve efforts to establish Adolescents Health and Development Technical Working Groups in all 36 States while ensuring compliance with the Adolescent Health and Development Technical Working Group Operationalization Guide which made clear provisions for a young person to be part of the leadership.

5. Incorporate FP services into the national emergency preparedness strategy

6. Women empowerment ventures should include FP components or at least partner with FP entities

7. Support poverty alleviation activities in communities where Interfaith organisations implement activities.

8. Strengthen multi-sectoral collaborations to harness the multiple investment across all sectors involved in AYP programs to identify, accelerate, and sustain efforts as we look beyond the FP2020 commitment.

9. Government should be more deliberate in mobilizing domestic resources for achieving the goal of 27% mCPR by 2024.

10.Contextualize FP interventions targeted at persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups through inclusive planning and implementation, strategic communication, innovative funding, capacity building and Public Private sector partnerships.

Service Providers:

Provider Bias could be an impediment and should be tackled. Values clarification must be reinforced in training programmes. Providers should be professional in their manner of service delivery and also need to be supported in addressing the issues of provider bias, especially towards young people, the report stated.

Partners:

It also highlighted the need for an aggregated FP data source and collaborative partnerships among partners to avoid the duplication of efforts and increase efficiency.

Academia:

Contextualization of research especially for younger adolescents between 10 and 14 age group.

Research into contraceptive commodities among the population, its effectiveness, and responses.

Media:

Strengthen media advocacy to ensure FP is brought to the fore amidst the RMNCH and issues.

Integrate FP into cross-sectoral issues and expand the role of the media to hold policy makers accountable.

Interfaith:

The report stated that there is a need to Recognise the critical role, willingness and continued support of the traditional and religious leaders and there is a need to continue to strengthen partnerships with these leaders towards promoting active leadership in addressing cultural norms and myths on family planning and childbirth spacing.

Explore and utilise opportunities to develop the capacity to role model, advocate, sensitise and mobilise the hinterlands to accept FP as a lifestyle and a social norm.
A water main break has closed a portion of Derry Street in Swatara Township, leaving some residents in the area without water.

Dauphin County Dispatch confirmed the water main break occurred at 47th and Derry streets Sunday morning.

Derry Street is currently closed between 45th and 47th streets.

Just how many customers are without water was not immediately known.

Drivers should avoid the area.
Everything for the modern woman By Ruqyyaha Deane View(s): View(s):

Founder of the clothing brand ABSOLUTE, Christeen Silva surprisingly did not come from a fashion background but instead one of finance and economics. Heading to the competitive industry of fashion a little later than her peers proved to be an advantage for Christeen as she was able to identify the gap in the market by stripping it down completely to its bare essentials.

I started a career in investments and after three years, I joined MAS and that is how I came into textiles and materials where I learnt a lot. That is how I got into the industry. When it comes to the brand, that is a completely different story, Christeen laughs as she tells us how ABSOLUTE began.

Whenever she had wanted a basic t-shirt or something simple that mirrored her minimalistic style, Christeen always found it difficult to find a retail outlet locally. She would have to call 10 different people asking where she could get something plain and even they were not too sure of the availability of such products. There are so many places that have very fashionable and extravagant items but I wanted to create a central place where people could go and find what they are looking for at any time of the year.

 What we currently do is womens essentials. They are your timeless pieces, but with a modern twist. We are marketing the core basics for any womans closet but we have adapted our own style into it to make it ours, Christeen says emphasizing that they are a brand for the modern womana brand attempting to be the one-stop store that has all your basic essential wear needs covered.

From t-shirts to camis, cardigans, shift dresses and more; the ABSOLUTE line is minimal. ABSOLUTE launched their capsule collection that expanded their style scope into the Summer Essentials range during an Avurudu pop-up last weekend at the Design Collective Store in Kirulapone.

Hesitant at first to launch this collection as they were known for their cotton basics, Christeen explains the concept revolves roud that we are in Sri Lanka and for us, summer is all year around. I love my cotton basics but as Sri Lankans, we really look for comfortable clothing apart from maybe for a three-hour formal event. The whole idea behind the collection was to create summer essentials that can easily be converted to day-to-day wear, she says.

The capsule collection includes linen-wear with comfortable summer dresses, shifts, pants, tops, loungewear, kaftans and robes in muted pastel colours with a few bold yellows thrown into the mix.

As a brand, ABSOLUTE promotes slow-fashion with quality being their top priority. They hope to make their customers more conscious of their buying decisions, as opposed to a culture of impulse buying where an outfit rarely gets worn after it is bought. Further, they are on a mission to lessen their carbon footprint by using sustainable materials and staying away from polyester and viscose; releasing collections slowly and with limited pieces; aligning themselves with manufacturers with the same mindset and more.

Check out ABSOLUTE on their Instagram page @absolutebasics and their latest collection at the Design Collective Store located down Stratford Avenue.
Belgium's "open-air" plan is due to kick in on 8 May, allowing restaurant and bar terraces to reopen, among others.

Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, explained that this reopening would be subject to two conditions:

Progress observed in the vaccination campaign. Vandenbroucke expressed optimism on this count, saying more than 1.2 million doses of Covid vaccines will be delivered to Belgium over the next two weeks. This could allow 70% of those aged 65 and over to be vaccinated.

An improvement of the situation in hospitals "in a sustainable way". The Minister of Health indicated that currently, there are only 92 vacant intensive care beds left throughout the country - less than one bed per hospital. The easing of restrictions will be wholly dependent on pressure reducing in hospitals.

Vandenbroucke said the assessment would be made closer to the projected date. He also addressed criticisms aired by the restaurant sector, in particular an open letter from restaurateur Valerie Migliore, who highlighted that nothing had changed in 10 months of closures.

The minister said all sectors were capable of promising to run their business safely, but the risks would never drop to zero. He said he commiserated with the frustrations, but maintained it was wrong to say that the hygiene measures had not been effective.
When Sri Lankan envoys walk slippery tightropes By Thalif Deen View(s): View(s):

UNITED NATIONS, (IPS)  Sri Lankas diplomatic debacle at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva best reflected in a blow-by-blow account in the Sunday Times political columns  harks back to a bygone era when a senior career diplomat was offered a new posting as our Ambassador to the United States. But he gracefully declined the offer.

In a private conversation, strictly off-the-record and not-for-attribution, he told me: Being a Sri Lankan ambassador in Washington DC -or for that matter in Geneva is like walking a slippery tightrope with the bucket of st on your head.

Perhaps, he was right because the Government at that time was virtually blacklisted by the US, as it battled charges of human rights violations and civilian killings in northern Sri Lanka. The task ahead for any envoy was not only to deny these killings but also justify the atrocities  if any.

As Americans would say: thats diplomacy 101, defined as a complex and often challenging practice of fostering relationships in order to resolve issues  and advance a countrys national interest even under the most trying circumstances.

Meanwhile, over the years, governments of all political hues, sustained a longstanding tradition of appointing retired and ageing former military chiefs  including Generals, Air Marshals and Brigadiers as ambassadors and high commissioners overseas.

A former career diplomat once posed what seemed like a logical reverse equation: if former army chiefs can be appointed ambassadors, he asked, Why shouldnt former ambassadors be appointed army chiefs?

At a farewell dinner for Major General Shavendra Silva, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN with Ambassadorial rank (2010-2015), and currently General and Commander of the Armed Forces, I predicted that Shavendra will be the first Sri Lankan ambassador in history who will be appointed Army Chief. And I was right, proving the argument that former envoys could well be appointed army chiefs.?

Like most foreign services worldwide, Sri Lanka has two categories of diplomats: career diplomats and political appointees. When career diplomats reach the age of 55 (optional) and 60 (mandatory), they go into retirement. But there are no such age limits on political appointees, mostly in their late 60s, 70s or even 80s.

Perhaps by accident or by design, some of our ageing political envoys were accredited to Egypt and died while in office  prompting an Egyptian Foreign Ministry official to tell a visiting Sri Lankan diplomat: The only thing older than your ambassadors are our pyramids.

Which reminds me: When Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the worlds first woman Prime Minister (who served three terms: 1960-1965, 1970-1977 and 1994-2000), addressed a summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Belgrade in 1961, she reportedly made a newsworthy speech with a riveting opening para: As a mother and a Prime Minister. And years later she was due to address another NAM meeting, this time in the Egyptian capital of Cairo in 1964.

As the delegates holed up in a hotel, overlooking the pyramids, were racking their brains for another catchy opening line, Felix Dias Bandaranaike, then a cabinet minister and a member of the Sri Lanka delegation, jokingly suggested the lead para for the speech: As a mummy and as a Prime Minister.

Mrs Bandaranaike apparently wasnt amused  and what saved Felix from losing his Cabinet portfolio or being reprimanded was that he was a close relative.

Meanwhile, some of our political appointees were also not very savvy  either politically or diplomatically. A Sri Lankan UNICEF official based in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka told me about a visiting Sri Lankan official from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.

As the usual gesture among Sri Lankans posted overseas, the UNICEF official arranged for a meeting between the Sri Lankan Ambassador, a political appointee, and the visiting FAO official.

At the meeting in the envoys office, the UNICEF official discovered the ambassador obviously had not done his homework: he was not only ignorant of what the FAO was all about but, worst of all, he did not even know what the acronym FAO stood for. During the course of the conversation, the envoy asked the FAO official what his area of specialisation was.

Told he was in charge of a division overseeing fisheries, the envoys eyes lit up, this time with a personal request: I say, can you get me some Maldive fish? Perhaps transmitted via the UN diplomatic pouch from FAO to Dhaka.

In the Sri Lankan diplomatic service there is never a dull moment. Or so it seems. There was the hilarious story of a newly-appointed ambassador, accredited to an Asian country. He downgraded his brother-in-law to the rank of a cook, in order to include him as a member of his staff so that the Foreign Ministry can pick up the tab for his travel and upkeep.

And then there was the widespread story of another envoy who took his mistress under the guise of a maid to a European capital  with the foreign ministry paying for her services, as she was on the embassy payroll.

But there were also exceptions to the sordid stories emerging from world capitals.

As one of Sri Lankas hot-shot criminal lawyers, Ambassador Daya Perera was not only gifted with oratorical skills but also a razor-sharp sense of humour. At the United Nations, where he had a post-legal career as Sri Lankas Permanent Representative (1988-1991), he had a field day unleashing both his skills with the force of a double-barreled shotgun.

Since journalists and diplomats are perpetually looking for inside stories, political gossip and breaking news, I built a strong working relationship with Daya during his tenure as Ambassador. When I was in his office one day, he dropped a file marked Confidential before me.

At first glance, it looked like a journalists dream because the file was expected to contain, not only Sri Lankas official stance on some of the politically sensitive issues, but also letters detailing the running battle he had with the then Foreign Secretary in Colombo.

Just when I thought I may have a series of journalistic scoops, he remarked in characteristic Sri Lankan idiom: You bugger, you can read, but you cannot write.

Daya I told him, you are treating me like a eunuch in a Middle Eastern harem. I can see all whats going on, but I cannot do anything myself.

He laughed at that wise crack, and for a moment, felt i had upstaged him.

But in tempting me with the Confidential file, he was not only making a gesture symbolising our friendship but also refusing to betray the trust his government had placed on him as a senior high-ranking diplomat at the UN.

(The article is based on a recently-released book on the United Nations titled No Comment and Dont Quote Me on That. Authored by Thalif Deen, a former UN staffer, a onetime Sri Lankan diplomat, and a veteran UN correspondent, the book is available on Amazon, and at the Vijitha Yapa bookshop. The link to Amazon USA via the authors website follows: https://www.rodericgrigson.com/no-comment-by-thalif-deen/)
Burma Hundreds of Villagers Flee After Myanmar Military Raid in Sagaing

An anti-regime protest in Sagaing Region's Kani Township in March. / CJ

Villagers in Kani Township, Sagaing Region, say they are fleeing their homes after soldiers raided Chaungma village in the township on Sunday afternoon, following a roadside shootout on the Monywa-Kalewa highway on Saturday night.

Clashes between the resistance and junta forces have been reported in villages near Chaungma in recent days.

Several residents told The Irrawaddy, on condition of anonymity, that the arrival of around 15 military trucks on Sunday led to Chaungma  about 20km from Kani  and at least six other villages being evacuated.

Soldiers are stationed in Chaungma and looking for activists. Villagers said the soldiers raided shops, took peoples rice and killed chickens for food. Chaungma, which has more than 2,000 people, and others from six or seven other villages are fleeing. No one dares to go back, said a Kani resident.

On Saturday evening, two civilians were killed in a shootout with the military in Taungtwin Chaung on the Monywa-Kalewa road.

A Kani resident told The Irrawaddy: One man was shot dead as they resisted military troops on the Monywa-Kalewa highway near the border of Kani and Mingin townships. Another man was detained for having traditional firearms when junta forces found him. He was tied up and taken away. We heard he died during torture.

A young man, who was hit in the thigh, was detained by the juntas forces.

Villagers used homemade firearms to opposed the arrival of some 60 soldiers in three trucks at Taungtwin Chaung on Saturday afternoon.

There were unconfirmed reports of police and military casualties.

Another shootout occurred on Sunday.

We heard the peoples protection forces are fighting again this [Sunday] afternoon on the Monywa-Kalewa road [about 70km from Kani] and the military is using artillery, said the resident.

Kani, Yinmabin, Kale and Tamu townships in the region have seen villagers fighting the juntas forces with improvised weapons, including homemade rifles, air guns and grenades. The residents say the shootouts are to block junta reinforcements.

On Thursday, at least six civilians were shot dead in Kani during a shootout with a protection group formed by anti-regime protesters. The next day, military security was tightened on Kanis main roads, where around 100 junta personnel have been stationed.

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The ceremonial funeral Saturday of Prince Philip was a theologically orthodox service as expressed through the timeless Anglican rites of the Church of England, observers said.

It also came at a time when faith in the public square is more often than not watered down to accommodate the panoply of beliefs and nonbeliefs.

It was a fitting liturgy for a man in whom the traditional and the modern combined, the Right Rev. Anthony Clavier said. Originally from England and today a cleric in the Episcopal Church, he noted the late duke of Edinburghs steadfast service to God, the Queen, the nation and the Commonwealth.

Others in the Anglican tradition  Queen Elizabeth II is supreme governor of the Church of England, the mother church of the wider Anglican Communion  were impressed with the funerals overt Christianity, which was reflective of the deeply rooted faith held by Philip.

Source:The Christian Post
SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China and the United States agree that stronger pledges to fight climate change should be introduced before a new round of international talks at the end of the year, the two countries said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The statement came after a meeting between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday, China's environment ministry said.

"The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis," their joint statement said. The two countries will continue to discuss "concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach."

Kerry arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night under tight COVID-19 protocols and was transferred to a secluded hotel not open to the public. He subsequently traveled to Seoul.

His stop in Shanghai was the first high-level visit to China by a Biden administration official since the new president took office, and followed a contentious exchange between officials from the two countries in March in Alaska.

The talks also mark a resumption of climate dialogue between the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Bilateral discussions ground to a halt during the administration of Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Paris agreement after claiming it unfairly punished U.S. businesses.

The United States is expected soon to deliver a new pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to win back trust from foreign allies. Biden brought the United States back into the Paris climate accord.

Li Shuo, senior climate adviser for the environmental group Greenpeace, said China could soon respond to a new U.S. pledge with one of its own, building on the "momentum" of the Shanghai talks.

"The statement in my view is as positive as the politics would allow: It sends a very unequivocal message that on this particular issue (China and the United States) will cooperate. Before the meetings in Shanghai this was not a message that we could assume," Li said.

Story continues

Biden will hold a virtual summit for dozens of world leaders this week to discuss climate change, to be livestreamed for public viewing. Global climate talks are scheduled Nov. 1-12 in Glasgow.

The statement said the two countries also agreed to discuss specific emission reduction actions including energy storage, carbon capture and hydrogen. They said they would take action to maximise financing for developing countries to switch to low-carbon energy sources.

The Paris agreement encourages countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges if they are able to do so. China has already promised enhanced actions as it tries to meet its goal to become "carbon neutral" by 2060.

(Reporting by David Stanway in Shanghai, David Shepardson and Phil Stewart in Washington; Additional reporting by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
gettyimagesbank



By Jun Ji-hye



Korean pharmaceutical companies have been making slow progress in developing treatments for COVID-19 due mainly to difficulties in recruiting patients for their clinical trials.



According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Sunday, clinical trials of a total of 13 potential COVID-19 treatments from domestic drug companies are currently underway following the ministry's approval.



Among them, however, companies such as CrystalGenomics, Dongwha Pharm, Immunemed and Green Cross Wellbeing have yet to administer their drugs to actual patients.



The drug safety ministry approved CrystalGenomics to perform Phase II clinical trials of its potential COVID-19 treatment in July last year. The company was planning to perform the trials on a group of 100 patients to assess how well the drug worked, but has yet to recruit test subjects






Moscow:

Russian state news agency Tass said on Wednesday that North Koreas foreign minister has described his nations nuclear weapons as a sword of justice.

Tass quoted North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho today accusing US President Donald Trump of setting a fuse of war with his September speech at the United Nations.

Trump threatened in the UN speech to totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend the US or its allies.

Ri told Tass that the Norths nuclear weapons represent a deterrent to protect the country from the US.

He said the Norths strategic forces have inexhaustible power that wont leave aggressor state America unpunished.

Ri added that North Koreas army and people are persistently demanding to settle the final score with the Americans with a fiery hail, not words.

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Our court system is always described as adversarial, but at the same time prosecutors are supposed to seek just verdicts rather than a high conviction rate.

Reconciling these two concepts always seemed a pipe dream, especially in New Orleans, where the District Attorney's Office has by no means been keen to give suckers an even break.

For both sides of the justice system to make common cause seemed to require nothing less than a miracle; unless one could infiltrate and subvert the other, say, loggerheads would remain the norm.

It turns out that miracles do happen.

Leon Cannizzaro ushered in a new age last year when he decided not to seek reelection. Cannizzaro fit the traditional mold as district attorney, a fan of capital punishment and long prison sentences, who would give no quarter in visiting his idea of condign punishment on the criminal classes.

This put him at constant loggerheads with City Council President Jason Williams, who spent his time away from politics as a prominent criminal defense attorney while, according to federal prosecutors, cheating on his income taxes.

A multiple-count indictment seemed to distract Williams not at all. It did not deter him from running for Cannizzaro's job, and neither did it put voters off. After Cannizzaro declined the engagement, Williams was left to battle out the election against three former state district judges. All four candidates promised to be less hard-nosed than Cannizzaro, but voters evidently figured that, given his professional background, Williams was best qualified to introduce a more liberal administration.

There was an obvious possibility that Williams would not get far with his reforms, for he was scheduled to go on trial Jan. 11, the same he was due to be sworn in as district attorney. In the end, the coronavirus closed the federal courthouse down and Williams is now due to be tried Nov. 1.

The delay gave him more than enough time to hire some of Cannizzaro's leading foes.

He established a civil rights division and brought in Emily Maw to direct it. Maw had spent many years as head of the Innocence Project, winning freedom for a plentiful supply of prisoners wrongfully convicted by generations of New Orleans prosecutors.

Williams went further afield to recruit Ben Cohen, who moved from Ohio to take over as chief of appeals in New Orleans. This was quite a coup for Williams, Cohen having gone down in history as the attorney who finally nagged the U.S. Supreme Court into accepting that the Constitution required unanimous verdicts in felony trials.

It was in 2004 that Cohen first urged the courts to reverse a 1972 opinion that Louisiana and Oregon, the only two states in the union that accepted majority verdicts, were within their rights. Cohen got the court to change its mind last year in the case of Evangelisto Ramos, who had been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murder in New Orleans by a 10-2 jury vote.

By the time the Supreme Court ruled in Ramos's favor, Louisiana had already amended its law to require unanimous verdicts, but not with retroactive effect. Ramos, and others like him with majority-vote convictions under appeal, still needed to prevail with a constitutional challenge to win a retrial.

Prisoners whose cases had run their course after conviction by a split jury would have been left with no recourse had Williams not started to grant them retrials on his own initiative.

Meanwhile, the prosecutorial surrender to the defense bar proceeded when Williams put Tenee Felix, attorney for the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, in charge of his juvenile division.

The harsher elements of the ancien regime went out the window.

Williams rejected the worst idiocies of that monstrous flop, the war on drugs, by instructing his assistants that citizens in possession of weed for personal consumption should be left alone.

Cannizzaro had been quite persnickety when it came to the rules of procedure that are designed to ensure that justice is delivered with maximum promptness and efficiency, but can also make it harder for innocents to get out of prison. When Williams came along, he adopted a policy of not raising purely technical objections to block the admission of exculpatory evidence in post-conviction proceedings. That will square with most people's idea of fair play, and make a lot of convicts glad that the feds haven't nailed Williams yet.

Email James Gill at gill504nola@gmail.com.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Replying to reporters question about the report released on April 16 by the US Department of the Treasury, Hang noted that the report said there is insufficient evidence to decide that Vietnam manipulates its exchange rate.

She added that in the recent past, Vietnamese relevant agencies have shared information and discussed with the US to clarify that Vietnams exchange rate policy has been steered by managerial agencies in a uniform and flexible manner that matches the reality in the country for the purpose of stabilising macro-balances, not to create unfair competitive advantages in international trade.

In the spirit of respecting the economic  trade ties with the US, a pillar in the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, Vietnam will maintain constructive dialogue and consultation with the US side about this issue, the spokeswoman added.
Scott Morrison says vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas and skip hotel quarantine by the end of the year.

The prime minister said on Sunday he hoped the greater freedoms would be available to residents who needed to travel for 'important purposes' like work or medical reasons.

The vaccinated travellers would then be able to quarantine at home, rather than at a hotel, when they return to Australia.

'If we can get in a position in the second half of the year to have Australians for essential purpose travel and return to the country without going into hotel quarantine, if they have been vaccinated, it is a good incentive to get vaccinated,' he said.

Scott Morrison says vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas and skip hotel quarantine by the end of the year

The prime minister said on Sunday he hoped the greater freedoms would be available to residents who needed to travel for 'important purposes' like work or medical reasons

Mr Morrison admitted he would not reopen the international border without heavy consideration.

'I assure Australians that I will not be putting at risk the way we are living in this country which is so different to the rest of the world,' he said.

Mr Morrison told media on Thursday he had tasked medical experts with coming up with a framework to give travel freedom to Australians who have received both doses of the jab.

He said the plan was still 'some time away' from becoming reality but was the next step in relaxing the country's strict border closures during the pandemic.

'What I'd like to see happen next, and this is what I've tasked the medical experts with, is ensuring we can know when an Australian is vaccinated here with their two doses, is able to travel overseas and return without having to go through hotel quarantine,' he told 6PR Perth.

'Now, I think we're still some time away from that.

'The states, at this stage, I'm sure wouldn't be agreeing to relaxing those hotel quarantine arrangements for those circumstances at this point in time.'

He had earlier told a community forum in Perth home quarantine could be used if it did not lead to a significantly higher number of cases than isolating in a hotel.

Mr Morrison admitted he would not reopen the international border without heavy consideration

Mr Morrison told media on Thursday he had tasked medical experts with coming up with a framework to give travel freedom to Australians who have received both doses of the jab

'[If] the data was showing that home-based quarantine was not creating any additional, scaled risks, that could lead to something more significant,' he said.

'That is how we move to the next step.'

He said the plan would have to receive the support of the state premiers to become a reality.

Mr Morrison said the total re-opening of Australia's borders was still some way off.

He said Australians had become used to recording days of zero community transmission but that would need to change if restrictions were lifted too quickly.

'If we were to lift the borders and people were to come, then you would see those cases increase,' he said.

'Australians would have to become used to dealing with a thousand cases a week or more.'
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.
The EU initiative to reopen travel for consumers, known as the Digital Green Certificate, is fully supported by the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA).

This will act as proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, received a negative test result, or has recovered from the virus and is safe to travel abroad. This will effectively open the EU for internal travel, and may eventually be extended beyond the EU.

The certificate is free, and the aim is to have the certificates up and running by summer, likely by mid-June. Travellers will still be permitted to travel without the certificate - it is not a passport and the ITAA supports the rights of all citizens to travel freely within the EU.

The project is supported by the WHO (World Health Organisation), ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) and IATA (International Air Travel Association).

The ITAA has been calling on the EU to introduce such an initiative for some time, as this will encourage the Irish Government to relax its attitude to the Digital Voucher scheme.

Initial positive feedback from Member States was discussed at European Council meeting on March 25-26. The strongest opponents so far to Digital Green Certificates are France, Belgium and Ireland.

The EU Commission welcomes any support from the travel industry to put pressure on Member States, therefore the ITAA will be pushing the Government to relax its current stance and allow Digital Green Certificate holders to take long overdue breaks abroad. These will also boost inward tourism for the peak and shoulder seasons, as many ITAA members are also involved in bringing tourists into Ireland, which will in turn provide some relief to the domestic tourism and hospitality industry. If we continue to limit access to all travellers into our country, they will simply travel to other EU states.

Consumers are waiting for foreign travel to reopen, not simply for sun and sand holidays or cruises, but to visit families and friends all over Europe whom they may not have seen for a year. In addition to this, businesses are also waiting for the opportunity to travel in order to reconnect with suppliers and to look for new business and contracts.

While being mindful of controlling the virus, the Government must also be mindful of the mental stress of lockdowns on its citizens, and must consider enacting the Digital Green Certificate.

Another project complimenting the Digital Green Certificate is the IATA Travel Pass Initiative, which has been successfully rolled out in London Heathrow and Singapore airports. The IATA Travel Pass will give accurate information on travel, testing and vaccine requirements for all countries. It will also include a global registry of testing and vaccination centres in order to identify testing centres and labs at departure locations which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of the destination, and will locate authorized labs and test centres to securely share test and vaccination certificates.

The initiative will enable passengers to create a digital passport, receive test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate safe travel. With this app, IATA also aims to provide governments with the confidence to safely reopen borders without imposing quarantine periods on incoming travellers.

As representatives of the travel industry, we are calling on Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney to respond positively to these measures by meeting with us and others involved in the industry to plan a strategy on the reopening of our country and air routes. We must act now to put plans in place, so that we are prepared and ready to begin reopening our industry within the necessary parameters.

The travel and tourism industry has been the hardest hit sector in Ireland, with 400,000 jobs compromised by the pandemic. This consists of 140,000 jobs in Aviation, 250,000 in hospitality, and others working with inbound and outbound travel - that is over 400,000 jobs. In addition to this, the travel sector is likely most legislated sector, with four separate pieces of legislation on travel since January.

We need to work with Government now to plan a coordinated path for recovery in line with other EU member states.
Gardai from the Longford Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle in Granard and it was discovered that the driver was disqualified.

The car was impounded and the driver was arrested and later charged to appear in court.

Gardai from the Longford Roads Policing Unit stopped this vehicle in Granard.



Via the #MobilityApp , it was discovered the driver was disqualified.



The car was impounded and the driver was arrested and later charged to appear in court.#KeepingPeopleSafe #SaferRoads pic.twitter.com/Pfdr1FeRfm  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 18, 2021

Tributes stream in for Longford native Johnny Hannify Sunday, April 4 was a sad day for those of us in the Scor Community and GAA in general when we learned of the sad loss of Johnny Hannify who passed to his eternal reward after a short illness.
LONDON  Seeking to salve an old wound at a time of sorrow for Britains royal family, the political leader of the Irish republican movement apologized on Sunday for the 1979 assassination of Louis Mountbatten, an uncle of Prince Philip.

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Fein, which was once the political wing of the underground Irish Republican Army, told a London radio station, Of course, I am sorry that happened; of course, that is heartbreaking.

Ms. McDonald offered the landmark apology a day after Queen Elizabeth II buried her husband, Philip, in a ceremony at Windsor Castle that paid tribute to his military career. His uncle Lord Mountbatten, a celebrated commander during World War II who later served as the last viceroy of India, overseeing its partition and transition to independence, was killed after a bomb exploded on his fishing boat off the coast of Ireland.

The assassination, carried out by members of the I.R.A., was one of the highest-profile attacks during the Northern Ireland Troubles, and the one that struck closest to the heart of the royal family. In addition to his ties to Philip, Lord Mountbatten was friendly with the queen and a mentor to the couples eldest son, Prince Charles.
Protesters march past LAPD officers during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd, in Los Angeles on June 6, 2020. (Kyle Grillot/AFP via Getty Images)

LA Sheriff Blames Defund the Police, Progressive Policies for Spike in Violent Crime

Violent crime has soared in Los Angeles County this year because criminals have been emboldened by progressive law enforcement policies as well as the defund the police movement, the countys sheriff says.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the county recorded 60 homicides during the first two months of the year, compared to 21 in the year-earlier time frame, he told Fox News in an interview.

Villanueva specifically blamed new Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, a Democrat who was elected to lead the nations largest prosecutorial office in December 2020, amid the widespread unrest and calls to defund the police following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody.

Gascons victory over incumbent Jackie Lacey was seen as a repudiation by voters of more traditional, tough-on-crime policies, according to the Los Angeles Times.

I recognize for many this is a new path, Gascon, a former officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and district attorney in San Francisco, said after being sworn in. Whether you are a protester, a police officer, or a prosecutor, I ask you to walk with me. I ask you to join me on this journey. We can break the multigenerational cycles of violence, trauma, and arrest and recidivism that has led America to incarcerate more people than any other nation.

Three months into his tenure, Gascon has directed prosecutors in his county not to seek the death penalty or defend existing death sentences, or to file any sentence enhancements, which he described in his special directive (pdf) as a legacy of Californias tough-on-crime era. He also created a Use of Force Review Board, made up of civil rights attorneys, community members, and policing experts, to review police uses of fatal force dating to 2012 for possible prosecution.

They need to really pick and choose very carefully because for them its very easy to say, Oh yeah, all cops are bad, and, Lets reform and defund the police,' Villanueva said, referring to voters who back progressive policies and candidates. Yet theyre the very first ones to pick up 911 when someones crawling over their back gate trying to get into their house.

University of Southern California Law Professor Jody Armour disagrees, saying that police are intensifying violent crimes in their communities with their own actions.

That reservoir of resentment is actually, in and of itself, also a driver of crime, Armour told Fox News. Until thats healed, were really not going to get at the spiraling crime problem.
The pair of peregrine falcons who nest atop Berkeley's Campanile have welcomed three baby chicks.

Annie and Grinnell, who have been raising chicks in the upper section of Cal's famous clock tower since 2017, saw three eggs hatch over the weekend. The first little bundle of joy made its appearance in the wee small hours of the morning, with the second hatching around 11:30 a.m. A third joined the world in the early morning hours of Monday, and a fourth egg did not appear to hatch.

Since blinking into the world, the chicks have been nestled under mom and occasionally treated to bits of dad's kills. (Peregrine falcons in these parts often eat rotund city pigeons.)

Cal Falcons/Screenshot

Peregrine falcons are one of the world's speediest birds, pummeling downward at a rate of up to 200 mph in pursuit of prey. They're native to North America and often nest in cliffs. In urban areas, they'll look for high, safe locations, like the Campanile, which Annie and Grinnell picked out themselves. Their first brood had a few casualties when two eggs rolled off the sandbag they'd chosen as a nest. In response, UC Berkeley researchers made them a wooden box, watched day and night by live cams, where they've had their eggs since.

It usually takes around 39-49 days before the chicks are ready for their first flight, an event that draws crowds each year to campus to watch for the brave birds.

Last year, Annie and Grinnell raised three healthy chicks: Poppy, Sequoia and Redwood, who have all been banded in case they run into researchers in the future. After reaching adolescence, the young falcons fly off in search of new territory. Some of Annie and Grinnell's offspring have been spotted in the Marin Headlands and Alcatraz.

If you want to keep an eye on the falcon family, a livestream shows their home 24/7. As in years prior, it's likely the university will hold a naming contest, with the winners chosen via public poll.
National Park Service Ranger Roger Robinson talks with visitors at the NPS Talkeetna Ranger Station. With the cruise ship season in limbo, Alaska is planning a massive marketing push to encourage independent travelers to visit the state to make up for the usual million-plus tourists who arrive via cruise ship each year. Photo/Courtesy/National Park Service
"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
SANAA, Yemen (AP)  Fighting between forces of Yemens internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels raged in the provinces of Marib and Taiz, killing at least 70 fighters on both sides, officials said Sunday.

The increase in violence came over the past 24 hours and at least 85 others were wounded, military officials from the two sides said.

The Iranian-backed rebels in February renewed their offensive on the oil-rich province of Marib, an anti-Houthi stronghold held by the internationally recognized government.

But they have not made substantial progress amid fierce resistance and heavy losses, mostly the result of airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition countering the advance.

The attack on Marib stirred up violence in other areas, including government-held Tazi province, which is besieged by the Houthis. Clashes also took place in the province of Hajjah and the port city of Hodeida.

The officials said at least 42 fighters were killed in Marib and 28 in Taiz. Most of the dead were rebel fighters, they said.

The military officials from both sides spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Abdu Abdullah Magli, a spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said they staved off Houthi attacks over the weekend in the district of Sorouh in Marib, and reclaimed territory from the rebels.

The Houthi offensive on Marib has threatened to worsen the already severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The province is sheltering about a million Yemenis who have fled Houthi offensives elsewhere in the country.

The Iranian-backed rebels have also stepped up their cross-border attacks by missiles and explosive-laden drones on Saudi Arabia. It's an apparent attempt to pressure the Saudi-led coalition to stop its airstrikes on the rebels in Marib and elsewhere in Yemen.

The intensified fighting and attacks on Saudi Arabia have come amid an international and regional diplomatic push to end the conflict.

Story continues

Saudi Arabia and the Biden administration have recently offered separate cease-fire proposals. The Houthis, however, turned them down.

The conflict in Yemen began with the 2014 takeover of the capital Sanaa by the Houthis. A Saudi-led coalition allied with the exiled Hadi has been fighting the rebels since March 2015.

The war in Yemen has spawned the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical shortages. It has killed some 130,000 people, including fighters and civilians, according to a database project that tracks the violence.
Slowing of neuropathy progression for all 7 evaluable patients, evidenced by a +1.29 point mean change in NIS, was more favorable than expected progression of +9.2 points

Improvement in neuropathy for 3 of these 7 evaluable patients demonstrated by a mean change in NIS of -3.33 points

Improvement in cardiac function for all 7 evaluable patients demonstrated by a decrease in global longitudinal strain (GLS)

Emerging Science Oral Presentation today at AAN 2021

DUBLIN, Ireland, April 18, 2021by Prothena on December 9, 2020.

For all of the evaluable patients, slowing of neuropathy progression was demonstrated by a mean change from baseline in Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS) of +1.29 points at 9 months. This compares favorably to a calculated mean change in NIS of +9.2 points at 9 months in untreated and placebo-treated patients with hereditary ATTR peripheral neuropathy (hATTR-PN) based on analysis of published historical data. In addition, the change in NIS for each of these evaluable patients was more favorable than the published historical data. In this highly progressive disease, it was encouraging to see 3 of 7 patients demonstrate improvement in neuropathy with a mean change in NIS of -3.33 points at 9 months. These positive results were observed in patients with or without concomitant use of stabilizer therapy. PRX004 also demonstrated improvement in cardiac systolic function in each of the 7 evaluable patients, with a mean change in GLS of -1.21% at 9 months (centrally read). For the 3 patients who improved on NIS, GLS improvement was more pronounced, with a mean change of -1.51% at 9 months. Taken together, these positive clinical findings suggest PRX004's depleter mechanism of action can result in benefits in both neuropathy and cardiac function.

"I was pleased to see evidence of both a slowing of disease progression as well as a rapid improvement in neuropathy in some patients after only 9 months of treatment with PRX004. Given the expected clinical progression in these patients, the more favorable than expected change in NIS for all 7 patients is an encouraging finding, as is PRX004's favorable safety and tolerability profile," stated Ole Suhr, MD. "These results demonstrate the potential of PRX004's depleter mechanism to provide a new treatment paradigm that is highly needed to treat patients at high risk of early mortality due to amyloid deposition in vital organs."

Today's presentation at AAN 2021 will be made available on the Company's website at www.prothena.comunder the Investors tab in the Events and Presentations section.

PRX004 Phase 1 Study

The Phase 1, open-label, multicenter dose-escalation study (NCT03336580) enrolled 21 patients with hereditary ATTR Amyloidosis (hATTR) to receive PRX004 intravenously once every 28 days for up to 3 infusions in the dose escalation phase of the study. Patients were enrolled into 1 of the following 6 PRX004 dose cohorts: 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, starting with the lowest dose. Eligible patients who completed dose-escalation were provided the opportunity to enroll in the long-term extension (LTE) portion of the study. All 21 patients enrolled in the Phase 1 study successfully completed dose-escalation and 17 patients subsequently enrolled in the LTE.

In order to inform dose selection, a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed and subsequently confirmed by observed reductions in free non-native TTR (transthyretin) in plasma of patients following PRX004 administration. Based on this model, dose levels =3 mg/kg were predicted to saturate (occupy =90%) amyloid deposits. Therefore, cohorts 4, 5 and 6 were considered equivalent, and efficacy was explored in these patients and pooled. Of the 12 patients in these cohorts, 7 patients (n=3 in cohort 4, n=3 in cohort 5 and n=1 in cohort 6) received all infusions through 9 months and were therefore considered evaluable for efficacy. The remaining 5 patients did not meet these criteria due to COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions.

PRX004 demonstrated a PK profile consistent with an lgG1 monoclonal antibody and exposures increased proportionally with dose.

Monthly intravenous (IV) infusions of PRX004 were generally safe and well tolerated at all dose levels tested, with 233 separate infusions and up to 17 infusions per patient in the study. No drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs), drug-related = grade 3 adverse events, deaths or dose-limiting toxicities were reported. The most frequent treatment-emergent AEs (=10%) were fall, anemia, upper respiratory tract infection, back pain, constipation, diarrhea and insomnia. No clinically relevant anti-drug antibodies were observed. Consistent with the proposed mechanism of action, PRX004 administration did not impact levels of native, normal tetrameric TTR.

About ATTR Amyloidosis

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis) is a rare, progressive and fatal disease characterized by deposition of abnormal, non-native forms of TTR protein (amyloid) in vital organs. ATTR amyloidosis can be hereditary (hATTR) when caused by a mutation in the TTR gene, or wild-type (wtATTR) when it occurs sporadically. Patients can experience a spectrum of clinical manifestations due to deposition of amyloid that can affect multiple organs, most commonly the heart and/or nervous system. It is estimated that between 400,000 to 1.4 million patients suffer from ATTR-cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Within this population, between 130,000 to 490,000 patients are estimated to be moderate-to-advanced and categorized as New York Heart Association Class III and IV. TTR protein is produced primarily in the liver, pancreas and choroid plexus and in its native tetrameric form serves as a carrier for thyroxin and retinol binding protein (a transporter for vitamin A) and has been proposed to have neuroprotective effects.

About PRX004 and Depleter Mechanism of Action

PRX004 is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody designed to deplete amyloid associated with disease pathology that underlies hereditary and wild type ATTR amyloidosis (hATTR and wtATTR, respectively), without affecting the native, normal tetrameric form of the protein.

It is generally accepted that at the time of diagnosis, affected organs in ATTR patients contain extracellular amyloid deposits. These deposits, together with prefibrillar species, are believed to cause organ dysfunction. PRX004 has been shown in preclinical studies to promote clearance of insoluble amyloid fibrils through antibody-mediated phagocytosis and inhibit amyloid formation. This depleter mechanism of action has the potential to provide benefit for ATTR patients at high risk for early mortality due to amyloid deposition in vital organs.

About Prothena

Prothena Corporation plc is a late-stage clinical company with expertise in protein dysregulation and a pipeline of novel investigational therapeutics with the potential to change the course of devastating rare peripheral amyloid and neurodegenerative diseases. Fueled by its deep scientific expertise built over decades of research, Prothena is advancing a pipeline of therapeutic candidates for a number of indications and novel targets for which its ability to integrate scientific insights around neurological dysfunction and the biology of misfolded proteins can be leveraged. Prothena's pipeline includes both wholly-owned and partnered programs being developed for the potential treatment of diseases including AL amyloidosis, ATTR amyloidosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and a number of other neurodegenerative diseases. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.prothena.com and follow the Company on Twitter @ProthenaCorp.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to, among other things, the treatment potential, design and proposed mechanism of action of PRX004; and the design and capabilities of our misTTR assay for hereditary ATTR. These statements are based on estimates, projections and assumptions that may prove not to be accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the effects on our business of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26, 2021, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our subsequent filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in our expectations.

Contacts:

Media:

Ellen Rose, Head of Communications

650-922-2405, ellen.rose@prothena.com

Investors:

Jennifer Zibuda, Director, Investor Relations & Communications

650-837-8535, jennifer.zibuda@prothena.com




Malaysia has sent 267 containers of illegal plastic waste back to the countries where they came from them since 2019 and the country in the process of returning another 81, according to Reuters.

Why it matters: Malaysia became the main importer of recyclable plastic after China banned imports of plastic waste in 2018. Malaysia has grappled with how to manage a growing amount of unlicensed shipments of unrecyclable trash.

What they're saying: Malaysia's Environment Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man promised in a statement Tuesday that companies that broke the country's environment and import laws would face strict action," according to Reuters.
A cheap and simple cure for snoring could also slash the risk of dementia by more than a third, researchers have found.

Snorers who had the treatment, called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), seemed to have better protection against the incurable illness.

CPAP involves wearing a mask at night connected to a bedside machine, costing around 500, that pumps pressurised air into the throat.

This stops soft tissue in the throat from collapsing during sleep.

Scientists think the machines may cut dementia risk by boosting oxygen supply to the brain.

Snorers who had the treatment, called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), seemed to have better protection against the incurable illness. Stock picture of a man sleeping with a CPAP machine

Up to five million people in Britain, mainly men, snore heavily  a condition called sleep apnoea.

It is known to raise blood pressure and the threat of a stroke and heart attack. If untreated, some studies suggest, it also increases the risk of dementia.

US researchers at the University of Michigan wanted to see if treating heavy snorers meant they were less likely to get dementia.

They tracked 50,000 patients with sleep apnoea before 2011.

Among those who developed dementia, they compared patients who did receive CPAP with those that did not.

The results, in the journal Sleep, showed snorers who used the device every now and then were between 20 and 30 per cent less likely to get Alzheimer's, or any other form of dementia.

Among those who wore the mask every night, the risk fell 35 per cent.

Scientists say the results could benefit millions.

The numbers affected by Alzheimer's and dementia are forecast to rise from 800,000 to 1.2million in England by 2040.

Dr Galit Levi Dunietz, who led the study, said: 'We found a significant association between CPAP and lower risk of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. It could be protective for those with sleep apnoea.'

Dr Rosa Sancho, of Alzheimer's Research UK, welcomed the study but stressed it did not prove heavy snoring and disrupted sleep actually caused dementia.
The Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January created a trove of self-incriminating evidence, thoroughly documenting their actions and words in videos and social media posts. Now some of the camera-toting people in the crowd are claiming they were only there to record history as journalists, not to join a deadly insurrection.

Its unlikely that any of the self-proclaimed journalists can mount a viable defense on the First Amendments free speech grounds, experts say. They face long odds if video captured them acting more like rioters than impartial observers. But as the internet has broadened and blurred the definition of a journalist, some appear intent on trying.

At least eight defendants charged in the Jan. 6 riot have identified themselves as a journalist or a documentary filmmaker, including three people arrested this month, according to an Associated Press review of court records in nearly 400 federal cases.

The riot led to the deaths of five people, including a police officer, and there were hundreds of injuries. Some rioters manhandled and menaced the reporters and photographers who are credentialed to cover Congress and were trying to cover the mayhem that day. A group of AP journalists had photographic equipment stolen and destroyed outside the building.

One defendant, Shawn Witzemann, told authorities he was inside the Capitol during the riot as part of his work in livestreaming video at protests and has since argued that he was there as a journalist. That explanation did not sway the FBI. The plumber from Farmington, New Mexico, is charged with joining in demonstrating in the Capitol while Congress was certifying Joe Bidens electoral victory over Donald Trump.

I seek truth. I speak to sources. I document. I provide commentary. Its everything that a journalist is, Witzemann told a New Mexico television station after his arrest April 6. He did not respond to a social media message and email from the AP.

Witzemanns nightly news show is titled the Armenian Council for Truth in Journalism  satirically, his attorney says. On its YouTube page, which has just over 300 subscribers, the show says it delivers irreverent and thought provoking commentary and analysis, on an eclectic range of subjects.

THE JOURNALISM DEFENSE

Another defendant works for Infowars, the right-wing website operated by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Others have fringe platforms named Political Trance Tribune, Insurgence USA, Thunderdome TV and Murder the Media News.

But while the internet has given more people a platform to use their voice, the definition of a journalist is not that broad when put into practice in court, said Lucy Dalglish, dean of the University of Marylands Philip Merrill College of Journalism, who used to practice media law as an attorney.

She said it is an easy case to make that Capitol riot defendants were not journalists because reporters and photographers must have credentials to work there. She said any defendant captured on video encouraging rioters cannot credibly claim to be a journalist.

You are, at that point, an activist with a cellphone, and there were a lot of activists with copyrighted videos who sold them to news organizations, Dalglish said. That doesnt make them journalists.

Even credentialed reporters and news photographers are not immune from prosecution if they break a law on the job, said Jane Kirtley, who teaches media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota.

Its not a get-out-of-jail-free card, Kirtley said.

Samuel Montoya, an Infowars video editor, was arrested Tuesday in Texas on charges including impeding passage through the Capitol grounds. Montoya spoke on an Infowars show about witnessing a police officer shoot and kill a woman inside the Capitol.

Montoya also recorded and narrated a video while walking through the building, occasionally referring to himself as a journalist while wearing a red Make America Great Again hat.

Were gonna do whatever it takes to MAGA, he said, according to the FBI.

Montoya told a judge on Wednesday that he works for Infowars and mentioned that Jones also was in Washington on Jan. 6. Jones has not been charged in the riot, but Montoya asked if returning to work or contacting his boss could violate his pretrial release conditions.

I certainly understand what youre asking because this was also a news event and you work in the news or information business, but this is a line that youre going to have to be careful of on your own, U.S. District Judge Susan Hightower said.

Tim Baked Alaska Gionet, who was arrested less than two weeks after the riot, streamed live video that showed himself inside the Capitol and encouraging other protesters to stay. Investigators say Gionet also profanely called an officer an oathbreaker and chanted, Whose house? Our house!

Prosecutors dispute that Gionet is a journalist. His lawyer said the former BuzzFeed employee only went to Washington to film what happened.

That is what he does. January 6th was no different, defense attorney Zachary Thornley wrote in a court filing.

Another defendant, John Earle Sullivan, leads the protest organizing group Insurgence USA and identifies himself as an activist and journalist who films protests, the FBI said. Defense attorney Steven Kiersh challenged court-ordered restrictions on Sullivans use of the internet and social media.

Sullivan is legitimately self-employed as a documentarian and it is oppressive to require that he not be allowed to continue his primary area of employment for an extended period of time, Kiersh wrote in court papers, attaching receipts for work Sullivan has done for CNN and other news outlets.

Sullivan is accused of saying, Lets burn this (expletive) down, after the mob breached a security barrier, entering the Capitol through a broken window and telling officers inside to back down.

Witzemanns lawyer argued that prohibiting him from traveling outside New Mexico would violate his First Amendment rights as a freelance journalist. The charges against Witzemann include violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

After his arrest, Witzemann told KOB-TV that others had breached barricades outside the Capitol before he arrived.

My only goal was to get right up to the front of the action, so to speak, to film it, he said.

Other defendants identifying as journalists have been tied to an extremist group or movement by federal authorities.

Nicholas DeCarlo told the Los Angeles Times that he and another alleged rioter, Nicholas Ochs, are journalists. But the FBI said Ochs and DeCarlo are self-identified Proud Boys and content producers for an online forum called Murder the Media News.

Prosecutors say DeCarlo wrote Murder The Media on a door in the building. When authorities later searched DeCarlos home, they found a framed photo of DeCarlo and Ochs posing in front of the door with a thumbs-up.

ATTORNEY SAYS STATEN ISLANDER WAS SPECTATOR

On Staten Island, a former Fashion Institute of Technology student who faces charges tied to Jan. 6, was described by his attorney as only a spectator.

Nicolas Moncada of Bay Terrace was arrested Jan. 18 after the FBI raided the 20-year-olds home. Authorities allege the Staten Islander live-streamed himself while taking part in the riots at the Capitol.

On his social media pages, Moncada describes himself as an indie journalist, commentator, artist and liberty loving liberal libertarian.

I do not believe he is being charged with committing any acts of violence and it appears he was merely a spectator in the events that transpired, Moncadas lawyer Mario Gallucci said in January. Mr. Moncada denies any participation in the effort to overthrow the government, and he looks forward to defending his good name.

Moncada was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds.

The judge agreed to grant a $250,000 bond, which was posted by Moncadas family.

>> Staten Island Advance reporting was used in this article.
After a year of continual pandemic lockdowns, most of us are ready to take flight and explore. Fortunately, the good news keeps coming for those who are vaccinated.

If youve got both shots (or the one Johnson & Johnson shot), and its been two weeks since that last shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you can safely travel at low risk, as long as you continue to take precautions like wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, socially distancing and washing your hands.

In updating its domestic travel guidelines, the CDC also now says fully vaccinated people dont need to get tested before traveling or self-quarantine afterward when staying within the U.S. The same goes for if youve recovered from COVID-19 within the past three months.

As for international travel, the CDC continues to encourage everyone to take precautions. But you dont need to get a COVID-19 test if youre fully vaccinated, as long as your international destination doesnt require it. You also dont need to self-quarantine after returning unless your state or local jurisdiction requires it. But you will need a negative test result before boarding your flight home, and youll also need to get tested three to five days after returning.

Q. What if youre not vaccinated yet?

A. The CDCs travel guidelines havent changed for those who arent vaccinated, which means nonessential trips are still discouraged.

If you do travel, youre supposed to get tested one to three days before departing and three to five days after returning. Youre also advised to self-quarantine for a week after you return (or 10 days if you arent tested upon returning).

Q. So what does this mean if you have kids who arent eligible for a vaccine?

A. While vaccines are currently being administered to kids in clinical trials, the vaccine isnt publicly available yet to anyone under 16 years old. If youre a parent, (and vaccinated), you may be wondering: Is it safe to hop on a plane and take a family trip?

My children havent been able to see their grandparents in over a year, and I really want to be able to take a flight and visit my parents in Florida, but Im choosing to wait until weve gotten more of the country vaccinated and the case numbers drop, said Craig Shapiro, pediatric infectious diseases specialist, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Were still battling with this virus, and currently the numbers are going up, not down.

Its not just adults who are getting infected. Many states have seen steep increases of COVID-19 in kids across the past few weeks. From March 25 through April 1, about 64,000 new cases in children were reported nationwide, roughly 13% of all reported cases.

Compared to adults, it seems small, but its really not a small problem, and we still dont know even for children with mild or no symptoms what the long-term impact of infection could be, said Shapiro. We also dont know how these new variants are going to impact children, and whether theyll be more transmissible or cause more severe disease than some of the earlier strains.

Experts expect infection rates will look much different in three to four months. By that point, its possible the vaccine will also be available for kids ages 12 to 15 years old. If you can hold on just a little longer, Shapiro strongly encourages it, but like many situations in this pandemic, he says it may come down to deciding if the current risk is worth it.

Q. How can we lower our COVID-19 risk if I fly with kids?

A. When weighing your options, some say you may want to think about your kids maturity level.

If your child is in an age range where you can rely on them to wear a mask, keep their distance from other people and wash their hands before wiping their nose, for example, then Id say its reasonable to consider traveling, as long as you continue to follow the CDCs guidance, said Vincent Silenzio, a professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

This means that you should get your kid tested before and after traveling, and follow the CDCs self-quarantine guidelines. Its important to ensure your kid didnt get infected while traveling before interacting with people from other households.

Its best to remember kids are very lovable bioterror organisms, said Silenzio. Although it happens, its unlikely that your adolescent is going to be severely harmed (by getting COVID-19), but its not at all unlikely for them to inadvertently harm someone else by passing an infection along.

Silenzio noted that if you can drive, its always a safer choice. While airlines have a variety of risk mitigation measures in place including air filtration, traveling by plane ultimately puts you in an environment you cant control, alongside a lot of other people. And as Shapiro pointed out, many of those other travelers likely arent vaccinated.

The mitigation measures are important, but only about one-quarter of the population has been vaccinated, and then youre sitting in a closed space where people are taking their masks on and off to eat and drink, said Shapiro. Plus there are the lines you have to stand in just to get to the gate.

If you must travel by plane:

n Book a direct flight

n Do your best to avoid crowded areas inside the airport.

n Look into infection rates at your destination. If theyre on the rise, your risk also increases.

n Consider your return, too. If your kids going to school in person and its not feasible to quarantine them at home for a week, consider waiting.

If remote schooling isnt an option, youre going to need to balance how critically important it is for you to do this right now, said Silenzio. It could be that you drive yourself crazy to travel in April when in August, things end up looking a lot better.

Experts are optimistic it wont be that much longer until everyone can travel at low risk. And you dont necessarily have to wait until all of your kids get COVID-19 shots, either.

Im still considering traveling with my children before theyre vaccinated, but the case numbers would have to be significantly lower than where they are today, said Shapiro. I think thats likely to happen by late summer or early fall.
Search Engine giant Google on Thursday announced to roll out a new feature in Google Map that will help finding COVID-19 vaccination centers location on map. Company is going to roll out COVID-19 vaccination centers locations on Google Maps in the worst affected counties including US, Canada, France, Chile, India and Singapore.

This update will definitely help the people in these countries to find nearest Covid-19 vaccination centers while searching for such locations. Finding the correct location and driving there with the help of Google Map will help people in reaching Covid-19 vaccination centers will become much easier with the Google Map.

After the roll out people will be able to find the Covid-10 vaccination centers on the Map and they can use the Map for navigation to the vaccination centers.

Google also announced to 250,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to countries in need, which will help countries in vaccination people against deadly Coronavirus.

In India Government is stressing on the fast vaccination and there are thousands of vaccination centers across the country. During the pandemic Google Map will help the people in finding the nearest Covid-19 vaccination centers.

Google will roll out this feature in their Google Map and Web search in Covid-19 affected countries including US, Canada, France, Chile, India and Singapore.

Karen DeSalvo, MD, M.P.H., Chief Health Officer, Google Health in an official blog post said As more people have access to the COVID-19 vaccine, were making it easier to learn why, when and where you can get immunised.

Overcoming the pandemic will require a coordinated effort on a global scale. To do our part, today we're announcing that we're providing 250,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to countries in need, helping fund pop-up vaccine sites in the U.S., and committing an additional $250 million in Ad Grants to connect people to accurate vaccine information. Today, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, launched a drive for additional funding to secure vaccines for low and middle-income countries. Google.org is funding vaccinations for 250,000 people and providing Gavi with pro bono technical assistance to accelerate global distribution. Were also kicking off an employee giving campaign, and both the Gavi Matching Fund and Google.org will match each donation to triple the impact, DeSalvo further added.

This service will help people in finding the nearest Covid-19 vaccination centers in their area and drive with there with the help of Google Maps direction.

Google is also launching a service called virtual agent which is a part of its Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution (IVIs), which is a Cloud based service and this service will make sure the limited internet access to get the vaccine. This service will help people to book vaccine appointments and ask questions from its virtual agent. This service will be available in 28 languages and supports voice, chat, and text messages.
A premature baby whose battle for life became a symbol of hope at the height of the pandemic has turned one.

Theo Stobbs, from Brierfield, near Burnley, Lancashire, was only four-weeks-old when he was photographed being handed to his mother in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.

The infant, weighing just over two-and-a-half pounds, wore just a white nappy and a little woolly hat as he was lifted out of an incubator.

Strict Covid-19 rules meant that both his mother Kirsty Anderson, 34, and nurse Kirsty Hartley had needed to put on a green Covid-19 mask before the loving handover could take place.

Theo Stobbs, from Brierfield, near Burnley, Lancashire, is now a 'happy, healthy baby' who is a 'bundle of smiles' after being born three months early and being one of the youngest people to catch Covid-19. Pictured, with mother Kirsty

Theo was only four-weeks-old when he was photographed being handed to his mother in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (pictured)

Today Theo is a happy, healthy baby - a bundle of smiles who's well on his way to learning to crawl.

To get to this point he has had to overcome not just being born three months early, but also being one of the youngest people in Britain to catch the lethal bug.

Both he and his mother tested positive after a single trip into the outside world from their home.

Miraculously, Theo's brother Arlo, two, avoided the sickness despite frequently taking the infant's dummy from his mouth and sneaking off with it.

'It's been a surreal time, but somehow Theo has helped us all get through it,' said energy broker, Kirsty.

Both Theo and his mother tested positive after a single trip into the outside world from their home. Miraculously, Theo's brother Arlo, two, avoided the sickness despite frequently taking the infant's dummy from his mouth and sneaking off with it (pictured: Theo now)

Theo is now one, but his parents only had an hour with him on the day he was born and they had to take turns at visiting him for weeks afterwards

Her baby weighed only 2lb 4oz when he was born at Burnley General Hospital on April 20. She was allowed only a single quick kiss before he was whisked away to an incubator.

His skin was so thin that neither she nor her partner Leon Stobbs, 35, a self-employed plumber and gas engineer, could stroke him - all they were allowed to do was gently cradle him in a containment hold.

The first nine weeks amounted to a fight for life. Luckily medics had managed to give his mother two steroid injections after her waters broke.

And that gave him a crucial head start by allowing his lungs to mature just a little before he was born. Later, he went through three blood transfusions to help raise his oxygen levels.

The first nine weeks amounted to a fight for life. Luckily medics had managed to give his mother two steroid injections after her waters broke and that gave him a crucial head start by allowing his lungs to mature just a little before he was born

The tot finally came home in June, waved away from the NICU by many of the staff who had cared for him (pictured now)

His parents had only an hour with Theo on the day he was born. For weeks afterwards they had to take turns at visiting him - Kirsty during the day, Leon in the evenings after he'd finished work.

Kirsty and Arlo were living temporarily with her parents, Leon in a separate bubble at the family home where he finished the work he'd only just started on Theo's nursery.

The tot finally came home in June, waved away from the NICU by many of the staff who had cared for him.

But then in October his mother tested positive for Covid-19 - and two days later he did too.

'I went into meltdown,' explained Kirsty. 'We'd been so strict about shielding him that not even his grandparents had been able to hold him.

'And Arlo only got to know him at the start from pictures and videos on my mum's phone.'

Kirsty said that when Theo tested positive for the virus, she 'went into meltdown' as they had been so strict with shielding him that even his grandparents hadn't held them

Kirsty remains Facebook friends with both the nurse who handed her Theo in the iconic photo and many of the other NICU nurses at Burnley General

Despite catching the virus, Theo suffered no more than a slight cough. His mother only lost her sense of taste and smell for a time.

'He's fabulous now, and you wouldn't even know he'd had the virus,' said Kirsty. 'He's a happy and healthy little baby.

'Arlo is absolutely obsessed with him. And whenever Theo hears his brother's voice he's immediately looking for him. They're so cute together.'

Kirsty remains Facebook friends with both the nurse who handed her Theo for the first time and many of the other NICU nurses at Burnley General.

Meanwhile, the iconic photo of Theo's hospital handover sits proudly in a frame on the family's mantlepiece.
The United States' oldest person has died aged 116, leaving behind 12 children, 48 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren and 120 great-great grandchildren.

Hester Ford was either 115 or 116 years old, depending on which census report was accurate. Either way, she was the oldest living American when she died peacefully Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the Gerontology Research Group, which tracks 'supercentenarians.' They listed her age as 115 years and 245 days.

'She was a pillar and stalwart to our family and provided much needed love, support and understanding to us all,' said her great-granddaughter, Tanisha Patterson-Powe, in a statement emailed to news outlets.

Hester grew up picking cotton, wed at 14 and spent close to 60 years as a widow after losing her husband in 1963.

Hester Ford, the oldest living American, died Saturday at 116. The North Carolina resident was born in 1905, when Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House

Ford's great-granddaughter Tanisha Patterson-Powe wrote on Facebook that her 'legacy and memory will continue to live on through her family and everyone she has touched to make the world a better place for generations to come'

Video courtesy of Fox46

Ford was born on a farm in Lancaster County, South Carolina, in 1905, if you accept the more conservative estimate of her age.

Born when Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House, Ford lived through 21 different presidential administrations. She was 15 when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote.

She grew up picking cotton until she married John Ford at age 14, and gave birth to the first of her 12 children at age 15.

The couple moved to Charlotte in 1953, where she remained for the rest of her life. Her husband died in 1963 at age 57, three years after the couple moved to Charlotte. Hester Ford then lived in the home on her own, without assistance, until the age of 108, when she bruised ribs in a bathtub fall and her family members insisted on moving in to help. She lived in the home with family until her death.

That fall at 108 was the first time she had been hospitalized in her long life.

'She not only represented the advancement of our family but of the Black African American race and culture in our country. She was a reminder of how far we have come as people on this earth,' Patterson-Powe said.

Ford celebrates her 116th birthday with a drive-by party due to the pandemic

'She has been celebrated all over the world by local governments, community leaders, social media, foreign dignities and Presidents as a cherished jewel of society for holding the honor of being the oldest living person in America.'

In her final years, her family said her routine involved a breakfast that always included half a banana, a trip outside for fresh air, weather permitting, and sitting in her recliner looking at family albums, doing puzzles and listening to gospel music.

Family said she was still able to feed herself and walk short distances in her final years. She still attended the same church each week, too, until the start of the pandemic.

Ford had celebrated her 115th birthday with family, who organized a drive-by party of well-wishers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ford is surrounded by family as Mecklenburg County declares Hester Ford Day in 2020

Ford, who lived unassisted until just a few years ago, said her secret to longevity was simple: 'I just live right, all I know'

In her later years, Ford would eat half a banana for breakfast and take a short walk

'We are honored and we just thank God for the opportunity to celebrate her,' said Mary Hill, one of Hester Ford's 68 grandchildren, told wbtv.com.

'She just continues to be a blessing to us. And she tells us all the time. You are here to be a blessing to someone else.'

Robert D. Young, director of the Gerontology Research Group, believes that Ford was likely 115 when she died, but told the Charlotte Observer that regardless of whether she was 115 or 116, she was the 'last known American born before 1906.

'When you consider that she was a mother of a WWII-era veteran ... it really puts into perspective: This was one of our last living links to an era that is nearly bygone', he said.

Last year, commissioners in her home county of Mecklenburg declared September 1 as Hester Ford Day to honor her 'life and legacy'.

Ford said her secret to a long life was simple.

'I just live right, all I know,' she said.
In 2016, New Orleans was on the cusp of the largest and most ambitious roadwork program in the citys history.

With $2.4 billion in the bank, mainly from a settlement with FEMA to fix Katrina-damaged streets and the pipes that lie beneath them, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other city officials promised a massive spate of construction that could completely remake almost a third of the citys famously treacherous roadways.

But two years later, the project has barely gotten off the ground. Only about a fifth of the projects that were supposed to have started by now are actually underway. And officials in Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration said they found only about 1 percent of the money available to the city had been spent by the time they took office in early May.

Its a fact. You cant make it up. Why would we want to? Cantrell said during an editorial board meeting with The New Orleans Advocate last week.

The roadwork program has been beset by delays since its early days, but Cantrell said it was a surprise to see how slowly it had moved forward. She said she discovered there were numerous roadwork and stormwater mitigation projects that were ready to go but had not been authorized.

I really cant give you a reason why it wasnt moving, Cantrell said.

Landrieu could not be reached for comment on the pace of the work under his administration.

Cantrell and her infrastructure chief, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Ramsey Green, said they are working on jump-starting the program and have already authorized $20 million in street projects and another $28 million in stormwater projects in the administrations first two months.

But additional challenges remain in meeting federal requirements and in getting the Department of Public Works and the Sewerage & Water Board to work together on the massive programs.

The work, formally known as the Joint Infrastructure Program, is a collection of projects  largely funded through a settlement between the city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency  to repair the damage the flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina caused to the roadways and the various pipes that run below the citys streets. As part of that effort, many of the streets and pipes will be completely dug up and rebuilt.

+2 FEMA money to pay for years of streets, pipes work, but still less than city needs Work to reconstruct cratered, cracked and crumbling neighborhood streets throughout New Orleans  a goal long sought by residents and often pr

Overall, the program was supposed to involve at least some work on 400 miles of street and to take between eight and 10 years to complete.

The original timeline called for 60 projects to be moving forward by now. But only 12 of those have actually been given a notice to proceed, the final sign-off needed before construction can begin, according to city records.

Green, who previously oversaw the $1.8 billion FEMA-funded rebuilding of the citys public school buildings, said he couldnt speak to what had happened before Cantrell took office or why so little of the money has been spent so far. The focus now is on speeding up the timeline and getting the projects underway, he said.

Im very optimistic that were going to be doing a lot of work, and were already starting to do it, Green said. Its a process to renovate an entire city that is historic.

One of the key things Green said hes been working on over the past two months is speeding up what became a stumbling block during the Landrieu administration: FEMA requirements that environmental and historic reviews be completed before federal money can be spent on construction projects.

First projects in New Orleans' multibillion-dollar street repair campaign behind schedule; what's the hold-up? New Orleans' ambitious plan to pour billions of dollars into fixing its crumbling streets is already behind schedule before it has really gott

City officials said last year their initial schedule didnt take into account the time it would take to complete those reviews, which can last for up to 120 days for each project.

Green said hes met with FEMA about the bottlenecks, describing the agency as the best partner we could have, and said the city is now looking at hiring people with the historic, archaeological and environmental review certifications needed to do those reports in-house.

Those reviews are particularly important in New Orleans, where construction might damage historic elements of the city and not infrequently turns up archaeological sites or burial grounds, he said.

Its hugely important, Green said. Were talking about taking the time to preserve the history of New Orleans.

Other problems are likely to take longer to resolve.

The work requires coordinating the efforts of Public Works and the S&WB, and getting those two entities on the same page has been a tough nut to crack, Green said.

The city has been trying for years to better coordinate the work of the two agencies, such as getting them to use the same databases and asset management software, he said.

And then there are issues like trying to figure out where projects can get needlessly stuck in the procurement process, he said.

Beyond the pace of the work, theres another, potentially more significant, problem hanging over the entire roadways project.

Last year, the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security issued an audit saying that FEMA had not distinguished between damage caused to roads and pipes after Katrina and the decrepit state of that infrastructure prior to the storm, meaning the city might not be eligible for much of the $2 billion it was awarded.

Federal official: New Orleans should return $2 billion for Katrina-related infrastructure repairs A federal inspector general is recommending that the Federal Emergency Management Agency take back the entire $2 billion global settlement ear

FEMA and local officials have defended the settlement, and no action has yet been taken to rescind the agreement or to force the city to pay back any of the money.

We have concerns, but were confident that this will resolve in a positive way for the city, Green said.
Stone is a billion-dollar company that clearly has the ability and the money to pay its Napa rent and COVID did not prevent them from paying rent, said Teague.

Instead, Stone seems to believe that they can overwhelm us and the Napa courts with claims that lack merit, excuses and delay as a plan to boost the companys profits during this crisis," said Teague.

After being a widely imitated tastemaker in the 1990s and 2000s, Stone has struggled with its place in the industry in the last decade as consumer tastes moved away from the strong, bitter, highly hoppy ales that it specializes in.

Prior to expanding to Napa, Stone made a splashy entry into the European market, opening a brewery and pub in Berlin. But that venture faltered after less than three years and the company sold the facility to a Scottish brewer. It also closed a taproom in Shanghai and conducted a round of layoffs that cost 300 jobs companywide.

It's most recent marketing campaign, which featured labels on bottles printed upside down with little explanation, caused widespread puzzlement in the beer industry.
In a very surprising incident, a man named Nick James in the UK found out that he had received a brand new Apple iPhone instead of some apples that he ordered online.

He only got to know after he went out to collect the groceries from the companys local store in Twickenham, where he was informed that there was a surprise in the box. James opened the box to find an iPhone SE inside.

Apparently we ordered apples and randomly got an Apple iPhone! Made my son's week! James tweeted informing that he also received the fruits. I was half expecting the surprise to be an Easter egg or something  I was a little bit shocked, to say the least, James told the Daily Mirror.

According to media reports, this whole incident was a surprise and it was part of the promotional campaign called super substitute where Tesco Mobile is surprising click and collect members by replacing their orders.

Tesco Mobile is giving away 80 items in total until April 18 at a handful of stores. Winners are chosen at random, and you need to purchase certain items to be in with a chance of getting a super substitute, Metro explained.

Tesco Mobiles Super Subs has been created to show how amazing things can happen when the worlds of supermarket and mobile come together  all while putting a smile on shoppers faces, Tesco said in a statement.

As part of the campaign, few of the customers received AirPods and Samsung Galaxy devices.

Live TV

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See yourself or someone you know?

If you recognize yourself or others in photos that are part of the Irwin Nash Photographs of Yakima Valley Migrant Labor collection at Washington State University, Lipi Turner-Rahman wants to hear from you.

Email her at ilipi@wsu.edu and she will detail what information she would like and how to provide it.

Those without computers or email, or who would rather talk to her directly should call her office at 509-335-4849.

The physical collection is housed in Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections at Holland and Terrell Libraries, Washington State University, Pullman. To view the collection during COVID-19, people should call and set up an appointment.

To donate toward digitization and related costs for preserving the collection and completing its narrative, visit https://bit.ly/2W54UzA and click on the Irwin Nash Yakima Valley Photographs Development Fund.
For the second year in a row due to Covid 19 regulations Dundalk Chamber held their annual Cross Border Tourism Conference on- line via zoom.

This is the 15th year for the Chamber to run this conference.

Over 230 delegates from all over Ireland tuned in, to the event to hear from world class speakers who are experts in the field of tourism activity.

The conference entitled Learn from the Best was organized by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and was sponsored by the Louth Leader Partnership, Local Enterprise Office Louth, Louth County Council and The Marshes Shopping Centre.

The online conference gave attendees practical tips on how to improve their tourism offerings, and so help increase visitor numbers and visitor spend within their particular tourism demesne.

Mr Kieran Swail of the Southern Regional College Newry, was master of ceremonies and co-ordinated the event with true professionalism.

Wayne Denner of WayneDenner.com hosted a workshop on Visibility through video- using videos to connect with visitors.

Wayne highlighted that by the end of 2021 82% of all consumer web traffic will be video and reminded everyone of the significance of asking visitors to create their own video testimonials of their stay.

Aoife Porter of Bua Marketing shared Top Tips for Great Destination Marketing Campaigns noting how important it is to have a visitor campaign which is not solely beneficial to tourism businesses, but one that benefits the local community.

Seamus Heaney of Pure Cork talked about The Visit Cork Story and the Pure Cork Brand. This year Pure Cork has developed a new visitor app with a Whats near me function.

Pol O Conghaile, Travel Editor with the Irish Independent discussed Travel after Covid-19, 10 trends for a post pandemic world.

In a recent TripAdvisor survey 65% of respondents stated that would be avoiding crowds when choosing a holiday break. There is now a great opportunity for self -catering providers to offer local food & drink boxes on arrival.

The conference proved a wonderful success and Dundalk Chamber are already making plans for next years conference, which hopefully will be a live event.

President of Dundalk Chamber Sean Farrell was delighted with the superb line up of speakers who told their wonderful stories and encouraged tourism providers to log on to www.dundalk.ie for updates on future chamber events or contact Brenda on 042 9336343 or email brenda@dundalk.ie
The five Democratic candidates for Harrisburg mayor squared off in their first debate Saturday night, and the battle for votes was charged and pointed.

Challengers Otto Banks and David Schankweiler spent the night on the attack against incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse, charging him with failing to fix the citys most basic problems, and failing to serve all of the citys residents equally.

Papenfuse, meanwhile, gave a ringing defense of his administrations work, arguing city government is working better than it has in a generation under his leadership, and that his first eight years have left Harrisburg poised for a new era of growth that he is best-positioned to guide.

Sitting City Council President Wanda Williams touted her unique position in the race as the only candidate who is a lifelong resident of the city and a lifelong Democrat, and political newcomer Kevyn Knox tried to sell the voters that electing an outsider is the best way for voters to attack the citys most intractable problems.

It made for a spirited give-and-take, as the five-way race enters a one-month sprint to election day.

Papenfuse, the incumbent first elected in 2013, is seeking a third term in City Hall and he has repeatedly said it would be his last.

He is being challenged for the Democratic Partys nomination by Banks, a one-time city councilman who later served as an assistant secretary in President George W. Bushs Department of Housing & Urban Development; Schankweiler, a retired media executive who was instrumental in starting Harrisburg University; Williams, the council president; and Knox, the general manager of the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.

One of the first sparring points in the debate sponsored by local ABC affiliate WHTM and the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce was crime.

Schankweiler said his first order of business if elected would be to convene a citywide summit on violence prevention that would generate sets of short- and long-term solutions to the violent crime. Banks, meanwhile, talked about putting an emphasis on building a police force that looks more likes the community it serves.

Papenfuse and Williams countered that they believe most of the right steps are being taken to create a safer city, even though Harrisburgs violent crime rates are appreciably higher than most other areas of South Central Pennsylvania.

Papenfuse specifically argued that despite a spike in homicides last year, overall crime rates have gone down through most of his tenure in office. The departments new community service officers, a revamped use of force policy and the deployment - with county help - of mental health co-responders will all help address the need to make the department work more fairly for all residents, he said.

Harrisburgs response to the pandemic was another flashpoint.

Banks, Schankweiler and Knox, meanwhile, said the city failed to take the lead in setting up contact tracing, mass testing or vaccination sites.

None of that was in place when the coronavirus hit the city of Harrisburg Banks said. This mayor, as well as this president of council, completely disappeared when the coronavirus had an impact on our community. When we needed them the most, they were not there.

Schankweiler said residents tell him communication was lacking throughout the pandemic, saying: We didnt hear anything from anybody about what was going on and where.

Papenfuse, meanwhile, said he believed city government had done better than most in the things it could control.

For example, he hailed his early decision to tap cash reserves to fund an early small business grant program that the mayor said helped some of the most vulnerable businesses in the city stay afloat before state and federal programs got started. His eviction moratoriums, he said, had kept people in their homes throughout the economic crisis.

Banks hit Papenfuse - and Williams, by extension - hard throughout the night for overseeing a city government that he said has not done enough to lift up Harrisburgs Black and brown communities.

As an example, he argued that city leaders failed to push for the inclusion of local minority contractors on the construction of the new federal courthouse, and Banks said that his administration would set new goals for minority participation in contracting, more diversity in city hiring, and policies aimed at encouraging local banks that the city does business with to do a better job of providing credit to minority-owned businesses.

Banks also said he would propose marshaling the citys federal Community Development Block Grant funds and work with city non-profits to use the schools as a base to provide case management services and educational programs for parents of school-age children during the day, and to reopen the schools as community centers in the evening with tutoring and recreational programs for all youth.

Schankweiler, meanwhile, talked consistently through the night about infusing the city government with a new sense of mission to attack the quality of life issues he says the residents hes met on the campaign trail have turned into a chorus. There is a malaise that has settled over much of the city that he has vowed to scrub away.

As Mayor, I will confront the bullets, the blight, the trash and the potholes. Change is possible, he said.

Williams, as a 16-year member of City Council, often found herself taking collateral hits from the other challengers blows, too, which prompted her at one pojnt to draw some separation between herself and Papenfuse.

We have a strong mayor form of government, and the mayor sets the policies and the legislation that comes to city council. And I am a part-time employee (as a council member), Williams said. So things may not have been done because Im a part-time employee and hes the full-time, and he has not been cooperative to do the things that we need to do.

Papenfuse, meanwhile, presented point-by-point defenses of most of the attacks lodged against him.

On the need for more affordable housing, he pointed to the citys recent passage - with Williams help - of a set of policies intended to incentivize developers to build new, high-quality units throughout the city with 10 years worth of property tax breaks.

On the criticism that he is the mayor of Midtown, where Papenfuse owns a bookstore with his wife, Papenfuse said he understands that perception. But, he added, a lot of the development in Midtown and downtown right now is private development.

When the city spends its public dollars, Papenfuse said, were investing in the neighborhoods. Were out there supporting affordable housing projects in Allison Hill or working with the Camp Curtin Y in Uptown. Those are the public dollars that are being spent.

Papenfuse also went on the counter-attack against several of his opponents.

He called Schankweiler a lifelong Republican whos campaign is being run by Republican strategists, which he argued should cause city voters to think hard about whether the values he would bring to City Hall would match up with theirs.

Schankweiler called that an attempt to distract from the issues at hand.

Im one of 635 former Republicans who switched to the Democratic Party. I switched because of the president that was in there, because of where the Republican Party is going and because... it is not paying attention to the issues that are important to us in the city, Schankweiler said.

Papenfuse responded: Youre not a former Republican when youre paying tens of thousands of dollars to Republican political consultants and theyre the ones messaging your campaign, and presumably advising you to say things like you dont support increasing the minimum wage. Your values are Republican values, and they arent in step with the values of Harrisburg.

When Banks talked about reviving and redesigning a city-run revolving loan program to give small businesses in the city better access to capital and credit, meanwhile, Papenfuse warned that in the latter years of former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reeds administration, that loan fund was a bastion of corruption.

Knox was able to use his outsider status to avoid the political crossfire for most of the evening.

But he argued his fresh eyes would allow for a fresh, progressive approach to city problems. For example, he said, the first thing I would do is get rid of the entire codes department, and replace them with people that actually will do the job. Right now, no ones enforcing codes, which means landlords are just able to get away with anything. They become slumlords.

I am one of you, Knox said, and I will do everything within my power - and will surround myself with people that will also have this passion - to help all forty-nine thousand residents of Harrisburg PA.

The Democratic primary has often been decisive in Harrisburg in the current political era.

There is, however, also one Republican Party candidate on the primary ballot, Timothy Rowbottom, a city resident whos blamed Papenfuses administration for quashing his plans to develop a parcel of land on South 18th Street in Allison Hill. As the only candidate on the Republican ballot, Rowbottom should be a lock for the November ballot.

The primary election is May 18. Any Harrisburg resident who wants their say in the mayoral primary has to register in the Democratic Party by May 3.
The three weeks of testimony at a former Minneapolis police officers trial in the death of George Floyd were filled with indelible moments, ranging from witnesses breaking down as they relived what they saw to a clinical account by one expert pinpointing on video the instant he believes Floyd died.

Derek Chauvin, 45, is on trial for murder and manslaughter after pinning Floyd to the pavement last May for what prosecutors said was 9 1/2 minutes. The case will head to the jury Monday after closing arguments.

Heres a look back at some of the most compelling moments of the trial:

DISBELIEF AND GUILT

Jurors heard testimony from several witnesses to Floyds arrest, and many of them grew emotional as they recalled their frustration and desperation at not being able to help Floyd.

Darnella Frazier, the teenager who shot the harrowing video of the arrest that set off nationwide protests, testified through tears that Chauvin ignored bystanders shouts as Floyd gasped for air, pleaded for his life and finally fell limp and silent.

Its been nights I stayed up, apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more, and not physically interacting and not saving his life, Frazier, 18, said, adding of Chauvin: But its like, its not what I shouldve done, its what he shouldve done.

Christopher Martin, the convenience store cashier who sold cigarettes to Floyd and was handed a suspected counterfeit $20 bill, said he felt disbelief and guilt as he stood on the curb a short time later, his hands on his head as he watched Floyds arrest.

If I wouldve just not tooken the bill, this couldve been avoided, the 19-year-old said.

And Charles McMillian, 61  who tried to persuade a panicky Floyd to cooperate with officers trying to put him in their squad car, shouting You cant win!  wept openly after watching police body camera video of the struggle.

I feel helpless, he said.

MAMA

As part of prosecutors effort to humanize Floyd for jurors, Floyds girlfriend Courteney Ross recounted how they met at a Salvation Army shelter where he was a security guard with this great, deep Southern voice, and how they both struggled with an addiction to opioids.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson drove hard at Floyds drug use while cross-examining Ross, then slipped in a seemingly unrelated question: What name, he asked, came up on Floyds phone when she called him?

Mama, Ross answered.

With that, Nelson called into question the widely reported account of Floyd crying out for his late mother as he lay pinned to the pavement  likely part of a wider strategy to sow doubt where he could.

In this image from video, Dr. Martin Tobin testifies as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides Thursday, April 8, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool)AP

LIFE GOES OUT

Dr. Martin Tobin, a lung and critical care specialist, was one of the most compelling of many medical experts called by the prosecution. He discussed the mechanics of breathing in simple terms, including loosening his tie, placing his hands on his own neck and encouraging jurors to do the same as he explained why he believes Floyd died of a lack of oxygen that damaged his brain and stopped his heart.

Tobin also narrated video of Floyd held to the pavement and pinpointed what he said was a change in Floyds face and a telltale leg kick that told him Floyd was dead  around 5 minutes after police began holding him down.

You can see his eyes. Hes conscious, and then you see that he isnt, Tobin said. Thats the moment the life goes out of his body.

MRS. LINCOLN

Prosecutors were mostly clinical in examining witnesses. One exception came after Nelson  trying to raise doubt about Floyds cause of death  posed a series of hypothetical questions to a retired forensic pathologist testifying for the prosecution.

Lets assume you found Mr. Floyd dead in his residence. No police involvement, no drugs, right? The only thing you found would be these facts about his heart. What would you conclude to be the cause of death? Nelson asked Dr. Lindsey Thomas, noting Floyds enlarged heart, high blood pressure and blocked arteries.

Thomas conceded in such a very narrow set of circumstances, she probably would rule heart disease as the cause. She also agreed that she would certify Floyds death as a drug overdose if there were no other explanations. Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found in his system.

Prosecutor Jerry Blackwell was sarcastic in his response.

Arent those questions a lot like asking, Mrs. Lincoln, if we take John Wilkes Booth out of this ... Blackwell began, before Nelson objected.

In this image from video, witness Christopher Martin answers questions as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in the trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool)AP

RESTING COMFORTABLY

Prosecutors also pounced when a use-of-force expert called by the defense, former California police officer Barry Brodd, said police were justified in keeping Floyd pinned because he kept struggling instead of resting comfortably.

That sparked a lectern-pounding response from prosecutor Steve Schleicher: Did you say resting comfortably? he asked incredulously.

Or laying comfortably, replied Brodd, whose testimony contradicted that of authorities from inside and outside the Minneapolis Police Department who said Chauvin violated his training.

Resting comfortably on the pavement? Schleicher asked again.

Brodd: Yes.

CAUSE OF DEATH

The chief medical examiner who ruled Floyds death a homicide was called to the stand by prosecutors only to disagree with their carefully built case that Floyd died of asphyxia when his airway was blocked by Chauvins knee.

Instead, Hennepin County Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker said Floyds heart gave out because of the pressure on his neck. He said Floyds heart problems combined with the way police held him down and compressed his neck, was just more than Mr. Floyd could take.

Though Baker did not rule asphyxiation as a cause of Floyds death, at one point he testified that he isnt an expert on breathing and would defer certain questions to those who are.

In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and defendant, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin address Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill during motions before the court Thursday, April 15, 2021, in the trial of Chauvin, at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin is charged in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin told the judge he will not testify on his own behalf. (Court TV via AP, Pool)AP

WHAT DID FLOYD SAY ON THE CLIP?

Nelson played a short video clip of a chaotic and noisy scene as Floyd, handcuffed and lying on his stomach, yelled and moaned in distress, then asked a prosecution witness: Does it sound like he says, I ate too many drugs?

That witness said he couldnt make out the hard-to-hear clip, but Nelson soon asked another witness  Senior Special Agent James Reyerson of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension  and Reyerson agreed that was what Floyd appeared to say.

It was a bad moment for the prosecution, and it took some time before they regrouped  leaving Nelsons version to linger in jurors minds. Later in the day, they replayed a longer clip from the same video and Reyerson reconsidered his assessment, saying: I believe Mr. Floyd was saying, I aint do no drugs.

WHAT WAS SEEN IN FLOYDS MOUTH

Later in the trial, Nelson questioned a defense witness about whether Floyd might have taken drugs as officers approached.

After showing former Maryland chief medical examiner Dr. David Fowler an image taken from a police body camera, Nelson asked: In your review did you determine whether there was the possibility that controlled substances were ingested at the time of approach by officers?

Yes, Fowler replied, saying that in the back corner of Mr. Floyds mouth, you can see what appears to be a white object.

Nelson zoomed in on the image and had Fowler use a stylus to point out the dot for jurors.

Evidence already presented at trial had revealed that remnants of a pill found in the back of the squad car contained Floyds DNA and tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine.

On cross-examination, Blackwell all but accused Fowler of jumping to conclusions and trying to confuse the jury, playing video of Floyd from inside Cup Foods that appeared to show him chewing something white.

He could have been chewing, I dont know, Fowler responded.

Lets play it again because I would like for you to know, Blackwell said.

After viewing enlarged still images of Floyd in the store, Fowler conceded that the substance in Floyds mouth looked very similar to the white object he identified in Nelsons image.

But, Fowler pointed out, hed been careful to use the word object in earlier testimony, not pill.

___

Tammy Webber of The Associated Press wrote this story. Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan.

___

Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
Democrats seek an increase membership on the Supreme Court of the United States from nine to 13. At present, the high court is divided among 6 Republican appointees and three Democrat appointees. The four additional justices, presumably to be named by Biden, would change the divide to 7 Democrat appointees and 6 Republicans. But considering the drift of Chief Justice John Roberts toward the liberal clique, the actual division on the high court is five conservatives and four liberals. Thus, the Democrat plan to add four justices to the Supreme Court reflects overkill, arguably.

As the obvious Democrat intention is to restore a leftist majority on the high court, it would take only two additional leftists judges to obtain the result the left desires. Two added justices would give Democrats a 6 - 5 working majority on the Supreme Court. The addition of four Democrat justices would create a whopping 8 - 5 imbalance in favor of the woke radicals.

To borrow a phrase used by. the late Yale law professor Alexander Bickel, in having achieved total domination of White House and Congress, by however slight a margin, the left is moving to "kick over the traces" to transform the country into a one-party state. A Supreme Court in radical woke hands would complete the governance trifecta -- legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government in radical woke hands.

What legislation would be beyond the bounds of radical woke tyranny?

With the three branches of the federal government in radical woke hands, the Constitution would become the plaything of the totalitarians. Gone would be the traditional concept of free speech; and with it, the media would, like corporate America, continue as handmaidens of wokeness.

There would be nothing to prevent the creation of new Democrat-leaning states in Washington, District of Douglass; and Puerto Rico. The Electoral College could be abolished, resulting in permanent elections reflecting the leftist, and huge, Democrat margins in California and New York. Add to these assaults on democracy, the demagogic assault on the notion of free, fair elections -- with America's corporate quislings gleefully joining the forces seeking dominance in our land of liberty.

Several years ago, the now-disgraced Gov. Andrew Cuomo

told conservative Republicans  specifically anyone who is pro-traditional marriage, pro-life or pro-guns  they have no place in the state of New York.

With triumphal radical leftists controlling governance in America, and by foul means, not fair, it is not fanciful to imagine that they will declare there is no place for the "racist Republicans" in any part of the United States.

The evidence for a radical left future is plain to see in the intention to reduce the Supreme Court to an arm of the Democrat Party. Republicans must rally round their patriotic core, rid themselves of the Never Trumpers and Murkowski's, and defend our legacy of liberty.

This, indeed, is a fight to the finish, and may God grant that today's freedom fighters thoroughly defeat the enemies of our democratic. (lower case "d," that) institutions.

Photo credit: Reesedigitalpieces CC BY-S 4.0 license

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Boris Johnson was today warned failure to tackle the 'shameful' lobbying storm could cost him votes as a crucial round of elections loom.

Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin appealed for the PM to get a grip after a slew of revelations in the wake of Greensill Capital's collapse into administration.

Unless he is more 'transparent' the row could hit the 'Red Wall' support that delivered Mr Johnson's historic 2019 majority, Sir Bernard said.

The scale of damage could become clear within weeks, with a wave of elections on May 6 including councils, mayors and a by-election in Hartlepool - a seat traditionally held by Labour but within the grasp of the Conservatives if their working-class surge continues.

Mr Johnson has ordered a Cabinet Office probe overseen by a legal expert as he scrambles to defuse the lobbying row.

David Cameron has been hit with criticism over securing access to ministers for finance firm Greensill, whose collapse now risks thousands of jobs, particularly in the steel sector.

The saga deepened last week after it emerged the former head of government procurement, Bill Crothers, took a part-time position with the firm while in his Whitehall post.

In the latest revelations today:

A procession of former PMs are expected to give evidence to a Parliament inquiry into lobbying;

Environment Secretary George Eustice confirmed the official probe by Nigel Boardman will not make recommendations about tightening rules;

Mr Johnson is set to name a new adviser on ministerial interests tomorrow after the dramatic departure of Sir Alex Allan over his Priti Patel report;

Tories are hunting for a suspected group of Labour moles in government thought to have been leaking damaging stories;

Mr Cameron is facing calls for an investigation into a meeting with Philip Hammond amid suspicion that he may have used it to urge Government to support a 700million UK-China investment fund.

Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin (right) appealed for Boris Johnson (left) to get a grip after a slew of revelations in the wakes of Greensill Capital's collapse into administration

Hunt for Labour 'moles' in government A network of Labour Party 'spies' is operating at the heart of Whitehall, feeding secret information to Sir Keir Starmer's team to destabilise the Government, senior Tory sources claim. The moles  Labour-sympathising civil servants  are believed to have played a key role in triggering the lobbying scandal which has allowed Sir Keir's party to construct a narrative of 'Tory sleaze' by leaking details of David Cameron's contacts with Ministers and officials. They are also suspected of using leaks to try to 'sabotage' the Brexit withdrawal negotiations last year, and to provide advance notice to the Labour leader about Government policies in the pipeline  giving him time to structure his responses. The Tory spy-hunters believe a 'cell' of Labour supporters, centred on the Cabinet Office, was activated last year after Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson's former senior adviser in No 10, declared that a 'hard rain' was coming for the Civil Service as part of planned reforms to break up Whitehall's grip on the establishment. Mr Cummings is a long-standing critic of the Whitehall establishment, describing the permanent Civil Service as 'an idea for the history books' and proposing the abolition of senior civil servants' roles. Advertisement

In interviews this morning, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the Government would be looking at whether changes were required - but insisted the current system for declaring interests was 'pretty good'.

He told Sky News' Ridge On Sunday: 'I think the right thing is for these reviews to go through their process, to conclude, to work out exactly what did and what did not happen and then yes, of course there may come a time after that when it is right to consider tweaks to policy.

'But fundamentally, I think the systems we have in place with ministers declaring interests with the ministerial code and the focus on that and how ministers conduct themselves in office is actually a pretty good one.

'But that is not to say you couldn't make tweaks or changes, and also there will be a time and a place for that after these reviews have concluded.'

Writing in The Observer, Sir Bernard said the 'lines between public service and private gain' had become 'blurred'.

The MP, chair of the powerful Commons Liaison Committee, described the current situation as 'shameful' and 'utterly corrosive of public trust in government'.

'This should matter to Boris Johnson,' Sir Bernard said.

'He does not need to pretend to be a saint, but his ''red wall'' voters, who gave him his majority, will start to dismiss him unless he can show he is more open, more transparent and very different from the out-of-touch elite he defeated in the 2016 referendum and ousted from government.'

Labour is determined to keep the lobbying issue alive, believing the issue of Tory sleaze in Westminster is cutting through to voters.

The controversy over the relationship between Government and the private sector follows disclosures that Mr Cameron personally lobbied Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Greensill's behalf and was able to arrange for its founder, Lex Greensill, to have a 'private drink' with Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds has written to Mr Sunak setting out 21 questions she wants answers to over his dealings with the former Tory leader and Greensill.

The questions include asking for more information about the 'proposals' mentioned by Mr Sunak in a text to Mr Cameron and why a further meeting between Greensill and Treasury officials took place on May 14 2020 'at the Chancellor's request'.

In her letter, Ms Dodds told Mr Sunak that she was 'concerned' his dealings with the former No 10 incumbent 'may have constituted a breach of the ministerial code'.

'The Chancellor is running scared of scrutiny over his role in the Greensill affair, but the public demand answers,' said Ms Dodds.

The Sunday Times reported that Mr Cameron was able to assist the specialist bank in securing a lucrative NHS contract after he contacted a civil servant who had served under him in the Cabinet Office.

Mr Cameron reportedly emailed Matthew Gould, who had since moved on to head NHSX, the health service's digital arm last year about rolling out Greensill's advance payment app, Earnd, for doctors and nurses across the NHS.

The former Tory party leader has insisted he did not break any rules through his dealings but acknowledged there are 'lessons to be learned' and he should only make approaches to ministers through the 'most formal channels'.

David Cameron has been hit with criticism over securing access to ministers for finance firm Greensill

Commons standards chief calls for probe into suspicion David Cameron lobbied Philip Hammond to back investment fund set up by friend Lord Chadlington

An inquiry into lobbying by David Cameron should also examine a meeting that the former Prime Minister had with Philip Hammond amid suspicion that he may have used it to pressure the Government into supporting a lucrative 700million UK -China investment fund, according to the Chairman of the Commons Standards Committee.

As PM, Mr Cameron  the subject of an independent inquiry by lawyer Nigel Boardman over his lobbying of Ministers and Whitehall officials on behalf of loans firm Greensill Capital  hailed a 'golden era' in trade relations between Britain and China.

After leaving Downing Street, he seemingly hoped to cash in with a new private equity fund proposed by his friend Lord Chadlington, who had donated thousands of pounds to his Tory leadership campaign.

By January 2018, Mr Cameron was back in Beijing, this time for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured together) about the initiative which could potentially net him millions

Mr Cameron flew to Beijing in September 2017 to discuss the plan with China's Vice Premier Ma Kai.

In October that year  15 months after stepping down as PM  he met with Mr Hammond, the then Chancellor, and two months later the Treasury gave its crucial support for the fund for which Mr Cameron was to be Vice-Chairman.

By January 2018, Mr Cameron was back in Beijing, this time for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the initiative which could potentially net him millions.

'Excellent meeting & enjoyable dinner with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, to talk about the 'Golden Era' in UK-China relations & plans for the new UK-China Fund,' he tweeted at the time.

Mr Cameron's office last night said his meeting with Mr Hammond had been only to seek Government support for the 'concept of a bilateral fund' and he had not lobbied Ministers on behalf of the fund's investors or partners.

He informed the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which advises former Ministers and civil servants on outside employment, about the meeting, his representatives added.
The ex-boyfriend of a missing 36-year-old woman has been charged with assaulting a female, also 36, back in December 2020 while he was already on bail.

Police raided the 45-year-old man's home in Brighton, southeast Melbourne, as part of an investigation into the disappearance of Maryam Hamka.

The 36-year-old was last seen leaving a Woolworths supermarket in nearby Brunswick about 5.30pm on Saturday April 10.

She had earlier packed a bag and told family she was on her way to visit a male friend in Brighton.

Maryam Hamka (pictured) packed a bag and told family she was on her way to visit a male friend in Brighton prior to her disappearance

On Saturday, a full week after she was last seen, Victoria Police executed a search warrant at her ex-boyfriend's home.

He was charged for an unrelated matter following an incident in December 2020 in which a 36-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted.

Police allege the man, while already on bail, assaulted the woman and caused an undisclosed injury.

The man was remanded in custody and is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on April 30 on charges of aggravated assault, intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

Detectives clarified that the charges are not directly related to Ms Hamka's disappearance.

Ms Hamka was last seen leaving a Woolworths store in Brunswick at about 5.30pm on Saturday April 10

Ms Hamka's, 36, ex-boyfriend was charged on Saturday night with assaulting a 36-year-old woman in December 2020

They seized items from the home, as well as the man's computer and a red Mazda.

Victoria Police hold grave fears for Ms Hamka's safety and said missing persons detectives are doing all they can to locate her.

Her sister, Amel Hamka, told 9News the entire family is 'very stressed' and looking for 'answers'.

'For her to just disappear, to not call and check, it's very out of character,' she said.

Amel revealed the last time her mother saw her sister was when she was getting into a car with 'a male companion'.

Detectives scoured Ms Hamka's car and home after her family reported her missing on Thursday April 15.

Amel revealed the last time her mother saw her sister was when she was getting into a car with 'a male companion'

They seized bags of evidence relating to the assault charges from the home, including the man's computer and a red Mazda

Her phone has not been switched on in the time since she disappeared and she has not been active on social media.

Ms Hamka's bank account has also not been accessed.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said serious concerns are held for her safety.

Det Insp Stamper shared a photo of Ms Hamka on the day she disappeared wearing a black dress and cream coat.

They traced her movements to the Woolworths in Brighton but are still trying to piece together what happened after that trip.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who saw her to come forward and contact police immediately.

Ms Hamka is 165cm tall, with a thin build and long black hair, brown eyes and an olive complexion.
A Latina mom from California who was arrested by the law enforcement authorities admitted that she killed her children in their Reseda Apartment. However, the suspect claimed that she did that to save her children from the abuse that they might face.

Identified by Authorities as Lilliana Carillo, a Latina from California was taken by the authorities after her young children were found by their grandmother in a Reseda Apartment after coming home from work. The bodies of the children discovered in the tragic incident were three years old, two years old, and six months old.

READ NEXT: Gabriel Fernandez's Mom Wants Her Murder Conviction Thrown Out

California Latina Mom's Claims of Abuse

In an interview with KGET, Carillo pointed out that she only did the crime to protect her children from further abuse. Carillo also noted that she loved her kids and promised to protect them.

Carillo also claimed that the children's father, Erik Denton, was a part of a sex trafficking ring, Fox News reported. Carillo shared her belief that the father of her children was abusing the kids and that they were in danger of trafficking.

"I'm hoping to get someone who specializes in human trafficking to representing me because that's exactly what's going on," said Carillo. The Latina mom emphasized that there is something in Porterville that needs to be investigated. Carillo furthered that Denton moved her and the children in Porterville from Los Angeles, where the human trafficking activities have occurred.

Meanwhile, the court documents indicated that Denton and Carillo are in a tense child custody dispute, USA Today reported. Denton sought the help of the authorities and asked for a visitation order from the family court in Porterville, California.

Carillo intercepted and sought a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Denton in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Authorities did not release further details about the claims of Carillo on Denton being involved in the sex trafficking ring.

California Latina Mom Admits Killing her Children

Carillo admitted in the interview that she killed the children by drowning them.

"I did it as softly, I don't know how to explain it," said the Latina mom. Carillo added that she hugged, kissed, and apologized to her children the whole time emphasizing that she loved her children.

Moreover, Carillo also noted that she was sober during the time of the killings, despite alleging a history of postpartum depression and Marijuana use.

"I wish my kids were alive, yes," said the Latina Mom adding that she wished she did not have to kill her children. However, Carillo emphasized that she prefers killing her children to letting them being abused and tortured for the rest of their life.

Meanwhile, Denton wrote in the custody documents that he was is concerned with Carillo noting that the Latina mom would get the "help she needs to recover from this mental break" and becoming more stable. "I want her interaction with the children to be safe and healthy," said Denton in the custody documents.

The Latina mom from California who admitted to killing her children was arrested by the authorities before taking her own life. Carillo is not yet formally charged with the death of her three kids.

READ MORE: California Dad Charged With Murder of 5-Year-Old Daughter Killed in DUI Crash

WATCH: Reseda mom admits to drowning her 3 children in jailhouse interview in Kern County - from KTLA 5
Animal lovers have shared adorable photographs of their pets gazing lovingly into their eyes in a heartwarming online gallery.

Owners from all over the world shared the heartwarming pictures of their cats and dogs looking at them affectionately.

Collated by Bored Panda, one picture captured a dog from the US as he leaned on his owner's shoulder and smiled for a selfie.

In another, a cat resting his head on his paw offered a loving look to the camera as his owner snapped a pictured.

People from all over the world have shared pictures of their pets looking at them lovingly. This little cat won the heart of many with this sweet gaze

In the US, a dad taking a selfie could count on the help of his smiling dog to add some cuteness to the picture

A man from Greece shared this adorable photograph online of a puppy looking at him after they met in the park

What you doing? This good pup wouldn't leave his owner's side while she scrolled on her computer

This little cat from Saudi Arabia looked lovingly at their owner, who was holding them in his arms for some cuddles

A dog was looking lovingly at his owner in Saudi Arabia whilst he was occupied playing video games in the living-room

One woman believed to be from the US shared a snap of her beautiful Dachshund smiling at her in a selfie

A cat lover took this picture during playtime to show the sweet bond between her and her feline friend

This well-behaved dog from America, named Delta, loves to cuddle with her owner on the living-room rug

In the UK, this father had sworn he didn't want a pet but eventually changed his mind, cuddling with the new dog all the time

In Portland, this little cat liked to snuggle into his owner's hoodie for some hugs. He was photographed giving her a loving look

The woman in this picture, believed to be from the US, revealed she saved this dog from being put down and said she was the most loving dog ever

A pet lover from the US revealed he managed to photograph his cat and his dog while they were giving him a loving look at the exact same time

This little puppy called Lolita made everyone swoon with her little smile, showing her tongue to her owner
MANCHESTER  A Roodhouse man was arrested Sunday on six charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, after two crashes on U.S. 67 near the Scott and Greene counties line.

Robert Sprague, 48, of Roodhouse suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crashes, which happened about 6:15 a.m. Sunday.
Houston: A 39-year-old nurse in the US state of Florida has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Vice President Kamala Harris, according to media reports on Saturday.

Niviane Petit Phelps was arrested following an investigation by the US Secret Service, CNN reported.

Harris, 56, is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected Vice President.

Phelps knowingly and willfully made threats to kill and inflict bodily harm upon the Vice President of the United States from February 13 through February 18, according to a criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Phelps, who has worked for Jackson Health System since 2001, faces charges of threats against Harris, nbcmiami.Com reported.

The complaint said Phelps had sent videos to her husband, who is imprisoned, through JPay, a computer application that allows families to connect with prisoners.

"The videos generally depict Phelps complaining and speaking angrily to the camera about her hatred for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, among others," read the complaint. "However, in these videos, Phelps also made statements about killing Vice President Harris."

In one of the videos, "Phelps stated: 'Kamala Harris you are going to die. Your days are numbered already," added the complaint.

In another video on February 18, Phelps stated, "I'm going to the gun range. ... I swear to God, today is your day you're gonna die. 50 days from today, mark this day down."

Phelps expressed how she believes Harris is not actually 'Black' and how during the inauguration she disrespectfully put her hand on her clutch purse instead of the Bible.

The complaint said investigators also found a photo that showed Phelps at a shooting range, holding a pistol and smiling next to a target with bullet holes.

She also applied for a concealed weapons permit in February, the complaint said.

On March 3, the Secret Service and detectives from the Miami-Dade Police Department went to Phelps' residence to interview her, but she refused to speak with them at the time, according to the complaint.

On March 6, a Secret Service agent went to speak with Phelps at her home. According to the complaint, Phelps said, "She was angry at the time about Kamala Harris becoming Vice President but that she is 'over it now'.
Australia's vaccine rollout will be 'continuously reviewed' after a 48-year-old woman's death was linked to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab.

Genene Norris, 48, from the New South Wales Central Coast died on April 14 after receiving the coronavirus shot on April 8.

She developed blood clots the next day and four days after she received the jab she was placed on dialysis in an intensive care unit until her death.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration's vaccine safety investigation found Ms Norris developed a case of thrombosis - linked to the vaccine.

She had a low platelet count at the time of her death. TGA also noted she suffered from several chronic health conditions.

TGA secretary John Skerritt said her case was 'atypical' and further review of her underlying conditions and other blood tests and samples would be taken.

Genene Norris, 48, from the New South Wales Central Coast died days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine

The case is likely to be the subject of an inquest.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt extended his condolences to Ms Norris' family and says the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will now conduct 'continuous review' of all vaccines.

'Throughout the course of the pandemic, we have followed the medical advice and we will continue to do that... sometimes that leads to difficult and hard decisions,' he told reporters on Saturday.

'That is the greatest protection for Australians in a pandemic that daily produces challenges and heartaches and tragedies.'

It is the third in Australia involving blood clots with low platelet count post-vaccination, with the first two cases still in hospital.

Some 885,000 AstraZeneca doses have been administered in Australia so far.

Authorities said the review of the woman's case was complicated by her underlying health conditions - including diabetes among others.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration's vaccine safety investigation found Ms Norris' case of thrombosis is likely to be linked to the vaccine. (Stock image)

Ms Norris was given the jab before health authorities determined the Pfizer vaccine was the preferred option for patients under 50.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration's Vaccine Safety Investigation Group met late on Friday after Daily Mail Australia revealed on Thursday that the woman died after receiving the Covid jab.

Experts on the team said despite the absence of antibodies in the woman's blood which have been found in other clotting cases linked to the vaccine, a causative link should be assumed.

They also noted some laboratory tests were still pending and a post-mortem examination will be in the coming days.

'Given this is an atypical presentation, should the test results and/or the autopsy provide an alternative causation, VSIG would review their decision,' the TGA said on Friday.

The same group advised earlier in April that people aged under 50 should not be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab due to a risk of blood clots.

Sanitarium Health Food Company, which is based on the New South Wales Central Coast at Berkeley Vale, confirmed the 48-year-old woman was one of its 800 employees

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE SUSPENDED THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE? NOT SUSPENDED Austria

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Hungary

Latvia

Luxembourg

Malta

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-30s Greece

United Kingdom SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-55s Belgium

France SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-60s Estonia

Germany

Ireland

Italy

Portugal

Spain SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-65s Finland

Lithuania

Sweden SUSPENDED FOR UNDER-70s Iceland SUSPENDED FOR ALL AGES Denmark

The Netherlands

Norway Advertisement

Australia Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly pointed out on Friday that Covid-19 patients were far more at risk of developing blood clots than those who get the vaccine.

He said 'people should be cautious about jumping to conclusions' over the case and he urged people to continue to get vaccinated.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also called for calm, saying concerns around vaccine hesitancy meant it was important the matter was investigated.

Professor Kelly confirmed some Australians have been reluctant to receive a vaccine since the medical advice on the AstraZeneca jab was updated.

However he stressed the vaccines were safer than the alternative, quoting a new Oxford University study which found the risk of blood clots in the brain is eight times more likely after a COVID-19 infection than an AstraZeneca jab.

'Clotting is a feature of COVID,' Prof Kelly said.

'It also happens to be a feature, very rarely, of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'But the benefit absolutely, and particularly for those over the age of 50, outweighs significantly the risk.'

Vaccination is crucial because the Australian community will not remain virus-free forever, Prof Kelly warned.

A study of 500,000 Covid-19 patients in the US found that 36 in a million developed a potentially deadly blood clot.

By comparison, only four per million people suffer a serious blood clot as a result of the AstraZeneca jab.

Symptoms of the rare clotting complications include severe headaches, blurred vision, pain or bruising away from the injection site, leg swelling and shortness of breath.

Health authorities advise anyone experiencing any of these after vaccination should seek medical attention.

The effects are different from more common side effects which include fatigue, sore muscles or fever that subside by day three after vaccination.

Sanitarium Health Food Company, which is based on the New South Wales Central Coast, confirmed the woman was one of its 800 employees.

'The company is saddened by the loss of a much loved employee, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and workmates,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Morrison promised the whole adult population would be immunised by October, but the rollout has since been derailed by the jab's link to blood clots.

Twenty million doses of Pfizer are on their way but no more help is on hand for younger Australians until at least October.

The prime minister said he 'would like' all Australians to get at least their first dose by the end of the year, but made no guarantees.

In a desperate attempt to get the stalled program back on track, he plans to create huge hubs to ramp up vaccinations.

Ms Norris' death follows Denmark declaring they will be ceasing use of the AstraZeneca vaccine all together, while under 30s in the UK are already being offered alternative vaccines.
At least one person was injured in a shooting at a California mall on Saturday night.

Police are hunting for two suspects after reports of gunshots at Fashion Fair Mall, in Fresno.

Authorities evacuated the mall and police report an off duty officer treated at least one victim for a gunshot wound at the scene.

Photos from the scene showed the mall surrounded by patrol cars and cordoned off by police state as officers searched for the gunmen.

This story is a developing story.

At least one person was injured in a shooting at a California mall on Saturday night

Police are hunting for two suspects after reports of gunshots at Fashion Fair Mall, in Fresno
SLA uplifts 102 tons of printed material to Uganda, but refuses to give details View(s):

SriLankan Airlines (SLA) has opted to hold back the information on the recent airlifting of 102 metric tonnes of Printed material to Uganda saying It falls within commercial confidence.

The airline said in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by the Sunday Times that it has no specific details on the contents of uplifting 102 metric tonnes of printed material to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda by operating three charter flights of Airbus A333 in February.

The airway bill and charter agreement both mention the nature of goods as printed matter and do not provide further details. The precise nature of the goods is subjected to review or clearance by Sri Lanka Customs prior to being brought to the cargo terminal for onward carriage by SLA, the RTI response said.

In any event, SLA stressed that even if this information was in possession of SLA, the precise nature of the goods constitutes exempt information covered by 5(1)(d) of the RTI Act indicating that the cargo originated out of Sri Lanka and the contents were printed matter.

It falls within commercial confidence because if the precise nature of the goods is revealed, then other airlines and/or cargo agents would also solicit business for these types of goods from the same shipper, to the detriment of SLA.

The national carrier also refused to divulge information related to who commissioned the cargo to be sent to Uganda, the cost and details of the sender if there are any citing Section 5(1)(d) of the RTI Act.

Pointing out that the release of any information under the RTI Act is equivalent to disclosure into the public domain, SLA said the name of the entity/shipper who commissioned the chartered flight constituted commercial confidence, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of both SLA and third parties. This is because if the name of the entity/shipper is disclosed, then other airlines would also solicit business from this same shipper to the detriment of SLA. Accordingly the name is exempt information covered by Section 5(1)(d) of the RTI Act, the airline said.

On February 24, the official Twitter handle of SriLankan Airlines published a tweet saying, Sri Lankan Cargo made history today by operating three consecutive cargo charter flights to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda by uplifting over 102 metric tons of printed matter.

The tweet also included images of sealed cargo packages being unloaded in the Entebbe international airport. However, the tweet was later deleted when some social media users raised concerns about the contents of the printed matter.

A Sri Lanka Customs spokesman said an RTI applications should be filed to obtain the information.
New Delhi:

The Army has sought early handing over of 900 body bags and 150 caskets procured in 1999 lying in a warehouse for the past 17 years after allegations of kickbacks in the USD 4 lakh deal and subsequent CBI probe into it.

The Armys renewed pitch for getting custody of the body bags and caskets comes at a time when images of bodies of seven military personnel wrapped in plastic sacks and tied up in cardboard triggered outrage last week.

The military personnel were killed in a Mi-17 helicopter crash in Tawang on Friday.

Official sources said the Army has requested the CBI again to facilitate the handing over of the body bags and caskets as the probe into their procurement was over and the case was closed in 2013.

When contacted, CBI sources said they are looking into the matter.

In the aftermath of the Kargil war, the then NDA government had ordered procurement of 3,000 body bags and 500 aluminium caskets.

However, following allegations of kickbacks in the contract, the deal was cancelled but the company which was given the contract had supplied 900 body bags and 150 caskets by then.

The CBI had carried out probe into the allegations. A Delhi court in 2013 had discharged three former Army officials who were charge sheeted by the CBI.

A senior Army official said CBI had found that a typographical error at a clerical level triggered these allegations. He said the actual weight of each casket should have been mentioned as 55 kg but instead, it was written 18 kg.

The official sources said, however, an observation by a government auditor favouring scrutiny of the pricing of the body bags and caskets held back their release. They said a city court had issued directions for release of the caskets and body bags.

They said the US government had also bought body bags and caskets from the same company at almost the same period when India had finalised the deal and the auditor suggested to find out the rates at which the American government had procured them.

The images of bodies of the seven military personnel wrapped in plastic sacks had triggering outrage prompting the Army to call it an aberration.

Former Northern Army commander Lt Gen (Retd) HS Panag had said proper military body bags must be used to transport bodies from forward locations until ceremonial coffins were available.

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I

f youre one of those people who hoped the end of Donald Trumps rule would make politics boring again, prepare to be disappointed. Boring is a long way off.

Since the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence  the one in which the Queen was said to have purred with satisfaction as the UK remained intact  Britains age of chaos has seen three general elections, the Brexit wars and the Covid crisis.

Nicola Sturgeon and her Scottish National Party team are hoping to make 2021 another year of high drama and upheaval.

The SNP leader is pushing for a second referendum on Scottish independence  promising to hold a legal vote on a breakaway if a majority of pro-independence MSPs are returned to the Holyrood parliament at next months election.

Boris Johnson insists the UK government will not grant the powers needed to stage a referendum, setting up a high-stakes stand-off which could dominate the political scene for months, possibly years, to come.

It raises the possibility of a wildcat referendum. The last time we witnessed one of those was in Catalonia in 2017, when the Spanish government launched an ugly crackdown and separatist leaders were forced into exile.

So whats going to happen after the 6 May election? The Independent spoke to leading political figures and legal experts about the possibilities ahead if the SNP emerges triumphant and claims a mandate for indyref2.

No one wants or expects a repeat of the violence seen in Catalonia. But a similarly dramatic political impasse  a constitutional crisis involving court battles and street protests  now looms just over the horizon.

What will Sturgeon and the SNP do if she gets a majority?

Most polls during the Holyrood election campaign have put the SNP on course to win a narrow majority. Even if the SNP has to rely on the pro-independence Scottish Greens to form a majority in favour of indyref2, Sturgeon will push ahead with plans for another vote on separation.

She is widely expected to demand the UK government grants a section 30 order (a provision in the Scotland Act of 1998) so the Scottish government can legally hold another referendum; the same process which saw then-prime minister David Cameron agree to the first referendum in 2014.

However, Johnson has made clear he believes referenda on Scottish independence should be once in a generation events  suggesting that 40 years between votes was a good sort of gap.

But the PM knows that refusal to grant a section 30 order will prompt carefully orchestrated outrage from Sturgeon.

Alex Neil, the retiring SNP MSP, thinks Johnson will come under intense pressure to give way if the pro-indy majority at Holyrood (70 SNP and Scottish green MSPs) is made significantly larger next month.

If you end up between 80 and 90 pro-independence MSPs, it makes it politically impossible for a prime minister to ignore that mandate, says Neil. You would be saying no to a democratically elected parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon with Boris Johnson at Bute House in 2019 (PA)

If Johnson does refuse a vote, what will Sturgeon do?

The SNP leaders plan B will be to pass an independence referendum bill in the Scottish parliament to hold a vote without consent from Downing Street. This would likely spark a legal challenge from Johnsons government.

Dr Elisenda Casanas-Adam, lecturer in public law at Edinburgh Law School, says it will be up to the UK Supreme Court to decide whether a referendum without a section 30 order would be allowed.

The Scottish government could argue that a referendum would only be advisory, that it would be done to simply consult the Scottish people, says Dr Casanas-Adam.

And the UK governments position would be that the purpose of asking that independence question would be, ultimately, about the possibility of breaking up the union  so it could not be in the competence of the Scottish government to hold it.

She adds: I think its an open question what the Supreme Court would decide. It could go either way. The court will certainly by under huge pressure, politically, but there are strong legal arguments on both sides.

Alex Salmond and David Cameron agreeing to 2014 referendum (PA)

If the court rules against a referendum, what will Sturgeon do?

Sturgeon and the SNP will hope Johnsons refusal to grant a referendum pushes poll support for independence up towards 60 per cent. Confident of sufficient backing among Scots, she could decide to stage a consultative or advisory independence vote without consent from Downing Street.

The bold move may depend on the firmness of a court ruling; the precise wording of a judgment on what it does and does not say in the Scotland Act of 1998.

This would take us into unprecedented, Catalonia-type territory. Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross has already pledged to boycott any wildcat referendum Sturgeon could decide to stage without UK government consent.

That wildcat scenario  I dont think you can say it definitely wont happen, says Andy Maciver, the Scottish Tories former media chief. But it would be a failure by both governments if it got that point.

He thinks Sturgeon will remain reluctant to do anything radical enough to spook the EU, since the SNPs plans involve an independent Scotland attempting to re-join the bloc at some point in future.

I think if a wildcat referendum were called, the Tories would lead a boycott campaign, says Maciver, who now runs the Message Matters PR company. And I think a boycott would be successful, in the sense that union-supporting Tories in Scotland would not take part and it would delegitimise the whole thing.

Dr Casanas-Adam  who is from Catalonia and knows the political situation there well  doesnt think we will see a repeat of the scenes from 2017, when Spanish police forces seized ballot boxes and arrested campaigners to prevent the referendum staged by separatist leaders.

Spanish police drag man outside polling station in 2017 (Getty)

The strong-handed reaction by the Spanish government  those terrible images, I would hope it wont come to that. I think the Catalan precedent is a warning to both sides. The recent Catalan elections have again returned a pro-independence majority, so the issue has not gone away, says Dr Casanas-Adam.

But I think many [separatist] people in Catalonia would recognise they were a bit naive about trying to force the issue and expecting EU and international recognition.

She adds: I think Nicola Sturgeon will want to secure a process that would be recognised by everyone. It becomes hard to go back once you go down a certain path.

What other options are available to Sturgeon?

Alex Neil  who remains loyal to the SNP, but is also a friend of Sturgeons Alba party rival Alex Salmond  thinks Sturgeon must continue to push for independence, regardless of Downing Streets stance.

The retiring MSP has previously said he thinks a consultative referendum could be legal even without UK government consent  but he doesnt want Sturgeon and her bloc to get too hung up on legal matters.

If [Boris] Johnson chooses to undermine Scottish democracy  the pro-independence MSPs would have to decide what to do, he says. They cannot just sit back for five years and say, Oh thats a shame  Johnson wont give us a referendum.

They have to engage in other tactics to force Johnson to accept the will of the Scottish people. You could force another election to the parliament on a mandate for independence itself. Im not recommending it, but its one option  I think there are other options.

Salmond  keen to be the hard man of the indy cause  has talked about an ongoing campaign of street protests and an attempt to mobilise international support for Scottish self-determination, efforts which Neil supports.

You cannot rule another country against the wishes of the people of that country  thats what Boris Johnson will find out, he says.

Independence supporters stage protest outside Scottish parliament last year (PA)

Whats the Labour party position on all of this?

Labour leader Keir Starmer and the Scottish party boss Anas Sarwar have both talked vaguely about more devolution for Scotland. But for now, they remain firmly opposed to another referendum.

Retiring Labour MSP Neil Findlay says he has been extremely frustrated by his partys refusal to engage on indyref2. He has been a leading advocate of a referendum with a third option on the ballot  a devolution max or devo max option that would see almost all powers transferred to Scotland.

If the SNP wins a majority, Labour cannot just continue to say, No  lets focus on other issues. Its untenable. Labour has appeared reluctant, curmudgeonly and grumpy about the whole issue when they should be positive and enthusiastic about constitutional change.

Maciver thinks senior Scottish Labour people are not so opposed to another referendum as they appear to be right now, and he believes it could be a matter of time before they back indyref2.

Im pretty certain Sarwar and those close to him understand that hitching themselves to a Tory no, no, never approach is not the smart way to go. I suspect there could be situation where Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar will back a referendum in the event of a clear SNP majority, even though they cant say so during the election campaign, says the PR strategist.

When the argument becomes about how the referendum should be held, the idea of a third question of the ballot paper, the devo max option, might just get them somewhere.

Dejected Yes voters in Glasgow on the night of the 2014 referendum (PA)

Could Johnson and his team at No 10 change their minds?

If Labour and Lib Dems were to back another referendum at some point in 2021, it would help the pressure on Johnson and his team to relent and start negotiations over the terms of an independence vote.

The PM is said to be 100 per cent against indyref2. Yet some senior people in government are now considering whether it may be in their interests to face up to a vote sooner rather than later. The time to do it would be in the middle of economic chaos, not when its all looking rosy, one minister recently told The Sunday Times.

Senior civil servants are thought to have started planning for a referendum, should the PM decide to plunge ahead. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove remains close to Scottish secretary Alister Jack. They  along with Douglas Ross, Ruth Davidson and Scottish Tory party director Mark McInnes  remain trusted voices at No 10 on scenario planning and SNP thinking.

I dont think No 10 has a clear position at the moment, says Maciver. The thing the senior people in the [Tory] government have failed to understand is, the longer it goes on, the worse this gets, and the less chance they have of winning a referendum. To be crude, there will be 10 more years of deaths among No voters.

My understanding of whats going on behind the scenes in the government is that there are now influential voices saying, You cannot keep refusing, he adds.

If it all comes down to one person in influencing Boris Johnson, its probably Michael Gove. From what I hear, Gove has become a bit more closed to the idea of a referendum recently. But he may think more clearly about it once the [Scottish] election is done.

It is now only a little over two weeks until the picture comes into sharp focus. Grandiose statements will be made on election night. Feverish late-night strategy sessions will be held. And the fun and games shaping Scotlands future will finally begin.
For weeks Bryce Ruthven was accused of having a 'secret girlfriend' waiting for him in Canberra despite getting 'married' to Melissa Rawson on Married At First Sight.

And on Sunday, the 32-year-old radio presenter finally put rumours to bed when he was spotted leaving Channel 9's Melbourne studios with his on-screen wife.

'As I said on the show there was a girl before the show. I've never hid that fact,' Bryce told cameras, when asked about his 'secret girlfriend'.

Finished: Married At First Sight's Bryce Ruthven [R] has revealed he can't wait for the show to end as he steps out with Melissa Rawson [L]

'There never was someone that wasn't part of a friendship circle, and that's all it was,' he continued.

The outspoken reality star went on to say that the fresh new claims of his co-stars having 'proof' were not true, and said in order to give them more screen time.

'You had people like Samantha [Harvey] and Booka [Nile] claiming to have all these facts, I think they're just chasing their five seconds of fame,' he said.

Facts: 'As I said on the show there was a girl before the show. I've never hid that fact,' Bryce told cameras, when asked about his 'secret girlfriend'

Melissa explained she was satisfied with the reassurances given by Bryce.

'I wouldn't be with Bryce if I wasn't, so people just need to let [the rumours] die already,' she confidently told cameras.

Meanwhile, Bryce told cameras that he couldn't wait for the show to end.

'I've never been so excited for the show to end,' he said with a smile on his face.

Claims: The outspoken reality star went on to say that the fresh new claims of his co-stars having 'proof' were not true, and said in order to give them more screen time

The sighting comes as the couple hinted at plans to marry his workplace trainer girlfriend in real life during an interview on Weekend Today.

'We're still together, living together very happily in Melbourne and I can't see things changing,' he said with a large grin.

Bryce added: 'I've also even seen a Sportsbet thing [suggesting that] we're getting married and that's something to get on.'
The Forum on Synthetic Biology: Challenges and Opportunities for Australia will be held in Syndey, Australia on 13 March 2012. It will provide participants with an opportunity to hear from speakers on a number of key topics relating to synthetic biology in Australia, as well as a brief perspective on international developments.

Participation : The Forum on Synthetic Biology is by invitation only but we will make as much conference content available as possible through the OECD web pages following the meeting.



The Forum will explore topics such as regulatory considerations, skills and research support, intellectual property and community engagement. In addition, discussions will also focus on links between a bioeconomy and synthetic biology. The bioeconomy, an economy that generates sustainable growth by using renewable biological resources, is an emerging area of interest for the Australian Government. The Forum is expected to provide useful perspectives for countries seeking to enable development of the field.



Purpose of the meeting

The meeting aims to :

Provide a forum to discuss how synthetic biology can contribute to the bioeconomy.

Discuss new infrastructure required to enable development of the field

Consider how they can operate systemically to foster more effective innovation and promote infrastructure development within resource and fiscal constraints.

Consider the role of government in supporting infrastructure development to make the most of the benefits of synthetic biology for both individuals and society.

Gather input from the international community, including international policy-makers and industrial participants.

Develop policy recommendations to allow governments to develop the necessary infrastructure (physical, social, financial, governance) to foster development of, and derive benefit from the field.

Determine areas in which the OECD can provide further policy insight and expertise.



Based on the outcomes of this meeting, the OECD will produce a summary of the main policy messages and a policy report in mid-2012. The policy report will include recommendations to support governments in developing the necessary infrastructure (physical, social, financial, governance) to foster development of, and derive benefit from the field of synthetic biology.
Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday laid to rest her late husband, Prince Philip, in a royal funeral like no other, curtailed by coronavirus restrictions but reflecting his long life of military and public service

Windsor, United Kingdom, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Apr, 2021 ) :Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday laid to rest her late husband, Prince Philip, in a royal funeral like no other, curtailed by coronavirus restrictions but reflecting his long life of military and public service.

Philip, who died on April 9 aged 99, was interred in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle, west of London, after a 50-minute service attended by just 30 guests but watched by millions on television.
A local fact of life . . .

MIDTOWN KANSAS CITY IS ROUGHER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN NEARLY TWO DECADES!!!

A top echelon TKC reader puts it best . . .

"The Main Street corridor is getting so bad that you have to be worried about the white people you run into at night."

This weekend's example only a block and a half from the future streetcar expansion line . . .
Paramedics are shown next to ambulances outside a hospital in Montreal, Sunday, April 18, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The victim of a double-shooting and his alleged killer have been identified as the deceased father's family attempt to raise $10,000 to bring his body home to New Zealand.

Daytona James, 23, was allegedly gunned down alongside a 37-year-old man at a townhouse on Lower King Street at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Paramedics found the men, both from Burpengary, lying at the front of the complex and transported them to Caboolture Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Police launched a manhunt across the city before arresting Adam Bird, 24, at Cornubia, about 80 kilometres away, at 9pm. He was taken to Caboolture where he was placed in police custody and held for questioning.

Bird has been charged with two counts of murder, possess shortened firearm, unlawful possession of a weapons category A, B or M and authority required to possess explosives. He will front Caboolture Magistrates Court on Monday.

Daytona James, 23, (pictured) was allegedly gunned down alongside a 37-year-old man at a townhouse north of Brisbane on Saturday

On Sunday, Phoenix Paul launched a GoFundMe campaign for her brother, Mr James which has already racked up more than $3000 in four hours.

She said the funds would go towards bringing him home and laying him to rest in Rotorua.

'Our brother was the father of two beautiful boys named Tyler and Tobias,' the fundraiser page reads.

'We need any and all support to take him home from Brisbane, back to New Zealand.

'Our goal includes funeral expenses and travel expenses for his family. Its hard having to reach out for help, but all we can say is that any help big or small is more than appreciated.

Tributes have also begun pouring in on social media for the Kiwi, who was affectionately known as 'DJ' to loved ones.

'Damn bro. We were just talking the other week bout catching up, may you rest In peace brother,' one friend wrote on Facebook

'I will forever cherish the times.'

'RIP brother. Had some good times together last time we talked [it] looked like you were doing good for yourself,' another said.

Mr James's heartbroken cousin vowed to care of his two young sons as his own as they grow up without their father.

'Can't describe this pain my cuzzy since I could remember we would always have that bond no one would even know my cuzz!' he wrote.

Mr James was allegedly gunned down at a townhouse (pictured) on Lower King Street at Caboolture, north of Brisbane, at 5.30pm on Saturday

'I'll always have your sons like there my own. You know this my cuz. I love you.'

Detective Superintendent Ben Fadian said police were still working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting, but the 24-year-old lived at the address and the men were known to each other.

'It is the early stages of the investigation and a motive is still being established for the incident,' Superintendent Fadian told reporters on Sunday.

'It appears the three men involved were known to each other. This was not a random incident, and the community should not feel concerns for their own safety as a result.'

Terrified residents recalled hearing several loud bangs at the time of the alleged double shooting.

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said he and his partner thought a front door had slammed very loudly in a domestic dispute.

'There is a lot of domestic violence in the area,' he told ABC.

'That's what we just originally thought it was  the next minute, we saw a cop car pull up in front of ours.'

'Then we checked outside the window and just saw two dead bodies.'

Another local said he was visiting a friend at his nearby home at the time when he heard the loud bangs.

'I was in shock, it was awful,' he said.

One terrified couple said they had a son living at the complex and feared for his safety after they were unable to call him.

Thankfully we got into contact with him, and he was down at the police station,' they told Courier Mail.

'He is being very helpful with the police investigation.'

Officers were working into the night on Saturday to scour the townhouse complex and surrounding streets for clues.

Up to nine ambulance crews were reportedly dispatched to the scene after receiving the emergency call.

Officers were seen working into the night on Saturday to scour the townhouse complex and surrounding streets for clues

Acting Detective-Inspector Michael Hogan said police were still determining the motive of the alleged double shooting.

'There's a lot of forensic evidence needs to be combed through, in addition to that the investigators will be trying to ascertain what happened through the process of the interview,' he said.

Investigations continue and Det Supt Fadian has urged with witnesses or anyone with information to contact police.

'At this stage people are appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the Lower King St Caboolture area between 4.30pm and 5.30pm who may have seen or heard anything, or especially anyone who was in the area with in-car camera, to please contact Crimestoppers 1800 333 000.'
Software giant Oracle has cut Eskom off from essential technical services the utility has previously said were crucial to its operations.

This is according to reports from Netwerk24 and News24, who said that an Eskom spokesperson on Friday confirmed there were no positive developments in a payment dispute between the two entities.

Eskom last week lost a court bid to stop Oracle from terminating the utilitys support for its software.

This comes after an audit by Oracle found that Eskom owed it R7.3 billion for gross overuse of its software. It revised this amount to R600 million, and later to R400 million.

Meanwhile, Eskom has maintained it only owes R166 million.

The utility previously warned if Oracle withdrew its services it would have catastrophic consequences on its ability to provide electricity to South Africa.

Among other things, Eskom uses Oracles software to support billing and accounts, plant maintenance, and electricity distribution.

In court documents lodged two weeks ago, the company warned that almost the entire country could be plunged into darkness and come to a standstill if it could no longer use Oracles software.

After the Johannesburg High Court dismissed Eskoms application, the utility downplayed the impact of losing access to Oracles support services.

It claimed that it had assessed the risks in the event of Oracle withdrawing technical services support, and had interim risk mitigating processes in place to reduce the risk of its operations being disrupted.

According to Netwerk24 and News24, Eskom has now appealed the High Courts ruling.

MyBroadband asked Eskom for comment on the latest developments, but did not immediately receive feedback.

Power and mining expert Ted Blom has warned that it was unlikely that Eskom could be run without Oracles software.

Blom said that Oracle could easily pull the plug on providing services to Eskom its data was stored in the cloud.

One password change and Eskom will have to go back to carrier pigeons, Blom said.

However, Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha previously said contingency measures had been put in place to ensure Eskom could continue operating in a worst-case scenario, including alternative software.

If Oracle pulls out it will not cause a blackout. Oracle is one of thousands of contracts that are running at Eskom which work together to produce, supply, and distribute electricity, he said.

He acknowledged there could be hiccups in areas were Eskom used Oracles systems has Eskom would no longer have access to Oracle experts to assist in the event of problems with its software.

To address this, the utility has primed its internal team that Oracle helps to support.

Below is Eskoms statement on the Johannesburg High Courts ruling from last week.

#Eskom #MediaStatement Eskom has put in contingency measures to reduce the related risk of its reliance on Oracle Corporation following contractual dispute pic.twitter.com/BeuvxodZhB  Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) April 5, 2021

Now read: Concerns over price of electricity from powerships
It is difficult to prosecute a police officer for murder or manslaughter in the United States. And its even harder when the officers defense is, I thought I was firing my Taser.

When former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle, who was charged with murder, was convicted by a jury of involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting Oscar Grant in the back at Oaklands Fruitvale Station in 2009, it was the first known conviction for any crime where a Taser mistake defense was presented. And apparently it was the first time such a case had even resulted in criminal charges. Since then, two more officers elsewhere have been convicted, one of manslaughter and one of misdemeanor assault for a non-fatal shooting.

And while the latest case, for an officers fatal shooting of Daunte Wright after a minor traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center on April 11, has led to angry protests, a conviction may be even more difficult.

For one thing, Officer, Kimberly Potter, is heard on body-camera audio shouting Taser! Taser! Taser! before firing a gunshot into the 20-year-old Black man. She then curses and says, I just shot him.

Prosecutors agreed that the killing was unintentional, and now must show that the 26-year police veteran acted with criminal negligence after having been trained to use the stun gun, which looks and feels different from a handgun and is holstered on the opposite hip. But they face an additional obstacle in Minnesotas manslaughter law.

In contrast to Californias involuntary manslaughter law, which required Mehserles prosecutors to show that he acted in a reckless way, creating a high risk of death or serious injury, Minnesota also requires proof that the slayer consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another.

The law has not been tested in a Taser case, but it appears to mean prosecutors must show that Potter was aware she was endangering Wrights life.

If the Minnesota law is applied strictly, youd have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was at least one moment in which she said to herself, Wait a second, which weapon am I grabbing? Thats going to be hard to do, said Robert Weisberg, a Stanford law professor and co-director of the schools Criminal Justice Center.

The manslaughter charge against Potter seems appropriate, but the prosecution will have its hands full, said Mehserles attorney, Michael Rains of Pleasant Hill, who has represented numerous law enforcement officers.

Overall, homicide prosecutions of police are uncommon. While killings by officers average more than 1,000 a year nationwide, prosecutors have found evidence of wrongdoing in only a small fraction of the slayings.

In the past 16 years, 140 officers in the U.S. have been charged with murder or manslaughter for on-duty fatal shootings, according to records compiled by Philip Stinson, a law professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Seven have been convicted of murder and 37 of lesser charges. More than half the victims were Black.

When such charges are filed, jurors can be reluctant to second-guess decisions made by officers who face dangers and high-stress situations the jurors themselves havent encountered, said Stanford Law Professor David Sklansky, also co-director of the Criminal Justice Center.

But protests across the nation since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May indicate a shift in public attitudes, said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and a former federal prosecutor.

People are not inclined to give police officers the benefit of the doubt I think they used to get, Levenson said. She said she expects Potters lawyers to seek to transfer her case to another area of the state.

Rains said the shift in public attitudes was due to the unfair maligning of police.

Weisberg said jurors today may also be more skeptical of a Taser defense. The stun guns have been in regular use for decades, he said, and you would think police would be better trained and exercise better individual judgment than in the early days.

While Tasers have protected officers and saved lives, they can also be lethal. Amnesty International reported in 2012 that 500 people, 92 of them in California, had died since 2001 after being shocked with the weapons 50,000 volts of electricity.

Police are trained to cross-draw for a Taser, reaching their dominant hand across their body to the opposite hip, where the weapon is holstered. Rains said the training is completely inadequate and does not prepare officers for real-life, split-second emergencies.

At least eight other officers in different states had avoided prosecution for fatal shootings in which they said they mistook their firearms for Tasers before Mehserle was charged with second-degree murder. Alameda County prosecutors accused the 26-year-old officer of intentionally shooting Grant after he and another officer pinned the 22-year-old Black man to the station platform following a fight on a train in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1, 2009.

The evidence of his intent was mixed. A friend of Grants testified that Mehserle told Grant Ill tase you during the struggle, and Grant replied, I quit, dont tase me. But the friend also testified that Mehserle swore and stood up before drawing his gun and firing the fatal shot.

A jury in Los Angeles, where the case was transferred because of extensive news coverage and strong feelings in Oakland, found the killing reckless but unintentional. Mehserle was sentenced to two years in prison, the minimum term under the law, and released after 11 months. BART paid $2.8 million to settle civil rights suits by Grants mother and daughter.

In a similar case in Tulsa, Okla., Robert Bates, a volunteer reserve sheriffs deputy, was convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting 44-year-old Eric Harris, a Black man who was being held down by other officers after being arrested in a drugs and weapons sting operation in 2015. Bates, who said he thought he was firing his Taser, served 16 months of a four-year prison sentence. Harris family accepted a $6 million settlement.

In the third case, Jason Shuck, a police officer in Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault for shooting and wounding Eric Butts, who was panhandling outside a Walmart store in 2014 and ran away after officers approached with a warrant for his arrest on an earlier charge. Shuck, who said he mistakenly grabbed his gun, was sentenced to probation and agreed not to seek further employment that required firearms. Butts, a white man, suffered intestinal injuries and settled a lawsuit for $700,000.

Other charges are pending in non-fatal shootings in York, Pa., and St. Louis. One place where no such cases are likely is San Francisco, the only urban center in the nation that has declined to arm its officers with Tasers. The citys Police Department and its officers union have sought the weapons, but the Board of Supervisors refused in 2018 after a pro-Taser ballot measure, Proposition H, was rejected by local voters.

Loyolas Levenson said the mistaken shootings should encourage other communities to consider following San Franciscos lead.

They often dont work, and for some people it doesnt stop them, she said. At some point well have to ask, is the benefit worth more than the danger these pose?

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Fans of MTVs The Challenge are hopeful for another season of the show following Double Agents. While season 36 was a wild ride, it looks like rumors are already circulating for what could possibly happen on season 37. And fan-favorite Jordan Wiseley could make his return, though his casting remains uncertain. Heres what we know about whether he and ex Tori Deal will compete.

[Spoiler alert: Spoilers ahead on the rumored cast for season 37 of The Challenge.]

MTVs The Challenge Season 37 cast list has familiar faces

These are your finalist, who will be crowned The Challenge: Double Agents champ? #TheChallenge36 begins in just ONE HOUR, starting at 8pm on @mtv pic.twitter.com/IlQYvlNHkT  Bad Gal TJ (@ChallengeMTV) April 14, 2021

Season 36 of MTVs The Challenge featured plenty of notable veteran players. Fans got to see Darrell Taylor compete alongside rookie Amber Borzotra, and Aneesa Ferreira, CT Tamburello, Leroy Garrett, and Nany Gonzalez also got another chance after years of competing on the show. While CT and Leroy gave hints this could be their last season, it was great to see the veteran players together again.

According to Screen Rant, fans of Double Agents will see many familiar faces. Nany, Nam Vo, Nelson Thomas, Devin Walker, Liv Jawando, Fessy Shafaat, Ashley Mitchell, Cory Wharton, Big T Fazakerley, Josh Martinez, Kaycee Clark, Aneesa, and Kyle Christie are all coming back. Additionally, Tori Deal will return.

As for rumored newcomers, the publication notes Survivor winner Michele Fitzgerald will join as a rookie, as will Michelle Schubert from Survivor, Ed Eason from The Circle, and Jeremiah White from Love Island 2, just to name a few.

Are Jordan and Tori from The Challenge still together?

The Challenge's Tori Deal Reveals True Timeline of Jordan Wiseley Breakup https://t.co/AEuAEo6aWg  E! News (@enews) January 9, 2021

RELATED: The Challenge: This Double Agents Cast Member Said He Knew Fessy Shafaat Was Flirting With Tori Deal During Deals Engagement

When Tori came on MTVs The Challenge: Double Agents, she was still engaged to Jordan. But everything changed once she went home.

I thought I knew love when Jordan and I were together, but there is a different kind of love that two people feel when they decide its time to experience life apart, Tori wrote on Instagram in November 2020. Even though Jordan and I are going to be moving forward in separate ways, our love, support, and connection with one another only grows stronger and deeper.

She also spoke about calling off the engagement to Jordan on her podcast with Aneesa, The Official Challenge Podcast.

My engagement got called off, Deal explained of the split. Girl, you dont even know what thats like. That sh*t  its all cool, its all amicable on the outside, but on the inside, you know how bad it hurts to have your heart broken. And then the rumors, and then people making judgments.

Jordan might join season 37

Jordan Wiseley attends the grand opening of the Museum Of Selfies on March 29, 2018 | Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

While Jordan and Tori seem to be amicable moving forward, getting them both on the same season of MTVs The Challenge would certainly make for good TV. Screen Rant notes that could be a possibility.

The publication notes spoiler accounts note a few contestants are up in the air regarding if theyll return or not. Those contestants are CT, Darrell, and Jordan.

To make matters even more interesting, Fessy admitted to having a crush on Tori, and the two fueled romance rumors after the show. Having all three of them on the same season would certainly create some drama.

Additionally, having Jordan back on the show would dispel rumors that he was kicked off due to past racist comments he made on The Real World.

Were looking forward to seeing what goes on with future Challenge seasons and what other spoilers crop up along the way!

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital econom...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, over his earlier views supporting terror groups.

The party also asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the minister over the comments made in support of groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

In videos from the 2000s, Pantami, who is a known Islamic scholar, was reported to have said that while he was against the extremist anti-western ideologies of Boko Haram, he supports some of what Al-Qaeda and Taliban had preached.

But the minister recanted the comments on Saturday, saying that he has changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity.





I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager. I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars and individuals did not understand some of the international events and therefore took some positions based on their understanding, some have come to change their positions later, he had said.

Despite renouncing the views, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday that the party is concerned that such views could compromise sensitive government documents.

Our partys position is predicated on the heightening concerns in the public space and in the international arena of possible compromises by the communication minister, who has access to sensitive government documents and information, in addition to data of all individuals including high profile personalities in the public and private sectors as well as the traditional and faith-based circles, Ologbondiyan said.

The PDP is particularly worried about allegations in the public suggesting that the minister compromised the NIN (national identification number) registration exercise by giving room for the registration of aliens and invaders from other countries as our citizens.

The party asked the DSS to investigate the alleged compromise while urging citizens to stay alert.

Like the PDP, many Nigerians have also been calling on the minister to resign.
Mike Curtin, 75, has lived in nursing homes for more than three years. Even in normal times, it wasnt an ideal living situation.

Almost four years ago, Curtin had surgery to remove a spinal tumor. It saved his life, but made it difficult to get around without a walker. His diagnosis requires ongoing care, and he estimates hes had 110 appointments since his surgery, but he has friends who can shuttle him to the hospital and he manages his condition with a combination of prescriptions, herbal supplements and healthy food. Many of the other residents have late-stage dementia or require round-the-clock care.

Curtin misses the freedom of living independently. He cant eat when he wants. And after COVID, he lost the ability to come and go, or to move freely around the nursing home, as it locked down to control the spread of the virus.

I keep wondering, what am I doing here? Curtin said.

Curtin has sought other options, including living on his own and in assisted living. But he found that Alabama offers few alternatives to nursing homes for seniors and disabled adults who qualify for Medicaid.

Jamie Harding, a spokeswoman for the AARP of Alabama, said new federal funds could help expand those options. President Joe Bidens stimulus plan offers more funds for home and community-based care  if requested by Gov. Kay Ivey. In a letter, AARP State Director Candace Williams said the pandemic highlighted the need for increased options.

AARP Alabama, on behalf of our 420,000 members and all older Alabamians, strongly encourages you to take advantage of new federal resources to expand access to in-home and community-based care, the letter said. With an estimated 2,166 COVID-related deaths occurring in Alabamas nursing homes and long-term care facilities, 23 percent of deaths in our state, this help is urgently needed.

Alabamas Medicaid program pays for long-term care for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. For most, that means nursing home care. But Medicaid also pays for care at home through a waiver program capped at 9,355 clients. Jean Stone, assistant commissioner for the Alabama Department of Social Services, said about 2,000 to 3,000 people are waiting for slots to open at any given time.

Alabama nursing homes provide care for more than 22,000 elderly and disabled adults  although not all of them are on Medicaid. The state spends about 30 percent of its long-term care budget on home-based services versus 61 percent for nursing homes, according to a 2016 study.

The AARP has pushed for an expansion of home-based care. But that model doesnt always work for those without family or others available to assist with care. Most people on Medicaid do not own homes where they can receive care.

The organization Disability Rights and Resources received federal funding to help move more people out of nursing homes and into homes where they can live with family, friends or independently.

Nursing home transition is one of our core services, said Daniel Kessler, executive director of Disability Rights and Resources. Everyone deserves the right to independence, regardless of age or disability. Our staff works with nursing home residents to re-gain their independence - to identify and overcome barriers, to experience the Power of Hope and Freedom.

Most states except Alabama and Kentucky offer limited care at assisted living facilities that serve people with fewer medical needs than nursing homes.

The Alabama Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, has urged the state to expand coverage for assisted living, which is less expensive and more flexible for people who dont require intensive medical care.

Alabamas Medicaid system has no option for patients who are not completely independent but who require care involving less than nursing home-type assistance, according to an institute brief. This could lead to Medicaid beneficiaries being placed in nursing homes that provide more care than they actually require.

Harding said aging adults have become more reluctant to enter nursing homes.

Most people want to age-in-place and remain at home for as long as possible, Hardin said.

COVID may have accelerated that trend. Nursing homes proved to be particularly vulnerable to outbreaks among frail residents at high risk of hospitalization and death.

Stone, who oversees the states home-based care program, said that while some staff and residents tested positive for COVID, no major outbreaks occurred.

We were very lucky, Stone said. We would have periodic episodes and we would have a few pockets in places throughout the state. But most of our clients stayed safe.

James Tucker, executive director of the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, said his organization has long fought for more home-based options for disabled adults. Although the state has expanded the number of slots since 2019, his organization still hears from nursing home residents who want to move out and gain more independence.

Some counties have more services for home-based care, and others mostly rely on nursing homes, Tucker said. And some nursing home facilities make it easier than others to move residents out into independent living.

There are advantages to the state, Tucker said. And there are also advantages to individuals, which is what we are interested in. People want and prefer to live at home if they can and for as long as they can.

Leaders of the Alabama Nursing Home Association have recognized the growing desires of seniors to stay at home. In 2015, they partnered with several organizations and the Alabama Medicaid Agency to create a partnership between nursing facilities and home-based care to help more people remain at home.

The goal of the [program] is to expand the number of people served by home and community-based services and provide medical care in the home in addition to the social services that have been traditionally provided, said John Matson, a spokesman for the Alabama Nursing Home Association. The number of senior citizens in Alabama is growing and the ICN is a way to serve more people while ensuring skilled nursing facilities are available for those who need 24-hour-a-day medical care.

Still, about two-thirds of Medicaid-eligible seniors reside in nursing homes. Medicaid only offers 675 spots in a program designed to move people out of nursing homes and back into the community.

Curtin said his efforts to move out of the nursing home have gone nowhere. He lined up a waiver and a place to live, but it fell apart after an inspection revealed leaks and safety issues.

But he has reached out to the governor to urge her to apply for federal funding that might help him move out.

Theres no reason for me to be here, Curtin said. And I hope that she will do this to help people like me.

Updated at 9:58 a.m. to add a statement from Daniel Kessler
A homicide suspect was hospitalized Saturday afternoon after authorities say he shot himself following a multi-city chase.

Oxford police Chief Bill Partridge said the pursuit began mid-afternoon in Anniston and then traveled into Oxford on Highway 202. The chase traveled along Interstate 20, then past Choccolocco Park, onto Highway 21 into Munford and then ended up on a county road just inside the Talladega city limits.

The suspect ran off the road into a field and when the pursuit terminated, he shot himself,' Partridge said. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was transported to a hospital and then airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. His condition wasnt immediately available.

Efforts to reach Talladega police, who are working the self-inflicted shooting incident, werent immediately available. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
Omaha Police said 16-year-old Makhi Woolridge-Jones is wanted on a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting Saturday at the Westroads Mall in Omaha. Brandon Woolridge-Jones, 18, has been arrested on a charge of being an accessory to the shooting.
Pixium Vision announces its cash position at 31 March 2021 and provides an update on its activities and financial outlook until the end of 2021.

Paris, 16 April 2021 - 6:00 p.m. CEST - Pixium Vision (Euronext Growth Paris - FR0011950641 - ALPIX), a bioelectronics company that develops innovative bionic vision systems to enable patients who have lost their sight to live more independently, announces a cash position of 9.7 million at 31 March 2021 and reports on its key developments.

Statement of cash flows summary In thousands of  31/03/2021 31/03/2020 Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 10,566.0 6,821.3 (Decrease)/Increase in cash position (818.4) (1,990.7) O/W net cash flows from operating activities (3,639.4) (2,475.3) O/W net cash flows from investment activities (10.8) (5.9) O/W net cash flows from financing activities 2,831.8 490.5 Closing cash and cash equivalents 9,747.6 4,830.6

Net cash outflow from operating activities in the first three months of 2021 totalled 3.6 million, compared to 2.5 million one year earlier. The increased cash outflow was primarily due to the launch of the PRIMAvera clinical trial in Europe and the work begun in connection with the proposed business combination with Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.1

During Q1 2021, investments were not material and consisted primarily of purchases of industrial and laboratory equipment.

At 31 March 2021, net cash provided by financing activities totalled 2.8 million, primarily following the drawdown of a 1.25 million tranche and, subsequently, two 1.0 million tranches of the financing set up with ESGO.

In total, at 31 March 2021, Pixium Vision's cash position amounted to 9.7 million, compared to 10.6 million on 1 January 2021. Given its current cash position and secured sources of financing, the Company's financial runway extends until the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

In addition, Pixium Vision is continuing to explore various avenues that will enable it to secure the cash flow necessary to pursue its development. In particular, the Company is considering several financing offers it recently received and, at the appropriate time, will disclose to the market the main terms of any offer it accepts and will submit them for the approval of the shareholders at the next general meeting if the timing for convening the meeting allows.

Key developments in the first quarter of 2021

Highlights of the first quarter of 2021 included the announcement of positive clinical results, continued patient recruitment in the United States, and the clinical development of the Prima System, an innovative device for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Pixium Vision announced the positive results of the follow-up at 24 to 30 months of patients who have been equipped with the Prima System with second-generation glasses, which combine natural peripheral vision and prosthetic vision. The Prima System provided patients with a minimum gain of 3 lines of visual acuity, and up to 7 lines in some patients.

On 3 April 2021, Pixium Vision announced that it acknowledged Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.'s decision to unilaterally terminate the memorandum of understanding entered into on 5 January 2021, despite the fact that the memorandum of understanding did not provide for such an option. On 8 April 2021, Pixium Vision received a payment of USD 1 million (approximately 840,000) from Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. However, the Company considers that this payment is insufficient to compensate the loss it has sustained due to this unilateral termination and intends to bring an action before the Paris Commercial Court to obtain full compensation for its loss.

ABOUT PIXIUM VISION

Pixium Vision's mission is to create a world of bionic vision for those who have lost their sight, enabling them

to regain partial visual perception and greater autonomy. Pixium Vision's bionic vision systems are associated

with a surgical intervention and a rehabilitation period.

Pixium Vision is conducting clinical feasibility studies of its Prima system, its miniaturised wireless sub-retinal

implant, in patients who have lost their sight due to retinal degeneration associated with the dry form of AgeRelated Macular Degeneration (AMD). Pixium Vision works closely with world-renown academic partners, such as Stanford University in California, Institut de la Vision in Paris, Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, Institute of Ocular Microsurgery (IMO) in Barcelona, and UPMC in Pittsburgh, USA. The company is EN ISO 13485 certified. Pixium Vision has been classified as an "Innovative Company" by Bpifrance.

For more information: http://www.pixium-vision.com/fr

Follow us on @PixiumVision; www.facebook.com/pixiumvision

www.linkedin.com/company/pixium-vision





Contacts

Pixium Vision

Guillaume Renondin

Chief Financial Officer

investors@pixium-vision.com (mailto:investors@pixium-vision.com)

+33 1 76 21 47 68 Media relations



LifeSci Advisors

Sophie Baumont

sophie@lifesciadvisors.com

+33 6 27 74 74 49 Investor relations

LifeSci Advisors

Guillaume van Renterghem

gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com

+41 76 735 01 31

1 On 3 April 2021, Pixium Vision announced that it acknowledged Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.'s unilateral termination of the memorandum of understanding entered into on 5 January 2021, which terminated the proposed business combination between the two companies.

Attachment
Apartment buildings in Seoul / Yonhap



By Scott Shepherd




EDWARDSVILLE  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.
Zanu PF legislators say they are finding it increasingly difficult to conduct business because banks are rejecting their applications for foreign currency-dominated accounts citing sanctions by western countries.

The MPs raised their concerns during a question-and-answer segment in Parliament last week where they pleaded for government assistance in the matter.

Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) said politically exposed people were finding it difficult to do transactions in foreign currency through the banking system.

If they put money in those accounts, it is withheld yet they also want to go and purchase tractors or cars to be used on their farms, Chonotimba complained.

When you want to open a nostro account here in Zimbabwe, they are saying you are on the sanctions list and they will not process it. Personally, I have been denied an opportunity to open a nostro account. May you assist on that one?

Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu PF) said politically exposed persons were being blocked from transacting and appealed for government intervention.

Finance deputy minister [Clemence Chiduwa] said that anyone is allowed to open a nostro account, but there is the issue of people who are politically exposed.

They say that the Bank of Europe does not recognise a Member of Parliament who is aligned to Zanu PF. They will not do any transaction with you. How does government assist people, who are politically exposed in order for them to do transactions outside the country?

Zanu PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi also pleaded with the government to help the ruling party members, who were struggling to open nostro accounts.

I think there is an information gap, which I think the minister can go and investigate because what Honourable Chinotimba raised is what is happening, Togarepi said.

In reality, you cannot open a nostro account if you are a politically exposed person. In theory, they have forms that facilitate opening of those accounts, but he should help us by investigating, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe whether that can be resolved

Chiduwa said local banks were not in a position to prohibit people from opening nostro accounts and those, who had applications rejected could be special cases.

I think these are now special cases, but our banks are not in a position to prohibit politicians from opening nostro accounts, he said.

We only do not have control on swift transactions that are done in America or Britain. There are forms for politically exposed people at our local banks. It could be case by case, and anyone who is affected is free to come to our offices and we can assist. Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda said all those affected should engage the government.

All those with that particular problem should go to the ministry of Finance to get assistance, Mudenda said.Deputy minister, can you engage the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe and the RBZ, and investigate the matter accordingly and come back to the House and give us a ministerial statement so that the issues are clarified?

A top banker who spoke on condition of anonymity said: This thing is not dictated by banks here.

It is dictated by banks outside the country. You normally have correspondent banks and these are the ones you do your transaction with outside the country. At the end of the day, they are very wary of banks that deal with politically exposed persons.

Several, Zanu PF officials, including ministers were placed under sanctions by the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom over cases of alleged human rights abuses.

Zanu PF has maintained that the sanctions are affecting the ordinary people and must go. Standard
Tel Aviv, April 18 : Starting from Sunday onwards, Israeli residents will no longer be required to wear a facial mask in public, in another sign that the country might be putting the worst of the coronavirus pandemic behind it.

However, the facial coverings are still required indoors, in areas where one comes into contacts with non-household members, dpa news agency.

That said, experts also think that rule might be lifted in a month thanks to sharply reduced case counts in the country.

Sunday also saw most schools completely open for the first time in a year, with students arranged in full classes, instead of in small groups.

However, masks are still required in classrooms.

Thanks to a brisk vaccination campaign, the number of new reported cases has dropped.

The number of people currently seriously sick due to Covid-19 stands at around 200.

At the end of January, the figure was around 1,200.

About 5.3 million of the country's 9 million residents have received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Nearly 5 million have received the full doses of two jabs.

However, the vaccination campaign has also stagnated, with about 1 million Israelis who are older than 16 still unvaccinated.

Experts have warned that the country has still not achieved herd immunity.

As of Sunday, Israel has reported a total of 836,882 coronavirus cases and 6,331 deaths.
A man has committed suicide by crashing his motorbike into a car after stabbing his girlfriend to death on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City this week.

The municipal Department of Public Security confirmed on Saturday that the incident took place in Cu Chi District on Friday night.

Officers were made aware of the case after local residents reported a traffic accident on Street No. 458 at around 10:00 pm.

The victim, 32-year-old N.T.H., was killed after crashing his motorcycle into an automobile.

Multiple stab wounds were also found on his body.

Police later examined his tenanted house and found the body of N.  his 25-year-old girlfriend.

Police investigation revealed that H., who hailed from the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, was a factory worker at Dong Nam Industrial Park in Cu Chi District.

He lived with N. at a rented house on Dang Thi Thua Street in Hoa Phu Ward, also in Cu Chi District.

On the night of the incident, H. stabbed his girlfriend to death before attempting to commit suicide by stabbing himself.

As the attempt failed, the man rode his motorbike at very high speed and crashed into a car traveling in the opposite direction.

H. had sent a text message to one of his relatives prior to the crash.

Further investigation is ongoing.

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US special envoy for climate John Kerry attends a news conference on March 11, in Paris. AP-Yonhap



The United States and China are "committed to cooperating" on the pressing issue of climate change, the two sides said Saturday, issuing the pledge days ahead of a key summit hosted by President Joe Biden.



The joint statement came after a trip to Shanghai by US climate envoy John Kerry, the first official from Biden's administration to visit China, signaling hopes the two sides could work together on the global challenge despite sky-high tensions on multiple other fronts.



But to achieve the global climate goal, Kerry said words must be put into action and urged China to reduce its use of coal.



"The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands," said the statement from Kerry and China's special envoy for climate change Xie Zhenhua.



It listed multiple avenues of climate cooperation between the world's top two economies which together account for nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.



It stressed "enhancing their respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement."



Both countries also "look forward" to a virtual climate summit of world leaders that Biden will host next week, though the statement did not say if Chinese President Xi Jinping would attend.



"We very much hope he will take part," Kerry, who is now in South Korea, told reporters on Sunday.



"Of course, every country will make its own decisions," he said, adding: "We're not seeking to force anybody. We're seeking cooperation."





In this July 27, 2018, file photo, the Dave Johnson coal-fired power plant is silhouetted against the morning sun in Glenrock, Wyo. AP-Yonhap



'Biggest coal user'



China currently has about half of the world's coal power, Kerry said, adding that he "talked a lot" about it with officials in Shanghai.






KMA News received nine awards--including two first-place awards--at the 2021 Iowa Broadcast News Association Awards Banquet in Johnson Saturday night. First place was in the small market radio general news category for coverage of the Essex noise control controversy, and in the small market political coverage category for a compilation of political stories.
(CNN)  The United States has reached another important milestone in the race to protect its population against the coronavirus, with more than a quarter of Americans now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

More than 84 million people  roughly 25.4% of the population  have been fully vaccinated, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Sunday.

The CDC says more than 129 million Americans have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, or roughly 39.5% of the total US population.

As of Monday, all people in the US 16 years and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine.

Experts estimate somewhere between 70-85% of the country needs to be immune to the virus -- either through inoculation or previous infection -- to suppress its spread.

But as eligibility opens up, concerns around access and vaccine hesitancy remain.

"We're reaching the point where we're getting to the hard audiences," said Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

"The ones that either are unsure or on the fence about the vaccine, don't have enough information or are just plain outright... not interested in the vaccine for other reasons," she said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN Sunday it was quite frustrating that "a disturbingly large proportion of Republicans" are saying that they don't want the vaccine.

The comments follow Fauci's heated exchange Thursday with Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan during which the Republican said coronavirus precautions infringe on first amendment rights.

"They want to be able to say these restrictions that are put on by public health recommendations are things that they're very concerned about, we're all concerned about that, we share that concern," Fauci told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union." "But the way you get rid of those restrictions is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly and as expeditiously as possible."

When this happens, "for absolutely certain" the level of virus in the community would go down to the point where the restrictions aren't needed, he said.

"It's almost paradoxical that on the one hand they want to be relieved of the restrictions, but on the other hand they don't want to get vaccinated," said Fauci. "It just almost doesn't make any sense."

J&J vaccine pause

Some experts also worry the recent Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause could fuel further vaccine hesitancy.

CDC and Food and Drug Administration officials made the recommendation over six reported US cases of a "rare and severe" type of blood clot, among more than 6.8 million Americans who took the shot.

Vaccine advisers to the CDC, after meeting last week without making a decision, have scheduled another meeting for April 23 to take up the question of whether the J&J vaccine causes blood clots and, if so, what to do about it. The group previously said they needed more information.

Fauci told CNN that he expected a decision to be made about the vaccine by Friday.

"I don't want to get ahead of the CDC and the FDA and the advisory committee, but I would imagine that what we will say is that it would come back and it would come back in some sort of either warning or restriction," he said.

Fauci said pausing was the prudent thing to do, saying "you want to make sure that you have all the information that you need."

Speaking to CNN Saturday, emergency physician and CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen also said she welcomed the pause.

"I am glad that the pause is happening because it really illustrates that our system is working, that our federal health officials are prioritizing -- more than anything else -- safety," Wen said "If they're willing to hit pause on something that's less than one in a million, we should be really reassured about their commitment to safety."

The other two Covid-19 vaccines that have also gotten the green light in the US -- Pfizer and Moderna -- are not implicated in the pause. And in the coming weeks, it will be key to continue the important messaging about their safety, Wen said, and why Covid-19 vaccinations remain critical.

"We're doing this because we have a pandemic that's claimed more than 500,000 lives here in the US," Wen added.

Fauci warned that even vaccinated Americans needed to continue with other mitigation measures, such as mask wearing.

He told CNN it was possible that someone could be vaccinated but still be infected without any signs of clinical disease. They could then inadvertently transmit the virus to someone who has not been vaccinated.

Variants and breakthrough infections, although they are unusual, are another reason to continue wearing masks, he told CNN.

"We don't want people to think that you don't dramatically diminish your risk when you get vaccinated, you absolutely do, the risk is very low, and people will make decisions about what they want to do and it will be a relative risk," he said.

Surge overwhelming Michigan hospitals

States across the country are reporting a rise in Covid-19 cases. But in one state -- Michigan -- another surge has overwhelmed hospitals and healthcare workers who were already exhausted, one local health leader says.

And there are several reasons behind the crisis.

"One, we believe the overall infection rate in Michigan was lower during the pandemic to date," Beaumont Health CEO John Fox said on CNN Saturday. "Secondly, Michigan opened up recently ... with various orders being relieved."

Officials reported last week that Beaumont Health's eight hospitals in two Detroit-area counties were 90%-95% full and the number of their Covid-19 patients jumped from 129 in late February to more than 800 patients in April.

"Unfortunately, I think people have dropped their infection control issues, they're not wearing their masks as much as they should, (or) social distancing, hand hygiene," Fox added.

Fauci told NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that the most effective way for places like Michigan to deal with big Covid-19 outbreaks was to shut down, rather than to redeploy vaccines from other states.

"The best way when you're in the middle of a real big outbreak and a big surge is really to shut down things much more so," Fauci said. "If you take vaccines from other places and move it around, you make that place vulnerable to what's going on in Michigan. That's the reason why you're not seeing a lot of remobilization of vaccines from one state to another."

Fox said the highly contagious B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant is further complicating the situation in Michigan, spreading rapidly not just in the state, but across the country.

Cases of that variant, which was first detected in the UK, have now been reported in all 50 US states, according to CDC data. Florida leads the country with the highest number of cases of the B.1.1.7 strain, followed by Michigan and Minnesota, according to the CDC data.

And with a big part of the older population vaccinated against the virus, the variant has hit younger groups hard.

"It really is presenting in all of our ERs and frankly in our inpatient units," Fox said. "We're treating younger patients than we ever saw before."

Dr. Wen says she's worried about what this could mean for Michigan and the US.

"What's happening in Michigan now could very well happen in other states," she said on CNN Saturday. "Especially because we have this more contagious B.1.1.7 variant that is now dominant in the US."

The encouraging news, Wen added, is that higher numbers of vaccinations could help blunt another potential violent surge in the country.

Looking ahead, Fauci told ABC's "This Week" Sunday that it should be clear by fall whether people will need booster shots for Covid-19.

"I believe by the time we get to the end of the summer and the beginning of the fall, we'll have a pretty good idea whether we definitely or not need to give people boosts and when we need to give it to them," he told ABC's Martha Raddatz.

Fauci said that determination would be based on the level of what would be considered a "correlative immunity," like the level of antibody. "When the slope starts coming down, you could predict when you're going to get below the safe level or you could start seeing breakthrough infections," he said.
Reporter

Ben Zigterman is a reporter covering business at The News-Gazette. His email is bzigterman@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@bzigterman).
Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
ZURICH, April 18 (Reuters) - A modified version of

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine tailored to combat a

coronavirus variant first documented in South Africa could be

ready by the end of 2021, an AstraZeneca official in Austria

said in an interview published on Sunday.

Sarah Walters, AstraZeneca's Austria country manager, told

the Kurier newspaper that studies, so far, indicating the

existing AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the more

infectious variant first documented in South Africa were "too

small to draw final conclusions".

"In the meantime, AstraZeneca and Oxford University have

started on modifications to the vaccine for the South African

variant and we expect it will be ready by the end of the year,

should it be needed," Walters told the Kurier.

Walters blamed challenges - including delivery delays for

the AstraZeneca shot in the European Union - on the "complex

process" of producing a vaccine, coupled with the extremely high

demand arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

"We had to work without keeping a supply in reserve. As a

result, we couldn't make up for unexpected events," she said.

"We are confident that we will fulfill our commitment to deliver

300 million doses to the European Union this year."

The Kurier interview did not directly address ongoing

investigations into health concerns over the AstraZeneca shot.

The EU has put a warning label on the vaccine over its possible

linkage to extremely rare blood clots, Denmark has completely

halted use of the vaccine and Britain has advised people under

30 to get another brand of vaccine.

Asked about "thousands" of people in Austria who are

cancelling their appointments for AstraZeneca shots, Walters

said the company's plan was "to continue to transparently

provide information about efficacy and safety to doctors, so

that they can adequately inform people" of benefits and risks.

British and European Union medicine regulators have said

that the overall benefits of using the vaccine outweigh any

risks of rare clotting.

(Reporting by John Miller

Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Prime Minister Florin Citu hailed on Saturday Romania's outlook upgrade by Standard & Poor's from negative to stable, pointing out that the government has "clearly and undoubtedly" gained the confidence of international institutions and foreign investors.

"Rating agency Standard & Poor's has kept Romania's sovereign rating, but more importantly, it has modified the outlook of the Romanian economy from negative to stable. From my point of view, the heroes of the Romanian economy, particularly in this difficult period, are the private companies, the entrepreneurs. They are the ones who shouldered the burden and whom I often consulted in order to make the best decisions. Without their trust, we wouldn't have succeeded. For all this, I thank them. This achievement is all the more important as it comes amid the greatest economic and health crisis in the last hundred years. This governing coalition led by PNL with USR PLUS and UDMR as partners, with a Liberal Prime Minister and a Liberal policy, has succeeded in this difficult period what the previous governments have not been able to do in times of economic growth. The PNL-led ruling coalition, with a Liberal Prime Minister, has clearly and unquestionably gained the confidence of international institutions and foreign investors," the Premier said in a news conference at the Victoria Palace of Government, agerpres.ro confirms.
Discussants at a plenary session of the National Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining have identified the lack of enforcement of laws against unregulated mining as one of the key factors responsible for illegal mining across the country.



They said influence in the work of institutions regulating the mining sector was another factor.



The discussants were a representative of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Nii Laryea Sowah; a representative of the Ministerial Committee to Develop a Blueprint for Small Scale Mining, Mr Benjamin Aryee; the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Mr Martin Ayisi; the Finance Director of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners and the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Mr Suleman Koney.



Speakers



Setting the tone for the conversation, Mr Sowah said a poor licensing regime had resulted "in the mess that we find ourselves in".



In other jurisdictions, he said, the regulatory authorities ensured that they decentralised the licensing of small-scale miners in order to regulate their activities.



He called for a vigorous sensitisation to small-scale mining, adding that with the level of illiteracy and unemployment, the best solution was to sensitise the actors to understand the level of destruction they were causing the environment.



"We generally agreed that in terms of laws, polices and institutions, Ghana can rank very high globally. But the problem is: to what extent have we enforced the requirements of this?" he asked.



"Again, very importantly, sometimes it is the influence of very influential people in the work of institutions. So these are things we found to be significant to the impediments to the goals we set ourselves," he added.



Viable places



Mr Ayisi said getting viable places for small-scale mining was the issue.



The commission, he said, had designated over 4,000 square kilometres of land and that it was not just enough to say those were places for small-scale mining.



He said there were instances where small-scale miners were allocated places, but after sometime, they moved to the concessions of other people.



Mr Ayisi said getting small-scale miners viable places to work was what the country had not done.



Mr Opoku said the number one thing that small-scale miners looked for was getting viable and mineable places to mine.



Protocol



"Sometimes when the Minerals Commission manages to cede an area for mining, you realise that before it comes down to the small-scale miners, everything is gone through protocol," he said.



He said the laws regulating mining, to some extent, was good but the enforcement was the issue, stressing that those who were supposed to enforce the laws put their selfish interests ahead of the state.



Mr Koney also said persons who would not allow the law to work were a problem, and that it was unfortunate that "we have not been able to make an example of those people".



He said it was also necessary to build the capacity of small-scale miners, saying although the University of Mines and Technology had provided some training, that needed to be deepened.



"We need to ensure that we have people who are well trained and certified who can provide extension services to the small-scale miners. It is so critical," he said.



Environment key



A former Minister of Mines and Natural Resources, Mr Inusah Fuseini, who chaired the event, said although mining contributed to the development of the nation, it must not be done to the detriment of the environment.



He said unregulated small-scale mining destroyed the environment, polluted water bodies and posed health challenges to the people in areas they were done.



"Past governments have attempted to deal with small-scale mining, all with little successes," he said.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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The Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) on Sunday said that businesses have been severely impacted, with the revenue falling by almost 50 per cent due to localised lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Many state governments have imposed restrictions and localised lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus.

"... local restrictions, closure of malls in few states, weekend curfews have impacted business, recovery, and employment associated with organised retail," the association said in a statement.

On an average during pre-Covid days, the industry was clocking Rs 15,000 crore per month and "had reached the same during mid of March 2021, but, with the local restrictions, almost 50 per cent revenue got slashed", it said.

As per the SCAI, malls across India had recovered close to 90 per cent of their business and 75 per cent of their footfalls which again dropped drastically due to the local restrictions.

The SCAI said in order to supplement the government's effort in carrying out an extensive vaccination drive, it has also approached the state governments to conduct the vaccination camps at malls.

The industry body has also urged to treat mall employees as frontline workers and should be vaccinated on priority irrespective of their age.

In the wake of rising cases of COVID-19 in Maharashtra, the state government had declared a 15-day curfew from last Wednesday, entailing stricter curbs on public activities but stopped short of announcing a full-scale lockdown.

Many other states including Delhi have announced weekend and night curfews to control the spread of COVID-19.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Line of Duty fans were left reeling after Sunday's episode saw fan favourite Ted Hastings tipped as being the elusive H again, and Ryan Pilkington left in a standoff with DI Kate Fleming.

In typical AC-12 style, a twist emerged in the form of a throwback clue to the 2019 series showing the word definitely misspelt as 'definately' in Jo Davidson's messages - a clue that previously suggested Hastings [Adrian Dunbar] could be one of the bent coppers he is so hellbent on finding.

Although fans were already left reeling with the twist, the dramatic instalment ended with another shock, with a tense cliff hanger seeing PC Pilkington [Gregory Piper] drawing his gun at and DI Fleming [Vicky McClure].

Could it be? Ted Hastings was tipped as being the elusive H yet again during Sunday night's episode of Line of Duty

One of the big shocks of the night came as Acting Detective Superintendent Jo Davidson [Kelly Macdonald] was seen sending messages to the OCG boss, with whoever the mystery messenger was, typing out 'definately'.

Back in 2019, viewers watched as 'definitely' was misspelt by whoever was talking via an online chat to season five protagonist, undercover cop John Corbett [Stephen Graham].

And while many thought it was simply a spelling blunder at first, Hastings then also went on to type 'definately' during a police hack the following week, leaving fans convinced the AC-12 Superintendent was in fact villain H.

The reappearance of the incorrectly spelt word caused some avid watchers to think that perhaps H is really the fourth man, despite him seeming to have been cleared of suspicion following his misconduct hearing last series.

Shady: Jo Davidson was seen under even more pressure as she chatted online and agreed to 'get rid' of Kate so long as it was her 'last job'

Dozens of people took to Twitter to discuss their theories over the word, with one penning: 'Ted spelled 'definitely' wrong before. If Ted is H I'm done'

While another added: 'Ted Hastings only split definitely 'DEFINATELY' but who else would know Ted spelt it like that, that's the question.'

And someone else said: 'Well we all know Ted can't spell definitely right, but Mother of God, please don't let him be the final H!'.

A clue! The word definitely was spelt wrong, with the faceless person using an A, just like Ted Hastings used back in 2019

Making things even shadier, it was during this conversation with the faceless crime boss that Davidson was told to 'get rid' of Kate.

Davidson looked distraught at the idea as she sat staring into her laptop screen, however replied saying she'd do it so long as it was the last task asked of her.

Coming through on her promise, Davidson arranged to meet Kate outside of work before changing the location at the last minute.

Reaction: Dozens of people took to Twitter to say that Ted must be H after the misspelling

LINE OF DUTY: WHO IS THE FOURTH 'H'? Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio excited fans when he shared the first clue about the plot of season six to Twitter. Uploading a snap of a packet of the Australian chocolate biscuits TimTams with the caption '#LineofDuty Series 6 Plot Clue No. 1', fans began to ferociously speculate as to what it might mean. But one plot point hanging over the next season of the show is about the identity of the ominous 'H'. While the mystery was somewhat answered in the season five finale, it was also revealed that there are FOUR people pertaining to be 'H', with the final one still unknown. So who could it be? Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell Martin) Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell Martin) She was one of season five's stand-out characters, swooping in towards the end of the series to interrogate Ted Hastings - highly suspected to be 'H' at the time. And while she simply seemed to be excellent at her job - and hellbent on uncovering the corruption within the department - could it be that Patricia Carmichael was SO keen to pin the blame on Ted to take the focus away from herself. Could SHE be the fourth 'H'? Her position of power and respect, along with her unnaturally steely and cut-throat demeanor, could well point to this. Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) Ted Hastings was pinpointed by viewers of the show, as well as the characters on the show, to be a candidate for 'H'. But it seemed he was exonerated by the end of season five, allowed to walk free. But could be potentially be triple-crossing us all? Could he in fact STILL be the potential fourth 'H'. The biggest issue with this theory is that Gill Biggeloe - one of the three revealed to be 'H' - was so against him. Surely she wouldn't be working to deter him if they were in league? UNLESS, she doesn't KNOW he is the fourth 'H'? DCC Andrea Wise (Elizabeth Rider) DCC Andrea Wise (Elizabeth Rider) Detective Chief Constable Andrea Wise was new to the show in season five and is another high-powered contender for 'H'. She has been constantly interfering when it has come to supporting AC-12s investigations, removing them from the investigation into Operation Pear Tree. She also instigated the Ted Hastings investigation. She is also keen to cover up police corruption, despite announcing at the end of season five: 'This constabulary will work tirelessly to root out rotten apples in its ranks.' PCC Rohan Sindwhani (Ace Bhatti) PCC Rohan Sindwhani (Ace Bhatti) Police and Crime Commissioner Rohan Sindwhani demanded to be 'in on' a meeting between Andrea Wise and Ted Hastings. This might be a small clue but any clue could be valid at this point. Any shady behavior suggests 'H' is at play, and so Rohan could indeed be culpable. Advertisement

In the closing moments, Kate  a goodie (at least we hope)  and PC Ryan Pilkington  a baddie through and through  are seen with their guns trained on each other.

Leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, the episode then ended after the duo and Davidson shouted at each other to drop their guns, with two gun shots heard as the screen faded to black.

Has Kate  whom we've watched snaring bent coppers over six series  been killed in the line of duty? Or has she finished off corrupt and psychopathic Pilkington?

And if she's only wounded, will DI Steve Arnott  Kate's partner in crime-fighting  manage to save her?

Drama: Sunday's show also saw a very tense ending after Davidson lured Kate to an isolated lorry park

Kate had managed to send him a text just before the intense final scene, however it remains to be seen if he makes it to her in time to help and catch Ryan.

Also during Sunday's show Davidson's DNA match was revealed, with it being discovered that she's related to Tommy Hunter.

Several viewers had guessed that Davidson would be related to Hunter after last weeks show.

Will she make it? Kate was seen holding up her gun, after concealing a weapon all episode, but the show finished before viewers could discover what happened to her

And Steve Arnott confirmed the news that they shared a 'partial match' on Sunday after Kate was called into AC-12 to hear the shock result.

Kate was visibly taken aback by the update, with Ted having to tell her that Davidson had 'pulled the wool over her eyes' during their Gail Vella investigation.

Hunter, a crime boss turned informant, was murdered by the OCG (Organised Crime Group) in series two.

However, many fans pointed out that there is no way to be sure that Tommy (Brian McCardle) actually ever died because his body was wrapped in bandages during series two.

Bad: Ryan Pilkington was confident as he told Kate the gun wouldn't be traced but seemed spooked by the idea of having been under surveillance

Despite this potentially being true, it wasn't cleared-up on Sunday with the plot instead focussing on Davidson being drawn further into the OCG's shady dealings.

While elsewhere in the show, another twist saw the addition to the cast of James Nesbitt, though only as a photo.

He plays Marcus Thurwell, a detective in the racist killing of Lawrence Christopher  a storyline that appears to be based on the real-life murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Thurwell was also featured in another earlier series as the SIO investigating the death of social worker Oliver Stephens Lloyd.

Nail-biting: Twitter was flooded with wild reaction from fans, who demanded bosses show the next episode now, as the suspense was too much to wait another week to see the outcome

His appearance on the show came as a shock to viewers, as he had previously lied about being 'snubbed' for the part.

Speaking with The Sun, James said: 'I had a lot of fun saying how Jed has snubbed me for Line Of Duty, all the while knowing our little secret.'

In February, it was reported he felt 'galled' about never being asked to appear in Line of Duty despite being from Northern Ireland and the show being filmed in Belfast.

The Cold Feet star told the Radio Times: 'Even though Line Of Duty had been shot here for years I was never considered for it, which has always slightly galled me.'

Look what you've caused: Davidson seemed genuinely distraught when she thought Kate could be shot, however it was her messages that got her in the position

However, James explained after Sunday's show that it was all a ploy cooked up by himself and Jed to keep fans off the trail of his role on the hit police show.

And when Jed asked him to appear on the show, he was filming Bloodlands in Belfast, creating the perfect cover story for if he was seen around the city.

Jed said: 'It was easier to keep it secret by plotting the scheme between the two of us... It worked brilliantly, because everyone thought he was genuinely annoyed.'

James added: 'I've kept it to myself for over a year and couldn't even tell my closest friends or family.'

It's a MATCH: Davidson's relative ended up being Tommy Hunter of series two

Devoted fans of the show had been tipped off to a mystery star joining the cast during the week after a spoiler was leaked on Tuesday night.

BBC Maestro, a hub for budding screenwriters, inadvertently uploaded a post revealing a brand new character and a key plot twist.

On Sunday's episode pictures were shown of James' character in Spain, however the team actually filmed the scene in Belfast.

Shock: James Nesbitt made a surprise appearance in the police show on Sunday night as character Marcus Thurwell, who was first mentioned in series three

Theories: Several fans theorised that Thurwell and Hastings might have a connection, with them both being Irish, in the upcoming episodes

Committing to the ruse, Jed even revealed to the publication that he told members of the public that James was modelling for a catalogue when he was spotted shooting in shorts at Belfast Marina.

The writer added that they had some practice in fooling fans about actors making surprise appearances as Keeley Hawes reappeared in series three unexpectedly.

James' character Marcus Thurwell is a detective who worked on the racist killing of Lawrence Christopher  a storyline that appears to be based on the real-life murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

In hiding? The shady detective was last known to be in Spain, with writer Jed revealing they filmed the scene at Belfast Marina

The fictional case was being investigated by journalist Gail Vella, whose killing is the focus of the current run.

Several fans theorised that Thurwell and Hastings might have a connection, with them both being Irish, in the upcoming episodes.

One person said: 'Calling it now, #TedHastings was at police college with #Thurwell #JamesNesbitt in NI #LineOfDuty.'

And another tweeted: 'What are the odds on Hastings having known James Nessbits character in NI?'

While a third pointed the to misspelling of definitely, as they wrote: 'James Nesbitt is definately going to have a Northern Ireland accent next week on #LineOfDuty - just like Ted.'

Piecing it together: Steve Arnott connected the dots to realise Thurwell was connected to AC-12s earlier case involving a paedophile ring

Elsewhere in the episode, DCI Patricia Carmichael also returned to AC-12, launching into a rant against Hastings and saying the team doesn't have strong evidence against Ian Buckles.

She also ordered that all of AC-12's surveillance operations- on Ryan Pilkington, Jo Davidson and Terry Boyle -be halted because of 'budget' costs.

However could this mean she's actually H? Cancelling the surveillance suggests that Pilkington and Davidson weren't followed ahead of meeting Kate, something the OCG would only benefit from.

Villain: Elsewhere in the episode, DCI Patricia Carmichael also returned to AC-12, launching into a rant against Hastings and saying the team doesn't have strong evidence against Buckles
The gunman in an Indianapolis shooting that left eight people dead at a FedEx facility browsed White supremacist websites a little over a year before the attack, police said.

In March 2020, the mother of gunman Brandon Hole contacted police because she was worried about his behavior after he purchased a gun, according to recently released details from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). She told police he told her 'he was going to point a recently purchased shotgun at police officers so they would shoot him.' And when police went to their home, they observed he had visited White supremacist websites, the report said.

Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the shooting.

In an attack that lasted only a matter of minutes, Hole opened fired at the facility near Indianapolis' main airport before taking his own life Thursday night. Of the eight people killed in the violence, four were members of the area's Sikh community, Maninder Singh Walia, a member of the Sikh community in Indianapolis, told CNN on Friday.

The attack marks at least the 50th mass shooting -- defined as four or more casualties excluding the shooter -- since the Atlanta-area spa shootings March 16. It was the US's deadliest shooting since 10 people were killed March 22 at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado.

The case has also raised concerns over access to guns, as Hole had his gun seized in the 2020 incident.

After his mother told officers on March 3 that she feared for her safety after her son purchased a gun a day earlier, the IMPD detained Hole, seized the gun, put him on an immediate mental health temporary hold and then transported him to a local hospital for evaluation, the police report said.

As Hole was being placed in handcuffs, he became anxious and said, 'Please just turn the power strip off on my computer' and 'I don't want anyone to see what's on it,' according to the report. One officer, who was described as clearing the upstairs and securing the shotgun, 'observed what through his training and experience' were White supremacist websites, the report said.

Limitations of red flag laws

Despite the temporary mental health hold in March, Hole was able to legally purchase assault rifles in July and September 2020, Indianapolis police said.

The case 'illustrates the limitations' of state law, The Marion County, Indiana, Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Monday.

Mears said the state's Jake Laird Red Flag gun law allows police to seize and hold firearms from individuals undergoing mental health issues, but the state only has 14 days to file a petition requesting a person be designated as having a violent propensity or mental instability.

Because the shotgun taken from Hole's home had been secured and the family didn't want it back, prosecutors felt they 'achieved' the objective of the law, Mears said. If the state had filed a petition, the court might have determined prosecutors didn't have legal authority to keep the weapon.

'In this particular case, the petition was not filed because the family in this particular case had agreed to forfeit the firearm that was in question and they were not going to pursue the return of that firearm,' Mears said.

Mears said the state didn't have access 'to anything to indicate that (Hole) had had a history or documented diagnosis of mental illness.'

'We have 14 days under the statute and because we have 14 days our ability to have access to meaningful medical history, meaningful mental health records, is severely limited.' Indiana law allows a person 30 days to respond to a subpoena, Mears said.

'The sad reality is that during the pendency of these matters there's nothing prohibiting someone from purchasing a firearm, that's just the sad truth,' Mears said.

8 killed and 4 people still hospitalized

On Friday night, Indianapolis police released the names of the eight deceased victims. They were Matthew R. Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jasvinder Kaur, 50; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Karli Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.

Four individuals remained hospitalized Monday with injuries sustained in the attack, FedEx said.

While the shooter's motive isn't yet known, 'he targeted a facility known to be heavily populated by Sikh employees, and the attack is traumatic for our community as we continue to face senseless violence,' said Satjeet Kaur, executive director of the Sikh Coalition.

That sentiment was echoed in a letter to the Biden administration Saturday, in which the Sikh Coalition wrote, 'It was no accident that the shooter targeted this particular FedEx facility where he had worked and knew was overwhelmingly staffed by Sikhs.'

Two of the victims, Sekhon and Kaur, were relatively new to Indianapolis and were working the overnight shift at the FedEx facility when they were killed, said Rimpi Girn, an Indianapolis resident who knew them.

Sekhon, after immigrating to the US in 2004, moved to Indiana in 2019 from Ohio to be closer to family and relatives, said Girn, a close family friend. Sekhon leaves a husband and two sons, ages 13 and 19, Girn said.

Kaur, who immigrated to the US in 2018, was the breadwinner for her family, according to Girn. Sekhon drove Kaur to work because Kaur didn't have a driver's license, Girn said.

As of late Sunday night, a verified GoFundMe campaign for the families of the victims set up by the National Compassion Fund has raised more than $1 million, with FedEx donating $1 million.

The fund said 100% of the donations 'will go to the families and those affected by the tragedy.'
Like the rest of the country, Floridas vaccination drive is moving fast. As of Saturday, more than 7.9 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered in the state, with 38% of the population having received at least one shot, while almost 24% are now fully vaccinated. This is according to the latest report by the Florida Health Department.

According to the report, 526,166 people have received the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine (which is now on pause as federal authorities investigate its possible links to a rare blood clot disorder suffered by six recipients of the jab in the US), while another 4,486,166 people have completed the two-dose series needed for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Based on current projections, Florida will half of its population vaccinated by 16 June; 75% by 31 July and 85% by 3 September.

Who is eligible for a vaccine in Florida?

On April 5, Florida expanded Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 years old and over. All individuals under the age of 18 receiving a vaccine must be accompanied by a guardian and complete the Covid-19 vaccine screening and consent form. You can download a copy here. Vaccines are free to eligible residents.

Full screen Camila Gutierrez, a junior at Florida International University, receives a Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine from Jason Rodriguez, a pharmacy student, at the Jackson Memorial Hospital on April 15, 2021 in Miami, Florida. JOE RAEDLE (AFP)

Vaccine appointments in Florida

Florida has many sites that are providing Covid-19 vaccines, including hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies and federal mass vaccination sites.

But although vaccine eligibility has been expanded to all adults, supplies are limited and appointments may not be available at several of these sites.

Florida residents looking for a vaccine should also be aware that some locations are only serving very specific populations, such as frontline health care workers. Appointments are required and vaccine availability will vary from day to day and week to week.

Where can I get a vaccine in Florida?

You can find a location near you by using the states vaccine locator tool.

Pharmacies, health clinics and medical providers

You can find some but not all of the participating hospital and pharmacies using the vaccine locator tool. You can also visit the websites of the participating pharmacies CVS, Publix Pharmacy, Winn-Dixie, Harveys and Fresco y Mas to find out more about booking appointments. The Publix Pharmacy registration portal opens Fridays at 7 a.m. for people looking to book appointments during the upcoming week.

Local health departments

Contact your county health department to find out where you can get a vaccine. You can pre-register to get a vaccine through MyVaccine.fl.gov.

Federal mass vaccination sites

To schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination site, you can pre-register online or call county pre-registration hotlines if you don't have internet access.

Keep up to date with Florida vaccine developments

You can keep up to the date with all vaccine-related developments using the states COVID-19 vaccine website for more information or alternatively text FLCOVID19 to 888777.
Under a vaulted stone ceiling, in a castle chapel replete with long dead kings and queens, a new widow is compelled to face not just the sorrow of loss, but also of a future bereft.

Alone in her carved seat in the Quire of St Georges Chapel, the Queen said goodbye to Prince Philip, the man who had been at her side for nearly 75 years  and each of those years a triumph of devotion and pragmatism.

Their marriage was a victory of constancy that few of their children were able to emulate, theirs was a union that proved itself in unbreakable alliance and mutual respect.

But what next for the Queen, without her beloved consort at her side?

On Saturday, a UK television audience of over 13million saw HM looking more frail and vulnerable than we have ever seen her before. There was a stumble as she walked through the Galilee Porch entrance to meet the Dean of Windsor, then a perplexed pause as she turned and looked searchingly behind. For what or whom?

Alone in her carved seat in the Quire of St Georges Chapel, the Queen said goodbye to Prince Philip, the man who had been at her side for nearly 75 years  and each of those years a triumph of devotion and pragmatism

There was the heart-stopping thought that it might have been for her lifelong shadow, Prince Philip; a backwards glance born of habit and his steadfast fealty, underpinned by a lifetimes knowledge that he would always be there, two steps behind, no matter what.

More likely it was for her lady in waiting, Lady Susan Hussey. She had travelled with the Queen in the State Bentley on this saddest of days on the loneliest of journeys, from castle to chapel to bury a husband.

Yet once inside, she was nowhere to be seen and the Queen still seemed violently alone. Covid restrictions meant that no one was close enough to comfort her, not even with a reassuring pat on the arm.

In this, HM was no different from many, many thousands of the bereaved who have had to endure not just the loss of loved ones but the emotional privations of socially distanced funerals during the pandemic.

However, I doubt that the Queen would have wanted special dispensation, had there been any on offer.

Their marriage was a victory of constancy that few of their children were able to emulate, theirs was a union that proved itself in unbreakable alliance and mutual respect

Like her mother before her, who felt she could look the East End in the face after Buckingham Palace was bombed in 1940, what is good enough for the Queens subjects is good enough for the Queen.

Still, she looked so tiny and isolated in her quarantined grief, with only a thin visor of sorrowing eyes visible under a black hat, black coat and behind a black mask.

Somehow the Queen seemed to have shrunk before our very eyes, concertinaed and deflated inside her mourning clothes on her desolate wooden perch.

Her trusty Launer handbag was placed next to her, on the seat where the Duke of Edinburgh always sat.

Prince Philip was 99 when he died and illness had diminished much of his last year. Yet even when death is expected it can still be shocking  and the effect on the Royal Family seems to have been profound.

But what next for the Queen, without her beloved consort at her side?

Between the bugles and the bagpipes on Saturday, you could see and feel the sadness that rippled through them all, not just the Queen.

It was as if someone had taken an axe to the mast of the good ship Mountbatten-Windsor, and felled it in one stroke.

And in the end this was a deeply moving occasion in both private and public ways.

The beauty of the military choreography, the band of the Grenadier Guards sounding the great drumbeat, the presence of Philips riding carriage and the beloved pair of fell ponies who saw him make his final journey. On the carriage seat lay his cap and his gloves. It was as if he had been vaporised.

There were many moments like this when those who had never even met Prince Philip wept tears at his passing.

It is of course a tragedy for the Queen, but many of us feel a great loss, too. For accompanying his death is a sense that something precious has gone and gone for ever; that the baton has been passed to a very different generation. A generation that was born in peacetime, coddled by prosperity, unknowing of the uncertainties and deprivations that came before.

Prince Philip went to war, he captained a destroyer, he saw men die, he saved lives. He was there at the Japanese surrender, he attended the coronation of King Juan Carlos of Spain following the death of Franco, he attended John F Kennedys funeral.

Perhaps we feel his loss so keenly because something vanishes with him, something that can never be replaced. And if we feel that loss, what must it be like for the 94-year-old Queen?

When the service was over and Prince Philip had slipped from public gaze for ever, the Queen picked up her handbag and returned to her home in a corner of Windsor Castle.

There was no wake or communal cup of tea after the funeral to help her through the bleakness. Covid put paid to that, too.

So once more the Queen was alone and what did she do? Like the stoic countrywoman she is at heart, she put on a warm coat and took her dogs for a walk.

Despite the fragility of her appearance and the sadness of the hour, the Queen remains a woman not to be underestimated.

Let us not forget that on her 21st birthday, the then Princess Elizabeth promised that her whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.

Following her coronation in 1953, she talked not only of a husband who shares all my ideals but also pledged to the nation that throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.

Next year is Her Majestys Platinum Jubilee and that is now her focus. Inimitably she marches forward towards that, one step after the other, one day at a time.

At Prince Philips specific request, buglers played the naval Action Stations battle cry at the end of his funeral. The Queen knows why  and she is not done yet.
Google has reportedly decided to put up as much as $267.5 million to fund efforts related to getting more people the Covid-19 vaccination. That wont just be in the US either. In fact, the company will provide both funds and ad grants to vaccine education bodies as well as direct funding to governments. Public health organizations will be on the receiving end too, with those funds going toward vaccine-related announcements.

What is Google going to fund, exactly, to drive global vaccination efforts?

Googles goal here appears to be serving countries and communities that may otherwise be overlooked. To that end, as much as $2.5-million in funding will go to community organizations, including those serving vaccine-hesitant communities. More specifically, that will go from Google.org to Partners in Health, Stop the Spread, and Team Rubicon. And those organizations will be working directly with more than 500 community-based organizations serving Black, Latino, and rural communities.

That portion of the funding, Google Healths Chief Health Officer Karen DeSalvo explains, will go toward things like pop-up vaccination sites as well. And, taking things a step further, Google Cloud is launching an expanded virtual agent as part of its Intelligent Vaccine Impact solution (IVIs). That will, in turn, help people schedule vaccination appointments and ask questions via a virtual agent. With that agent being available in 28 languages and dialects.

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To ensure that IVIs is readily accessible, regardless of connectivity, it will be available in chat, text, web, mobile, or over phone calls.

The bulk of Googles endeavor will be on the ad front

Now, the bulk of Googles clout is in ads. That is, after all, its primary business. So thats where the company plans to put forward the most effort too. Google is committing $15-million in Ad Grants to that end, which will be used to fund education communications regarding vaccinations. The grants will go to Gavi and The Vaccine Alliance.

Gavi hopes to use the funds to gain vaccines for countries that dont necessarily have the means to gain them as part of COVAX. And Google will be providing technical assistance at no cost for that endeavor as well as providing matching for employee donations towards Gavi.

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Lastly, Google will fund PSAs by public health organizations in both English and non-English-speaking communities. To that end, its committing $250 million in Ad grants. That will, Google says, help fund 2.5 billion vaccine-related PSAs.
Hidrostank, a leading Spanish company supplying building materials for civil works, said it had recently delivered innovative modular pullboxes for the Dumat Al Jandal wind farm, a first-of-its kind facility in Saudi Arabia.

A specialist in providing innovative solutions to boost the performance of construction, Hidrostank said on completion, Dumat Al Jandal is set to become the largest in the Middle East.

The Spanish group said it had achieved a key construction milestone with the arrival of 20 wind turbines at the port of Duba.

The 400 MW wind power project is being developed by a consortium of EDF Renewables and Masdar.

Construction began last August on the project and commercial operations are due in the first quarter of 2022.

Hidrostank said it has been working closely with the technicians of the awarded EPC to define the best solution for the electrical, telecommunication and CCTV ducting access chambers.

The Dumat Al Jandal wind farm will supply electricity under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Saudi Power Procurement Company.

For several years, Hidrostank has been collaborating in the execution of photovoltaic, thermosolar and wind power plants, where the advantages of its cable pits (easy transport, handling and installation, combined with their high resistance) make it possible to meet, and in some cases shorten, the demanding execution deadlines.-TradeArabia News Service
In alleys criss-crossing the Libyan capital's Old City, construction crews are hard at work restoring former glory to architectural treasures neglected under ex-dictator Moamer Kadhafi and in the decade since.

Pushing wheelbarrows, a clutch of workers ferry sand, dismembered concrete or gravel, and others dig or hammer away, bent double or down on one knee.

The din of pick axes stops suddenly, however, as calls to prayer echo around the ancient buildings. Workers down tools in silence, while cafes empty, as everyone heads to their place of worship.

The substantial restoration underway seeks to "preserve the heritage of the Old City" in Tripoli, said Mahmoud al-Naas, head of the management committee overseeing the project.

Covering around 50 hectares (123 acres), the Old City is an "architectural joy" -- but this makes the "enormous" work required a "heavy responsibility", he said.

The project, funded largely by the state, comes as Libya is undergoing a tentative political renewal.

A new prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, was selected earlier this year through a UN-backed inter-Libyan dialogue to steer the North African country to December elections, bringing hope that unrelenting chaos since Kadhafi was ousted and killed in 2011 might finally end.

- 'Revive the soul' -

Unlike past restoration work -- including largely unsupervised and sometimes botched attempts in the mid-1990s and about a decade later -- latest efforts ban cement and concrete, wherever possible.

Lime-based mixtures are used to generate an authentic look during plastering, while basalt cobblestones replace asphalt streets.

Built by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC, Tripoli's Old City has passed from civilisation to civilisation, notably the ancient Greeks, Romans and the Ottoman empire.

When Kadhafi decided to ban private sector-led development in the late 1970s, workshops and speciality stores alike lowered their curtains for good.

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In an instant, know-how that had been passed down from generation to generation was painfully rendered obsolete.

Long-resident families gradually drifted away, despite fleeting attempts to stop the rot in the 1990s.

"So many trades just vanished," lamented Hajj Mokhtar, a white-bearded trader who sells mens' wear and reserves particular distaste for cheap imports.

But others look to a brighter future.

Mohamad al-Ghariani, 76, an artist and painter who owns a gallery in the sector, said the ongoing "improvements... revive the soul of the city that we knew as children".

"The restoration is progressing from district to district," he said, pointing with enthusiasm to the restoration of a cultural centre for children, known as Dar Krista.

Built in 1977, it is named after renowned Tripolitan artist Abdallah Krista, who produced songs and cartoons for children, and sits within a group of buildings originally erected in 1664 by Osman Pasha Karamalli, descendant of the Ottoman dynasty that ruled Tripoli for centuries.

Exemplifying the cultural diversity of the Mediterranean city, another part of the complex still houses the Greek Orthodox St. George, the oldest Orthodox church in North Africa, alongside a so-called Turkish prison, built in 1664 by Osman Pasha to hold Christians captured by the Ottomans.

A few parts of the Old City's east side have withstood the ravages of time.

The gold and silk markets still attract custom to their covered alleyways and arcades, while its citadel serves as a museum.

Then there is the famed Arch of Marcus Aurelius, its date palms and the minaret of the Gurgi Mosque -- the perfect backdrop for a souvenir snap.

- 'Everyone counts' -

Forsaken corners that up until lately served as open dumps have morphed into huge construction sites overseen by architects, historians, specialist tradesmen and artists.

"The opinion and expertise of everyone counts," said one resident, Al-Mahdi Abdallah.

Squatters who for many years occupied numerous abandoned buildings have been moved on, often leaving their own haphazard building work or ruins in their wake.

In some places, the walls of old buildings awaiting facelifts are bolstered by wooden beams that extend across alleyways like bridges.

Defying the dangers of a dugout street, children dart around at full pelt, as an adult scolds them.

But "all the elders are keeping an eye on them", so they are safe, noted Abdallah.

"That's the benefit of living in this community, which, little by little, is putting itself together again."

The already refurbished waterfront at the northern edge now boasts pavements and a completed road.

Gone are the potholes that turned the street into a muddy alley on rainy days.

The facelift mirrors signs of political progress in the conflict-wracked country.

Dbeibah's new government replaced two rival administrations based in Tripoli and the country's east, the latter loyal to military strongman Khalifa Haftar whose forces tried but failed to seize the capital in a 2019-20 offensive.

"The Old City is coming back to us," rejoiced Mohamad Nasser, whose seafront shop selling fishing and diving gear is a prime beneficiary of the restoration work.

"It was about time!"

rb/dwo/hc
Ericsson ranks highest in the 5G network infrastructure market on the latest Frost Radar,

leveraging its current leadership in 4G network infrastructure market.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the 5G network infrastructure market includes radio access networks (RAN), transport networks and core networks, which may include one or more edge networks.

In its latest report, Frost & Sullivan independently plotted the top 20 companies from a field of more than 100 global industry participants. These companies either lead the market overall, lead a market segment, or were thought leaders in certain segments.

The Frost Radar reveals the market position of companies in a particular industry using their Growth and Innovation scores as highlighted in the Frost Radar methodology.

Jan Karlsson, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Services, Ericsson, says: Recognition as the leader in Frost & Sullivans Frost Radar on Global 5G Network Infrastructure highlights anew Ericssons technology leadership, market competitiveness, innovation and most importantly, our commitment to our customers. We continue to invest heavily in 5G to ensure that we have the best portfolio of network infrastructure and skilled professionals to meet our customers needs.

The Frost Radar measures growth rates and absolute revenue and then combines them with several other factors to measure a companys performance along the Growth axis. The Frost Radar also measures innovation for each company by assessing its product portfolio, examining how scalable its innovations are and looking at the efficacy of its R&D strategy, as well as other factors.

The Radars Growth Index (GI) is a measure of a companys growth performance and track record along with its ability to develop and execute a fully aligned growth strategy and vision by looking at its growth pipeline system as well as its effective market, competitor, and end-user focused sales and marketing strategies.

Commenting about Ericsson and the Growth Index, Troy Morley, Senior Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivans Information & Communication Technology group, says: As a leader in the 4G infrastructure market, Ericsson enters the 5G market with a large customer base. The company has done an excellent job keeping its current customers and adding new customers: it reports 118 commercial 5G agreements and 68 publicly announced 5G contracts. Ericsson maintains a significant pipeline of customers that have yet to move to 5G but will over the coming years. Ericsson has spent the last few years adjusting its overall strategy to focus on profitability. The company recently indicated that the turnaround has been successful, and the company has significantly improved profitability and its financial position.

The Radars Innovation Index is a measure of a companys ability to develop products /services / solutions (with a clear understanding of disruptive Mega Trends) that are globally applicable, are able to evolve and expand to serve multiple markets and are aligned to customers changing needs.

With regard to Ericsson and the Innovation Index, Morley says: Ericsson has proven its ability to scale its innovations globally with 2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G. For 5G, the company currently reports 72 live 5G networks in 37 countries (the highest level Frost & Sullivan has seen publicly reported). The company invests significant amounts in R&D; this is essential in a market where technology is always evolving. Ericssons product portfolio includes all areas of 5G network infrastructure as well as previous generations of network infrastructure. The company will soon offer open and virtual RAN solutions in addition to its traditional RAN solutions. The CSP market is Ericssons primary focus; the companys strategy continues to centre on evolving CSP needs in all areas of the world.

Morley says that Ericsson continues to improve its already impressive 5G portfolio. Ericsson has evolved its end-to-end 5G offerings to include the Ericsson Radio System, 5G Core, Orchestration and 5G Transport as well as professional services. The company has introduced innovative software solutions such as Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, 5G carrier aggregation and Uplink Booster, to significantly improve coverage, user throughput and spectral efficiency.

These solutions support service providers in deploying and evolving 5G to ensure the best end-user experience. In addition, Ericsson Radio System products delivered since 2015 can support 5G New Radio (NR) capability through remote software installation.

Ericsson Digital Services offers a cloud native dual-mode 5G Core solution for smarter networks to drive smarter business, allowing communications service providers to offer a multitude of new business opportunities for mobile users and industries. Ericsson network automation solutions will improve network efficiency, performance, customer experience and enable new revenue streams for new 5G use cases.

Ericssons dual-mode 5G Core solution combines an Evolved Packet Core and 5G Core network functions into a common cloud-native platform that supports 5G NR Standalone and Non-standalone, plus 4G, 3G and 2G. -- Tradearabia News Service
Mumbai, April 18 : Living through a lockdown doesn't mean you have to give up on your daily workout regime, suggested Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Kareena took to social media on Sunday to inspire fans to continue working out amid the lockdown like situation in the state.

The actress shared a photograph of her smartwatch on Instagram which shows she has walked 5605 steps or 5.11 kilometres since morning.

"Lockdown doesn't mean giving up," Kareena captioned the photo.

Kareena's post mentioning "lockdown" comes at a time when Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has imposed lockdown like restrictions starting 8 p.m. on April 14, till April 30, to break the chain of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic which has gripped the state.

On the work front, Kareena along with filmmaker Karan Johar, actors Pratik Gandhi, Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora will showcase culinary skills in a newly launched show called "Star Vs Food" on Discovery+.

Kareena will next be seen alongside Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan in the upcoming film "Laal Singh Chaddha".

The Advait Chandan directorial is an official adaptation of the 1994 Hollywood hit "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks, and is set to release later this year.
Tough times call for tough and helpful actions. And with the number of COVID-19 cases increasing day by day, it's important to provide help to those needy families who are suffering from this deadly pandemic.

A lot of gurudwaras and other companies are extending help by serving langars and providing food to needy families. One such company is JustMyRoots. Based out of Gurugram, the company has partnered with a few kitchens across Delhi NCR to provide hygienically prepared and less spicy daily COVID meals for families who are under quarantine.

The details of the package include meals for both lunch and dinner, comprising dal, sabzi, rice, and roti, delivered at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm respectively. The cost of a daily COVID-19 meal starts at Rs 459 per person.

You can also download the app from Google Play Store and then order food or can simply call on the numbers- 8384030811, 8800581637, and 8800581647.

Besides that in Mumbai, Lions Club, ISKON and Indian Development Foundation have come together to help people in these devastating times and started Food for Hope to give mid-day meals in Malvani, one of the densest slum habitations in the city. Amidst all the challenges residents have been battling, COVID-10 outbreak has ravaged the place, destroyed livelihood and lives, read the statement.

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MEDINA, Ohio -- Each quarter, 100+ Women Who Care Medina selects a local charity to support. This quarters donation goes to Operation Homes.

Operation Homes was one of three organizations randomly chosen to share its mission with the 100+ Women at its April 13 Zoom meeting. Also in the running were Feeding Medina County and the Lodi Family Center.

In the 10 years of the clubs existence, the members have donated $345,854 to Medina County 501c3 charitable groups. The groups simple but efficient plan utilizes a one-hour meeting four times a year, during which the membership votes on one of three charitable groups chosen to present their needs.

The winning organization usually is awarded between $8,000 and $10,000. There are no administrative costs, so all of the money donated goes directly to the charity.

The proceeds from the January meeting -- $8,976 -- were presented to Medina Cares. Danica Ziese, co-president of Medina Cares, explained that her group used the funds to provide financial assistance to residents who are experiencing a medical crisis. Funding was used for expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation and medical bills.

Sue Simmons presented information about Operation Homes, a program that partners with local churches to provide shelter, food and life skills programs for homeless residents. The group is solely funded through fundraisers and personal donations and receives no government subsidies.

Because churches have been shut down as part of COVID-19 protocols, the organization has had to house the homeless in local motels, greatly increasing their expenses since June 2020.

Katy Fuerst, executive director of Feeding Medina County, made the presentation for her organization. Its goal is to create an environment in which no one goes hungry. The pandemic has increased the number of food-insecure residents in the county. The funds would have helped pay for Weekender Bags for students, Staples for Seniors and food distribution to struggling residents.

Rebecca Rak shared information about the Lodi Family Center, which offers a safe place for families to have fun and hang out with their friends. It provides afterschool programs for working parents, a food pantry, parenting programs and connections to other community resources. The food pantry has seen an increase in the number of people served, from 2,000 per year to 20,000 during the past year, serving over 565 families.

100+ Women Who Care member Krista Wasowski, who is also the Medina County health commissioner, announced that the group will probably be able to meet in person at the next quarterly meeting, at 7 p.m. July 13.

To learn more about the group, visit www.100womenwhocaremedina.com or email 100womenmedina@gmail.com.

Read more from the Medina Sun.
Two provinces will offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 40 and over starting Tuesday, officials announced Sunday following days of mounting pressure to lower the minimum age.

Two provinces will offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 40 and over starting Tuesday, officials announced Sunday following days of mounting pressure to lower the minimum age.

Alberta and Ontario had previously stuck to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization's recommendation to offer the AstraZeneca shot to those 55 and over due to a slightly elevated risk of an extremely rare blood clot disorder.

But as hospitalizations surged to unprecedented levels in Ontario and Alberta saw unparalleled rates of COVID-19, their governments announced matching plans to expand eligibility.

"Alberta is lowering the minimum age to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from 55 to 40," Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted on Sunday night. "This decision is based on growing scientific knowledge about the vaccine."

He said more information would come Monday, and bookings would open Tuesday.

The office of Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott made a similar announcement hours earlier.

"Based on current supply, Ontario will begin offering the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to individuals aged 40 and over at pharmacy and primary care settings across the province effective Tuesday," spokeswoman Alexandra Hilkene said in an email.

The statement came after Elliott's federal counterpart told a news conference that such a move was well within the provinces' jurisdiction.

"NACI provides advice to provinces and territories," Health Minister Patty Hajdu said. "They can adjust their use for AstraZeneca as per their desire and the advice from their own public health authorities and medical expertise."

She noted that Health Canada has licensed the AstraZeneca shot for use in people over the age of 18.

"NACI continues to review the advice on AstraZeneca use and will have updated guidance in the very near future," Hajdu added.

Anthony Dale, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, tweeted that there is "'surplus supply at risk of expiring."

The head of the Ontario Pharmacists Association said most AstraZeneca doses in Ontario don't expire until the end of May, but that a timer starts ticking as soon as a vial  which contains 10 doses  is punctured.

"Once a vial is punctured, it is only viable for up to 48 hours when stored in a fridge or six hours when not in the fridge," Justin Bates said.

He said vaccine hesitancy around AstraZeneca has led to last-minute appointment cancellations, meaning some of those doses could go to waste  something pharmacists are working hard to avoid.

Many Ontario physicians took to social media to express their frustration with the province's lack of action on the issue ahead of Sunday's announcement.

"Pharmacies, listen up. DO NOT WASTE A SINGLE DOSE OF THE AZ VACCINE. Explain the risk and obtain informed consent to administer to people under age 55," Dr. Brian Goldman said in a tweet Sunday.

Dr. Irfan Dhalla, vice-president of Unity Health Toronto, agreed.

"Its hard to imagine the provincial government coming after pharmacies or family doctors for using AZ in people (under) 55," he tweeted.

Later, he praised Elliott's decision and urged the province to send more to COVID-19 hot spots.

Steven Del Duca, who heads up the Liberal party in the province, took that call even further.

"Doug Ford must release the AstraZeneca vaccine from pharmacy freezers and get it into the arms of anyone over 18 in a hot spot," he tweeted Sunday. "(Patty Hajdu) was clear: there is nothing stopping him from getting shots into arms."

Those in Alberta had made similar calls.

"It sounds like Alberta is having trouble using its AstraZeneca. Lower the minimum age; Gen X can help!" Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, tweeted earlier in the week.

Some have been hesitant to get the AstraZeneca vaccine due to a rare blood clotting condition, which has thus far affected two Canadians  one in Quebec and one in Alberta.

More than 700,000 doses of AstraZeneca have been administered in this country.

The global frequency of the blood clot disorder, known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT, has been estimated at about one case in 100,000 to 250,000 doses.

The risk of developing blood clots due to COVID-19 is much higher, and experts say people should accept the first vaccine they're offered.

Meanwhile, the federal government announced Sunday that it was mobilizing its own resources and co-ordinating with lesser-hit provinces to send health-care workers and other support to help Ontario as it battles record-breaking COVID-19 numbers.

It wasn't immediately clear how the Ontario government would respond to Ottawa's offer.

Hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care units continued to reach record heights in the province, which reported 4,250 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours.

Ontario announced a number of new restrictions to quell the skyrocketing numbers, but has faced pressure to roll back limits on outdoor activities, which critics have said will do little to stop the spread.

Meanwhile, data released by Canada's chief public health officer indicated the average daily number of hospitalizations and deaths in the country jumped by more than 30 per cent between April 9 and 15 compared to the week before.

The latest national figures showed an average of 3,428 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent seven-day reporting period, representing a 34 per cent increase over the week before.

An average of 41 people died each day during the same stretch, which is 38 per cent higher than the previous week.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said cases, test positivity rates and intensive care admissions are all rising as Canada battles a wave of COVID-19 that is driven by more contagious virus variants.

Quebec, meanwhile, reported more than 1,300 new infections in the past 24 hours.

Nunavut counted three new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 22 active cases.

Prince Edward Island recorded three new cases, while Nova Scotia logged seven and New Brunswick added 10.

Farther west, Manitoba recorded 170 new cases of the virus and one added death, while Saskatchewan counted 289 new cases and one death.

Alberta, which is currently dealing with the highest rate of COVID-19 per capita in Canada, reported 1,516 new cases of the virus and three more deaths.

As of Sunday evening, Alberta's rate of active COVID-19 cases was 405.6 per 100,000, compared to 282.26 per 100,000 in Ontario.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2021.

 With files from Morgan Lowrie in Montreal and Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) -- Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday expressed hope that more "community pantries" will spring up to help hungry Filipinos in the throes of a pandemic, which pushed the country into recession and left millions jobless.

"Napakalaking bagay na may community pantry kasi parang sinisiguro mo na walang tao sa community mo na magugutom," she said in her weekly radio show BISErbisyong LENI.

[Translation: Having a community pantry is a big thing because it ensures that no one in the community will go hungry.]

"Napakagandang proyekto na sana tularan ng marami pa nating mga kababayan," she added.

[Translation: It is a great project which I hope many of our fellow Filipinos will emulate.]

Social media has recently been flooded with posts of community pantries where residents can donate basic goods for others who have a hard time putting food on the table.

The movement, which first popped up along Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, became a hit with other areas in Metro Manila and other regions rolling out the same initiative. The Maginhawa pantry was set up by small business owner Ana Patricia Non.

READ: Community pantries pop up in NCR cities, other regions amid COVID-19 crisis
Washington, April 18 : The US State Department has ordered the families of the Americembassy staff members to leave N'Djamena, the capital of Chad.

The Department on Saturday ordered non-emergency US government employees to leave the city due to civil unrest and armed violence, reports dpa news agency.

"Armed non-governmental groups in northern Chad have moved south and appear to be heading toward N'Djamena.

"Due to their growing proximity to N'Djamena, and the possibility for violence in the city, non-essential US government employees have been ordered to leave Chad by commercial airline," an advisory read.

"US citizens in Chad wishing to depart should take advantage of commercial flights." It warned that the government of Chad may impose travel restrictions without notice, which may affect travel plans.

At least 55 people were killed and more than 40 injured as three villages were burned during fighting in the central African country, a governor told dpa on Friday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18)  The Philippine unit of regional low-cost carrier AirAsia is targeting to vaccinate over 1,500 Filipino employees beginning May as it gears up for a travel rebound.

Keeping its optimism that air travel would soon regain its momentum, AirAsia Philippines said it has secured COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate its employees.

"AirAsia recognizes that the aviation sector plays a critical role as economic and tourism drivers, and we know that getting the COVID-19 vaccine is the next necessary phase of recovery," AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer Ricky Isla was quoted as saying in a statement on Sunday.

The vaccine brand was not disclosed, but it noted that it teamed up with government agencies and private entities to secure the initial vaccine doses.

The company said it already identified its priority list, which includes frontliner Allstars, such as ground staff, pilots, cabin crew, and others who have direct engagements with its guests.

In an internal survey conducted by its People and Culture Department, a vast majority, or 92 percent of the respondents, have expressed their willingness to be vaccinated.

Companies in the Philippines have been securing COVID-19 vaccine deals to immunize their employees for free.

READ: More companies bare free vaccinations for employees

RELATED: Duterte allows private sector to import COVID-19 vaccines at will
San Francisco, April 18 : Hundreds of people took to the streets of the city of Oakland in California to protest against fatal police shootings in Minneapolis and Chicago.

"The City of Oakland experienced disruptive protests in the Downtown area," the city's police department said on Saturday.

Some protesters assaulted a community member and police officer, broke windows, spray-painted buildings, set a car on fire along with multiple debris fires, Xinhua news agency reported citing the police as saying.

The police put the number of demonstrators at between 250 and 300 participants.

Despite the damage, police issued no citations and made no arrests.

On April 11, 20-year-old African-American man Daunte Wright was shot dead by a female police officer in the US state of Minnesota, who said she mistook her gun for a taser.

The incident took place in Brooklyn Center, a city of about 31,000, which is just a few miles away from Minneapolis, where the murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin over the killing of African-American man George Floyd in May 2020 is underway.

A video was released by the Chicago police last week which showed a police officer shooting and killing a 13-year-old boy on March 29.
RTHK: Czechs link Russia to 2014 depot explosion

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed Nato and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday.

The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people.

Russia's Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Prague's assertions were absurd and Russia's response should be proportionate.

The expulsions and allegations come at a time of heightened Russian-Western tensions and have triggered the biggest dispute between the Czechs and Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscow's domination for decades.

On Sunday, the EU's executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute would be addressed during a previously schedule EU foreign ministers' video conference on Monday.

Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion.

Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Moscow denied involvement in that incident.

The United States and Britain said they stood in full solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia.

The Kremlins relations with many Nato members, most of whom are in the EU, as well as the United States are more strained that at any time since the Cold War.

The West has voiced alarm over a large Russian military build-up on Russia's Western borders and in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, following a spike in fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and government forces.

The United States imposed sanctions against Russia this week for interfering in last year's US election, cyber hacking, bullying Ukraine and other alleged malign actions, prompting Moscow to retaliate.

Last month US President Joe Biden said he thought his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was a "killer" and Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Alma Wahlberg, mother of Mark, Donnie Wahlberg, dies at 78 View Photo

Alma Wahlberg, the mother of entertainers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg and a regular on their reality series Wahlburgers, has died, her sons said on social media Sunday. She was 78.

My angel. Rest in peace, Mark Wahlberg tweeted.

Donnie Wahlberg posted a longer tribute to his mother on his Instagram account.

Its time to rest peacefully, mom, Donnie Wahlberg wrote. I love you, miss you, thank you and will celebrate you, today and always.

No information was given about the cause, date or location of her death. Donnie Wahlberg often posted about his mother on his accounts and in July updated his fans on her health, writing that she didnt remember much and was often confused but somehow she was still Alma.

The Boston-born mother of nine became a household name thanks to her appearances on the A&E series Wahlburgers, about the familys burgeoning burger chain.

She made no apologies for who she was, but never put herself above anyone else. She kicked our butts if we messed up, kicked anyone elses butts if they messed with us. Taught us right, made us pay the price when we were wrong, Donnie Wahlberg wrote Sunday. She was the epitome of the word grace.

He also included a video of them dancing at his wedding to one of her favorite songs, If I Could by Regina Belle. He wrote that she danced to that song at each of her childrens weddings, but at his own, he surprised her by having Belle there to perform it live.

On the Today show in 2018, Alma Wahlberg opened up about her parenting and how hard it was early on. I invented the craziest meals, she said. English muffin pizzas were among her creations to feed her hungry lot.

More than a few of her children went on to great successes and fame. Her son Paul Wahlberg, who is the chef behind the namesake burger chain, also named the Alma Nove restaurant in Hingham, Massachusetts, after her.

People know me as being the mother of famous children, and although this fact has brought many gifts into my life and has afforded me opportunities that may never have been possible otherwise, there is a whole lot more to my story than most people know, Alma Wahlberg said in an interview with Bostons WCVB-TV in 2018. Ive lived with alcoholism and abuse; struggled with poverty and experienced great wealth; lost so many that Ive loved; struggle to raise nine children, and I love them more than anything else; watch them suffer, learn and come out on the other side; lost myself; found myself, again and again; and kept moving forward, no matter what.

Alma Wahlberg is survived by eight children. Her daughter Debbie died in 2003.

By LINDSEY BAHR

AP Film Writer
Princeton University police are searching for two armed assailants they say robbed a group of students at gunpoint Sunday morning.

Three students were robbed by two people on campus Sunday morning, a Princeton spokesman said. The students were uninjured but robbed of some personal items, the spokesman said.

The campus was locked down as Princeton and local police investigated, and the lockdown was lifted around 7:30 a.m.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Princeton University Department of Public Safety at 609-258-1000.

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.
Police arrived "to a very chaotic scene, with victims and witnesses running everywhere" at a FedEx Ground facility near Indianapolis' main airport late Thursday night, where a former employee shot and killed eight people and wounded several others, an Indianapolis police official told CNN.

Deputy Chief Craig McCartt on Friday afternoon identified the gunman as 19-year-old Brandon Hole, who was last employed by FedEx in 2020.

Hole was found dead of a gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted, McCartt said.

In March 2020, Hole's mother told law enforcement that he might attempt "suicide by cop," the FBI's Indianapolis office said in a statement.

Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said Hole was placed on an immediate mental health temporary hold by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. He also said a shotgun was seized at Hole's residence.

"Based on items observed in the suspect's bedroom at that time, he was interviewed by the FBI in April 2020," the statement said. "No Racially Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE) ideology was identified during the course of the assessment and no criminal violation was found. The shotgun was not returned to the suspect."

McCartt told reporters that Indianapolis police found Hole's name in two past incident reports. The deputy chief didn't have information about the first report. The details he described from a 2020 report align with the FBI statement.

Investigators are trying to determine motive and were searching what they believe is the suspected gunman's home, Keenan told reporters late Friday morning.

When asked what brought the suspected gunman to the FedEx facility Thursday around 11 p.m., McCartt said: "I wish we could answer that."

On Friday evening, Indianapolis police released the names of the eight deceased victims. They are: Matthew R. Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jaswinder Kaur, 64; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Karli Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.

A statement by IMPD said the next of kin has been notified by the Marion County Coroner's Office. The cause of death will be determined after autopsies are complete, according to the statement.

IMPD said the names of those injured are not being released.

The mass shooting is the country's deadliest since 10 people were killed March 22 at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado.

Thursday night's killings began when a gunman "got out of his car, and pretty quickly started some random shooting outside the facility," McCartt said.

The gunman then "went inside and did not get very far into the facility at all," while shooting others there, McCartt told CNN earlier Friday.

Laveda Chester told CNN's "OutFront with Erin Burnett" that she was arriving for her overnight shift when she heard one pop and thought it might be a car accident. She said she looked around and didn't see one. But then she saw the gunman running toward the building with a rifle in his hand.

She waited until he went in so she could drive away without drawing the gunman's attention. She went to another parking lot and called police. She said she then tried to warn other arriving workers that there was a shooting going on. Some stopped and some drove past her.

Two employees inside the building at the time heard as many as 10 gunshots, they told CNN affiliate WISH. The men left the building and watched as about 30 police cars responded, they said.

"Thank God for being here because I thought I was going to get shot," one of them, Jeremiah Miller, told WISH.

Investigators have heard the shooting lasted "just a couple minutes -- that it did not last very long," McCartt said.

"My understanding is, by the time that officers entered ... the situation was over -- that the suspect took his life very shortly before officers entered the facility," McCartt told reporters.

There were at least 100 people in the facility when the shooting began, he said. Many were on their dinner break or changing shifts.

Four people were found dead outside and four others, not counting the shooter, were dead inside, McCartt said.

The incident marks at least the 45th mass shooting in the United States since the Atlanta-area spa shootings on March 16. CNN considers an incident to be a mass shooting if four or more people, excluding the gunman, are wounded or killed by gunfire.

President Joe Biden ordered flags at federal facilities to be lowered to half-staff and urged Congress to act on firearm legislation, calling gun violence an "epidemic."

Several people wounded

McCartt said four survivors were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds and a fifth person sought treatment in another county for a gunshot wound. Two people were treated at the scene, he said.

The gunman had at least one weapon, which investigators believe was a rifle, McCartt told reporters.

Police early Friday were trying to make sense of the crime scene while relatives of FedEx employees gathered at a nearby hotel, which officials offered as a place where they could await news, reunite with the workers and meet with police chaplains.

"Many of the employees did not have cell phones on them in the facility," and so many survivors were not immediately able to contact their families, McCartt told CNN.

Several people tearfully embraced as they reunited Friday morning at the hotel, video from CNN affiliate WISH showed.

When asked Friday morning whether witnesses indicated that FedEx or security personnel had any indication that something like Friday's shooting would happen, McCartt said no.

"We're still working with FedEx security for anything that might have been an indication this was going to happen right now," McCartt said at the Friday morning news conference.

'They didn't sound like gunshots at first'

FedEx worker Timothy Boillat and his coworker heard what they thought initially were "two loud metal clangs" when the shooting started, he told CNN affiliate WRTV.

"They didn't sound like gunshots at first ... Then, we heard three more shots, and then my buddy ... saw someone running out of the building." Boillat said.

"And then more shots went off. Somebody went behind their car to the trunk and got another gun," Boillat said, without saying whether that person was the shooter.

"And then I saw one body on the floor," Boillat told WRTV.

Police are asking anyone who was at the scene and may have left for safety or for medical treatment to contact them to provide information on the shooting.

Governor and other officials offer condolences

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the process of healing will be impacted in part by what conversations the nation has about cycles of violence "driven by readily accessible guns."

"We must guard against resignation or even despair -- the assumption that this is simply how it must be and that we might as well get used to it. We need the courage that compels courageous acts that push past weariness," Hogsett said.

FedEx released a statement saying it was "deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of our team members."

"Our most heartfelt sympathies are with all those affected by this senseless act of violence. The safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with investigating authorities," FedEx said.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said Friday is "another heartbreaking day and I'm shaken by the mass shooting at the FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis."

"In times like this, words like justice and sorrow fall short in response for those senselessly taken. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, coworkers and all those affected by this terrible situation," Holcomb said.

Flags will be lowered to half-staff from Friday until sunset Tuesday "in remembrance of those we've lost," Holcomb said.

"Nothing we learn can heal the wounds of those who escaped with their lives, but who will now ... endure the memories of this horrific crime," Hogsett said.

US Rep. Andre Carson, whose district includes Indianapolis, tweeted that he was heartbroken by the mass shooting.

"I am communicating with local authorities to get all details of the attack and my office stands ready to help everyone affected any way we can," he said.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the names of Amarjit Sekhon and Karli Smith based on information provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-19 03:26:35|Editor: huaxia

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ADEN, Yemen, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's government reported on Sunday that more than 24,000 people were displaced by the recent escalating battles in the country's oil-rich province of Marib.

The Yemeni government agency that administers the displaced camps said in a statement that the recent wave of escalating fightings in Marib displaced over 24,000 people during the period from Feb. 6 to April 16 this year.

The statement indicated that the newly displaced people are facing harsh living conditions, including lack of shelter, food, drinking water and medicine supplies.

The agency appealed to the United Nations and the international community to exert political pressure on the Houthi forces to stop their attacks against Marib.

It also called on the international relief organizations operating in Yemen to move urgently to provide necessary assistance to the displaced families to alleviate their suffering.

Last week, local Yemeni politicians, including members of the pro-government parliament and heads of some humanitarian organizations, repeatedly demanded a cease-fire in Marib.

They called on warring sides to end fighting and resume negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations to put an end to the years-long bloody conflict.

Marib currently hosts more than 2 million internally displaced people who were forced previously to leave their homes in different war-torn Yemeni regions.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni military conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem
A viral message widely shared across WhatsApp and Twitter suggests that inhaling the vapour of camphor, clove, ajwain and eucalyptus oil can increase blood oxygen level and even relieve respiratory distress. Alt News Science found that there is no scientific basis to support this claim. Instead, sniffing the mixture can cause camphor poisoning, which in some cases is life-threatening.

Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had shared the claim on Facebook amid rising Covid-19 cases.

Viral text in English: Camphor, lavang (clove), ajwain, few drops eucalyptus oil. Make potli and keep smelling it throughout the day. This helps increase oxygen levels and congestion. This potli is given to tourists in Ladakh when oxygen levels are low. Its a home remedy.

Claims:

Camphor, clove, Ajwain and Eucalyptus oil can increase the blood oxygen level.

Camphor, clove and Ajwain can relieve respiratory distress in Covid-19 patients.

Verdict: False

Fact-check:

1. Camphor (Karpur)

Camphor is a flammable white crystalline substance that has a strong aromatic odour. It is sometimes rubbed on the skin to reduce pain and itching.

It is also used in topical nasal decongestant gels like Vicks VapoRub in small quantities (4-5%) but the evidence on its efficacy is mixed. Some older studies have found that camphor and eucalyptus have no effect on nasal decongestion.

Nevertheless, blood oxygen saturation decreases in severe Covid-19 infections because of the lungs and lower respiratory tract damage and has little to do with nasal blockage. Similarly, another research suggests that relieving nasal obstruction doesnt improve depressed oxygen saturation.

Inhalation or ingestion of uncalibrated doses of non-medicinal camphor can lead to severe toxicity within a few minutes of exposure, especially in children.

As per the American Association of Poison Control Centers report, in the year 2018, there were around 9,500 cases of camphor poisoning in the USA, 10 of which were life-threatening and caused significant disability. FDA advises against doses of 11% or more C=camphor as it can cause toxicity and result in severe seizures.

The USs Center for Disease Control (CDC) has extensive toxicity data that shows that camphor exposure causes significant impairment in animals.

As per CDCs guidelines, inhalation of camphor vapours can lead to nose, throat and eye irritation. It can cause seizures, mental confusion, stomach ache and in higher concentration, it can also lead to death in some cases. There are several reported cases in India of poisoning caused by camphor vapour inhalation.

2. Clove (lavang)

This claim is based on a single literature review from Italy that hypothesizes the possible anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects of cloves. However, the research cited within this review is based on the herpes simplex virus and is unrelated to SARS-CoV-2. The cited research is based on a compound eugenol which is found in cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and basil and is linked with toxicity. Although the pure extract of eugenol is not recommended in this viral text, clove vapour alone may be toxic but there is no research to suggest it can increase blood oxygen or relieve respiratory distress.

3. Carom seeds (Ajwain) and Eucalyptus oil

For both substances above, there is no research or evidence to suggest that they increase blood oxygen or relieve respiratory distress.

Conclusion:

Other versions of the WhatsApp forward also attribute the message to ayurvedic practitioner Prajagraj Dabhi who supposedly treated Covid-19 patients with the formulation. Dabhi has rejected this claim.

Yet other versions also claim that ambulances are using this formulation on Covid-19 patients. However, no such treatment guidelines are mentioned in the Health Ministrys protocol for Covid-19 ambulances.

There is no proof that camphor, clove or carom seeds increase blood oxygen or provide relief during respiratory distress. These may work as a feel good therapy during mild respiratory infections or inflammatory sinusitis. Suggesting that they can increase the blood oxygen level in Covid-19 patients can cause people to rely on the home remedy and not take medical help. Sniffing the mixture can also cause camphor poisoning, which may be life-threatening in some cases.
James Allison turned down the opportunity to succeed Toto Wolff as Mercedes team boss.

That is the admission of Wolff himself, as departing technical director Allison admitted he even contemplated retiring from Formula 1 completely.

Instead, he is stepping over to the new position of chief technical officer, with former aerodynamics chief Mike Elliot becoming technical director on July 1.

"I had to decide about my future and wanted to ensure that I didn't leave until I was no longer useful," Allison explained at Imola.

"When I felt that it would be more correct to retire, because it would be best for both myself and the team, I thought that I would move on to my couch. I had no idea that after leaving this wonderful position in the team Toto would have some other place for me.

"I will miss everything - every experience, every fight, every effort, every worry and every doubt as well as the successes that we were fortunate to be able to celebrate together," he added.

According to Wolff, he actually envisaged that Allison would be his ideal successor as team boss - but the 53-year-old Briton turned down the opportunity.

"I would say that he would be absolutely capable of becoming team boss," Wolff told DPA news agency at Imola.

"But it's very simple. James said to me 'I would never do that. The role of the team boss requires different skills to the ones I have'," he revealed.

(GMM)
The Arizona Senate will do an audit of 2.1 million votes under the GOP. The results of the 2020 Presidential Election will be done by hand counting.

Audit of 2.1 million votes might prove cheating by Democrats

In March, the state Senate announced that it would conduct an audit, including testing voting machines, scanning ballots, looking for IT violations, and performing a hand count, reported the Epoch Times.

Many state-issued subpoenas were clogged up in court from mid-December but were allowed via a document issued on February 25. Lawmakers have been working on the audit's specifics since then. The audit process will start next week, according to Karen Fann, the Arizona Senate president.

Fann said that the Republicans were repeated sabotaged by the Maricopa County's Board of Supervisors, who made sure the process of checking votes was prolonged; they are aligned with the Democrats' last elections. She said the ill-intentioned Maricopa BOS carried out everything that can be done to stop the audit; they will not answer questions about how the ballots were seized. The honesty was highly doubted on the issue of the authenticity of votes.

Fann added, "It took the Senate two and a half months to win in court, defending our right to issue subpoenas for election materials, and another six weeks of testing to choose the audit team to conduct the full forensic audit."

One of the reasons for a state audit of 2.1 million votes is not to overturn the election but the integrity of the Arizona election system.

Attorney Lin Wood: Trump Campaign Lawyer says Trump Got 400 Electoral Votes not 232

According to azcentral, Fann signed a contract earlier this week to rent the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix for about a month beginning April 19. She had stated earlier that she wanted to use county rooms but that the Maricopa BOS refused her request.

The Arizona Senate president said there would be live monitoring of all audit activities in the 20,000 square foot facility, any chance of those involved doing something will be prevented. All the audit teams gather and bring the needed hardware, personnel destined for Arizona that will start on April 22, 2021.

She added that the Arizona State Senate and auditors do not expect anything in particular from the results. One of the reasons for the full forensic audit is to look for fraud and affirming that elections in Arizona can be fixed next elections.

"We have never accused anyone of fraud or misconduct, whether it be the hardware, software or actions of personnel," Fann was quoted by the Epoch Times.

"Assuming there is no intentional illegal tampering, but if it is found, we will forward through the information to the federal and state attorneys general for further court proceedings, and we will proceed to make the needed adjustments."

In two months, the Arizona Senate will release a report about the results.

Companies involved in the independent audit are four firms not based in Arizona; they are Wake Technology Services, CyFIR, Digital Discovery, and Cyber Ninjas that carry out the audit far from Democrat influence.

Immediate the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Jack Sellers, said that the audit of 2.1 million votes is not joined by the state, even before beginning Democrat alight official are discounting results.

Election Anomaly: Georgia Election Audit Traces 3,309 Uncounted Ballots in 2 Counties

Trump Attorney Sidney Powell Says Trump Campaign Has Proof to Overturn Elections

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(CNN) -- A version of this story appeared in a special April 18 edition of CNN's Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what's happening behind palace walls. Sign up here.

Windsor, England (CNN) -- Grief and loss have a way of bringing families together and that appeared to be the case yesterday.

Britain's royal family has faced some crises of late but the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral service signaled a new phase in the monarchy.

For the first time in 73 years, the Queen is without her soulmate, her most trusted adviser who had been there right from the beginning.

The Queen often turned to her husband for professional counsel and nearly always took his advice. Behind the scenes, he assumed leadership on many aspects of the family's life. Now the clan are charting a new path forward after laying their beloved patriarch to rest.

What we are witnessing is a monarchy adapting and evolving in real time. It's a tricky period for the United Kingdom, which frankly is not so united right now. Calls have not gone away in Scotland for independence, episodes of violent unrest have erupted in parts of Northern Ireland in recent weeks and England is facing something of an identity crisis post-Brexit.

Ceremonial departures can help steady the ship.

The Queen will undoubtedly carry on, as she has always has, due to her eternal commitment to duty and service. She will still define the monarchy as a symbol of unity and continuity. But we are also seeing senior royal family members rallying around her in Philip's absence.

That was certainly the case this past week. Despite some friction in various family relations, her children, and then later grandchildren, came forward to convey how she was coping and share fond memories of the duke and his work.

Due to the Queen's exceptional reign, 72-year-old Charles is the world's longest-serving heir apparent, which he became at the age of three when then-Princess Elizabeth acceded to the throne. But never has his position as successor been more essential. He now assumes the role as the Queen's closest confidant, truly a king-in-waiting.

He will help manage situations as he did, alongside his eldest William, when Harry and wife Meghan revealed they wanted to step back from royal duties.

The deep rift between the brothers has been heavily speculated over since the Sussexes sat down with Oprah Winfrey last month. The pair are deeply hurt. For Harry's part, he feels he was left with no choice but to separate himself from the UK, its tabloid press and "unsupportive" monarchy to protect his wife. William, meanwhile, feels abandoned by his brother who was supposed to be by his side in the future monarchy.

Before the funeral, much was made of the fact the brothers would follow Philip's coffin on foot but be separated by their cousin, Peter Phillips. In the end, yes Phillips was between them, but they naturally fell in sync with one another with their cousin a step behind them. And then there was the moment of seeing Harry join William and his wife Catherine, chatting as they walked back up to Windsor Castle following the service.

Seeing the brothers reunite despite current differences was enormously important. Harry doesn't need to come back into his royal role, but they must repair their relationship and William needs someone to confide in. That person has to be Harry -- the only person who truly understands William. Catherine may be William's wife but Harry has gone through tough times with his brother. He understands royalty and the duties that come with it.

CNN royal historian Kate Williams, who joined us in Windsor, recalled that Harry's life has been one of service and would likely have been moved by the numerous military references peppered throughout the funeral service.

The service would have touched the Duke of Sussex because of his two tours of duty in Afghanistan, and "everything he's done for veterans with the Invictus Games. He's always wanted to be in service," Williams said. She added that Harry had hoped to create something of a flexi-royal function -- a system that the European royals use -- and perhaps that could be explored in the future. Regardless, Williams said, "Harry's support is so important to the monarchy and he is so needed."

The challenge is how the clan prepares for the next generation of monarchy. The Queen remains incredibly popular and the system is safe so long as she is on the throne. They must find a way for Charles' reign to be held in equally high esteem, and that will require the assistance of both of his sons.

PHILIP REMEMBERED

A Queen in mourning

The royal family adhered strictly to UK Covid-19 regulations during the funeral. As such, the Queen sat alone during the service. All guests who are not members of the same household were required to sit around 2 meters apart. The Queen and the late Prince Philip had been in a bubble with some members of their household for the last year and so the monarch was not eligible to join one with other members of her family.

How Meghan honored Philip from afar

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who is pregnant with the couple's second child, had wanted to attend the Saturday service but was advised against traveling to England by her physician. However, she wanted to pay her respects and sent a wreath made up of locally sourced flowers and a handwritten note from the couple. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said Saturday that she was watching from home.

The UK's Prime Minister couldn't attend the funeral. He did this instead.

Boris Johnson watched the funeral from his country residence of Chequers, a Downing Street spokesperson confirmed Saturday. He was unable to attend the service -- as he would have been expected to under normal circumstances -- as a result of the pandemic. The number of mourners in attendance was limited to just 30 people to remain in compliance of current government coronavirus restrictions. In lieu of his attendance, he held a minute's silence as the service got underway at the door of his property in memory of the duke and posted a photo of the moment's tribute on Twitter.

Prince Philip was laid to rest in an intimate service at St. George's Chapel, which lies within the grounds of Windsor Castle. By royal standards, the service was a relatively muted affair. The ceremony was limited to 30 people, in line with England's current coronavirus restrictions.

It was preceded by a ceremonial procession that featured members of his family and several of his closest aides walking behind the coffin while the service was littered with references to the duke's strong relationship to the military.

The Archbishop of Canterbury personalized a prayer for the Duke of Edinburgh, paying tribute to his enduring duty and service to the monarchy and beyond.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "The monarchy will look different now Philip has gone"
The confidence of the Islamic extremists are now getting boosted around the world by the  surrender of the USA and NATO countries.

by N.S.Venkataraman

The decision of the U S government to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan and subsequent announcement that NATO forces would also be withdrawn from Afghanistan, should be causing huge concern and uncertainty amongst the law abiding citizens in Afghanistan, who are millions in number.

Apart from the fact that the decision of the U S government to withdraw forces from Afghanistan is a loss of face for the USA as well as the NATO countries, it is a definite victory for the Islamic terrorists who are entrenched not only in Afghanistan but in several other countries in the world including in Pakistan.

Obviously, the USA and NATO countries have washed off their hands in Afghanistan leaving the law abiding people at the mercy of the Islamic terrorists, particularly since the weak government in Afghanistan is not in a position to oppose and fight the extremists. Obviously, the government in Afghanistan ,having been let down by USA,. would try to buy peace with the Islamic extremists and this would be very costly for those running the government now.

The confidence of the Islamic extremists are now getting boosted around the world by the  surrender of the USA and NATO countries.

It is well known that the Islamic extremists have the clear target of spreading the Islam religion around the world by fair or foul means. Their strategies are not defensive but clearly offensive to achieve their objectives.

The consequences of succumbing to the offences of the Islamic extremists in Afghanistan and the adverse impact would not be confined only to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and India but it would cause severe adverse impact on the peaceful conditions around the world.

Many law abiding citizens in Pakistan , capable of matured outlook, are clearly now realizing that Pakistan is now paying a big price by allowing Islamic extremists to get well entrenched in Pakistan and due to the policy of appeasement by Pakistan government and Pakistan military towards the extremists, who have their way.

As a result , Pakistan has lost its reputation as a peaceful country and gained notoriety as a terrorist ridden country. Caught between the vice like grip of Islamic extremists on the one hand and China on the other hand, law abiding and progressive citizens of Pakistan are facing an unenviable situation.

With Afghanistan going under the control of Islamic extremists, the future target of the extremists would be to achieve complete Islamisation of Pakistan , with Pakistan even being forced to shed whatever image it has as a progressive country.

India is already battling against Islamic extremists in Kashmir and the terrorists from Afghanistan and Pakistan soil would certainly increase the intensity of the terrorism. It remains to be seen as to how India would tackle this serious situation.

It is not as if USA and European countries can escape from the consequence of the panicky decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan ,after earlier having targeted to eliminate terrorism. The strengthened Islamic terrorists will continue their offensive in USA, Canada and European countries and they have positioned themselves well to do so , since millions of people owing allegiance to Islam ( a few of whom could be militants ) have migrated to these countries as refugees in the recent past. Certainly, the threat to peace in European countries, Canada and USA , which is already showing signs of disturbance, would seriously become more severe.

How to retrieve the situation now ?

Possibly, the UN General Assembly should consider a proposal to send peace keeping forces to Afghanistan to maintain peaceful conditions to the extent possible and protect the lives of the law abiding citizens.

In many world forums, there have been loud talk by different countries that terrorism should be defeated at any cost but it has not happened.

The withdrawal of forces by USA and NATO countries from Afghanistan only make it very obvious that fight against terrorism would not yield results sooner or even later.
Headlines

- Half of US adults (more than 128 million) have received at least one vaccine shot, with nearly a third fully vaccinated - CDC

- J&J scientists refute idea that covid-19 vaccine's design linked to clots

- Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson covid-19 vaccines: how are they different?

- President Biden has arranged for 300 million doses to be available to US citizens by the end of June

- Estimations are that 500 million Americans will be fully vaccinated by the end of August/early September

- Fauci says J&J vaccine rollout pause is a matter of "days to weeks, not weeks to months"

- CDC and FDA will continue to investigate J&J vaccine safety after six reported cases of rare clotting - cerebral venous sinus thrombosis - emerge

- US will draw on stocks of Moderna and Pfizer after J&J rollout halted

State specific news:

- New York: All New Yorkers 16 years of age and older are now eligible to be vaccinated. Use the City's Vaccine Finder to search for a location near you

- California: Every Californian aged 16 and up is now eligible for vaccination. Book an appointment using My Turn

- Florida: All Florida residents are now eligible to receive any covid-19 vaccine. Find a vaccine location using the state's vaccine location finder

- Texas: Everyone aged 16 and older is now eligible to receive a covid-19 vaccine in Texas. Sign up and register online at GetTheVaccine.dshs.texas.gov

- Alaska: vaccines to be made available at key airports starting 1 June

Related articles:
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Purdue Sports)  The Purdue softball team dropped both games of its Saturday doubleheader at Illinois.

The Boilermakers (7-20) brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh in the opener but only managed to bring in one run. In the second game, Illinois (18-9) used runs in three middle innings to win 5-0.

GAME 1

The Boilermakers nearly rallied from a four-run deficit in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out, but Illinois held on for a 4-1 decision in the opening game.

Purdue hurler Savanah Henley went the distance and took the loss. The lefty fanned four and scattered five hits with a pair of walks. Three of her four runs were unearned.

Henley cruised through the opening three innings, working around a trio of base knocks. The defense helped keep the Fighting Illini off the board. Henley turned a 1-6 double play with Rachel Becker to end the first, and catcher Kaeley Hallada threw out a runner out stealing in the second.

The lefty shrugged off a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to post a clean seven-pitch fifth. Illini third baseman Delaney Rummel hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to open a four-run gap.

Ryleigh Scott, Hallada and Becca Jones all singled in the top of the seventh to load the bases. Becker managed to bring a run in on an RBI groundout, but Illinois closed the door on any comeback attempt.

Purdue outhit Illinois 6-5 but stranded seven to the hosts' three. Illinois starter Addy Jarvis struck out four over 6 1/3 innings of work with one earned run and a walk against, while giving six hits. Sydney Sickels tossed the final two outs to get the save.

Purdue  1, Illinois - 4

Winning pitcher: Addy Jarvis (5-3)

Save: Sydney Sickels (2)

Losing pitcher: Savanah Henley (1-5)

GAME 2

Despite loading the bases in the first inning, the Boilermakers were unable to bring a run across in the 5-0 loss to round out the doubleheader.

Illinois pitcher Tori McQueen tossed the complete-game shutout with a pair of strikeouts, no walks and just one hit allowed after the first inning. The hosts took the lead on a three-run third, followed by runs in the fourth and fifth to open the gap to its final margin.

Rachel Becker picked up a pair of hits, both coming from bunts. Ryleigh Scott also reached on a bunt single and Kiley Goff added a base knock.

Starting pitcher Alex Echazarreta threw 2 2/3 inning of work with one strikeout, four hits and three earned runs allowed. The Boilermakers used a full slate of relief arms  Sydney Preston for 1/3 inning, Ashley Peters for a frame and Sydney Bates for the final two innings. Bates fanned three and did not allow a hit in the process.

Purdue  0, Illinois - 5

Winning pitcher: Tori McQueen (3-3)

Losing pitcher: Alex Echazarreta (0-4)

UP NEXT

Purdue will close out its four-game set against the Fighting Illini on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Provinces are free to offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to all adults, Canada's health minister said Sunday as calls mounted in at least one province hard hit by COVID-19 to lower the age restriction on the shot.

People are shown at a COVID-19 vaccination site in Montreal, Sunday, April 18, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Provinces are free to offer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to all adults, Canada's health minister said Sunday as calls mounted in at least one province hard hit by COVID-19 to lower the age restriction on the shot.

While the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has yet to release updated recommendations on the vaccine, Patty Hajdu said provincial officials are not beholden to the group's current advice to only offer the shot to those 55 and older.

"NACI provides advice to provinces and territories," Hajdu told a news conference Sunday. "They can adjust their use for AstraZeneca as per their desire and the advice from their own public health authorities and medical expertise."

She noted that Health Canada has licensed the AstraZeneca shot for use in people over the age of 18.

"NACI continues to review the advice on AstraZeneca use and will have updated guidance in the very near future," Hajdu added.

Her comments come as some provinces -- particularly Ontario and Alberta -- grapple with devastating third waves of COVID-19.

And while Ontario Premier Doug Ford points the finger at a lack of vaccine supply, the head of the association that represents the province's hospitals argued that AstraZeneca shots were sitting in pharmacy freezers.

Anthony Dale, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, tweeted that there is "'surplus supply at risk of expiring," and the government must act on it.

Many Ontario physicians took to social media to express their frustration with the province's lack of action on the issue.

"Pharmacies, listen up. DO NOT WASTE A SINGLE DOSE OF THE AZ VACCINE. Explain the risk and obtain informed consent to administer to people under age 55," Dr. Brian Goldman said in a tweet Sunday.

Steven Del Duca, who heads up the Liberal party in the province, agreed.

"Doug Ford must release the AstraZeneca vaccine from pharmacy freezers and get it into the arms of anyone over 18 in a hot spot," he tweeted Sunday. "(Patty Hajdu) was clear: there is nothing stopping him from getting shots into arms."

A spokeswoman for Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter, but the provincial government has previously said it will follow NACI's recommendations on the shot.

The calls to lower the threshold for the AstraZeneca vaccine extended beyond Ontario's borders.

"It sounds like Alberta is having trouble using its AstraZeneca. Lower the minimum age; Gen X can help!" Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, tweeted this week.

Some have been hesitant to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine due to a very rare blood clotting condition, which has thus far affected two Canadians.

More than 700,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered in this country.

The global frequency of the blood clot disorder, known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT, has been estimated at about one case in 100,000 to 250,000 doses.

The risk of developing blood clots due to COVID-19 is much higher, and experts say people should accept the first vaccine they're offered.

Meanwhile, the federal government announced Sunday that it was mobilizing its own resources and co-ordinating with lesser-hit provinces to send health-care workers and other support to help Ontario as it battles record-breaking COVID-19 numbers.

It wasn't immediately clear how the Ontario government would respond to Ottawa's offer.

Hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care units continued to reach record heights in Ontario, which reported 4,250 new COVID-19 infections in the the last 24 hours.

Ontario announced a number of new restrictions to quell the skyrocketing numbers, but has faced pressure to roll back limits on outdoor activities, which critics have said will do little to stop the spread.

Meanwhile, data released by Canada's chief public health officer shows that the average daily number of hospitalizations and deaths in the country jumped by more than 30 per cent between April 9 and 15 compared to the week before.

The latest national-level data found that an average of 3,428 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent seven-day reporting period, representing a 34 per cent increase over the week before.

An average of 41 people died each day during the same period, which is 38 per cent higher than the previous week.

Dr. Theresa Tam said cases, test positivity rates and intensive care admissions are all rising as Canada battles a wave of COVID-19 that is driven by more contagious variants.

Quebec, meanwhile, reported more than 1,300 new infections in the past 24 hours.

Prince Edward Island reported three new cases, while Nova Scotia logged seven and New Brunswick added 10.

Farther west, Manitoba recorded 170 new cases of the virus and one added death, while Saskatchewan counted 289 new cases and one death.

Alberta, which is currently dealing with the highest rate of COVID-19 per capita in Canada, reported 1,516 new cases of the virus on Sunday and three more deaths.

As of Saturday night, Ontario's rate of active COVID-19 cases was 276 per 100,000, compared to 391 per 100,000 in Alberta.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2021
Michael A. MacDowell has made some spurious claims about student debt forgiveness and its economic implications. In a piece from 12/10, his argument for such relief was its regressive nature. He says this is because people who have a college degree tend to be better off than those without one. The word tend is doing a lot of heavy lifting there! This is the root of incorrect assumptions behind the entire rationale.

There is a disparity being overlooked between younger generations return on investment versus older generations. This financial crisis affects millions of Americans under 40 and is significantly delaying typical adult milestones for many. Articles have been written for years accusing millennials of being lazy, entitled, and perpetually childish. Why arent we buying homes? Why are we delaying marriage, children?

Megan Leonhardt of CNBC published an article on April 6 with the answer right in the title: For many older millennials, student loan debt delayed buying homes, starting families and pursuing creative careers. Polling of Americans born from 1981 to 1988 shows the ongoing impact of student loans: 68% of 33 to 40 year-olds are still paying off their student loans.

Most of my peers (myself included) would have liked to not incur significant debt in the first place as MacDowell preaches in his December article. Unfortunately, with many companies now requiring a college degree for entry-level positions, the rising costs of all colleges and universities in the United States cant be avoided.

Rather than citing studies from the Obama Administration, I would like to draw attention to a more recent economic study. The Levy Economics Institute determined in 2018 that a one-time cancellation of $1.4B in student debt could lead to upwards of $22B increases in GDP, lower unemployment rates, and even create new jobs.

Will that give Mr. MacDowell and others against loan forgiveness reason to question their own assertions? We younger Americans can only hope it does.

Kathleen Laufenberg, Greenfield Township, Pa.
Israeli military intelligence and senior officials in the Mossad briefed a meeting of the nation's security cabinet that talks in Vienna between Iran and other world powers will lead to the U.S. returning to the 2015 nuclear deal, two officials who attended the meeting told me.

Why it matters: The Israeli government is very concerned about a U.S. return to the nuclear deal and is trying to convince the Biden administration not to take the pressure off the Iranian regime.

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Driving the news: The Mossad mainly briefed the cabinet meeting on the status of the Iranian nuclear program. Military intelligence officials discussed Iranian actions in the region at the meeting.

The two intelligence agencies gave similar assessments on where the Vienna talks stand.

What they are saying: We are not very optimistic to say the least," a senior Israeli official who attended the meeting told me. "We will not be surprised if within weeks the U.S. and other world powers sign a deal with Iran.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told "Fox News Sunday" that the Vienna talks with Iran were "constructive" and that there is a real effort to get back to mutual compliance of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Sullivan added that the U.S. wont lift sanctions unless it has "clarity and confidence" that Iran will fully return to compliance of all its obligations under the 2015 agreement.

Whats next: Israeli officials told me there were no new policy decisions made during todays cabinet meeting, and Israel will continue the dialogue with the Biden administration on the negotiations with Iran.

In the coming two weeks the Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben Shabbatt, IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi, head of Israeli military intelligence Tamir Hayman and Mossad director Yossi Cohen will visit Washington for talks with their counterparts on Iran, officials tell me.

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A Chinese envoy on Saturday urged all parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to immediately start negotiating the specific formula of sanction-lifting.

Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, made the appeal here after attending a new round of meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission.

"China has drawn much encouragement that the Joint Commission has, over the two days, come back to its normal track with productive and constructive work," he said.

"China maintains that all U.S. sanctions should be lifted immediately," be it sanctions against Iran, or its long-arm jurisdiction measures on third-party entities and individuals, including those on the Chinese, he noted.

China believes that the Joint Commission should continue to focus on the "more substantive work" of sanction-lifting through the two major processes -- the nuclear implementation and sanctions-lifting working groups' work, and the "proximity talks" with the United States, said the envoy.

According to him, China will continue to work with all parties concerned to push the U.S. and Iran to resume negotiations on the implementation of the JCPOA for early and tangible results.

Saturday's talks were chaired by Enrique Mora, the deputy secretary general and political director of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran attended the meeting, according to a press release from the EEAS.
Lady India Hicks shared a touching tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh in which she hailed his mixture of 'teasing and unexpected kindness' one of the Royal Family's most valuable assets.

The British aristocrat is the granddaughter of the Earl Mountbatten and daughter of Lady Pamela Hicks, a friend of the Queen and Prince Philip, and took to social media to share a picture of the pair in 1954.

The 53-year-old posted an image of the monarch accompanied by the duke and her mother as Her Majesty opened the third session of the Second Parliament of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.

The engagement, held at the Independence Hall in Colombo, was part of a six-month Commonwealth Tour, which included State Openings of Parliament in New Zealand and Australia.

The Queen and Prince Philip are pictured with Lady Pamela Hicks as Her Majesty opened the third session of the Second Parliament of Ceylon in 1954

She told a story shared by her mother, who recalled the moment Prince Philip 'burst out laughing' when a small dog jumped out of the crowd and onto a vacant throne.'

The photo showed Her Majesty wearing her Coronation gown and necklace while Lady Pamela donned the Hicks Tiara, gifted to her ahead of her wedding to interior designer David Hicks in 1960.

Lady Hicks penned on Instagram: 'Goodness, they look serious here. Well, it was serious, it was the opening of parliament in Ceylon.

'My mother, standing behind the Queen, says it was so clear to everyone that Prince Philip played an enormous part in the success of those Commonwealth Tours and indeed later, to the success of the Queen's reign, 'Because of his mix of teasing and humor, with unexpected kindness and thoughtfulness.'

The British aristocrat, pictured in 2019, is the granddaughter of the Earl Mountbatten and daughter of Lady Pamela Hicks, a friend of the Queen and Prince Philip

'But she remembers them feeling absolutely ludicrous, climbing into long dress and tiara during broad daylight, on their way for another opening of another parliament.

'At one moment during a grueling civic reception the formalities were lightened when a little dog came out of the crowd, leapt up the steps and when Prince Philip and the Queen stood during the presentations jumped up onto one of the vacant thrones and raised its paw to the crowd, as though acknowledging their cheers. Prince Philip burst out laughing.

'A press correspondent later turned to my mother and said 'The best investment the Royal family has ever made in all its history is the Duke of Edinburgh'.

Yesterday, just 30 mourners, including the Queen, her four children, eight grandchildren, and their respective spouses, gathered at St George's Chapel, Windsor, to remember the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last Friday aged 99.

Lady India's mother, Lady Pamela, was herself a royal bridesmaid at the Queen's 1947 wedding.

Sitting, left to right, Catherine Cameron and Clementine Hambro. Standing, left to right, Lord Nicholas Windsor, Edward Van Cutsem, Sarah Jane Gaselee (in front of India Hicks), Prince Edward, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Andrew and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones

Lady India was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. She is pictured second left at the wedding with the Queen and Diana

Her daughter was educated at 40,000-a-year Gordonstoun, near Elgin, Scotland, until she was expelled for inviting boys to her room.

Despite her family and royal connections, Lady India has worked to earn her keep. Originally a model, she became a designer and businesswoman, launching a luxury lifestyle business before closing it last year.

Lady India was one of the five bridesmaids at the 1981 wedding of Diana and Charles, who is her godfather and second cousin.

She had been on holiday in the Bahamas aged 13 when the prince phoned and personally asked her to take on the role.

'I had to practise,' Miss Hicks later recalled. 'It was during these rehearsals I got to know Diana, whom I first met at a dress fitting. She always seemed more like a head girl than a princess-in-waiting, with never a shy moment in private.'
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GE Gas Power has announced the opening of the Samawa Power Plant in the Iraqi governorate of Al Muthanna.

For the first phase of the project, four GE 9E gas turbines have been installed and commissioned at the plant, thus helping the facility to generate up to 500 MW in simple cycle operations.

GE Gas Power had led the construction of the Samawa Power Plant, which is the first new utility scale power facility to be built in the governorate since 1975. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al Kadhimi.

At present, electricity is supplied from the plant through the 132 kilovolt (kV) grid to the city of Samawa, as well as surrounding areas.

According to GE, it had helped strengthen power infrastructure from the north to the south of Iraq. In the north, the technology giant's teams have helped power liberated areas with the rehabilitation of Mosuls Al Qayara Power Plant.

In central Iraq, the company is helping to equip, operate and maintain the countrys largest combined cycle power plant - the Besmaya Power Station - which is also central Iraqs first independent power plant (IPP).

Ahmed Al Abadi, the spokesperson of the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, said: "Our top priority is to deliver reliable power across Iraq. By setting up the Samawa power plant, GE played a significant role in providing much-needed electricity, helping to ease a part of the electricity shortages experienced in the province."

"Looking ahead, we know that Iraq still needs to add more power capacity. To that end, we are in process of commencing work on the second phase of the Samawa project, under which it will be converted to a combined cycle power plant and be able to generate up to a total of 750 MW," he stated.

Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said: "At GE, we work resolutely to deliver results that improve the lives of the Iraqi people."

"Today, I am delighted to share that all four gas turbines at the Samawa plant have been commissioned and handed over to the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity," noted Anis.

"However, we realize that a lot more work still needs to be done to meet Iraqs growing energy needs and we are committed to help power the country forward with industry-leading technologies, global experts, talented local employees, and investments in community development efforts," he added.

According to him, GE has helped strengthen power infrastructure from the north to the south of Iraq. In the north, GEs teams have helped power liberated areas with the rehabilitation of Mosuls Al Qayara Power Plant.

In central Iraq, the company is helping to equip, operate and maintain the countrys largest combined cycle power plant - the Besmaya Power Station - which is also central Iraqs first independent power plant (IPP), he noted.

In the south, GEs Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrade solution is allowing the MOE to decrease the downtime of gas turbines, improve availability, enhance performance, and lower annual operations and maintenance costs at the Najibiya Power Plant.

Working closely with the Iraqi Ministries of Planning, Finance, and Electricity, GE has also collaborated with various private and public financial institutions from around the world to help secure over $2.4 billion in financing since 2015 for energy sector projects across the country, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
LOGAN, UT, April 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Malouf Foundation hosted their inaugural Human Trafficking Policy and Education Summit. As part of its mission to provide education, promote healing, and ensure justice for trafficking survivors, the Malouf Foundation invited political leaders, industry experts, as well as trafficking and abuse survivors to share how they are working to make a difference against one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world.

Six separate panels covered many facets of trafficking. Sam and Kacie Malouf welcomed guests and introduced the days moderator, Lanhee Chen, director of Domestic Policy Studies and lecturer in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University.

Keynote speaker for the event was former National Security Advisor Robert C. OBrien. Ambassador OBrien shared a global perspective on trafficking, discussing the international implications of an industry worth billions and adding topical context to help distinguish labor and sex trafficking.

I want to thank the Malouf Foundation for having me today. Forums like these are essential to build awareness on these violations of human rights, and its our moral responsibility to continue having these discussions, said OBrien, after the event. It was especially moving to hear survivors of trafficking speak.

Directly following Ambassador OBriens keynote address, Coco Berthmann, Julie Whitehead, and Elizabeth Frazierthree survivors of sex traffickingshared their stories. These women are passionate activists who use their experience and first-hand knowledge to inform policy and affect change. The panel was moderated by Heather Fischer, who served as the first-ever White House Czar and special advisor for human trafficking.

Whitehead said, The Summit was an amazing platform to share our insights on the different aspects of our experiences and how that knowledge might help current and future survivors, as well as help spread awareness to everyone from law enforcement, politicians, and the general public. She continued, It was a very validating experience and left me feeling empowered. Using my story in a positive and impactful way is important in helping me cope with my trauma, so I am very grateful to have been a part of the Summit.

Fischer said, It was an honor to facilitate this conversation with survivors. I know from experience that prioritizing survivor voices is absolutely essential for this cause, and I was glad to see the Malouf Foundation make that a focus of the event.

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), then added his insights on domestic trafficking and the important role of bipartisanship in effective policy. Senator Lee reported a success story of public-private partnership, where he was able to partner with the Malouf Foundation to assist an aftercare initiative that brought ten Venezuelan women recently rescued from sexual servitude to the United States. These survivors are now able to pursue healing in a safe house.

In the afternoon sessions, Representatives Blake Moore (R-Utah), Burgess Owens (R-Utah), and John Curtis (R-Utah), narrowed in on trafficking in Utahand why theyre committed to education and awareness. Topics included planned legislation and how to achieve authentic bipartisan support and long-term success.

Elizabeth Smart, founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, and Deondra Brown, a member of The 5 Browns and founder of Foundation for Survivors of Abuse, discussed their experiences and initiatives. Survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual assault, Smart and Brown communicated the stigmas, setbacks, and misconceptions around cases like theirs, and how attendees at the Summit could help empower survivors.

"Deondra and I had the privilege to discuss child sexual abuse and how to best help anyone recover from past trauma, Smart shared. Abuse, trafficking and exploitation are difficult topics, but it's important to discuss these issues so as a community we can all heal and move forward together. This Summit promotes both healing and actionable solutions. Together, we can make a difference."

The closing panel focused on the public-private partnership, a major avenue for many of the guests to get involved in the cause. Panelists were Ambassador John Cotton Richmond from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Sam Malouf, co-founder of Malouf and the Malouf Foundation, David Stirling, co-founder and CEO of doTerra and the Healing Hands Foundation, and Steve Young, co-founder of the Forever Young Foundation. Conversation centered on how government and businesses can work together to affect change.

Sam Malouf said, Todays event accomplished more than we could have ever imagined. Kacie and I were so grateful to host these initial conversations at our headquarters, but we know that this is only the beginning. He added, There is so much more work to do. During periods of open questions with panelists, two attendees came forward as survivors of abuse. The goal of the Malouf Foundation is to continue creating spaces like todays Summit to empower survivors.

Attachments
The Minister for Supply, Mr. Howard Beale, said in Sydney late last night he had been informed that one man was critically injured, another was on the danger list, and four were seriously injured.

A Bobbin recoverable rocket, as in use at Woomera Range in South Australia. Credit:British Official Picture

A number of men were injured at the Woomera rocket range, South Australia, late yesterday afternoon when a missile being prepared for firing exploded prematurely.

First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 20 & 21, 1956

Several suffered minor injuries. The names were not available, although relatives of all the men had been notified.

Few details are known of the accident, which occurred about 4.15 p.m. in a large corrugated iron hangar. It is believed that the propulsion unit of the missile exploded without warning while the loading crew was still alongside it.

The side of the hangar was blown out. A fire started, but it was quickly extinguished. The rocket was blown to pieces.

During tests the missiles are fired by remote control when everyone has reached the safety area.

A spokesman for the Supply Department said in Melbourne early this morning that Mr. Beale had ordered a full inquiry, which was proceeding.
Government plans to resume the vaccination of healthcare workers with the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from Wednesday.

This is according to a report from Sunday newspaper Rapport, which received this information from various sources within the ministerial vaccine advice committee.

This comes after Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday announced that government would temporarily halt the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa.

The decision followed US health officials recommending that the use of the COVID-19 vaccine be suspended due to concerns about a rare brain blood clotting side effect known as venous sinus thrombosis.

This type of brain clot was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets in six women between the ages of 18 and 48 who had received the vaccine.

Mkhize said South Africa would temporarily suspend its Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout until the causal relationship between the vaccine and blood clots was sufficiently interrogated.

Its important to be aware that with any vaccine it is essential to closely monitor its safety and efficacy. If a problem is reported following a vaccination, a thorough investigation should take place, he said.

South Africa has not had any reports of blood clots that have formed in any recipients of the vaccination to date.

The recommended pause came just weeks after the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford raised similar concerns in Europe.

South Africa has already backed out of its AstraZeneca vaccine plans because of its low efficacy against the 501Y.V2 variant, which is dominant in South Africa.

President of the SAMRC Professor Glenda Gray told Rapport that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine remained the best option as it was effective against this variant.

According to her, the pause was the responsible course of action.

The SAMRC announced in a press release that to date only 2.2% of around 300,000 healthcare workers who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine reported side-effects.

Only 134 people (0.05%) visited the hospital or emergency room for further evaluation, it stated.

Most of the reported adverse events had been minor, local, or systematic reactions.

One person experienced a severe allergic reaction that met the international diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis but has since made a complete recovery.
And though the majority has changed hands eight times in the past 40 years, the balance between the parties hasnt varied much. When the 60-vote standard was adopted in 1975, the Democrats held 60 of the 100 seats. Two years later, they reached 61. But since the 1980 election, the Republicans have never held more than 55 and the Democrats surpassed 57 just once, holding 60 for nine months in 2009-10 before the GOP won a special Massachusetts election.

As the two parties have become more and more polarized, it has become harder for the majority party to attract enough members of the minority to reach the 60-vote threshold. But the minority almost always had the 41 votes needed to prevent action.

Some liberals hope legislative gridlock on Bidens long overdue proposals to expand voting rights, curb access to firearms, and immigration reform will persuade the holdouts to change their minds. But so far, its mostly an academic debate because two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona  and possibly others  flatly oppose lowering the threshold from 60 to 51.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 04:52:19|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Cuba registered 1,026 cases and 12 deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily death toll since the disease appeared in the country last year, the Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday.

According to the ministry, the total number of cases has reached 92,474 while the death toll has climbed to 512.

The ministry's national director of hygiene and epidemiology, Francisco Duran, explained that 29 patients were currently hospitalized in critical condition and 35 were in serious condition.

Havana continues to be the epicenter of the disease in the country, with 366.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest incidence rate in the country, followed by the provinces of Matanzas and Sancti Spiritus.

Cuba has been battling a new wave since January, and in response, authorities have increased restrictions, including the isolation of travelers arriving to the country and limiting or banning flights from some countries.

In Havana, the third and final phase of trials continues for the Cuban vaccine candidate Soberana-02, and in eastern Cuba, another vaccine candidate Abdala is also continuing phase three trials.

Phase two clinical trials of the Cuban vaccine candidate Soberana Plus will begin in the next few days with the participation of 450 volunteers between 19 and 80 years old with a history of mild to moderate COVID-19 or asymptomatic infection.

Two other Cuban vaccine candidates, Soberana-01 and Mambisa, are in different phases of research. Enditem
Mathura : , April 18 (IANS) A female constable in Mathura cremated the body of an unidentified young woman, which was found in a canal on April 11.

Shalini Verma, 25, posted at the Kosi Kalan police station, said that the decomposed body of the woman remained unidentified and so she decided to give the women a dignified farewell.

The priest at the crematorium tried to stop her from lighting the pyre of the unidentified woman but she argued and managed to get her way.

"Every dead person deserves respect," said Shalini who belongs to Bulandshahr.

Shalini had earlier been infected with Covid-19 and said that she did not have any fear performing the last rites in these times of crisis.

A postgraduate in Economics, she said there is a need to change the conservative mindset of society that last rites cannot be performed by a woman or they cannot visit a cremation ground.

"I have read books and the fact is that women don't visit a crematorium ground because of fear," she said.

The daughter of a farmer, Verma joined the police force in 2016 and after training, she was posted in Kosi Kalan in September 2017. She has a younger sister who is pursuing her post-graduation from her hometown.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 09:39:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- "Well, the CIA would want to destabilize China, and that would be the best way to do it, to foment unrest and join with those Uygurs (in Xinjiang) in pushing the Han Chinese in Beijing from internal places rather than external."

These are the words said by Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, at the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity in August 2018 when explaining the reasons why his country should have a military presence in Afghanistan, which borders China.

Wilkerson did not hide Washington's sinister intention to contain China by destabilizing its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Facts have proved that exporting turmoil and jeopardizing the world for Washington's own gain is engraved in the DNA of American hegemony. Destabilizing the world by exporting turmoil is an original sin of the United States that cannot be glossed over.

And China was not the only U.S. target in its such sinister drive. Over the years, the United States, in order to maintain its hegemony, has repeatedly launched wars and incited terrorist activities, creating turmoil in other parts of the world.

Figures show that between the end of World War II and 2001, 201 of the 248 military conflicts in 153 countries and territories were launched by the United States. Research by American scholars shows that between 1947 and 1989, the United States was involved in 64 "regime change" attempts against other governments.

The United States was behind the "Arab Spring" uprisings in West Africa and North Africa, the "Color Revolutions" in Eurasia, as well as "peaceful evolution" campaigns across the world.

The United States, the self-claimed "world's policeman," acts as a bad cop with its intention to maintain American hegemony in the name of safeguarding peace. It has shown its true colors as the world's largest destabilizing force, the perpetrator of regional turmoil, the violator of international order, and the saboteur of world peace.

By exporting turmoil, the United States has brought enormous atrocities to the world, and created terrible humanitarian crises. The Afghan War, the Iraq War, and the Syrian War that the United States launched or was involved in displaced tens of millions of people.

The Gulf War and the ensuing sanctions led to the death of about 500,000 children. Earlier wars, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War, caused millions of civilian deaths.

Depleted uranium bombs used by the U.S. military in Kosovo War have caused a surge of cancer and leukemia cases. Some 60 million barrels of oil were spilled into deserts as a result of the Gulf War, creating enormous contamination. The defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War led to the destruction of one-fifth of forests in the Asian country.

The world should be alert to how the United States disguises its real intentions of seeking hegemony when exporting turmoil.

During the Cold War, the United States exaggerated the dangers of a Soviet invasion in order to tie its European allies to its chariot of war of NATO. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, declassified files showed that the U.S. allegations were totally groundless.

The United States notoriously used a small tube of detergent as proof of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before it launched the Iraq War. Washington also used fake photos to claim Russia violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The United States also manipulated public opinion and systematically spread lies to brainwash people to make them slavishly follow the U.S. narrative.

What's appalling, former U.S. Director of Central Intelligence (CIA) Allen Dulles launched a mind-control project called MK-Ultra in 1953. Under the project, the CIA conducted cruel experiments on humans through brainwashing and psychological torture to control the mind. "An intelligence service is the ideal vehicle for a conspiracy," Dulles said.

Today's world is trending toward the democratization of international relations, where the norms of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs are universally accepted and highly respected.

It is time for Uncle Sam to do much-needed self-reflection and change course. The United States will certainly be isolated should it choose to be on the wrong side of history. Enditem
Sundiata Cha-Jua is a professor of African American studies and history at the University of Illinois and a member of the North End Breakfast Club. His email is schajua@gmail.com.
Moscow has expelled 20 Czechs in a retaliatory move after Prague sent home 18 Russian diplomats, accusing them of being spies after Czech intelligence linked Russian military agents to a deadly ammunition depot explosion in 2014 that killed two people.

The Foreign Ministry in Moscow said on April 18 that the Czechs affected were told to leave Russia by the end of the day on April 19.

The tit-for-tat move comes as the European Union's top diplomats prepare to meet on April 19 to discuss Russia's alleged involvement in the explosion, an accusation Moscow has called "absurd" and a sign of Washington's influence on Prague.

It also coincides with rising tensions in Ukraine over a massive Russian buildup of troops near its border, and with the United States hitting Moscow with major new sanctions and expelling 10 diplomats.

"A strong protest was declared to the ambassador in connection with the unfriendly act of the Czech authorities against the personnel of the Russian diplomatic mission in Prague," the ministry said in a statement after summoning Czech Ambassador to Russia Vitezslav Pivonka.

Just ahead of the release of the statement, Pivonka was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying he had "just been informed" of the move.

"This is Russia's response," he added as he was leaving the Foreign Ministry..

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the decision to expel the Russians was made on the basis of "unequivocal evidence" provided by investigators from the Czech intelligence and security services.

Acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said on April 18 in a tweet that the issue will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on April 19.

The United States and Britain said they stood in solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute, which upset many Czechs who lived for decades under Moscow's dominant rule during the communist era.

"We support our NATO ally the Czech Republic as it tackles and investigates Russia's malign activities on its territory," a NATO official told RFE/RL on April 18.

"This follows a pattern of dangerous behavior by Russia. We express our sympathy to the loved ones of the victims of the explosion in Vrbetice. Those responsible must be brought to justice."

Police in Prague said they had detained seven people on April 18 who are accused of splashing ketchup on the walls of the Russian Embassy in Prague to symbolize the blood of the victims who died in the ammunition-depot explosion.

Hamacek, who is also the interior minister, said that the diplomats who had been identified as intelligence operatives had been ordered to leave the Czech Republic within 48 hours.

The October 16, 2014, blast in Vrbetice, in the eastern Czech region of Zlin, set off 50 metric tons of stored ammunition, killing two people. Two months later, another blast of 13 tons of ammunition occurred at the same site.

The cause of the explosions has never been publicly revealed. It was unclear if there was new intelligence that prompted Czech authorities to make the announcement or why the government decided to move now against the Russians.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the accusations were yet another example of "hostile" moves by Prague against Moscow, which have included disputes over the renaming of the square in front of the Russian Embassy after slain former Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov and the removal of a statue of a Soviet-era general from a Prague neighborhood.

"We will take retaliatory measures that will force the authors of this provocation to fully understand their responsibility for destroying the foundation of normal ties between our countries," a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said.

"This hostile move was the continuation of a series of anti-Russian actions undertaken by the Czech Republic in recent years. It's hard not to see the American trace [here]," it said, accusing Prague of "striving to please the United States against the backdrop of recent U.S. sanctions against Russia."

The Czech news magazine Respekt reported that the ammunition and weaponry that was destroyed was intended for Ukraine, which in 2014 was battling Moscow-backed fighters in eastern Ukraine. A Bulgarian arms trader named Emilian Gebrev was reportedly the organizer of the arms deal with Ukraine, Respekt said.

Respekt said investigators last year received new information regarding the explosion, and the government's intelligence committee had discussed the case just two weeks ago.

"Without specific details, I can confirm that international cooperation on this issue is under way, including cooperation with Bulgaria," Hamacek said on Czech TV on April 18.

In his announcement, Babis blamed the blasts on the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU, and specifically on a secretive unit known as Unit 29155.

That unit has been linked to a series of attempted assassination plots and other sabotage across Europe, including the 2018 poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England.

Skipal, a former Russian military intelligence officer, and his daughter Yulia nearly died that March after being exposed to what British authorities later concluded was Novichok, a powerful Soviet-era, military-grade nerve agent. A British woman who accidentally came into contact with the substance died.

Unit 29155 has also been linked to an attack against Gebrev in 2015. Bulgarian officials have said Gebrev, who survived, was targeted with a substance similar to Novichok. In January 2019, they charged three Russians, including a top GRU officer, in absentia in connection with that case.

As part of the government announcement on April 17, Czech police announced they were seeking two suspected Russian agents carrying various passports, including Russian documents, in the names of Aleksandr Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

The names match those of the two men that Britain has blamed for the Skripal poisonings.

The open-source-investigation organization Bellingcat identified the suspects as Aleksandr Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga and said they both worked for Unit 29155.

"The UK stands in full support of our Czech allies, who have exposed the lengths that the GRU will go to in their attempts to conduct dangerous and malign operations -- and highlights a disturbing pattern of behaviour following the attack in Salisbury," British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said on Twitter.

The president of the Czech Senate, meanwhile, suggested that the explosion could be considered an act of "state terrorism."

"If this is confirmed, we must regard the actions of the Russian secret services as a very serious manifestation of aggression and hostility, which can also be described as an act of state terrorism," Milos Vystrcil, a political opponent and longtime critic of Babis, told reporters. "It is necessary to react clearly, confidently, and harshly on it."

Czech Industry Minister Karel Havlicek said on April 18 that the issue should preclude Russia's Rosatom from taking part in the building of a new nuclear power station in the Czech Republic, or from even taking part in a security review of the project in the run-up to a tender.

Czech security services have warned for years about the risks they say are posed by Russia and China participating in the building of a new block at the Dukovany nuclear power plant.

Earlier this year, political parties agreed on excluding Chinese bidders from the tender while not agreeing on Russian firms for the project, estimated to be worth at least $6 billion.

The Industry Ministry has started a prequalification round for the project, set as a security assessment for potential bidders, before the official launch of the tender, which is expected toward the end of 2021, after a new government takes office following general elections in October.

With reporting by AP, Seznam Zpravy, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax
Four neighbors near Balderdash Cellars are suing the town, its three Select Board members and the winery's owners in an effort to overturn a s
San Francisco, CA, April 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marijuana seeds fall into a murky legal area as they have a complicated relationship with the law.



This makes it difficult to find a reliable, high-quality seed bank in the United States, depending on an individuals residing state.

The purpose of this review is to lay out the details of the top seed banks online.

How the Seed Banks Were Evaluated:

Discussion with experts - Interviews and conversation with marijuana growers who order their seeds online.

Website comparison - In-depth compare and contrast of online seed banks, evaluating delivery, strains, customer service, and more.



Top 5 Seed Banks Online

Below is a detailed list of the 5 best seed banks that will ship to the USA.

1. ILGM (I Love Growing Marijuana) - Best overall, most reliable

Robert Bergman is the founder of ILGM, which he started in 2012. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field and has learned many tips and tricks along the way.

Over time, his site has become one of the most trusted locations worldwide for Americans and Europeans buying marijuana seeds. There is an average delivery time of 10 days.

One thing that stands out about this site is the number of options and categories for all types of growers. On the main menu, consumers choose from beginner seeds, auto flowers, feminized seeds, medical seeds, mixed packs, grow kits, special deals, and seed-growing nutrients. All their seeds come with a germination guarantee and are authentic strains.

Also on offer are seeds for warm and cool climates, outdoor and indoor growing, high CBD, high yielding, high THC concentration, and more. Included in the top strains on offer are Blueberry Autoflower, Bergmans Gold Leaf, Gorilla Glue, Girl Scout Cookies Extreme, and White Widow.

Also available are multiple purchase methods including credit and debit cards, bank deposits and transfers, and Bitcoin. Standard shipping is free, and tracked shipping costs $25.

Pros

Special deals and promotions every month

and promotions every month Reputable company with a high rating

Money-back guarantee, and no dud seeds

Packaging is discreet

Free shipping to the US and Europe

Sells the best-known strains

Large variety of products

Growing guidebook and round-the-clock support

Cons

Not available in certain states

Tracking delivery costs $25







2. Crop King Seeds - Great variety of strains

This seed site is easy to use and offers loads of choices, from different seed types to germination guides. It is the perfect place to shop for beginner growers. Choose from high CBD strains, autoflower options, and more.

On the site, the company has a regulated review system with a structure worked into the database that does not allow for biased or paid reviewers to comment. This five-crown rating offers useful feedback from regular clients.

Use the filters when shopping to help narrow down which products are best. Regular shipping costs $10, express shipping is available at $30, and shipping is free on orders of over $300.

Pros

Free shipping on orders over $300

Germination rate of 80 percent

Special ranking and feedback system

Germination guide

THC-CBD infographics



Cons

Standard $10 delivery fee

One to two-week shipping time

Website is pretty basic, geared towards beginners only





3. Rocket Seeds - Best for discreet packaging and shipping

This Dutch company has been in business for over 20 years and sells a variety of seeds from feminized to outdoor, indoor, autoflowering, and more. They are known for their discreet shipping, where seeds are stored in random objects for confidentiality.

The website offers an entertaining quiz for consumers to find the best seeds for them. It includes details like weed preference and growing conditions. Not only is it a fun feature, but the quiz also helps beginners choose their seeds wisely.

Germination rate with MSNL is 90 percent, and all seeds are hand-checked by their Amsterdam-based staff. They stock all the major brands including Northern lights, Buddha, and White Widow. Each new order comes with a free surprise such as seeds and other products.

Delivery is free for bulk orders, while standard shipping is around $6.25. It normally takes around one to two weeks. Payment options include check, Bitcoin, bank wire, cash, debit and credit cards. Bitcoin users receive a 15 percent discount.

Pros

Stealth shipping

15 percent discount for Bitcoin orders

High reputation since 1999

Fun quiz for choosing seeds

Cannabis Cup and High Times Cup award winners

Different shipping options available

Free seeds with new orders

Wide variety of products

Cons

International shipping is very slow

Only bulk deliveries get free shipping

Charts for seed strains are confusing





4. Seedsman - Best for specialized strains

This site is geared to users with experience and is one of the most trusted companies that ships to the US. Each year, growers can submit their crops in photo form to the Photo Cup competition.

Seedsman offers an enormous amount of licensed breeders, all listed in alphabetical order. For those on the lookout for a specific big-name breeder, Seedsman probably has it. Popular strains available include Sour Diesel, Skunk, and White Widow, along with a great selection of autoflowering and feminized seeds.

The company stocks specific categories and many award-winning seeds, including products for growing at high-altitude and mold-resistant strains.

Each purchase comes with free seeds and loyalty points. Two discounts are on offer for Bitcoin users, including 15 percent off with every order and 25 percent for the first purchase. On the downside, the delivery charge and insurance fee cost $8.98 and $9.04, respectively.

Pros

Special discounts for Bitcoin payments

Loyalty points system

Organized breeders list

Every order includes free seeds

Always plenty in stock

Storage jars, hemp bags, and other accessories available

Cons

Website is full of cheesy ads

Steep delivery charges and insurance

Reviews on the site seem biased





5. QCS (Quebec Cannabis Seeds) - Best for experienced growers

QCS has been supplying Canada and the rest of the world with great seeds for two decades, and their website has been active for 15 years. Choose from regular or special edition seeds, outdoor, indoor, feminized, autoflower, and much more.

The website allows for special strain requests that are not listed among the available products. QCS cares about their customers safety, too, offering discreet shipping.

Even though the company is Canadian, they accept payments in USD, so there is no need to worry about conversions.

Pros

Discreet name used for credit card purchases

20 percent discount for Bitcoin customers

Decades of experience

Great variety of seeds available

Cons

Credit card fee of 3.8 percent

Minimum order of $70

$10 standard shipping option only

The website is basic with few additional details





Seed Banks FAQ

Q. How do Seed Banks Work in the USA?

A: Each state has their own laws regarding marijuana seeds, so most seed banks use an old souvenir law to get over the legal hurdles and do their business. As long as the seeds arent germinated they are free to mail them to you as a souvenir or for bird food/fish bait. Go to any major seed banks website such as ILGM and you will see a disclaimer page that announces this.

Q: Is It Safe to Buy Seeds Online?

A: Because of the many unreliable vendors selling low-quality products, it makes sense to wonder whether its safe to order seeds online. Fortunately, theres minimal risk associated with ordering from online seed banks. Even customs laws shouldnt be an issue. Some people are concerned that if their order is intercepted, theyll end up on the laws wrong side.

However, in most cases, the seeds wont be detected. To guarantee this, most seed bank companies offer stealth shipping for customers worried about interception. Its a discreet way of shipping orders where seeds are placed inside some ordinary objects like DVD cases before shipping; hence the package doesnt raise suspicion.

Despite this, experts still advise customers against requesting expedited delivery or a shipping method that requires a signature. This helps avoid drawing attention to the package or being forced to sign for the delivery.

Individuals should also consider the payment method theyre using. Bitcoin is usually recommended as its encrypted and untraceable. Though, customers can choose to pay using credit cards since purchases are insured and protected.



Final Thoughts
New Delhi:

The police on Wednesday arrested a 21-year-old for duping online store Amazon by claiming that he received empty boxes on the purchase of expensive smartphones.

The 21-year-old bought over 166 expensive mobile phones from the online stores and got refunds of lakhs of rupees.

As per police, Shivam Chopra was successful in making approximately Rs 50 lakh in the span of two months.

Shivam was taken into custody after Amazon complained to police about the repeated offense.

The accused did course in Hotel Management from an institute in New Delhis Rohini area. He did not get job after doing course. He got enthused after being successful in claiming for refunds in two of the cases.

Further, Shivam made business out of the claiming refunds for phone from Amazon.

Shivam would get refund and sale mobile phones either on OLX or Gaffar Market in New Delhi.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A 41-year-old man is wanted after the fatal shooting of three people in Austin, Texas.

Police officials searching the surrounding area on Sunday warned residents that the suspect might take a hostage.

Interim Austin police chief Joseph Chacon said the suspect, Stephen Broderick, was considered armed and dangerous.

He asked area residents to shelter in place and to call their neighbours to check on them.

A heavy police presence has been deployed (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

We are concerned he might possibly take a hostage and be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave, Mr Chacon said during a news conference on Sunday afternoon.

He said Broderick, who is 5ft 7in, was wearing a grey hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Mr Chacon said Broderick is suspected of killing of two Hispanic women and a black man.

He said Broderick knew the victims but did not elaborate on how or provide a motive for the shootings. Mr Chacon also said a child was involved but that the child has been located and is safe.

Stephen Broderick, 41, is being sought by police (Austin Police Department via AP)

Brenda Torres said she was driving by when she saw a little boy flag down a car and a black man lying face down on the ground

I saw the little boy point down the street, Ms Torres said. There was someone lying on the ground. I thought someone had just fallen down or something. As my light turns green and Im driving, I see cop car after cop car after cop car rushing toward where I just was.

Police are hunting for the gunman (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Images from the scene showed a large presence of emergency responders, including dozens of police cars. There were also several ambulances and two Swat trucks at the scene, and two police helicopters.

The area includes a strip mall containing several retail stores and large apartment complexes situated near wooded rolling hills.

Josh Katzowitz, who had been shopping at the nearby Trader Joes, said police and ambulances came pouring in to the area as he was leaving.

The cops had their guns out, he said. Some had pistols, some had rifles and they were strapping on bulletproof vests. There were all of a sudden ambulances, sirens and police cars. There were cops coming from everywhere.

Police said a portion of a nearby highway would be shut in both directions.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)  The Twins' games against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night and Sunday have been postponed due to Minnesota's COVID-19 problems, including at least four positive tests in the past week.

Kyle Garlick, another unnamed Twins player and a team staff member tested positive in the two days before the postponements, manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons already hadnt made the trip to Anaheim after testing positive early in the week, and he hadnt been around the team since Tuesday.

Theres not one person in our group whos not frustrated, Baldelli said. Does everyone have that general frustration just having to deal with this in a grander sense? Absolutely. And then there are probably people who are frustrated about particular aspects of that.

Saturdays game was postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing involving members of the Twins organization, the league said in a statement.

The Twins are undergoing more testing this weekend in Anaheim, and they're uncertain when they'll be allowed to play again. They haven't had any more positive tests from another round Saturday, but Baldelli knows that could be false hope.

Its a difficult time, and we all know the timelines on these things, Baldelli said. If someone had been exposed, (the results) are not necessarily immediate. Were going to return to the hotel and were going to await further instructions.

Garlick played when Minnesota lost 10-3 to the Angels on Friday night. Minnesota's next scheduled game is in Oakland on Monday night.

Some Twins personnel isolated themselves at the team hotel Friday, according to Baldelli, who said he had a false positive himself Thursday morning.

Some of the infected Twins had very minor symptoms ... just mild fatigue, headache, scratchy throat, all that, Baldelli said.

Things are not going to be easy because of it, Baldelli said. Were going to have a great deal of challenges in addition to everything weve gone through, and were going to be up for it and were going to give it our best effort. None of this has gone to plan. This is the unfortunate reality we live in, but were going to go forwards. Were going to attack it and do the best we can.

The Twins made an organization-wide push for vaccination when they returned from spring training in Florida nearly three weeks ago. That push didn't include Simmons, who refused to be vaccinated.

Baldelli said the team was close to where we wanted to be, but not close enough in regard to getting most of its employees vaccinated. He believes that about 80% of the team has received two doses of the vaccine, but many employees aren't outside the two-week window following the second dose to be considered fully vaccinated.

There were 45 regular-season games postponed for virus-related reasons last year, but only two  between St. Louis and Detroit  were not made up.

The Twins aren't scheduled to visit Angel Stadium again this season, and the Angels visit Minnesota for four games on July 22-25.
Mastercard has announced a new partnership with HSBC that will provide the banks commercial customers in the UAE with an enhanced business-to-business payment experience via the Mastercard Track Business Payment Service.



The latest collaboration will result in the launch of MasterCard Track Business Payment Service in the UAE. With partnerships across all regions around the world, Mastercard Track Business Payment Service helps companies simplify and optimize how they pay and get paid through a global open-loop network.



Businesses have greater control of their payments with rich data exchanges and the ability to automate payments across multiple payment rails. Among the benefits for businesses are the ability to scale, improved security and control, cash flow efficiency and digitization of existing manual processes.



The launch of Mastercard Track Business Payment Service is a game-changer for the Middle East and Africa region. We are seeing a structural need to digitize and automate B2B payments across all our markets, accelerated by the global pandemic, and Mastercard Track allows us to fully take advantage of this opportunity, said Girish Nanda, Country Manager, UAE & Pakistan, Mastercard.



We are thrilled to have partnered with HSBC to further deliver on modernizing the business payment ecosystem by delivering a better payment reconciliation experience for HSBC business customers in the UAE.



In November 2020, Mastercard announced the addition of global Card payment capabilities to Track Business Payment Service and Account-to-Account functionality in the US, with plans to scale globally.  TradeArabia News Service
A lobbyist for Manitoba cottagers has a blunt message for anyone disappointed that Ontarios exemptions to impending border closures dont include cabin season: suck it up.

A lobbyist for Manitoba cottagers has a blunt message for anyone disappointed that Ontarios exemptions to impending border closures dont include cabin season: suck it up.

Ontario will be setting up checkpoints at the Manitoba and Quebec borders beginning Monday to restrict movement in and out of the province to essential services. The order clarifies that only those whose main residence is in Ontario will be able to travel between the provinces, meaning Manitobans who own cottages in northwestern Ontario are out of luck.

Thats just fine with Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners president Gus Wruck, who said "the law of the land prevails" in times like these.

"These are the rules, and were bound to abide by them every time they put these rules into effect, there are always exceptions," he said. "But in the case of cottages, I dont expect there will be any exceptions, because thats not necessarily an essential service."

He personally hadnt heard any cottage owners disparaging the rules but said there may be some who consider their cottages a principal residence.

"I think we have to understand that in spite of it all, we are cottage owners and whatever comes up in terms of laws and regulations from Ontario, we have to abide by," he said.

One Winnipeg cottager, who did not want to be named publicly, told the Free Press Friday he found the measures "useless" for those who travelled to their cottages without making any stops.

"Which province poses more of a threat? Ontario or Manitoba?" he said. "Maybe (Ontario Premier) Doug Ford should consider the absurdity of this meaningless measure and admit that its a shallow attempt to cover up for his mistakes."

On the other side of the border, Kenoras Caseys Grill Bar co-owner Wade Duguay said he already expects his business to "drastically be changed for the worst" as a result of the border closure.

"Its going to start affecting our business, for sure it will," he said. "Most of our customers are from Manitoba and the outlining areas, so our business drastically changes, theres a massive influx in the summer season."

Regardless, he said he struggles with his personal feelings around the decision  hes not angry about the decision made by the Ontario government, but recognized it affected his business severely.

"A lot of it, what are my moral thoughts on it, and what are my business thoughts on it," he said. "My business thought would be, This sucks, obviously. But my moral thoughts would be on the safety of people with the pandemic. Its a tough one."

This will be the second rough summer for the bar and grill, which Duguay said relies extensively on the summer tourist months to survive, largely from Manitoba travellers.

"With the rate that everythings going, and the direction were headed in right now, I wouldnt be surprised if we didnt get a summer at all. Am I scared of that? Yes, for sure I am, but I was scared when this all started, and were still around."  Kenoras Caseys Grill Bar co-owner Wade Duguay

"Ive kind of resigned to the fact that our summer is kind of shot already. With the rate that everythings going, and the direction were headed in right now, I wouldnt be surprised if we didnt get a summer at all," he said. "Am I scared of that? Yes, for sure I am, but I was scared when this all started, and were still around."

Kenora resident Heidi Bergman said even as Manitobas case numbers rise, she doesnt see the border lockdown as "necessarily a good thing."

"My hope is that its lifted very soon," she said Saturday. "Our area, up here, doesnt have a lot of cases, weve been lucky weve been able to keep it low. And even with the people coming in, weve had cottagers come in, and it really hasnt raised our case rate."

She will continue to travel across the Manitoba-Ontario border because she receives regular medical treatment in Winnipeg that she cant access in Kenora, but said its not without some trepidation.

"I have a mother-in-law in long-term care, so Im trying to be extra careful, because I dont want to inadvertently bring something into a long-term care home," she said. "So theres hesitancy on my part."

Regardless, she said shes sympathetic to Manitoba cottagers who want to take advantage of the warm weather in northwestern Ontario.

"I understand the frustrations  these people, these are their second residences," she said. "Theyre still paying taxes, they contribute to our community when they are here, and theyre a part of our community."

As the second cottage season under COVID-19 approaches, the province is again discouraging non-essential travel. Around this time last year, the province was discouraging Manitobans from traveling to their cottages and possibly overwhelming health care centres in those areas. This year, Ontario police have been permitted to turn people back who dont have a valid reason for entering the province.

"Consider travel plans carefully," a release from the province from Friday evening reads.

On Saturday, Manitoba announced 183 COVID-19 cases, the provinces highest daily total since case counts were above 200 in January. Most cases are from the Winnipeg health region, which reported 127 cases, with 24 in the Northern Heath region, 13 in Southern Health, 12 in Prairie Mountain Health and seven in the Interlake-Eastern region.

Three deaths were also announced, two men in their 80s from Winnipeg and one man in his 60s from the Northern Health region. One of the two deaths in Winnipeg is inked to an outbreak at Health Science Centre in the GD4 unit.

This has resulted in a small jump in the provinces five-day test-positivity rate from 5.1 to 5.3 per cent, and a jump from 4.9 to 5.4 per cent in Winnipeg, after 2,828 lab tests were completed Friday.

 With files from Cody Sellar

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
Farmers get bundled solutions to fight weather vagaries By Yomal Senerath-Yapa View(s): View(s):

Galenbindunuwewa was ripe with harvest. The golden paddy fields had been freshly reaped, and storks and egrets were picking about in immaculate flocks, as the occasional eagle, harrier or kite swooped down in a sharp dive for a quick meal of whirring insect or munia.

Hidden was the fact that the guardians of these dry zone pastorality were probably the most vulnerable people in Sri Lanka according to Simon Langan, who is Director, Digital Innovation and also Country Manager in Sri Lanka for the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

We were in the Anuradhapura district at the end of March for the first leg of a new initiative by IWMI to make these people, so dependent on water, less vulnerable and more productive. Perpetually at the mercy of floods or droughts, these farmers of maize and paddy lead an uncertain, precarious existence.

IWMI, though headquartered in Sri Lanka, is present in more than 30 countries in Asia and Africa, and in a number of them has already begun providing bundled solutions for people challenged due to the lack of water.

70% of earths water is used for agriculture and 750 million people in South Asia are exposed to weather and water related disasters, says Simon.

For the farmer of maize, who relies solely on rain (and not irrigated water like paddy) a slight shower more or less than the required amount could spell disaster. They also have trouble finding quality seeds and access to agricultural advice.

IWMIs answer, packaged with care, was christened the Bundling Insurance with Climate Information and Seeds system.

An index insurance was the turkey on the table in this bundle, and we were actually heading for the official ceremony when the first insurance payouts were to be handed over.

Outside T. Mihilars house in Dunumandalewa, the 100 farmer recipients had gathered in a tin roofed tent with a table adorned with plastic flowers in pride of place. Each farmer was given a payout amounting to Rupees 1,000 for the excess rainfall that season.

There were speeches, and none more memorable than that of Dr. Giriraj Amarnath, who tried his homespun Tamil learnt on the field. An Indian, this is pretty much his project- as the Research Group Leader for Water Risks and Disasters.

Giriraj explains that the insurance scheme made possible with SANASA is simple and efficient because it is satellite-based. From satellite measurements, rainfall is calculated and compensation is given if there is excess or deficit than what is required.

Giriraj says that though the farmers are vulnerable and marginalized, they spend as much as Rs. 15,000 to 18,000 on one acre alone.

And the amount they invest is not secured- if any climate shocks come.

When you buy a car by default your car is insured. But what a farmer spends on fertilizer, seeds, labour costs and electricity never gets accounted. One pest disease or 20 days of no rain can wipe out a crop

But insurance is only part of the system. Climate resilient seeds will be provided to farmers from the next season. These hybrid seeds are genetically improved, and can resist to a temperature, or excess rainfall or deficit rainfall.

In this part of the country it is all about excess rainfall, says Giriraj, maize should not receive too much rain.

The seed they bring in, Simon says, will stay underwater for longer- just as the dry-resistant one can sit there doing nothing until the rains.

Says Mohamed Aheeyar, researcher at IWMI, when we were in the field crop cutting, we found about four to five seed varieties, and the farmers do not know how they have got into the field. Whatever is available in the market- they just pick it up. These substandard seeds do not help yields.

After the payouts and speeches of thanks are over, we linger in the tent to talk to a few new beneficiaries.

Weather-beaten Mihilar (48) of Dunumandalewa who was instrumental in persuading other villagers, says that they were reluctant to subscribe at first- certain schemes having scammed them before, but soon such wariness was cast aside.

Gayani Nirmalee Bandara Menike from the village of Veheragala too recalls being very circumspect at first, but pronounces herself relieved and happy now.

She also found helpful the texting service which provided farmers with weather forecasts and agronomic advice, which is the third component in the bundle.

On Monday and Friday we provide weather forecasts. Wednesday is for agronomic advice explains Giriraj.

Data is provided by the Indian Meteorological Department a month in advance and the IWMI gets the help of a senior agricultural officer, Mohamed Rahju, to prepare forecasts.

These will let you know if there would be scattered rainfall or extreme rainfall in the next ten days, and practical advice for example would let you know what pesticides you have to introduce, and how much you have to spray on that particular day.

Gayani says for the first time we know when exactly to put fertilizer, when the droughts will come, when itll rain or when the skies will be good. This will enable us to take our harvest to higher levels.

At the end of the event, we strike out across the land towards the maize cultivations, beaming in rich gold yellow through brown, paper dry leaves, against a blue sky and stenciled purple hills.

There are signs of hope everywhere in the dusky landscape. This is just the first pilot project, says Giriraj. We are going to scale this in Ampara, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Vauniya.

They will expand to green gram, black gram, chili and then onion and beyond. But for the moment it is about building trust.

Initially there might be some difficulty, they say but slowly itll grow
Weekly poll: Sony Xperia Mark III tries something different, but is it worth the price of admission?

When it comes to phones, Sony follows the beat of a different drummer  months after the first Snapdragon 888 flagships hit the market, the Japanese tech giant announced that it will release its own flagships in early summer.

You cant rush perfection, they say, and Sony has given up on trying to dominate the smartphone market, anyway. Unlike LG, Sony managed to eke out a small profit off its small but dedicated following and its phones make for great cross-promotion with the companys other divisions.

So, what phone do you make when you dont care about pleasing everyone and instead focus on the enthusiast crowd? Well, you make the Sony Xperia 1 III, of course. It leverages on all of Sonys expertise  cameras, music, movies and gaming, each with its own extensive fanbase.

It has the first 4K OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate on the market and it maintains a CinemaWide 21:9 aspect ratio. Its calibrated in a similar way to Sonys professional monitors, so you can enjoy movies as the director intended, but also use the 6.5 display as an external monitor for your digital camera.

The phones own cameras can do a lot of work. The new Real-Time Tracking feature builds on Eye AF from last year and enables 20 fps bursts with AF/AE. Sony stuck with a trio of 12MP image sensors for yet another year.

The telephoto module has an impressive new trick, however  two focal lengths. It offers 2.9x and 4.4x magnification, which means less reliance on digital zoom (the Mark II was locked at 3x). We do wish Sony upgraded the selfie camera and well note that theres no 8K video capture yet.

As we said, Sony has given up on chasing industry trends. This is why you get a microSD slot and a 3.5mm jack. There are some upgrades that you dont see immediately too, like the front facing stereo speakers that are now 40% louder than on the Mark II (output from the jack is more powerful too).

Sony was trying to keep pricing under wraps, but the Russian division spilled the beans. The Xperia 1 III will cost the equivalent of $1,300/1,100. That is higher than the Mark II last year. On the plus side, pre-orders get a free pair of WF-1000XM3 TWS earbuds.

The Sony Xperia 5 III packs the same Snapdragon 888 chipset and triple camera with four focal lengths as the 1 III. And it has the same battery capacity, 4,500 mAh. Thats 500 mAh more than the Mark II duo had and charging is more powerful  the 30W charger can get to 50% in half an hour.

The display is the same as before, 6.1 OLED with 1080p+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate (note: neither is adaptive). The phones dimensions are essentially the same as well. Its not Compact but it is quite narrow. Also, there are no punch holes or notches, which some still hate with a burning passion.

Size comparison: Sony Xperia 1 III (left) * Sony Xperia 5 III (right)

The Xperia 5 III (based on Russian pricing) will be pricier than its predecessor as well, going for $1,100/930. These are paired with the WF-XB700 TWS buds.

If you like Sony, but dont want to spend that much, the new Xperia 10 III will try to entice you with 5G connectivity. This is courtesy of the Snapdragon 690 (8nm), which also brings notable CPU and GPU upgrades over the Mark II last year and its S665 chip (11nm).

The phone has a 6.0 OLED display with 1080p+ resolution (21:9) and this year it gains HDR support. It refreshes at only 60Hz, though, otherwise its quite close to the 5-series model. Sony also equipped the 10-series with stereo speakers this year for a better multimedia experience.

The triple camera setup is the same as the Mark II (on paper), 12MP main, 8MP telephoto (2x) and 8MP ultra wide. But Xperia 10 IIs camera issues were due to poor execution, not on paper specs, so the true upgrade will be revealed in the review process.

We do know that the already great battery life will be even better as the capacity grows from 3,600 mAh to 4,500 mAh (keeping the 18W charging). Also, Sony actually wired the port for USB 3.1 speeds this year.

Unfortunately, Sony Russia doesnt list the Xperia 10 III, so theres no information on its price.
(CNN)  At least 21 states have recorded at least a 10% rise in daily average positive cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University data Thursday, demonstrating that the fight against the pandemic is far from over.

In Michigan, hospitals are increasingly overwhelmed and reaching full capacities in part due to the influx of new coronavirus cases. State and local officials across the country are attempting to avoid a similar situation and are pushing to increase vaccination levels among adults, which shows continuing signs of improvement.

More than 30% of US adults have been fully vaccinated, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a CNN analysis has some states being able to vaccinate all willing adults by June.

However, between varying rates of vaccine hesitancy and the pace of vaccinations, the timeline for vaccinating all willing adults varies greatly among states -- a growing concern because, for some locations, a new surge may have arrived.

"We have knocked down this virus already three times, but we have to knock it down a fourth time," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday, as the state's infection numbers have turned upwards again.

Modelers predict little improvement in fight to slow pandemic

An influential team that makes regular forecasts about the course of the pandemic sees little progress this week in preventing future deaths.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington warns that declining vaccine confidence combined with eased restrictions could give the virus the opportunity to surge again.

"In our reference scenario, which represents what we think is most likely to happen, our model projects 618,000 cumulative deaths on August 1, 2021. This represents 58,000 additional deaths from April 12 to August 1," the IHME said in its latest forecast. That's almost the same as last week's forecast.

"If universal mask coverage (95%) were attained in the next week, our model projects 13,000 fewer cumulative deaths," they added.

But the model instead foresees people dropping mask use. "The trend toward mandate easing continues, and it appears quite possible there will be a huge behavioral rebound," the IHME said.

The IHME says although cases are up, deaths are down.

"The slow national increase in cases and hospitalizations and decline in deaths despite widespread B.1.1.7 circulation may be due to three factors: higher past levels of infection in the US compared to Europe, higher vaccination rates on average than in Europe, and the arrival of B.1.1.7 after the peak of winter seasonality," the IHME said.

Under a worst-case scenario, 679,000 people will have died by August 1 if more people stop wearing masks and start moving around and gathering more, they say.

Measures to prevent new surge

In order to prevent a new surge as well as Covid-19 variants that may be more infectious, health experts continue to recommend mask-wearing, social distancing, and above all else, vaccination.

"The vaccines have saved thousands of lives already," Emory University executive associate dean of medicine Dr. Carlos del Rio told CNN. "We've seen mortality in the US decline despite cases going up, and that's because we're vaccinating people."

Dr. Kawsar Talaat, an infectious disease physician and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told CNN on Thursday that while CDC data has shown that vaccines cannot fully prevent all Covid-19 infections, such "breakout" cases are rare. Widespread vaccination means that less virus is circulating and there is less opportunity for exposure.

"That's the whole point of getting to herd immunity," Talaat said. "Because once we get to a point where enough people in the community are vaccinated, then if somebody develops Covid in that community, the people around them are protected and it's much harder for that person to spread the virus to somebody else, and therefore the transmission stops."

While more than 78% of those ages 75 and up have received at least one dose of vaccine, the percentage of those vaccinated ages 18-29 is at roughly 25%, CDC data shows. And young and relatively healthy people who have had Covid-19 before should still get a vaccine to prevent reinfection, according to research published Thursday in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

The effect of rising infection rates is being felt on a local level. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that although more than 36% of residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, hospitalizations are increasing.

"It's a lagging indicator, so not a direction that we want to be going," DeWine said.

"We just have to keep going," DeWine said. "We know how to get out of this. You know, this is not five months ago, four months ago, we know how to get out of this, and we have the tool to get out of it. We just have to use the tool and we've got to use it every day. And that is vaccinate."

States push to get ahead of rising infections

Nationwide, states are racing to inoculate as many residents as possible.

"We know that these vaccines are really responsible primarily for the 90% reduction in deaths we've seen over the first 13 weeks of 2021," Dr. Clay Marsh, West Virginia's Covid-19 czar, said Thursday.

Aware that transportation can be a barrier for some, Rhode Island announced that free public transit trips to and from vaccination appointments will be available starting Monday.

"This is a big win for Rhode Island's vaccination efforts," said Governor Dan McKee. "I hope that no-cost trips will enable everyone who wants to get to a vaccine clinic to get there easily."

News coming out of several states was cautiously optimistic, as Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Connecticut and Georgia all highlighted increases in vaccination numbers.

New York reported its lowest number of hospitalizations since December 1 and that more than half of New York adults had received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

Citing a 95% drop in the daily average of deaths in the state, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced that a mask mandate set to expire Friday will not be renewed.

"The lifting of the mandate does not diminish the importance of wearing a face mask," Sununu said, noting that numbers remain high across the state. "We ask that people continue to take steps to protect their own health, the health of their family and friends, and the health of their community."

Johnson & Johnson vaccine side effects are investigated

As vaccine distribution continues, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine remains paused.

A severe form of blood clot in the brain known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) may be linked to the vaccine, yet the occurrence rate is rare. So far, only six cases have been reported in the US out of the approximately 7 million doses administered to date. One person died and another is in critical condition, an FDA official said Tuesday.

One of the six cases involved a 26-year-old Pennsylvania woman, according to the state's department of health, who recovered after receiving treatment at a hospital. The state, which is pausing J&J distribution until April 24, said that federal oversight of vaccine safety is functioning as intended.

"The safety procedures built into the vaccination process are working and should instill confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the available Covid-19 vaccines," Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. "I urge individuals who have appointments scheduled to receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccination to keep those appointments."

After the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration recommended a pause on Tuesday, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met Wednesday without voting on taking any further action, stating that more information is needed, and vaccine advisers to the CDC have scheduled a meeting for April 23 to determine whether additional intervention is required.

"Hopefully, we'll get a decision quite soon as to whether or not we can get back on track with this very effective vaccine," Dr. Anthony Fauci told a Congressional hearing Thursday.

In response, Johnson & Johnson decided to pause vaccinations in all of its clinical trials while the company updates "guidance for investigators and participants," according to a news release posted Tuesday afternoon.

Recipients of the vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider, the CDC and FDA said.

For those that received the J&J vaccine more than a month ago, the risk is "very low," said CDC principal deputy director Dr. Anne Schuchat during a virtual briefing on Tuesday.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Nearly half of US states reported an increase in Covid-19 cases this week. Here's what experts say can help stop another surge."
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As some YouTube content creators in Vietnam leech off a disabled mans private life for views, the video platform has failed to protect him and his loved ones against such cyberbullying.

Pham Huu Tho, 36, was born with limb defects and later acquired hearing loss that caused his career options to dwindle.

In 2017, he took his first shot at selling goods online  a job that Tho soon knew was most suited to him because it did not discriminate against his disabilities.

By 2018, Tho had already made enough to pay his bills thanks to the explosion of online shopping in Vietnam.

It was also through the Internet that Tho met his future girlfriend Pham Thanh Hoa in 2019, when she was a factory worker who ran a small online business as a side job.

Hoa would source her goods from Tho, and frequent chatting between them eventually led the couple to fall in love.

After introducing Hoa to his family in the southern beach city of Vung Tau, Tho decided to relocate to Hanoi with the girlfriend so they could move in together.

Their relationship was not one without hindrances: Thos family members vocally opposed them getting married out of fear Hoa was only using him for money.

They could not wrap their heads around how an able-bodied woman would want to spend the rest of her life with a disabled man.

Tho disagreed, maintaining that he was not any richer than Hoa for such an argument to make sense.

Things would have stayed an internal family feud had it not been for some dozen YouTube channels who saw the forbidden love as perfect material for click-baiting videos.

At first, Tho agreed to answer questions from some visitors who said they wanted to put his love story online.

Then, droves of other so-called content creators jumped on the bandwagon and digged deeper into Tho and Hoas private struggles to win approval from his family.

Each had their own take on the matter, including those attacking Tho for 'disobeying' his parents.

Slanders and insults were common among the thousands of comments posted under each video.

Whenever Tho spoke up about his desire for love, respect, and the ability to travel, he would be met with a barrage of online attacks for turning his back on his own family to pursue a lover.

Some YouTubers even came to his parents for interviews and published all of their 'reveals' on the online platform, without any regard for Tho and Hoas privacy.

Pham Huu Tho (left) and his girlfriend Pham Thanh Hoa are seen in this provided photo.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Tho mentioned the 'respect' he has received from his girlfirend.

She talks a lot and shares with me many of her happy stories, and about everywhere she goes and anything she does, Tho spoke of his girlfriend.

Im more than 35 years old, and I have every right to love and my own choice.

Recently, some YouTube personalities even published videos in which they threatened to hire thugs to abduct Tho and bring him back to his parents house.

Tho and Hoa said they are now afraid to even step out of their house, fearing for their lives.

Tho said heartwarming support they receive from some netizens have been inconsequential compared to the amount of hate being unleashed upon the couple, which often reduces Hoa to tears.

I only wish for a peaceful and normal life like others, Tho said.

What can YouTube and relevant authorities do for those like us?

Would YouTube step in?

YouTubes Community Guidelines prohibit content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on their intrinsic attributes, including a disability.

However, to what extent YouTube goes to curb content that violates this policy remains a question.

YouTube does remind people that behind the target of every video or comment is a real person, Xuan Minh writes for Tuoi Tre.

Then why does it allow a multitude of channels to monetize by spreading hatred, and even recommend similar videos with thousands of views?

YouTube and its content creators make money off of views and advertisements, so the tolerance or even encouragement of content promoting hate speech targetting disabled members of society, Thos case being an example, goes to show that many parties are violating YouTubes Community Guidelines and degrading others for profit."

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that started enriching up to 60 per cent, reaching its highest-ever level of enrichment, a spokesperson for the IAEA told Sputnik.

"In a report to Member States on the IAEA's verification and monitoring in Iran, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the Agency today verified that had begun the production of UF6 enriched up to 60% U 235 by feeding UF6 enriched up to 5% U 235 simultaneously into two cascades of IR-4 centrifuges and IR-6 centrifuges at the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant," the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, notified the IAEA of its intention to begin to enrich up to 60 percent purity. The decision to boost enrichment and to install modernized centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear facility was made in light of the recent incident involving the electricity distribution network in Natanz.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Friday that Iran had managed to reach 60 percent uranium enrichment in line with the previously announced plans.

Iran's previous declaration to the agency stated that the enrichment level of the UF6 produced in Natanz was 55.3 percent U-235.

According to the spokesperson, the IAEA took a sample of the produced UF6 to independently verify the enrichment level declared by Iran.

The decision to increase uranium enrichment came in response to a recent incident at Natanz nuclear facility that damaged the plant's electricity distribution network in what the country's vice president and atomic energy chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, described as "nuclear terrorism."

Earlier in the day, the political directors of Iran and P5+1 group of countries gathered for a meeting on Saturday in Vienna to summarize the interim results of the recently held consultations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and expressed determination to continue talks to successfully finish the process as soon as possible. Russia's permanent representative to organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, told Sputnik that the situation surrounding the negotiations on the nuclear deal inspired cautious optimism.

In 2015, Iran signed the JCPOA with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and the EU. The deal required Iran to scale back its nuclear program and considerably downgrade its uranium reserves in exchange for sanctions relief. In 2018, the US abandoned its conciliatory stance on Iran, withdrawing from the JCPOA and implementing hard-line policies against Tehran, which retaliated by gradually abandoning its commitments under the deal a year later.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

RIO RANCHO  Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block jumped into the 2022 race for governor Saturday, becoming the first Republican to seek the nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Block, an Air Force veteran from Rio Rancho, pitched himself as a strong new candidate who could successfully take on Lujan Grisham, in contrast to others who have repeatedly lost statewide races.

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I intend to be a governor that New Mexico can finally be proud of, Block said during an event at Rio Rancho Veterans Memorial Park.

Block, 50, is a retired lieutenant colonel who worked as a nuclear weapons officer and served in Afghanistan. He is now a nuclear operations consultant.

He made military service a theme of Saturdays event.

Jose Garcia, who served with Block in the Netherlands, addressed the crowd of about 125 people, describing Block as the kind of commander who stood up for rank-and-file airmen and personally intervened at one point to help train someone struggling to pass a physical fitness test.

Block, for his part, said he would be a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, veto any tax increases passed by the Legislature and cut business regulations.

Bigger government is not the answer and does not provide prosperity, he said.

Block slammed Lujan Grishams performance as governor, harshly criticizing the public health orders that have restricted business activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and pledging to forgive any fines levied on small businesses upon taking office.

We want our freedoms back, he said.

Blocks entry into the race drew a rebuke from the executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, Noam Lee, who said a Block administration would be anti-environment, anti-working families, and anti-science.

Lujan Grisham has shown strong and effective leadership throughout her time in office, Lee said. We look forward to helping elect her to a second term.

Blocks rivals for the Republican nomination arent yet clear.

Asked on Friday whether state Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce might run for governor, a spokesman said Pearces priority now is to run the Republican Party. The party is working hard to field strong candidates.

Pearce, a former congressman, lost the governors race to Lujan Grisham by 14 percentage points in 2018, a year in which Democrats swept statewide offices.

State Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, said last week that she is evaluating whether to seek a statewide office next year. She is chair of the House Republican caucus.

New Mexicos primary election is almost 14 months away, leaving plenty of time for candidates to emerge.

Block was elected to the Sandoval County Commission in 2016 and represents a district that covers Corrales and part of Rio Rancho.

He was a co-sponsor of a 2018 measure establishing a right-to-work law in Sandoval County. A state law was later passed that prohibits enforcing such a law at the local level.

Among those in the audience at Blocks campaign announcement Saturday were Republican state Reps. Joshua Hernandez of Rio Rancho and Stefani Lord of Sandia Park.
TEL AVIV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th April, 2021) Israel and Greece have signed the biggest defense agreement in the history of their bilateral relations, worth approximately $1.6 billion, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"The Israel & Hellenic Ministries of Defense have signed the biggest defense agreement to date between Israel and Greece. It amounts to around NIS 5.4 billion [$1.6 billion] and includes the establishment of an International Flight Training Center for the Hellenic Air Force, by [Elbit Systems]," the ministry tweeted.

According to the ministry, the agreement was signed on Friday, with Israel represented by the head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), retired Brig.

Gen. Yair Kulas. Per the agreement, the Israeli Defense Ministry and Elbit Systems will spearhead the creation of an international flight train center that will have 10 M-346 training aircraft manufactured by Italian aerospace company Leonardo.

"Within the framework of the agreement, Elbit Systems will provide kits to upgrade & operate the Hellenic Air Force's T-6 aircraft. Elbit will also provide training, simulators & logistical support," the ministry added.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz praised the agreement, stating that it would strengthen the economies of both countries and thus deepen the defense, economic and political cooperation.
Commentary: The U.S. original sin of exporting turmoil

Xinhua) 12:39, April 18, 2021

Displaced children play at a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 16, 2021. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)

The United States, the self-claimed "world's policeman," acts as a bad cop with its intention to maintain American hegemony in the name of safeguarding peace. It has shown its true colors as the world's largest destabilizing force, the perpetrator of regional turmoil, the violator of international order, and the saboteur of world peace.

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- "Well, the CIA would want to destabilize China, and that would be the best way to do it, to foment unrest and join with those Uygurs (in Xinjiang) in pushing the Han Chinese in Beijing from internal places rather than external."

These are the words said by Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, at the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity in August 2018 when explaining the reasons why his country should have a military presence in Afghanistan, which borders China.

Wilkerson did not hide Washington's sinister intention to contain China by destabilizing its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Facts have proved that exporting turmoil and jeopardizing the world for Washington's own gain is engraved in the DNA of American hegemony. Destabilizing the world by exporting turmoil is an original sin of the United States that cannot be glossed over.

Activists try to burn a mock U.S. flag during a protest rally near the U.S. Embassy in Manila, the Philippines, April 29, 2014. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

And China was not the only U.S. target in its such sinister drive. Over the years, the United States, in order to maintain its hegemony, has repeatedly launched wars and incited terrorist activities, creating turmoil in other parts of the world.

Figures show that between the end of World War II and 2001, 201 of the 248 military conflicts in 153 countries and territories were launched by the United States. Research by American scholars shows that between 1947 and 1989, the United States was involved in 64 "regime change" attempts against other governments.

The United States was behind the "Arab Spring" uprisings in West Africa and North Africa, the "Color Revolutions" in Eurasia, as well as "peaceful evolution" campaigns across the world.

The United States, the self-claimed "world's policeman," acts as a bad cop with its intention to maintain American hegemony in the name of safeguarding peace. It has shown its true colors as the world's largest destabilizing force, the perpetrator of regional turmoil, the violator of international order, and the saboteur of world peace.

By exporting turmoil, the United States has brought enormous atrocities to the world, and created terrible humanitarian crises. The Afghan War, the Iraq War, and the Syrian War that the United States launched or was involved in displaced tens of millions of people.

The Gulf War and the ensuing sanctions led to the death of about 500,000 children. Earlier wars, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War, caused millions of civilian deaths.

A U.S. military vehicle runs past the Tal Tamr area in the countryside of Hasakah province, northeastern Syria, on Nov. 14, 2019. (Str/Xinhua)

Depleted uranium bombs used by the U.S. military in Kosovo War have caused a surge of cancer and leukemia cases. Some 60 million barrels of oil were spilled into deserts as a result of the Gulf War, creating enormous contamination. The defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War led to the destruction of one-fifth of forests in the Asian country.

The world should be alert to how the United States disguises its real intentions of seeking hegemony when exporting turmoil.

During the Cold War, the United States exaggerated the dangers of a Soviet invasion in order to tie its European allies to its chariot of war of NATO. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, declassified files showed that the U.S. allegations were totally groundless.

The United States notoriously used a small tube of detergent as proof of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before it launched the Iraq War. Washington also used fake photos to claim Russia violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The United States also manipulated public opinion and systematically spread lies to brainwash people to make them slavishly follow the U.S. narrative.

Iraqi protesters take part in a demonstration against the presence of U.S. troops in the country, in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Jan. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

What's appalling, former U.S. Director of Central Intelligence (CIA) Allen Dulles launched a mind-control project called MK-Ultra in 1953. Under the project, the CIA conducted cruel experiments on humans through brainwashing and psychological torture to control the mind. "An intelligence service is the ideal vehicle for a conspiracy," Dulles said.

Today's world is trending toward the democratization of international relations, where the norms of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs are universally accepted and highly respected.

It is time for Uncle Sam to do much-needed self-reflection and change course. The United States will certainly be isolated should it choose to be on the wrong side of history.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday informed that open-book exams will be held for final year students of Under Graduate and Post Graduate programs.

"Amid increasing COVID cases, there will be open-book exams for final year students of Under Graduate and Post Graduate programs, just like it was during first and second-year exams," said Yadav.

"We expect to continue with the normal routine in July, but till then there will not be any exam in college" he added.

As India reported its highest-ever single-day spike of COVID-19 cases with over 2.34 lakh new cases and more than 1,300 deaths on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the status of preparedness to handle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister directed officials that the use of Remdesivir and other medicines must be in accordance with approved medical guidelines and their misuse and black marketing must be strictly curbed. On the issue of the supply of medical oxygen, the Prime Minister directed that the installation of approved medical oxygen plants should be sped up. 162 PSA Oxygen plants are being installed in 32 States/UTs from PM CARES.

(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.)
These days, when it comes to actors, Bryan Cranston is a household name. The Breaking Bad star can have just about any role he chooses, and its all thanks to his performance as the chemistry teacher-turned-meth cook Walter White.

The show was set in the American Southwest, and the hot, dry terrain almost became its own character on the show. What many people may not realize is that much of Cranstons personality was forged driving a motorcycle through that region of the country.

Heres the story of how one long trip made him appreciate the area hed later make even more famous on his show.

Bryan Cranston had a tough childhood

RELATED: Breaking Bad: Vince Gilligan Knew Bryan Cranston Was the Perfect Walter White After His Work on The X-Files

Cranston spoke with Route Magazine about his childhood, his affinity for motorcycles, and the two-year journey he took that most would only dream about. For someone who later led such a seemingly charmed existence, Cranstons life growing up was anything but sunshine and rainbows.

The actors parents got divorced when he was young and his mother battled alcoholism. To achieve some semblance of stability, Cranston and his brother joined the police academy. Luckily for fans of his acting, it was only a short-term dalliance.

Cranston said that his parents rocky breakup greatly affected him and his brother:

She wasnt dependable, and my father wasnt there, so I think we were lacking strong male role models, and my brother got involved in a Police organization called The Police Explorers, and they traveled quite a bit.

The motorcycle trip that changed Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston | Daniel Zuchnik/FilmMagic for Getty Images

Eventually, Cranston and his brother made a radical decision to take a motorcycle trip across the entire country. Their entire trip was chock full of wild, life-changing experiences.

For example, they often slept near or outside churches, but one of them in Little Rock, Arkansas was not what it seemed:

it wasnt a church, it was a mortuary! We didnt know that when we first pulled in. They had to deliver a body to a church by morning, so they had to pick it up, and had we been fully awake we could have logically put all the sequences together and come up with an answer, but what we went through that night was petrifying.

The ride itself was exhilarating. It made Cranston want to explore the country even more. The future Malcolm in the Middle star added riding on the famed Route 66 to his bucket list.

Cranston and his brother rode all the way down Route 66 over the course of two weeks. This introduced Cranston to an area that became near and dear to his heart: Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The importance of Albuquerque to Breaking Bad

Albuquerque is an integral part of Route 66. Riding on this road and through this city is what first exposed Cranston to the southwestern part of the U.S.

Later on, Albuquerque became an indelible component of Breaking Bad. Its tough to imagine the show without thinking of some of the more striking visuals from throughout the New Mexico desert.

According to the actor, he still loves the area that was so important to his show:

Albuquerque was absolutely an important character and I just adore those people and all those who worked withI look forward to getting back there and visiting again and saying hello and having the chilis.

This is where Cranstons love affair with the city began. Not only did he grow to love the area due to his trip, but he later embraced it even more when it was where his show took place. Cranston later bought a home in the citys Nob Hill neighborhood, showing his affection for the city and region.
Police: Fatal stabbing might have been result of 'robbery gone wrong'

A stabbing victim taken to a Berkeley County hospital Friday night died. Police think the stabbing might be the result of a 'robbery gone wrong.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 18:45:30|Editor: huaxia

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People wait to enter a vaccination center in Rome, Italy, April 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting)

Europe's sputtering vaccine rollout has been dealt a fresh blow. Are countries in the region still holding high expectations about their vaccination campaigns?



by Xinhua writer Chen Wenxian

VALLETTA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- On the heels of recent reports of rare cases of blood clots linked to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, the jab produced by U.S.-based pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has hit a similar snag.

Both vaccines, along with two others -- Pfizer/BioNTech's and Moderna's -- have been authorized for use across the European Union (EU) by the bloc's watchdog, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The ensuing controversy has dealt a fresh blow to Europe's sputtering vaccine rollout even as COVID-19 continues to rage across the region.





ONE AFTER ANOTHER

On April 13, the U.S. federal health authorities called for a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine following six reported blood clot cases in the country. A few days later, Johnson & Johnson decided to delay its vaccine deliveries to Europe. To date, the EMA has not advised EU member states to put the use of this vaccine on hold but has initiated a review of the jab.

Meanwhile, some EU countries have already received batches of Johnson & Johnson's easy-to-store vaccine.

A few of them, such as Italy, Denmark or Romania, said they would halt their Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout pending the EMA's findings and recommendations.

Others, such as France or Poland, continued to administer the Johnson & Johnson jab. France, which received the first shipment of 200,000 doses on April 12, said that it will continue to administer this vaccine to people aged over 55. France's COVID-19 death toll exceeded 100,000 on April 15, government figures showed.

Johnson & Johnson's vaccine was authorized in the EU on March 11, but its widespread use has not yet started.

A medical worker (L) receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the University hospital of Essen in Essen, Germany, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Tang Ying/Xinhua)

On April 7, the EMA confirmed a possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the occurrence of blood clots and said that these should be listed as very rare side effects. But EMA experts said 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 risk of side effects.

Despite the EMA's green light, Denmark on April 14 decided to entirely stop administering the AstraZeneca vaccine. To date, Denmark remains the first and only European country to do so.

"Based on the scientific findings, our overall assessment is that there is a real risk of severe side effects associated with using the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. We have therefore decided to remove the vaccine from our vaccination program," said Soren Brostrom, director general of the Danish Health Authority.





BLOW TO VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

Troubled by vaccine shortages and slow rollouts, Europe is under heavy pressure to accelerate its vaccination campaign.

Over 100 million jabs have already been administered, more than a quarter of them as second dose. In total, around 27 million Europeans have already been fully vaccinated, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on April 14.

The EU is struggling to achieve its goal of inoculating 70 percent of its adult population by the end of summer.

As of April 16, only 16.93 percent of Europe's total population had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. The world's "front-runners" are Israel (61.72 percent) and the United States (38.20 percent), according to Our World in Data, a project of the United Kingdom-based Global Change Data Lab.

People walk past an NHS (National Health Service) COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in London, Britain, on March 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Some European countries have decided to adjust their vaccination age limits or provide alternative vaccines, in response to the public's concerns over the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson jabs' reported side effects, while others chose to extend the interval between the two doses in order to vaccinate as many people as possible.

Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on April 7 that Britons in the 18-29 age group will be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Currently, three vaccines -- Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Moderna -- are used in Britain.

Ireland's National Immunisation Advisory Committee said on April 12 that the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be administered to those above 60 and people under 60 who were due to get this vaccine in the coming weeks will instead get another type of jab. Germany's health authorities made a similar decision by recommending that people below 60 who had already received one shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a different vaccine as their second dose.

In Finland, people under the age of 65 who had received their first dose of AstraZeneca may receive another vaccine as the second dose.

In Bulgaria, people who want to receive their second AstraZeneca shot can have it, but all others will be offered an alternative vaccine. In some of the country's local clinics, the AstraZeneca shot's rejection rate was reportedly high. However, a 77-year-old resident who only identified herself as Mariana said she still wanted to be vaccinated. She went to Sofiamed clinic in a wheelchair and told Xinhua that she did not want to wait any longer.

"It would be very bad if people started questioning whether or not they should have their second dose of this safe and effective vaccine (AstraZeneca), which is essential for ensuring that their immunity to COVID-19 is as effective and long-lasting as possible," said Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading in Britain.

To quickly inoculate as many people as possible, as of April 14 France has extended the interval between the two doses of the mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) coronavirus vaccine by two weeks.

People walk in central London, Britain on March 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

EXPECTATION

Although Europe currently lags behind in the vaccination race, there is widespread confidence that the countries' vaccination campaigns will pick up speed and herd immunity will eventually be achieved.

"We are in a race against time," von der Leyen said. "The faster we reach our target of having 70 percent of adults in the European Union vaccinated, the better chances we have of containing the virus."

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on March 31 that it was vital "to vaccinate as quickly as possible," and especially those who are "the most fragile." He said that starting on May 15 people aged between 50 and 60 will also be vaccinated. From mid-June, the age limit will be lifted and "all the French people older than 18 who want a shot will be vaccinated by the end of this summer."

The French government aims to administer 20 million jabs by mid-May and to inoculate 30 million people, or two-thirds of the adult population, by mid-June.

"Sweden and the European Commission chose to hedge our bets by signing numerous agreements (with medical companies). This means we will most likely achieve the vaccination goal," Sweden's national vaccination coordinator Richard Bergstrom told local media on April 14.

A passenger wearing a face mask gets off a subway train in Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 10, 2021. (Photo by Wei Xuechao/Xinhua)

The vaccination process in Latvia has not been as smooth as expected, which has called the country's chances of achieving herd immunity by August or September into question, but Prime Minister Kirsjanis Karins said he was confident that the country's health ministry was capable of coping with the task of immunizing the population against the virus.

People's willingness to receive the shots in Europe is also increasing. According to a survey conducted by Sweden's Public Health Agency between March 11 and March 22, only five percent of the respondents said that they do not intend to get vaccinated, while 69.5 percent said they definitely want to receive the shots.

Janita Eskelinen, 43, an airline ground crew member from Finland, told Xinhua that she was willing to be vaccinated. "As long as it is a vaccine approved by the EMA, I can accept it. I hope that the extensive vaccination campaign can restore society to normal as soon as possible."

People across the world want to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and bring the economy and life back to normal. Confidence and cooperation are needed to turn this expectation into reality. Enditem

(Liu Fang in Paris, Chen Jing in Helsinki, Sun Yifei in Sofia, Zhang Jiawei and Jin Jing in London, Zhang Qi in Dublin, Li Deping and Guo Qun in Riga, Yuan Liang in Budapest, Chen Xu in Warsaw, Fu Yiming and Patrick Ekstrand in Stockholm, Lin Jing in Copenhagen contributed to the story.)
Brazils healthcare system is in crisis as the country battles the deadliest phase of the Covid-19 pandemic so far.

Old graves are being emptied in Sao Paolo, Brazils largest city, to make way for the virus new victims while funeral hours have been extended late into the night to keep up with demand.

The global death toll from coronavirus has now topped a staggering three million people amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign.

When the world back in January passed the bleak threshold of two million deaths, immunisation drives had just started in Europe and the United States.

Today, they are underway in more than 190 countries, though progress in bringing the virus under control varies widely.

In Brazil, where deaths are running at about 3,000 per day, accounting for one-quarter of the lives lost worldwide in recent weeks, the crisis has been likened to a "raging inferno".

More than 370,000 people have been killed by the virus across Brazils 26 states with thousands more dying every day.

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. Picture: AP Photo/Andre Penner

A more contagious variant of the virus has been rampaging across the country.

As cases surge, hospitals are running out of critical sedatives.

As a result, there have been reports of some doctors diluting what supplies remain and even tying patients to their beds while breathing tubes are pushed down their throats.

The slow vaccine rollout has crushed Brazilians' pride in their own history of carrying out huge immunisation campaigns that were the envy of the developing world.

Taking cues from President Jair Bolsonaro, who has likened the virus to little more than a flu, his health ministry for months bet big on a single vaccine, ignoring other producers.

When bottlenecks emerged, it was too late to get large quantities in time.

Hospitals are so overwhelmed that some doctors now have to choose who to treat and who to let die.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic has been widely criticised both in Brazil and internationally. File Picture: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres

The World Health Organisation said hospitals are in a critical condition with many intensive care units almost full.

The highly contagious P1 variant is rampant throughout the country and concerns have been raised internationally that Brazil is now a breeding ground for new variants.

President Bolsonaro has continued to ignore calls for a lockdown, telling his citizens to stop whining about the virus last month.

Henrique Aguiar, a Brazilian living in Ireland, said that Bolsonaros Covid-skepticism and reluctance to lockdown the country is a dangerous political strategy to consolidate his voter base and drum up support ahead of next years election.

The president is looking to the elections in 2022. Hes looking to those who need to work  businessmen, entrepreneurs and people with very poor conditions who need to work to keep food on the table, Mr Aguiar said.

Brazil has a huge population and it does not have adequate resources to give money to people to stay at home.

And Brazil is used to death. In Brazil, its very common to die from nothing  a car accident, a stray bullet in a gunfight, a robbery.

Brazilians have this feeling that death can happen anytime.

So I think as a society weve lost a kindness and sensitivity for these scenarios because, on a daily basis, you hear about somebody dying.

Mr Aguiar, who moved to Cork eight years ago where he worked for Eli Lilli before moving to Dublin to work with Novartis five years ago, said that many Brazilian hospitals are already at 100% capacity and beds are limited in others.

Its really bad whats going on in Brazil. The new variant is completely out-of-control there. Its spreading quite fast and affecting a lot of young people in their 30s and 40s, he said.

When you combine the new variant with the lack of sensible leadership, its a disaster.

The whole country is collapsing with the healthcare system, he said.

My family has not been too badly affected but I know of people who have died. And in my network of friends there, 80% to 90% have caught the virus.

Mr Aguiar supports the Irish governments new hotel quarantine regulation for people arriving from 33 countries, including Brazil although he thinks it should have been done a lot sooner.

I think the government took the decision too late. People, not just from Brazil, but from any country which has mismanaged the pandemic and poses some risk to Irish society, should be quarantined.

From my personal point of view, although it affects me and my community, it has to be done. This is not a time to jeopardise all the work Ireland has done.

Hotel quarantine should be in place to protect Ireland and the people here.

But this should be in joint action with other European countries. If someone travels into another EU country they can then potentially travel into Ireland and undo all the good work Ireland has done to prevent the virus spreading.

Aerial view of graves of Covid-19 victims at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, Amazon state, Brazil, on April 15, 2021.

Dubliner Cian Thompson moved to Rio de Janeiro in August, 2019.

He planned to become an English teacher but then Covid struck and work disappeared.

He started an Instagram account, @cianobrasil, to help people learn English and to improve his own Portuguese.

He quickly gathered almost 20,000 followers, producing comedic videos to make learning a language fun and gaining work as an English teacher.

He said that public health practices vary widely between regions and between urban and rural areas.

In this city's case [Rio de Janeiro], in the city centre, the majority of people use masks because otherwise they would be refused entry to most if not all shops.

"A large portion of these shops even enforce your hands to be cleaned with alcohol sprays, and take your temperature before entering if it is a large shop, he said.

The complicated thing is, that outside the city centre is almost like another world... Around where we live [in the suburbs of Angra dos Reis] only a small percentage of people actually use masks.

This is a little strange and quite unsettling as there is a higher risk to contract Covid-19 through just going to get bread locally than going to the city centre where there are more people.

Unfortunately there are some people who believe Covid isn't dangerous and some even believe it is fake, or just like the common cold... which is unfortunate to say the least as I know many people whose family members and parents lives were taken away from them because of Covid.

My heart goes out to anyone who lost their loved ones during this pandemic, especially those who are currently studying in Ireland with family from Brazil, as thousands are dying each week here in Brazil.

The pandemic is quite concerning here, and emotional to say the least.

It is especially stressful for those who are living or staying in Sao Paulo city since basically all of the hospital beds and ventilators are being used.

Mr Thompson also said that being unable to see family throughout the pandemic has been difficult.

A trip planned by his parents to visit Mr Thompson, his wife and daughter in Rio was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Mr Thompson's own flights to return to Ireland were also cancelled twice.

It has been quite difficult being away from my family.

I miss my mam and my dad sometimes. It is especially stressful whenever something happens to my grandad or my grandmother. I feel very anxious and nervous as I cannot do anything.

The person I miss the most is my younger sister, Aimee.

"I was very close to her when I was younger but since I moved out of my parents' house and gone to Brazil we have grown apart somewhat.

He said that the expense of hotel quarantine will now make a return home virtually impossible.

He is divided on the new quarantine rule as it will only prevent people with less money from seeing their family abroad while still allowing the wealthy to travel, he said.

Throughout the pandemic, he has tried to avoid watching "negative" TV, he avoids going out unnecessarily and focuses on achieving what positive things he can from home.

It is scary to hear what is happening, so the best we can do is only go out when needed and be extra careful while keeping our distance from others," he said.

President Bolsonaro does not have any policies, in fact, when questioned in regards to the thousands dying due to Covid per week, he did not care at all and mentioned that people die all the time and we should just move on.

This is hugely disrespectful to the families destroyed by the virus and shows no empathy at all.

I actually saw an egg [printed] with the phrase translated to mean "Stay home" (Yes. A chicken egg.) ... sadly an egg has done more to help the pandemic than the current President of Brazil, Bolsonaro.

- Additional reporting by Associated Press
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Light at the end of the tunnel

Regarding U.S. to pull Afghanistan troops by Sept 11, (A1, April 14): Sen. Mitch McConnell is quoted as saying, Precipitously withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. I disagree. We should have left that country long ago, just as we should have left Vietnam much earlier.

Having been a Marine officer in the Vietnam era, I was pleased when President Nixon began pulling troops out of Vietnam. We had been there for a number of years and it was clear there was no light at the end of the tunnel. We now face a similar dilemma in Afghanistan.

A close friend of mine, Lee Herron, was killed in Vietnam on Feb. 22, 1969, while fighting with the Third Marine Division. Later in 1969 that unit left Vietnam. What a shame our leaders did not respond to the futility of that war earlier and spare the lives of Herron and thousands of other troops.

Bravo to President Biden for making the right decision instead of just kicking the can down the road.

David Nelson, Houston

Regarding Right to end war, (A10, April 15): President Biden must be applauded for his bold decision to withdraw U.S troops from Afghanistan. He is taking a big risk, things will likely get worse before they get better, but unlike his predecessors he opted not to kick the can down the road. The forgotten and forever war had to end someday, and President Biden had the courage to pull the plug. This American social engineering project in one of the poorest countries of the world was ill conceived and misguided, an idea doomed to failure that cost the U.S taxpayer $2 trillion, the lives of over 2,000 American soldiers and over 150,000 Afghans. The United States has no national interest at stake in Afghanistan anymore. Diplomacy with the Taliban and regional players India and Pakistan, who are engaged in a proxy war in Afghanistan, is the sane way to bring peace in the region. Thank you President Biden.

Hadi Jawad, Dallas
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The front yard is filled with old cars, almost too many to count  several Chevy hardtop and convertible Impalas, a dusty Volkswagen Beetle and a Chevy Deluxe, to name just a few, each in either a state of decay or rebirth. Angel, Heaven and Bobbie Chacon, who all live in Chimayo, claim at least one among the bunch as their own  the car they hope to drive in a lowrider show one day. Bobby Chacon, the girls father, is a renowned lowrider and co-founder of Los Guys Car Club, who for years has rebuilt cars from the ground up. His family compound, located off an arroyo, is half showroom, half storage.

Angel, 14, attends Carlos F. Vigil Middle School, and her sisters, Heaven, 11, and Bobbie, 9, are students at James H. Rodriguez Elementary School, all in nearby Espanola.

Early last spring, Heaven recalls wishing for school to shut down. But now, she said, all we wanna do is go back.

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Its been kind of boring, Bobbie said of online school.

Angel, an eighth-grader, added that most of the time her classmates had their cameras off, which meant she couldnt even see their faces.

Like other school districts in New Mexico, Espanola Public Schools reopened to in-person learning on April 6.

All three girls grew tired of listening to teachers and classmates struggling with the Google Chromebooks they received from the school district. Even a year after the switch to online learning, the teacher was always trying to teach other students how to log in, Heaven said.

It was not uncommon for her to see other students family members walk around in the background or hear music playing during lessons. Her fellow fifth-graders already had trouble paying attention, and the distractions made things even harder. The pranks got old, too. Other kids from other grades were always trying to get into her classes, she said. All you need is a code.

With an arch smile, Heaven imitated how one teacher tried to get kids to behave: Ill call your name three times and, if you dont answer, then Im gonna kick you out!

Angel, the shyest of the sisters, added that, Its harder to ask for help in online school. I would rather email my teacher afterward than to ask her during the meeting. On good days, she estimated there were 20 students in her class. On other days, maybe 14 would show.

Her favorite class, then and now, is civil air patrol, a military science course, because we actually get to talk to each other. Every class, the teacher asks us to tell him something good about our day.

Like her sisters, Heaven is more interested in life outside of school, on a small farm at their uncle Armandos house down the road. Even before the pandemic, the girls father began assembling the farm there. When the internet at the Chacon house couldnt handle all the girls logging in at the same time for school, Heaven and Angel began spending the week at their uncles, where there was more bandwidth. As the pandemic dragged on, Bobby Chacon expanded the farm into a sprawling compound, with goats, pigs, pheasants, turkeys, ducks, rabbits and chickens roaming among a thicket of unruly pens. Pam Jaramillo, the girls mom, said her daughters didnt even know what was going on with the pandemic after that, because they were so busy with the animals.

Being in school all day is hard because there is less time to feed the animals, Angel said. Its a full day, from 7:55 to 3:00, but afterward, when she stepped outside her uncles doublewide, the farm was but feet away. My favorite animals are the goats.

Heaven echoes those sentiments: I like to do my homework right away, then eat, watch TV and feed the animals. On a recent day at the farm, she made a beeline to one brown-and-grey baby goat. This one is Karen, she announced, holding the kid in her arms like an infant.

Bobbie, a third-grader, also feeds the baby chicks, tiny fluff balls scuttling around a homemade pen in the Chacons sunroom. She picked one up and pointed out the incubator where rows of eggs basked under yellow fluorescent bulbs. Her mom, standing nearby, spotted a chick in the middle of hatching.

The coronavirus has been almost universally challenging for mothers of young children, but, for Pam, it hit particularly close to home. Despite being careful, all five members of the family got COVID-19, each suffering a different symptom. They recovered quickly, except for me, said Pam, a two-time cancer survivor. I was out of breath for a month and a half.

For the children, the main stress has been school. Amid the haze of online learning, PE stood out: Students found workouts on YouTube and shared them with the class. Bobbie liked to do the exercises alone in the kitchen, usually a combination of jumping jacks and running in place. Other than that, the particulars of classes were elusive. Math, she described as one little website thing. And her classmates? I cant remember a few of their names.

Mostly, Bobbie said laughing, that she liked to eat while she was in online class, a novelty that wasnt allowed in the school building.

Other than that, what did she like about remote learning?

Nada.

Searchlight New Mexico is a non-partisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigative reporting in New Mexico.

Editors note: This is the second in a series of articles that ask students in New Mexico about their experiences with online learning during the pandemic. Today, we hear from three sisters in Chimayo. The story has been lightly edited and updated to reflect that schools in New Mexico reopened to in-person learning on April 6.
President Joe Biden speaks to the media during a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on April 13, 2021. (Pete Marovich/Pool/Getty Images)

Biden: Surge in Illegal Immigration Along Border Is a Crisis, Will Increase Refugee Cap

President Joe Biden has for the first time described the recent surge of illegal immigrants along the U.S.-Mexico border as a crisis, in the midst of Republican-led pressure to do so.

Over the weekend, Biden was asked by a reporter in Delaware about his policy on refugee admissions.

Were going to increase the number [of refugees allowed into the country]. The problem was that the refugee part was working on the crisis that ended up on the border with young people, Biden said in response. We couldnt do two things at once. But now we are going to increase the number.

There has been a public-relations battle on the language surrounding the unprecedented surge at the southern border since Biden took office. Republicans have pressed Biden and White House officials to refer to the situation as a crisis, while his surrogates have refused to do so, preferring to call it a challenge. Some news outlets, including The Associated Press, have told their editors and reporters not to refer to the surge as a crisis.

Data provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) showed that agents have apprehended 172,000 illegal aliens along the border in March, leading Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, to say it is the biggest surge that weve ever seen in the history of the Border Patrol.

Republican lawmakers and governors have accused Biden of facilitating the border crisis by reversing several of President Donald Trumps orders meant to curb illegal immigration, including border wall construction and the Remain in Mexico policy. The governments of Mexico and Guatemala have also faulted the Biden White House for sending out what they have said is mixed messaging on immigration.

Im nobody to make a judgment here, but I believe in the first weeks in the Biden administration, messages were confusing, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said in an interview with MSNBC last week. They were compassionate messages that were understood by people in our country, especially to coyotes [border smugglers] to tell families, Well take the children, the children can go in, and once theyre there, the children can call their parents.

On April 16, the Biden administration released a memo to keep in place the Trump-era 15,000 cap on refugees who can be allowed into the United States.

Hours later, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki issued a statement reversing the administrations announcement and asserted that the order was the subject of some confusion. The statement was posted after left-wing members of Congress, including Squad members Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), criticized the administrations move.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
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A 'coin toss' decided which of four soldiers would be the driver and passenger in Prince Philip's custom-built Land Rover hearse at his funeral yesterday.

The Defender TD5 130 chassis cab vehicle, which Philip took an active role in modifying over 18 years, was at the heart at St George's Chapel in Windsor, Berkshire.

Corporal Louis Murray drove the vehicle and was accompanied by Corporal Craig French. The pair were responsible for ensuring the vehicle stuck to its precise route and timings after several days of intense rehearsals.

The two soldiers, both aged 29, from The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), referred to as a 'trusty pair of hands', were picked on a 'coin-toss' from a group of four who had been specifically trained for the role, reports The Telegraph.

Philip was heavily involved in plans to make sure it had a military green paint job, while adding features such as the open top rear and devices to keep the coffin in place.

He began the bespoke project in collaboration with Land Rover in 2003, adding other adjustments as recently as 2019, when he was 98.

Corporal Louis Murray (pictured left) drove the vehicle and was accompanied by Corporal Craig French (right). The two soldiers, both aged 29, from The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), referred to as a 'trusty pair of hands', were picked on a 'coin-toss' from a group of four

Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Philips, Prince Harry, the Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence as well as the Queen by car follow Prince Philip's coffin

The Jaguar Land Rover that was used to transport the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin at his funeral yesterday, pictured at Windsor Castle in Berkshire

Members of the Royal Family followed the Defender TD5 130 chassis cab vehicle during Prince Philip's funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Saturday

The modified Land Rover hearse carried the coffin as members of the Royal Family followed behind during the ceremonial funeral procession yesterday

The modified hearse was made at Land Rover's factory in Solihull in 2003, the year he turned 82.

With its heavy-duty wheels and angular structure, the polished sturdy, utilitarian vehicle stood as a showcase for the duke's practical nature and his passion for functional design and engineering.

Cpl Murray said: 'It is a great privilege and a once in a lifetime thing to do. I'm very proud, and I think my family will be very proud too.'

Speaking before the service, Cpl French added: 'For the past week I have been rehearsing for the role of Land Rover Commander for the Royal Hearse and it is my job to support the driver, so essentially I ensure that the driver puts the vehicle in the right place at the right time and whether to speed up or slow down.

'We have done a lot of practice over the last few days and you get to feel what the correct speed is, and we know what pace we have to be at. It's now like second nature.

'There are also a couple of difficult sections on the route and on either side, there are people accompanying the hearse, so it is important to keep a safe distance.'

Meanwhile, Deputy Colonel Commandant of The Rifles, Major General Rupert Jones, son of Herbert 'H' Jones, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross by the Queen for his heroism in the face of battle with the Argentinians in 1982, carried the Duke on his final journey yesterday.

Major General Jones was joined as a pallbearer by Lt Alec Heywood, a Grenadier Guard whose grandfather served at both the funeral of George VI and the Queen's coronation. He was in command of the bearer party carrying Prince Philip's coffin.

H Jones, as he was known to all his comrades, was killed as he led the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, into battle on the occupied British islands in the south Atlantic. He was mortally wounded by machine gun fire as he personally led the attack near Goose Green.

His son, Major General Jones, is a leading office in The Rifles. Philip, who served heroically in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, was Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, one of 42 appointments he enjoyed in the British Armed Forces and the Commonwealth.

Pallbearer Deputy Colonel Commandant of The Rifles, Major General Rupert Jones (left), is the son of Herbert 'H' Jones (right), who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross by the Queen for his heroism in the face of battle with the Argentinians in 1982

Prince Philip lifts his hat during his final public engagement in 2017 with his beloved Royal Marines, whose leaders helped carry Philip's coffin yesterday

The Jaguar Land Rover that was used to transport the coffin of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at his funeral. He helped design it himself

The purpose built Land Rover Defender hearse at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle in Berkshire

Lt Alec Heywood led the unit from The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards as it moves the coffin from Windsor Castle's private chapel to the inner hall before the start of the funeral procession.

As a third generation Grenadier Guard Lt Heywood's family have a long history of service in the British Army. His grandfather captained The Queen's Company at George VI's funeral and the Queen's Coronation in 1953.

Lieutenant Alec Heywood, a third generation Grenadier Guard, commanded the Grenadier Guards bearer party. His grandfather was the captain of The Queen's Company at George VI's funeral in 1952 and the Queen's Coronation a year later.

The Duke of Edinburgh's beloved Royal Marines accompanied his funeral on its final journey. Commandant General Royal Marines Major General Matthew Holmes also walked alongside the hearse during the procession.

Philip's first major appointment after his naval career ended in 1953 was as commander of the marines. His grandson Prince Harry took the role in 2017 until the Queen stripped him of all his titles when he quit as a frontline royal with his wife Meghan Markle.

Other pallbearers included Brigadier Ian Mortimer, Colonel of The Queen's Royal Hussars, Lieutenant General Roland 'Roly' Walker, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and Brigadier James Roddis, Deputy Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, Master General of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), the regiment who helped Philip design his Land Rover hearse, also helped carry the coffin, as will Lieutenant General Sir James Hockenhull, Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps, and Group Captain Nick Worrall, Station Commander RAF Northolt Group.

Commandant General Royal Marines Major General Matthew Holmes (left) walked alongside the hearse during the procession. Group Captain Nick Worrall (right), Station Commander RAF Northolt Group, also accompanied the coffin

The British Army's Lt. Gen. Paul Jaques (centre), Master General of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), the regiment who helped Philip design his Land Rover hearse, also helped carry the coffin

Other pallbearers included Brigadier Ian Mortimer (left), Colonel of The Queen's Royal Hussars, Lieutenant General Roland 'Roly' Walker, and Lieutenant General Sir James Hockenhull (right), Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps

Military duties began hours before the funeral at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, with Philip's coffin - covered with his personal standard and surmounted with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers - moved at 11am by a Bearer Party found by The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, from the private chapel to the inner hall of Windsor Castle.

By 2.15pm, the service detachments recognising Philip's special military relationships was in position in the Quadrangle, which was also lined by the Household Cavalry and The Foot Guards.

The Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years, led the procession to St George's Chapel.

They were followed by the Major General's Party, and then the Service Chiefs, which included the Chief of the Air Staff, Naval Staff and Defence Staff.

Philip had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and while he gave up active service in 1951, he remained closely connected to it and other military elements throughout his public life.

The coffin, transported from the castle to the chapel in a specially-modified Land Rover Philip helped to design, was flanked by pallbearers drawn from the duke's special relationships - the Royal Marines, regiments, corps and air stations.

The route of the procession was lined by representatives drawn from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the RAF.

Minute Guns were fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn for the duration of the procession and a Curfew Tower Bell will sound.

As the procession approached Horseshoe Cloister, the Band of the Grenadier Guards stopped playing and marched through into Denton's Commons.

The Rifles Guard of Honour, positioned in Horseshoe Cloister, gave a royal salute and the national anthem was played.

In tribute to Philip's Naval service, a Royal Naval Piping Party of 1 Chief Petty Officer and 5 Ratings was present. The piping party piped the 'Still' once the Land Rover was stationery at the foot of the steps.

A bearing party of Royal Marines then carried the coffin up the steps and paused for a minute's silence. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Windsor received the coffin.

Inside the chapel, Philip's insignia - the medals and decorations conferred on him by the UK and Commonwealth countries - together with his Field Marshal's baton, Royal Air Force Wings, and insignia from Denmark and Greece, were pre-positioned on cushions on the altar.

The Last Post was sounded by buglers of the Royal Marines from the west end of the Nave. Buglers of the Royal Marines sounded Action Stations during the service at the duke's request.

It is played on a warship to signal all hands should go to battle stations and is sometimes featured at funerals of naval men.

Members of the royal family did not wear military uniform, but instead the royal men wore morning coats with their medals while the women wore day dresses.

Land Rover hearse that Philip designed himself: Open top Defender TD5 130 was custom built to Duke's orders at manufacturer's Solihull factory in 16-year project - including new coat of military green paint

For 16 years Prince Philip tinkered and toiled on a secret project he knew he would never live to see used - the hearse to carry his own coffin.

Two days before his funeral, the custom-made Land Rover designed by the Duke was unveiled for the first time.

His work on the bespoke Land Rover Defender TD5 130 chassis cab begun in 2003, the year he turned 82, and was finished aged 98 in 2019.

The open-top rear was modified to fit his coffin and equipped with special rubber grips on silver pins - known as the 'stops' - to keep it secure while it made the journey through Windsor to St George's Chapel.

A military man to his core, Philip also requested the original Belize Green paintwork was changed to Dark Bronze Green like those used by the armed forces.

Two days before his funeral, the custom-made Land Rover designed by the Duke was unveiled for the first time

The Land Rover Defender hearse that will carry Philip's coffin was seen for the first time as it was driven into Windsor Castle yesterday

His work on the bespoke Land Rover Defender TD5 130 chassis cab begun in 2003, the year he turned 82, and was finished aged 98 in 2019

The open top rear was modified to fit his coffin and equipped with special rubber grips on silver pins - known as the 'stops' - to keep it secure while it made the journey through Windsor to St George's Chapel

For 16 years Prince Philip tinkered and toiled on a secret project he knew he would never live to see used - the hearse to carry his own coffin

The military green repaint was one of many modifications Philip made to the vehicle, that was first built at the manufacturer's Solihull factory.

With heavy duty wheels and angular structure, the sturdy design stands testament to the Duke's penchant for engineering and functionality.

Indeed, Jaguar Land Rover's chief executive has admired Philip's handiwork, hailing his 'impressive knowledge and deep interest in vehicle design, engineering and manufacturing'.

Land Rover has maintained the vehicle since it was built and has prepared it for the funeral in collaboration with the Royal Household.

Chief executive Thierry Bollore said: 'We are deeply privileged to have enjoyed a very long and happy association with the Duke of Edinburgh over many decades.

'We are also honoured that the Land Rover which the duke designed will be used at the funeral on Saturday. The duke was a tremendous champion for design, engineering and technology.

'During his visits to our sites he engaged with hundreds of employees and demonstrated his impressive knowledge and deep interest in vehicle design, engineering and manufacturing.

'The duke was a truly remarkable man and will be greatly missed.'

Details on the vehicle include matching green hubs, a black front grille, a single cab and no registration plates

With heavy duty wheels and angular structure, the sturdy design stands testament to the Duke's penchant for engineering and functionality

Details on the vehicle include matching green hubs, a black front grille, a single cab and no registration plates.

The Duke used Land Rovers throughout his adult life and granted his Royal Warrant to Land Rover over 40 years ago.

He visited Jaguar Land Rover's manufacturing facilities on numerous occasions over the decades and accompanied the Queen when she opened Jaguar Land Rover's new Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton in 2014.

The Land Rover's original role would also have been to transport the duke 22 miles from Wellington Arch in central London to Windsor, but the coronavirus pandemic curtailed the long-held plans for military parades in honour of Philip through the streets of both the capital and the Berkshire town.

It was flanked by pall bearers reflecting the duke's special relationships with the military, the Royal Marines, Regiments, Corps and Air Stations.

Palace officials have told how the duke's interest in design sparked his desire to make the Land Rover and include it in his funeral plans, codenamed Operation Forth Bridge.

Two Land Rovers were made for 'belt and braces' in case a backup was needed.

In 2019, the duke, then 97, was driving a Land Rover Freelander when he was involved in a serious car crash involving a mother and a baby.

The car Philip was driving was hit by another vehicle when he pulled out of a driveway on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on to a busy A road, after being dazzled by the low sun.

The duke's car flipped over and he was trapped, and had to be rescued through the sunroof by a passing motorist. He was miraculously unscathed.

The baby was unhurt, but both women in the other vehicle had to be treated in hospital, and one broke her wrist.

Three weeks after the crash, Buckingham Palace announced that Philip's driving days on public roads were finally over and that he had voluntarily surrendered his driving licence.

The CPS later confirmed Philip would face no action over the crash.
Founded by a member of the Ku Klux Klan and now a city where most residents are people of color, Brooklyn Center embodies the challenges and the promise of a rapidly changing America.

Residents old and new say it's a wonderful place to live, where thriving immigrant-owned businesses have emerged in the wake of job losses in traditional industries and people of all kinds get along. Yet the suburb of 31,000 just north of Minneapolis has become an international symbol of racial turmoil in the week since Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by a white police officer during a traffic stop.

Brooklyn Center has undergone a faster demographic transition than any community in the Twin Cities, according to a study published last week by the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity at the University of Minnesota.

The city was 91% white as recently as 1990, according to U.S. Census figures. Now, 30 years later, the white population has dropped by more than half, to 38%. About 29% of its residents are Black, 16% are Asian and 14% are Hispanic.

And people say the mix is working.

"Basically, it's a pretty good community overall," said Jessica Johnson, a 40-year-old white woman who's lived in the city all her life and graduated from Brooklyn Center High School. "Growing up, it was pretty mixed."

A foster mother, Johnson has four children of her own who are multiracial. They don't have problems with other kids, she said, but they do worry about the police.

"My 22-year-old daughter is pretty dark-skinned, and she's terrified to drive right now," Johnson said. "I think she's always had [that feeling], but now it's worse."

Some say the city has struggled with a negative perception among the largely white Twin Cities metro population.

Jill Dalton moved to Brooklyn Center from Minneapolis 30 years ago and loves it. But Dalton, a white fitness center owner and former member of the city's Park Board, said friends often wonder about her choice. "They ask, 'Is it safe there?' "

Story continues

That's not what the people who live there think.

"It's normal, nice," said Reginald Moore, a Black man who's lived in the city for 11 years and works as a behavior specialist at Brooklyn Center Elementary School. "People get along well, the kids get along.

"My kids went to Park Center [High School]; all the races seem to get along."

Founder belonged to KlanBrooklyn Center was incorporated as a village in 1911 and as a city in 1956. From its beginning until recent years, it was a haven for middle- and working-class white people seeking a suburban escape from the perceived ills of Minneapolis.

Earle Brown, the city's most prominent founding father, was well-known as the Hennepin County sheriff in the 1920s and a founder of the Minnesota State Patrol. The village was first organized at a meeting in his garage.

In recent years, research by Minneapolis historian Elizabeth Dorsey Hatle revealed Brown's racism. Citing court records, Hatle identified Brown as the fourth sworn member of the Minnesota Ku Klux Klan, prompting the school district to take his name off an elementary school and the city to change the name of its annual "Earle Brown Days" festival. Several other buildings and a street still bear his name.

The U study paints a gloomy picture of Brooklyn Center, citing declining income and shrinking jobs. The city lost 11% of its jobs between 2008 and 2015, the report says.

'It's a good place'Yet entrepreneurs  many of them people of color and recent immigrants  have found a foothold serving the community's diverse population.

"It's a good place to do business," said Alhagie Ngai, a native of Gambia whose family runs Value Foods African Market in a strip mall a few blocks from the police station that's been the center of protest activity following Wright's killing.

A few doors down is M & B Hair Braiding & Beauty Supply, owned by Hajah Konneh, a West African native who opened her business three years ago.

The windows of her store, boarded up by a community action group, bear the words "Pigs Go Home" and "Cops Kill" in red spray paint.

"In normal times, it's a good community," said Konneh, restocking her shelves on a quiet day last week. Customer traffic has dried up since the protests began, but she's hopeful of seeing a return to business as usual.

"I just want the community to come together," she said.

In the week since the protests began, a large-scale food shelf has been operating daily at the city's combined middle and high school. Usually a monthly event, the food shelf, organized by the community group Mutual Aid Support, is particularly needed now, said Adrianne Gould, one of the organizers.

'There is room for growth'"It's been an amazing sight to see," said Gould, a 31-year-old Black woman who works for the school district. She's lived in Brooklyn Center for 24 years, calling it "a community where I've always felt I belonged.

"I will say this: There is room for growth," she added. "Despite the tragedy, this is an opportunity for people to do the internal work, use this as an opportunity to build relationships."

Gail Howard has lived in Brooklyn Center since 1976. It's a more diverse community now, she said, but the sense of neighborliness hasn't been lost. On her block, she has Black and Asian neighbors who share native foods and check up on each other.

"Everybody wants to get along," said Howard, a retired dental assistant who's white. "Everyone is heartbroken over what happened.

"I would like to see more Christian loving your neighbors," she added. "The world is watching."

Staff writers Shannon Prather and Tim Harlow contributed to this report.

John Reinan  612-673-7402
After carefully removing the cork I stick my nose into the bottle and take a deep breath. I get a hint of possibly moss and rain-dappled oaks. Possibly. And then its all gone.

I have just consumed one of the most expensive bottled products available: a 25 bottle of English Air, which the label explains is collected by hand in the Yorkshire Dales.

You might think its a snip compared with a bottle of 2015 Domaine de la Romanee Conti, at an eye-watering 24,000. But at least with the Burgundy you get all evening to enjoy it. The English Air is gone in two seconds.

Its just to bring a smile to someones face, says Paul Stewart, founder of removals firm My Baggage, who came up with the idea. At Christmas, we saw a massive drop-off in people able to come home. So, we thought why not do bottled air from around the UK and Ireland?

His product is designed as a novelty. But other bottled airs are aimed at consumers worried about pollution.

Harry Wallop explores if the brands selling bottled fresh air could have medical benefits. Pictured: Coast Capture Airs 75 offering

It sounds like the fantastical plot of The Lorax, a 2012 Dr Seuss animated film, where an air baron sells bottled oxygen to a city devoid of any trees or nature.

But it seems some people running bottled air companies are in deadly earnest.

We started off as kind of a joke. But it then got serious. We thought, theres bottled water, why shouldnt there be bottled air? says Moses Lam, 35, co-founder and chief executive of Vitality Air, based in Alberta, Canada.

His air comes from the Banff National Park in the Rockies. Eight litres of it is compressed into a small canister, which comes with a plastic mask.

We want to provide our customers with value, says Lam, whose product costs about 14.50. But we want to ensure they enjoy not just one breath of fresh air, but multiple breaths of it. With that mask, our customers are able to enjoy that air delivered straight to your face, while ensuring pollution stays out of the way.

When I try it I get a jet of dry air. It should smell lightly of pine trees, Lam tells me. Maybe. To me, its mostly, well, air.

The label states: This product is designed for enhancement and recreational use only, hinting it may have a beneficial effect.

We dont want to dive too deep into medical benefits, because were not a medical company, says Lam carefully.

Its about experiences. I dont want to say if you breathe our air youll have better digestion, better blood flow. Customers can Google that.

He adds: I cant talk about the benefits of fresh air, but lets talk about the dangers of being in a polluted city. I think 1.6 million people die prematurely due to air pollution alone. If were able to share the experience of fresh air with some of our customers, that makes us happy.

In fact, the World Health Organisation says up to seven million people die each year from pollution. But could breathing in eight litres of fresh air in a polluted city make any difference?

The World Health Organisation says up to seven million people die each year from pollution. Pictured: Coast Capture Airs 75 offering

The British Lung Foundation says the amount of air we use can vary from just a few litres a minute when resting, to more than 100 litres a minute if were exercising. So eight litres isnt a meaningful amount. Even Lam concedes: Our product is eight litres in a bottle and most humans average about 11,000 litres of air in a day.

One of his rivals is Joe Dichiera, who set up Ozi Air in Australia in 2018. Dichiera claims his compressed air cans have no medical benefits, but does suggest they can make a difference if you live in a polluted city.

Good-quality fresh air is good for the body and were selling it as a good health supplement, he says. You will, at most, get two minutes worth out of it.

What we can say is that those two minutes . . . [are] certainly an experience. Yes, you will have 23 hours and 58 minutes of your day that you will be breathing polluted air, so you have to see it in proportion to that.

His air, which comes from the Australian Outback, costs around 13.50 for an eight-litre bottle and is clearly aimed primarily at the Chinese market.

Asia is mainly where these products are sold. Its part of the gift market, says Leo De Watts, 32, founder of British-air brand Aethaer. Fresh, clean air is so rare in a lot of these places.

His air is harvested using the sort of nets used by children for crabbing, and put into 580ml Kilner jars. He gets the air from Dorset, Wales and Wiltshire. Netting is plainly a stunt.

If we just left the jars open and let them fill with air, it would be a bit tricky to charge the amount we do, he admits. He charges 980 Hong Kong dollars, or 92, and compares his product to the craftsmanship at Louis Vuitton.

He insists the high-net-worth individuals in Beijing and Hong Kong who buy it are not mugs, but people who do so for the symbolism of owning clean air.

Theres no doubt that pollution is a great menace, but I am not sure that shipping bottled clean air halfway around the world is really the answer.

De Watts insists, though, it is proof that the UK can still punch above its weight, in one area at least. What we forget in this country is how strong Brand GB is in the rest of the world.

Good health . . . its a breeze!
PHOENIX  More than 10.3 million acres of land were scorched by wildfires nationwide in 2020. Firefighters battling the harrowing flames often work shifts that exceed 24 hours, and they stay in close quarters in remote locations for weeks at a time, offering a prime opportunity for COVID-19 to spread.

In addition, firefighters in urban areas as well as in wildlands routinely are exposed to smoke, carbon monoxide, toxins from structure fires and other hazards to lung health.

Although there isnt much data to indicate whether smoke inhalation affects the infection rate or severity of COVID-19 in firefighters, some experts are voicing concerns about lessened lung capacity upon recovery and other health issues.

Theres definitely the question of whether or not those firefighters who are severely impacted will have trouble regaining lung capacity, said Luke Montrose, an environmental toxicologist at Boise State University. Theyre already at risk for diseases like camp crud and lung cancer.

Montrose researches how wood smoke and other air pollution affects the way human health and diseases work  and hes concerned firefighters may be facing more severe health outcomes because of COVID-19, which easily spreads in close quarters.

As of Feb. 16, trade news site FireRescue1 has tracked COVID-19 related deaths of 66 firefighters across the country, from California to New Jersey. There havent been any studies of the impacts of COVID-19 on firefighters, which Montrose said more are needed.

Many firefighters had pandemic-related training and are well-versed in using masks and protective equipment.

In our department we were very good about being ready and having a response in place, Phoenix firefighter Joe Buckley said. We run medical calls so were no strangers to infectious disease, but obviously COVID-19 is very different and we were lucky to be well-prepared for it.

Fire personnel respond to multiple medical calls on a daily basis, many of which are COVID-19 patients, according to Buckley.

Even with those of us here who have been asymptomatic and others who have been in the hospital for it, its seemed to be very random when it comes to severity of the illness, Buckley said.

Buckley, 39, tested positive for the virus in October. He successfully avoided hospitalization and completed the 14-day quarantine from his home.

I began with general fatigue and didnt feel very well, I lost my sense of taste for a while, he said. What was hard was the mental aspect of quarantining, but the support from the chief and my colleagues was very helpful for me.

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management says that 2,520 wildfires burned through the state in 2020, making it the states worst year for wildfires since 2011. This meant fire personnel were deployed throughout the state throughout the pandemic, working in close contact and facing possible exposures to harsh pollutants and illness.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people with lung-related preexisting conditions, such as asthma or a history of smoking, are at a higher risk for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the smoke inhaled by firefighters is not an official concern listed by the health officials. Montrose and other experts warn that although firefighters may appear to be in prime physical condition, consistent inhalation of smoke can compromise lung health, too.

There are some health effects that happen immediately, or there can be repeated exposure for the lung damage to happen, Montrose said.

Firefighters are aware of the potential damage that can be caused by the excess smoke entering their bodies. According to Buckley, they are often required to perform extra training on how to minimize their exposure, and encouraged to limit their exposure to lung irritants of the job.

This is the reason the fire departments already had such intense procedures when it comes to health and safety, Montrose said. So when COVID-19 hit, they were already well-equipped for protection, probably having to make a few tweaks.

For now, some are raising awareness that firefighters are vulnerable to COVID-19.

In Southern California, Anaheim fire Capt. Joe Aldecoa contracted COVID-19 in June while on the job as a paramedic.

With all the PPE we were wearing and all the cleaning, I really didnt think it was going to be possible to catch it, Aldecoa told the CPF Firewire podcast last summer. The only way I could think of catching it was, we use iPads, and they sometimes get overlooked in the cleaning process. Thats my theory.

Like many firefighters across the country, who stay in top shape to meet the physical demands of the job, he believed his healthy lifestyle would prevent infection.

When I first heard about this, I heard about older people being hospitalized, he said.

Aldecoa, 47, was less fortunate than Buckley, whose case was mild enough to manage without hospitalization. After testing positive, Aldecoa went to the hospital, but doctors sent him home to quarantine, saying his lungs looked alright. That was a Monday. By Thursday, Aldecoa returned to the hospital, where doctors determined his lungs had filled with fluid.

David Baker, another Anaheim fire captain, had an even worse experience with COVID-19  he was placed in a medically induced coma to help his recovery.

Since his release in July, Baker has been battling with the unknown.

The worst part is not knowing the long-term health effects, Baker told Firewire. I lost 40 pounds, and a lot of my muscle mass is gone. Its going to take a long time to build that back up, but as far as everything else, its hard to know because there are no long-term studies.

An important part of these suggested studies would be whether lung tissue damaged by COVID-19 can repair itself. If irreparable, the quality of lung capacity post-virus could remain mediocre at best.

There are studies that can be done, but they havent been done yet, Montrose said.
Jena Griswold just might be the most polarizing figure in Colorado politics today.

To her supporters, shes a pioneer: the first Democratic woman to hold the Secretary of State's office and one of less than a dozen women to hold statewide office in Colorado. Shes fought to expand ballot access and battled voter suppression.

Shes stood up to figures of authority  particularly former President Donald Trump  via tweets and the cable news circuit to defend and showcase Colorados gold standard voting infrastructure. Shes overseen three successful statewide elections, including an eagerly anticipated Super Tuesday showdown and the first modern presidential contest to be held in the midst of a global pandemic, all while boosting turnout to record-setting levels.

Shes done an excellent job, said League of Women Voters of Colorado executive director Beth Hendrix. I believe that she is working to strengthen Colorado's already strong election systems.

For every action, theres an equal and opposite reaction, and as vocal as Griswolds supporters are, her critics are just as outspoken.

I think that she is highly political, said Susan Barnes-Gelt, a Democrat and former Denver city councilwoman. I don't think the Secretary of State's office ought to be partisan in any way; it ought to be nonpartisan.

Aside from battling with Trump on Twitter, critics point to what they see as a series of missteps that have politicized the office to the detriment of voter confidence in some quarters. Five months into her tenure in May 2019, Griswolds office ran a press release calling for a boycott of Alabama over the state's abortion ban. But first, it asked for edits and suggestions from Planned Parenthood, a political organization cheered and vilified in equal measure, depending on where one falls on the ideological spectrum.

A month after that, she formed a highly publicized exploratory committee to examine a run at U.S. Senate. That furthered criticisms in some circles that she is politically ambitious and takes credit for the work done by her predecessors and county clerks  with whom she has had a rocky relationship  as a springboard to higher office.

And more recently she offered full-throated support for Congress H.R. 1. That measure from U.S. House Democrats is aimed at expanding voting rights and appears poised to do so in many states. But her predecessor, Republican Wayne Williams, now a Colorado Springs City Council member, says the bill as drafted would hurt, not help, the administration of Colorado's elections.

I think what that illustrates is the challenge when you have someone come from a political background, as opposed to actually running an election background, said Williams, a lawyer who had served as El Paso County's election chief before being elected to the statewide office.

Griswolds backers say those criticisms have an air of thinly veiled sexism  that men are ambitious and bring new blood, while women with the same ambitions are labeled inexperienced and politically bent. Of the 10 Colorado secretaries of state since 1974, six are women, with Griswold the sixth to hold the title but the first Democratic woman.

Her backers include Michal Rosenoer, the recently departed executive director of Emerge Colorado and an Edgewater city council member. Before she led Emerge, which recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, Rosenoer and Griswold went through the organizations program together.

Rosenoer said she absolutely sees attacks on Griswold as sexist.

I think when general members of the public see one thing that could be attributed to sexism, it's easy to ignore it, she said. But I see 40 instances of things that could be attributed to sexism every day in politics and it's much more obvious to somebody whose job it is to root this out and push up against those systems, when there's real sexism at play.

As with most things Griswold-adjacent, not everyone agrees.

Thats bullshit, Barnes-Gelt said of the allegations. Young, unqualified people, male and female  that's the trope now.

Williams also batted down Griswold's defense.

It has nothing to do with what gender someone has," he said. "It has to do with what you say and do.

Blue-collar background

Just what has Griswold, 36, said and done?

She cruised to victory over Williams as part of the blue wave that swept the country in 2018. Williams was viewed in Republican circles as a future candidate for governor, and he's still a contender to succeed former Colorado Attorney General John Suthers as Colorado Springs mayor.

Griswold beat him by a convincing 8-point margin.

Before taking office in 2019, Griswold's experience in the political arena was as a voter protection attorney for former President Barack Obamas 2012 campaign, as well as director of former Gov. John Hickenloopers Washington, D.C., office.

While those roles jump off of her resume, Griswold said in an interview with Colorado Politics earlier this month her blue-collar upbringing serves her well in her current capacity.

At age 10, she moved with her family from Toledo, Ohio, to the outskirts of Estes Park and the riverside community of Drake. From a family getting by on food stamps, Griswold said she started working the summer after seventh grade, starting as a dishwasher before moving on to a number of roles, including waitress and book editor.

From there, she went on to be become the first member of her family to go to a four-year university  Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington  before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Griswold said she was motivated to go to college by seeing Colorado families struggling and wanting to give back.

It's really formative to my worldview and, as secretary of state, my passion for making sure that everyday people have their voices heard and a seat at the table, she said. We do that through various ways in our democracy: voting, through having our voices heard on issues, making sure that our representatives hear us and not just lobbyists.

After law school, Griswold practiced international anti-corruption law at Paul Hastings LLP, another experience she said informs how she goes about her day-to-day business as secretary of state.

When we're talking about stopping voter suppression, campaign finance reform and lobbyist reform, what we're really talking about is anti-corruption, she said. Making sure that special interests aren't using the tools of government, or even elected officials using the tools of government, to fortify their own positions.

Legislative wins and losses

To that end, she championed the Clean Campaign Act of 2019 and an accompanying campaign finance reform bill. Its one of the first things her supporters point to in touting her accomplishments, noting those measures also kept a campaign promise to address money in politics.

The Clean Campaign Act was intended to bring sunlight to so-called dark money support by requiring organizations that contribute to Colorado Super PACs to disclose donors. An analysis by the Colorado Sun, however, found loopholes in that bill were exploited to the tune of nearly $3 million on one 2019 ballot question seeking to end TABOR revenue limits.

Griswold is also leading the charge on a piece of legislation this session seeking to block foreign money from influencing Colorado elections. That bill cleared committee in the Senate but lawmakers in that chamber kicked the can down the road on considering it before the full body eight times before laying it over until mid-August, well after the General Assembly is expected to have adjourned for the year.

But it was another piece of legislation that Griswold was involved in drafting in 2019 that truly made a splash, both with her supporters and her detractors. House Bill 1278 addressed long election day lines by requiring clerks to expand drop boxes and polling places, a measure that her supporters' credit in part for the successful administration of the 2020 election.

The problem though, was that the county clerks who are charged with the actual administration of elections were not consulted ahead of time.

The bill as introduced drew strong opposition from the Colorado County Clerks Association, including testimony in opposition from Democratic clerks in Eagle, Pueblo, Routt and Summit counties, as well as Republican clerks from Douglas, El Paso and Fremont counties. It took more than 100 amendments to eventually move the clerks' association to a neutral position.

Some clerks compared her process with Williams'.

Wayne really did a tremendous job of being collaborative with the clerks to foster new ideas and to push things forward, said Matt Crane, the recently appointed executive director of CCCA and a former Republican Arapahoe County clerk. He understood the mission, how elections work at a county level  he had that background where other secretaries haven't had that.

The bill was the first in a series of incidents detailed by Colorado Public Radio that strained relations between Griswold and some county clerks from both parties in the lead-up to the 2020 election. Crane said the clerks are working to leave their differences with Griswold in the past.

I will say that since I've come on board, the secretary has been very welcoming, she's called to get my opinion on things, Crane said of Griswold. I am hopeful that the relationship with the association can be rebuilt.

Tiffany Lee, the GOP La Plata County clerk, mirrored that sentiment. Lee in October laid out for CPR the level of deterioration in Griswolds relationship with some clerks. Six months later, Lee said shes ready to turn the page.

In my view, last year is history, and we need to move forward and do our best for our constituents and really just try our best to work together, Lee said.

The presidential election

That cooperation will be necessary as election officials seek to rebuild trust and counter the misinformation that has swirled in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Doug Jones, a computer science professor at the University of Iowa and one of the United States foremost experts on election security, said that 2020 delivered probably among the best elections we've ever had in terms of the accuracy of the vote count.

The reason for that in significant part was the fact that the election was so deeply contested and so strongly contested by both sides, and that both sides had their observers out in force, and the election officials were running the election under very intense scrutiny from both sides, Jones said in an interview. Under those circumstances, election officials tend to be more careful than usual.

But reassurances from Jones and his ilk have not deterred conspiracy theories and misinformation about last falls election from reaching the Colorado state Capitol.

A special December meeting of the Legislative Audit Committee called by Republican Rep. Lori Saine, who was term-limited and succeeded in January to probe whether the election, as Trump alleged, was rigged and what could be done to improve Colorado's security.

Jones was contacted by the lawyer who filed an unsuccessful lawsuit in Nevada to overturn Joe Biden's win there, as well as the lead technical expert who wrote an affidavit for Sydney Powell, a lawyer for the former president who alleged an international conspiracy with Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems. Powell is being sued by Dominion for $1.3 billion. Her defense includes that her claims were so outlandish no reasonable person would have believed her.

Jones said both the Nevada lawyer and Powells expert laid out for him their alleged evidence, which he described as bonkers. According to Jones, the interaction with Powells expert was particularly strange.

He managed to convince me that he was trying to sell me on what he was asserting, but he never managed to convince me that he believed what he was asserting; that was a really weird situation. I had this impression that he was trying to pull a Borat on me, Jones said, referencing the practical-joking character portrayed by actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

Shaken trust

Its in this environment fraught with mistrust and misinformation that Griswold is charged with asserting leadership. And Williams worries that some of the actions that may be perceived as partisan could have already poisoned the well for some on the right.

He put particular emphasis on Griswolds support for H.R. 1, and two provisions in particular he said would undermine Colorados election system.

One would push back the deadline to return ballots from Election Day, in most cases, to a week later, which Williams said would diminish voter confidence and delay results. He said the proposal also would overturn Colorados signature-verification process, a measure widely praised as vital to ensuring integrity of the ballot.

There's an irony, because when President Trump attacked Colorado election law, there was a response from the Secretary of State's Office saying, That's not accurate, Colorado election laws are good, he said. And yet when the Democrats in Congress are trying to overturn Colorado election law, it's the opposite.

Griswold stands behind the concept.

There are things that we're working with the U.S. Senate on to make sure that it works really well with our system," she said. "They've been very open-ears and you know how the legislative grinding works: Things get amended, things get fixed, and they've been really responsive so far.

To Williams, partisanship erodes trust.

Ultimately if your goal is to have elections that have confidence, you have to have both sides involved and supportive of it, he said.

Without specifying Griswold, Crane said officials involved with overseeing elections have a duty to be nonpartisan.

I realize we're dealing with elected officials, but you have to stay above the fray with politics, he said. Especially coming out of the 2020 general election where there was so much disinformation that polluted our discourse and really hurt the public confidence in elections, it's more important than ever now for election administrators to stay above the fray.

We have to be the grown-ups in the room and that's true of clerks and recorders, that's true of secretaries of State, that's true of everybody.

Rosenoer said she saw things differently and that the repercussions for Griswolds partisan actions, if they could even be described as such, would come at the ballot box.

I think that it's easy to say (Griswold should stay above the fray), but in the end, the voters get to decide, and they should get to decide how partisan feels too partisan to them, she said. But in the end, Jena won her race with an overwhelming majority, and she's looking really good for her reelection campaign, as well.

GOP partisanship

Partisanship in the secretary of states office is hardly new.

Williams predecessor, Republican Scott Gessler, faced harsher criticisms of partisanship with a tangible investigation to back it up. In 2013, the state Independent Ethics Commission ruled Gessler violated ethics standards when he used money from his state budget to pay roundtrip airfare for two GOP events in Florida, the Republican National Lawyers Association and Republican National Convention in Tampa the year before.

The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Gessler lost, costing Colorado taxpayers more than $515,000.

This month, Gessler finished second in the race to be the Colorado Republican Party chairman.

And while Democrats howled about Gessler, who was preparing an unsuccessful run for governor at the time, they're largely silent on Griswold playing politics in public office.

Before that, The Denver Post editorial board called for Republican Secretary of State Gigi Dennis to take off her Republican Party badge and provide neutral supervision of the 2006 election campaign after she attempted to issue a rule that would effectively stifle political donations by unions.

Some of Griswolds backers argue a degree of partisanship is necessary to survive in the job. The last Democratic secretary of State, Bernie Buescher, won plaudits from both sides of the aisle for the nonpartisan way in which he went about the job. He served just two years in office and lost to Gessler by six points.

Restoring trust

Still, Williams critiques raise a difficult question: how much of a responsibility does Griswold have to engender trust among Republicans when many on the right are fueling the misinformation and conspiracy theories about election administration that Jones described as bonkers?

I think she has a responsibility to the state of Colorado, but she can't make everybody happy, said Toni Larson, the League of Women Voters of Colorados director of action and advocacy. The tough thing is that you could tell people all the facts in the world and they're not going to believe you.

Jones agreed.

It's really hard to change people's minds once they've made up their minds, he said. I think the responsibility of the election officials is to make sure that the election process is transparent enough that someone who's suspicious can come in and see the evidence.

To that end, Jones said he believes Colorado sets a pretty high standard for its basic procedures but added outside-the-box thinking on transparency would be necessary to restore trust in elections. And he had some suggestions:

A playbill laying out for the untrained eye of a rookie election observer who is doing what and why. QR codes on the walls at ballot tabulation locations with similar information to guard against deceptively edited videos. Optional election administration training for observers to boost their understanding of the process.

But Jones solutions come with a degree of the presumption that some on either the distributing side or the receiving side of election misinformation are good actors who simply dont understand what they are seeing or dont know enough about election administration to understand they are being misled. Larson said thats not always the case.

People deliberately put out false information to meet their own purposes, to stay in power and to get done what they think is the right thing to do, she said.

So how can Griswold lead in a time where shes facing deliberate attempts to undermine her work and the work of her colleagues across the country?

I dont think theres a good answer to that, Larson said. She certainly needs to be even-handed and from there you try your darnedest to do the best that you can within your biases.

I don't know that you can go beyond that.
Hong Kong: Flight landing ban set

The Department of Health today announced it invoked a flight-specific suspension mechanism to prohibit the landing of flights operated by two airlines.

The Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation was invoked to prohibit the landing of Cathay Pacific passenger flights from Manila, the Philippines, in Hong Kong, and the landing of passenger flights of TATA SIA Airlines (Vistara) from Mumbai, India, in Hong Kong from April 19 to May 2.

Two passenger flights (CX906), operated by Cathay Pacific arriving from Manila to Hong Kong on April 14 and 17, had each carried two passengers confirmed to have COVID-19 by arrival test.

Meanwhile, a passenger flight (UK6397), operated by Vistara arriving from Mumbai to Hong Kong today, had three passengers confirmed to have the virus by arrival test.

The department thus invoked the regulation to prohibit the landing of the concerned passenger flights according to the established mechanism.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
As Shakespeare said, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon em.

Prince Philip was in a sense all three, a man born into the Greek royal family yet denied his birthright; someone who had to work hard to carve out his status in life; and a man who ended up, over the course of seven decades by the Queens side, earning a unique place in history as the longest-serving consort of any monarch.

The Duke of Edinburgh was not a man who demanded recognition by right; he went out there and damn well earned it. He understood that titles alone do not make a man a true prince. Yes, he may in his pomp have been the dashing, debonair Duke with a thirst for excitement and a modernising mission; but there was always substance behind the gloss, a real determination to see things through and prove his worth.

At Saturdays funeral the Duchess of Cambridge exceeded even her own high standards. It wasnt just her poise and style, it was also the way she showed herself to be a beacon of light in the darkest of hours

Arriving in Windsor, she was captured looking directly into the camera, her gaze steady and serious, her demeanour sombre yet impeccably stylish. Calm, confident and self-composed, she conducted herself, as she always does, with impeccable grace

Yet he always seemed to wear his achievements so lightly. Saturdays funeral, so moving in its simplicity, exemplified this sentiment.

Devised in detail by the Duke himself, it managed to convey all the moment of a great state occasion without being pompous or self-aggrandising. It was as much a celebration of the man as an honouring of the institution  and the woman  he served.

In death, as in life, the Duke acknowledged his dedication to duty while remaining true to his own identity.

Such strength of character and clarity is increasingly rare in this day and age, which is one of the many reasons why he will be so sorely missed.

But the British Royal Family is lucky. For despite decades of marital strife, misjudgment and general misfortune, there is one within their ranks who seems ready to take on his mantle, another royal consort with the intelligence and vision to see beyond their own immediate needs, and to recognise the bigger picture: the Duchess of Cambridge.

That slim-hipped, fresh-faced Home Counties girl who caught Prince Williams eye at St Andrews University 20 years ago has matured into a wise and capable woman, a dedicated and level-headed wife and mother, a beacon of style and elegance, an accomplished public speaker  and someone who emanates an aura of calm capability that seems to envelop everyone in its forcefield.

Never was this more in evidence than on Saturday afternoon.

Arriving in Windsor, she was captured looking directly into the camera, her gaze steady and serious, her demeanour sombre yet impeccably stylish. Calm, confident and self-composed, she conducted herself, as she always does, with impeccable grace.

That the Duchess is such a class act is, of course, nothing new. Over the course of the past few years, and in particular during the pandemic, she has rarely put a foot wrong. She exudes just the right mixture of warmth and discretion, sharing unguarded glimpses of life as a royal wife without exposing herself, or her family, more than is right or necessary.

But at Saturdays funeral she exceeded even her own high standards. It wasnt just her poise and style, it was also the way she showed herself to be a beacon of light in the darkest of hours.

Her kindness and sense of duty shone through in her determination to set aside any sense of personal resentment she may have felt about Prince Harry, Meghan and that interview, which had cast her in such a negative light; to do what was best for her husband, his family and ultimately the nation, and smooth the path to reconciliation between the brothers.

That the Duchess is such a class act is, of course, nothing new. Over the course of the past few years, and in particular during the pandemic, she has rarely put a foot wrong. She exudes just the right mixture of warmth and discretion, sharing unguarded glimpses of life as a royal wife without exposing herself, or her family, more than is right or necessary

Lets face it, she would have been perfectly entitled to give Harry a wide berth. Not just because of what the Duchess of Sussex said in the Oprah interview about it being Kate who had made her cry, not the other way round, in the run-up to the Sussexes wedding; but also because the whole thing has been so deeply upsetting for William.

It is William who has felt the sting of brotherly betrayal and the fury of being unjustly cast as part of a racist, bullying family. The Duchess of Cambridge might easily have felt that any kind of reconciliation or rapprochement at this stage would be premature.

But instead of shrinking from the challenge, she met it head-on as they were walking after the funeral up to the castle.

The Duke of Edinburgh was not a man who demanded recognition by right; he went out there and damn well earned it

Knowing, perhaps, that with the worlds cameras on the three of them the brothers would be less likely to make a spectacle, she extended the hand of friendship to Harry and drew him into conversation.

Whatever her own feelings about what was said about her in the interview, she put them aside for the sake of the greater good: an opportunity to turn what was a deeply sad occasion into one, perhaps, tinged with hope. And she did it with such effortless charm and generosity of spirit.

Who knows whether Harry and Williams exchange will go any way towards beginning to bridge the gap between them; but God love Kate for giving it a go. For seeing the bigger picture and putting their happiness ahead of her own satisfaction.

Who knows whether Harry and Williams exchange will go any way towards beginning to bridge the gap between them; but God love Kate for giving it a go. For seeing the bigger picture and putting their happiness ahead of her own satisfaction

And what a stark contrast, it must be said, to that other royal consort, out in sunny Santa Barbara, always so quick to take offence, always so keen to be cast as the victim.

Well, she can say whatever she likes: the quiet sincerity of the Duchess of Cambridges good heart is all the truth we need to know.

Because Kate understands, as the Duke of Edinburgh did before her, that being a consort in the British Royal Family may be a long, hard road to walk  but that if you take it slowly and one step at a time, and show yourself to be a calm and wise voice of sanity, you can be the rock on which a great and much-loved institution stands firm.
The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has asked all localities to make necessary preparations for the potential effect of Super Typhoon Surigae as it is lurking near the East Vietnam Sea.

Surigae was 420 kilometers east of the central Philippines as of 7:00 am on Sunday, packing winds at 200-220km per hour, according to the National Center for Hydro-metrological Forecasting.

In the next 24 hours, the super typhoon is forecast to travel northwest at five to ten kilometers per hour.

By 7:00 am on Monday, Surigae will have been 300 kilometers east of the central Philippines.

By 7:00 am on Tuesday, it will have been 300 kilometers southeast of Luzon Island, with wind speed slightly decreasing to between 185 and 200km per hour.

The expected route of Super Typhoon Surigae from April 18 to 23, 2021. Photo: National Center for Hydro-meterological Forecasting

The typhoon is extremely powerful and dangerous, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control warned, adding that it may change course and directly affect the East Vietnam Sea, where many fishing boats are operating.

The committee asked authorities in the coastal localities from northern Quang Ninh Province to southern Ca Mau Province to closely monitor the development of Surigae.

Corresponding measures must be taken to ensure safety for local residents and production activities.

Rescue units and vehicles must be ready to promptly deal with any situation.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Bengaluru, April 18 : Cracking the whip, the Karnataka government on Sunday served notice to five major private hospitals here for not reserving 50 per cent of their beds for treating Covid patients amid surging cases.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta served the notice to Columbia Asia Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Vikram Hospital and Aster CMI Hospital as they did not comply with the government order.

"It has been observed that your hospital has not complied with the direction of the state government and made available the mandated 50 per cent of the beds for Covid patients," said Gupta in the notice to the corporate and other hospitals.

To control the spread and ensure availability of resources, Chief Secretary P. Ravi Kumar on April 6 notified that 50 per cent of beds in all private hospitals across the city be reserved for treating Covid patients referred by the public health authorities.

The notice, by the civic body, said: "You are directed to comply with the Chief Secretary's order within 48 hours, failing which action will be taken, including suspension of registration (license) and fine." The notice was served within hours after Governor Vajubhai Vala advised the state government to ensure enough oxygen supply, drugs and beds for Covid patients in hospitals across the state, including Bengaluru to reduce the cases.

The Governor's intervention came on a day when a record 19,067 new cases were reported from across the state, with Bengaluru accounting for 12,793 of them.

The new cases took the state's Covid tally to 11,61,065, including 1,33,543 active cases and the city's tally to 5,46,635, including 97,897 active cases.

State Revenue Minister R. Ashoka also directed the BBMP to raid private hospitals in the city which have not reserved 50 per cent of their beds for treating Covid patients.

"Many private hospitals, including those run by corporates have set aside only 10-15 per cent of their beds for Covid patients despite assurances that they would reserve 50 per cent of them," he told reporters earlier in the day.

Following complaints on social media and news channels by the affected patients, Ashoka told Gupta to take action against hospitals defying the government's order.

Admitting that the response of private hospitals for reserving 50 per cent of beds for Covid patients had not been satisfactory, state Health Minister K. Sudhakar also said legal action would be taken against those not complying with the government order.

"On inspecting, we have found that corporate hospitals like Manipal and Sakra have not provided 50 per cent of their beds for admitting Covid cases," he said.

Many private hospitals, however, told the minister that they were facing acute shortage of infrastructure and human resources for treating more Covid cases.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Asian American and Pacific Islander caucus of the Alabama Democratic Party called on U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville to apologize last week, after Tuberville was one of just six U.S. Senators to vote no for consideration of a bill that would protect Asian Americans from hate crimes.

As one of Alabamas representatives in the Senate, it is Tommy Tubervilles responsibility to defend the interests of all his constituents, a press release from the AAPI caucus released on Friday read. Tubervilles vote against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act proves he would rather stoke the flames of insurrection than do his job.

The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act would define a COVID-19 hate crime as any crime directed at a person because of their actual or perceived race, and because of the perceived spread of COVID-19 by that person because of their race.

Tuberville voted against consideration of the bill along with Republican Sens. Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Roger Marshall and Rand Paul. Alabamas other U.S. Senator, Republican Richard Shelby, voted to consider the bill, along with 91 other senators.

In a statement to AL.com last week, a Tuberville spokesman said the senator voted against advancing the bill because he was concerned that it bypasses the committee process and emphasizes creating a political narrative rather than careful consideration of real issues facing our country.

In fact, the bill doesnt create any new criminal provisions, since current law provides tools to prosecute all forms of hate crimes, the spokesperson continued. Most disturbing, the bill would facilitate creation of a database where anyone could report a citizen for hate incidents with no fear of punishment if they do so out of spite. Republicans have offered numerous amendments to the bill, so hopefully Democrats will allow a legitimate floor debate and amendment process.

Tuberville said he would introduce four amendments to the bill.

The AAPI caucus called on Tuberville to apologize immediately for his vote.

Tens of thousands of Asian Americans call Alabama home We have the right to feel safe and protected. No Alabamians should be targeted based on their ethnicity, the release read. If [Tuberville] cannot understand the importance of curbing hate crimes, he should resign and allow someone else to do the job.

The Senate now will debate the bill, but its unclear whether it will earn the votes needed to pass.
The White House is struggling to combat the global pandemic due to vaccine hesitancy after pausing the COVID-19 vaccine following its rare side effects.

White House Struggles To Combat COVID-19

The White House or the Biden administration is struggling to combat the global pandemic caused by the infectious and deadly COVID-19. This is after the uptick of new cases in many states in the country, according to a published article in The Hill.

Even if millions have already received the first or second dose of the vaccine, the was an increase of new COVID-19 cases each day recently. This is partly because most states decided to lift or ease their restrictions.

Experts warn that the increase will continue due to the new variant which is more transmissible compared to the original variant. This will only stop until the country reaches herd immunity, according to a report published in The New York Times.

Fauci Clashes With Republican Lawmaker Over When COVID-19 Restrictions Can Be Eased

U.S. FDA Paused the Use of Some COVID-19 Vaccine Drew Hesitancy

The decision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson this week is one of the other challenges that the Biden administration is facing today. In a recently published article in the Los Angeles Times, experts praised it as a right move due to its rare side effect but this could increase vaccine hesitancy.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel announced on Wednesday that they cannot yet determine as to when they will allow the resumption of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. This means that the pause may last for weeks.

According to a report in the USA Today, the agency's decision to pause the use of the vaccine will have a negative impact on the country's rollout of vaccination. Bloomberg reported also that 1 in 7 residents remained hesitant to get the vaccine.

AstraZeneca Pauses COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial in Children and Teens

White House Confident that Vaccine Supply is Still Enough

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday during the briefing that "We remain confident that we have the supply needed to meet the demand. Because we are overprepared and oversupplied, we remain confident in that."

The U.S. officials said this week that the country now averages three million vaccinations every day. They also said that around 3.5 million shots of COVID-19 vaccines were given on Wednesday. Moreover, more than 100 million Americans have already received at least the first dose of the vaccine.

Furthermore, Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist who served on Biden's COVID-19 advisory board during the transition, said that the decision to pause the vaccine is necessary and he described it as being transparent about the vaccine process.

He said, "If there is any sense that something is being hidden, I think that will create irreparable harm from a credibility standpoint to our ability to continue to pursue these vaccine programs."

Even before the unexpected headlines, vaccine hesitancy was an issue. Monmouth discovered that 21 percent of U.S. adults believe they are unable to receive a vaccine, a decrease from 24 percent in March but still a high figure.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathleen Whalen Andrews, former vice chairman of Kansas City-based media company Andrews McMeel Universal and chief executive officer of Andrews McMeel Publishing, and founding director of The Andrews Family Foundation, passed away April 16, 2021, announced Andrews McMeel Universal (AMU) Chairman Emeritus John McMeel and AMU Chief Executive Officer Andy Sareyan. She was 84 years old.

Kathleen W. Andrews, Former Andrews McMeel Universal and Andrews McMeel Publishing Executive, Dies

"Kathy was just outstanding  with tremendous insight as a shrewd and savvy chief executive, and as a compassionate, thoughtful leader," said McMeel. "I am honored to call her my business partner, and my dear friend, of more than 50 years. She was a very special human being  and we will miss her wise counsel and dry wit very much."

"Kathy is essential to the DNA of AMU," said Sareyan. "She has been integral to many of its most successful ventures  from Ziggy and Doonesbury to The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes. We will strive to continue her mission with John as a "creator-first" operation, and are honored to have such a tremendous example to guide us."

"Kathy was the indispensable Mom in the Mom-and-Pop basement operation that drew young creators to Leawood, Kansas," said Garry Trudeau, creator of Doonesbury. "Success seemed unlikely, so it took someone with a sharp, critical financial eye to make it probable. Kathy's mastery of spreadsheets kept the lights on; her warmth and graciousness kept her visitors charmed and reassured  then and for years to come. All of us will miss her greatly."

"After joining Universal Press Syndicate and arriving in Kansas City for a meet and greet, I was given a tour of the building, met various people in various departments, and was eventually introduced to the company's owners," said Gary Larson, creator of The Far Side. "I remember being a little overwhelmed with everything, not to mention all that was happening in my life in general, but being introduced to Kathy is as memorable as it was grounding. Immediately down-to-earth and likable, she put me at ease with her informal manner and humor. The two of us sat and chatted in her office for a while, and later had lunch. I liked everyone I met that day, but I think it's when I met Kathy that I truly felt the welcome mat come out, and knew I was in a good place. She's part of my own story, for which I'll be forever grateful."

Story continues

"My career as a cartoonist began at Kathy Andrews' kitchen table the night her husband, Jim, brought my submission home and asked her if she thought it was sellable," said Cathy Guisewite, creator of the comic strip Cathy. "The blessing she gave my work that night launched my comic strip. Her great, generous heart helped hold me together in the beginning years. Her devotion to her own family and to the corporate family she helped wrap around all of us lucky enough to be with Universal Press Syndicate (now AMU) helped sustain me for all the years that followed. She was a rock of security, a trusted sounding board, and a dear friend. I will be always be grateful to Kathy for being such a great role model of strength, integrity and humor, and for the wonderful life my family and I had because of her belief in me."

A native of Ashtabula Ohio, Kathleen was a graduate of Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio, and earned a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. She met her future husband, James (Jim) Andrews, as a graduate student.

With Jim, Kathleen founded Universal Press Syndicate (now AMU) in 1970 with John and Susan McMeel. She served as chief financial officer and secretary in its early years, and her discovery of Ziggy, by Tom Wilson, helped propel the company into character licensing and merchandising through books, calendars, and greeting cards. After the company's first few years, she paused her full-time involvement to care for her two young sons, Hugh and Jim, although she remained closely tied to its operations.

After Jim's untimely death at the age of 44 in 1980, Kathleen returned to the company she helped create. With characteristic strength, determination, and an enduring and droll sense of humor, she worked diligently with McMeel to grow the company into the largest independent newspaper syndicate in the world and a renowned publishing powerhouse, Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP), serving as chief executive officer of AMP. Although she retired in 2006, her presence remains in AMU's culture and heritage.

Along with McMeel, she established the James F. Andrews Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Notre Dame, which underwrites students in the summer service-learning program in conjunction with the University's Alumni Clubs. Since its inception, thousands of students have served in communities throughout the country and the world, to benefit the lives of those less fortunate, an enduring and exceptional legacy.

In 1993, Kathleen was named a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Notre Dame, and was named a Fellow of the Board of Trustees in 1996, the first woman to serve on the 12-member group that is the University's core governing body. She received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2003, and had been an Emeritus member of Board since 2007. In June 2004, she was presented with the Edward Sorin Award by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, and received the Father Hesburgh Award from the Notre Dame Club of Kansas City in 2006.

She also served on the Board of the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and the Boards of Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri, and Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and received honorary degrees from both. She also received honorary doctorates from the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon and Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a director of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in Washington, DC, and was a Dame of the Federal Association of the Sovereign of Military Order of Malta. She was involved in numerous charitable endeavors, including Christmas in October, fundraising for Catholic Charities, and as founder and chairman of the Andrews Family Foundation, directed funding to a variety charitable causes.

Kathleen savored spending time with family, friends, and business associates. She leaves behind sons Hugh (Cynthia) and James (JoMarie), and grandchildren Mary Katherine, Anne Marie, James, and William Andrews; and Abigail and James Andrews; sister, Annabelle Whalen, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Contact: Kathy Hilliard, Vice President, Marketing

khilliard@amuniversal.com, 816.581.7497

Cision

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SOURCE Andrews McMeel Universal
Phukets pink buses make way for EV

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) will replace its famous Pho Thong pink song taew, small public buses which have faithfully served the public for decades, with 24 electric buses, starting from Oct 1.

transport

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 18 April 2021, 01:30PM

END OF AN ERA: Phukets famous Pho Thong pink song taews will soon be terminated. Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran.

The plan is part of its drive to make the city more environmentally friendly. The Pho Thong buses have been in service since 1947, and replaced rickshaws, reports the Bangkok Post. PPAO President Rewat Areerob yesterday (Apr 17) said an auction will be held for the private sector to invest in the electric buses. One condition is that the operator must not charge students and the elderly. The EVs will be bought to run on arranged routes, and some new routes added.
British backpacker Elisha Greer who was kidnapped and raped while in Australia has vowed to return to the country

A British backpacker forced to drive through the outback at gunpoint while being beaten and raped by a drug-crazed drifter has vowed to return to Australia to start a new life.

Elisha Greer, from Liverpool, made headlines around the world in early 2017 when she survived weeks of terror at the hands of madman Marcus Martin.

The then 22-year-old was backpacking when she was forced to drive 1,000 miles through the outback by Martin and suffered a month of physical and sexual abuse.

Ms Greer was eventually rescued five weeks later after a petrol station worker spotted her looking 'like a zombie in a state of shock' and called police.

Martin, 27, was jailed for ten years back in 2019 but now Ms Greer has said she plans to return to the country to start a life there despite the fact Martin will one day be released.

Speaking to the Mirror, she said: 'I'm not going to be broken and my life won't be defined by what he's done.

'I've always wanted to live in Australia and I'm going to do it. He'll be free one day but I'm not afraid of him. I won't let him rule my life.'

Ms Greer, who waived her right to anonymity in the wake of the horrific attack, added: 'The worst has already happened. What else can he do?'

Hairdresser Ms Greer met Martin in Cairns in January 2017 at an outdoor dance party and said he initially seemed normal when their relationship began.

'Yeah he seemed fun, he didn't seem like a psycho,' she previously revealed.

At the time, friends said the backpacker appeared to be under her attacker's 'spell'.

Within days the relationship began to sour as he became 'obsessive and clingy.'

Elisha Greer was backpacking in Australia when she met Martin who forced her to drive 1,000 miles through the outback while subjecting her to weeks of physical and sexual abuse

Marcus Martin (left) was jailed for 10 years for horrific abuse of backpacker Elisha Greer (right)

During the kidnapping ordeal, Martin, who threw away her passport, was said to have choked Elisha as he told her it was 'time to go to sleep'.

Prosecutors also told the court he had thrown away her birth control pills 'so she would never leave him because she would have his child'.

Martin raped Ms Greer in a hotel room in Cairns before kidnapping her and from March 1, he made her drive south for five days before the case culminated in the regional town of Mitchell.

Ms Greer had been driving a white Mitsubishi Pajero through Mitchell when she stopped at a petrol station to fill up.

The service station attendant, Beverley Page, remembered her being in a 'state of shock when she came in, almost zombie like'.

The attendant said she had tears streaming down her face and was unable to pay for the fuel.

Elisha (pictured, right, after being rescued) came to the attention of a petrol station attendant who was concerned and called the police after Ms Greer left without paying. Police eventually stopped the vehicle and found Marcus Martin hiding in a hidden compartment in the back

The attendant had decided to follow the car to see if something was wrong, but called police immediately when Ms Greer took off without paying.

A dramatic rescue took place hours later when police pulled over the four-wheel drive, finding the distraught and badly beaten Ms Greer at the wheel.

An inspection of the car revealed her captor hiding in the back.

Martin was arrested and charged before pleading guilty to three counts of rape and one count of deprivation of liberty.

He earlier pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs, wilful damage, assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation.

Prosecutors discontinued ten other charges of rape, cruelty to animals, and torture.

Elisha later told The Daily Mail: 'He shattered my nose so that it had to be rebuilt in hospital. The cartilage exploded out the side.

'He tried to gouge out my eyes. He smashed my legs so I could hardly walk.'

Elisha said she struggled with alcohol after her ordeal when she return home to the UK and that she has had two relationships but finds it difficult to trust men.

She told the Mirror: 'It's difficult because of what I've been through and the last two relationships ended after they cheated so that's made things even harder.'

Ms Greer said she hopes to be an inspiration to other women who have been through something similar and that her family has been supportive of her plans to move to Australia.
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank left the grounds of Windsor Castle for home earlier today after attending Prince Philip's funeral yesterday afternoon.

The Queen's granddaughter, 31, donned a checked shirt and a pair of sunglasses as she sat in the passenger seat of a car driven by her husband Jack, 34, and made her journey back home.

The royal couple, who welcomed their first child, August Philip, in early February, have been living at nearby Frogmore Cottage - where Prince Harry has been staying since his return to the UK.

The pair were among the 30 family and friends of the Duke of Edinburgh who attended the poignant service at St George's Chapel in Windsor yesterday.

Princess Eugenie, 31, left the grounds of Windsor Castle with her husband after attending Prince Philip's funeral yesterday afternoon

Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, 34, have been living at nearby Frogmore Cottage

The royal couple were among the 30 family and friends of the Duke of Edinburgh who attended the poignant service at St George's Chapel yesterday afternoon

Yesterday Princess Eugenie, who is the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, wore a black face mask amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as she attended the funeral of her grandfather, who passed away last Friday at the age of 99.

Eugenie appeared sombre as she stood alongside her husband Jack during the poignant service which was broadcast in front of millions of viewers.

The couple, who married in October 2018, named their first child August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, in honour of her grandfather Prince Philip.

Following the Duke of Edinburgh's death, Princess Eugenie paid tribute to her beloved grandfather on Instagram and said she would remember his 'spectacular life'.

In her post she wrote: 'Dearest Grandpa, We all miss you. You would be so touched by all the tributes that have been shared with me the past few days.

'People remember sitting next to you at a dinner, or shaking your hand once, who remember you saying hello in passing, or remember how much their DofE award meant to them. 

'I remember learning how to cook, how to paint, what to read. I remember laughing at your jokes and asking about your spectacular life and service in the navy. 

'I remember incinerating the sausages and you swooping in to save the day. I remember your hands and your laugh and your favourite beer. 

'I will remember you in your children, your grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

'Thank you for your dedication and love for us all and especially Granny, who we will look after for you. '

Just moments after the couple left the castle, the Queen was seen leaving her Windsor home behind the wheel of a green Jaguar.

The Queen was seen for the first time since Prince Philip's funeral behind the wheel of a green Jaguar

Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon and Timothy Laurence follow the coffin in the ceremonial procession

Her Majesty sits alone and looks towards the altar during the poignant service yesterday

The monarch, 94, was pictured this afternoon driving out of the gates of Windsor Castle, where she had stayed the night after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral yesterday.

She was seen wearing a floral scarf over her hair, and was reportedly with her beloved dogs, as she drove down the long driveway out of the castle and into the Windsor estate.

The Queen had spent much of her time at Windsor with Prince Philip since the start of the Covid pandemic, and had been supported by a small team of staff - nicknamed 'HMS Bubble'.

Yesterday the Queen, who had been married to the Duke for 73 years, sat alone at her husband's funeral due to strict Covid rules banning the mixing of households.

At the end of the service the Queen, dressed in all black and wearing a face mask, was taken from the funeral to nearby Windsor Castle in a state Bentley.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry, who made the 10-hour flight to Britain for the funeral, returned to Frogmore Cottage ahead of a walk with his father later today, reports claim.

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Cambridge look towards Philip's coffin before it was lowered into the Royal Vault

Prince Harry was sat directly across from his older brother and his wife Kate having flown in without his wife Meghan

During his funeral service yesterday, the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, which was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers, was placed on a self-designed green Land Rover Defender hearse.

After an eight minute procession and the 50 minute service, his coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault as the Dean of Windsor delivered his commendation.

While the lowering of the coffin normally takes place in private, the poignant moment was broadcast in front of millions of viewers in a historic first for the royal family.

The duke is now the 25th Royal in the 200-year-old vault hidden beneath St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The Aland Islands are an archipelago located in the Baltic Sea, at the southern end of the Gulf of Bothnia in southwestern Finland. Since 1921, the Aland Islands are a self-governing and demilitarized region under the Republic of Finland. The Aland islands are bordered by the Sea of Aland and the Archipelago Sea and are geographically positioned between southwestern Finland and eastern Sweden.

Geography

Map of Sweden with the Aland Islands visible in the Gulf of Bothnia.

The Aland archipelago covers a total area of 1,551 km2 and comprises approximately 300 islands and over 6,200 small rocky islands. Out of these 300 islands, only 80 islands are inhabited. The archipelago occupies just 0.51% of Finlands total land area and is therefore considered its smallest region. Fasta Aland is the biggest and most populated island in the archipelago. The archipelagos administrative capital, its principal town and major seaport, Mariehamn, is located on Fasta Aland.

The Aland Islands have a rocky terrain that is mainly composed of granite rocks and covered by a thin layer of agricultural soil. Located on Fasta Aland is Orrdals Hill, which rises to an elevation of 129 m and is the archipelagos highest point.

According to the Koppen climate classification system, the Aland Islands experience a humid continental climate with short summers and relatively mild and cool winters. The climate of the Aland Islands is also influenced by its maritime position between the large water bodies of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The continental climate of the island is mainly because of its position on the Leeward side of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Wildlife

A sheep on the Aland Islands, Finland.

The vegetation of the Aland Islands is a combination of conifers (pine, fir, and spruce) and deciduous forests (birch, aspen, maple) as well as many meadows and cultivated farmlands. Barley, cucumbers, oats, onions, potatoes, rye, sugar beets, and wheat are produced in the farms of the island. The Aland Island archipelago has the highest crop yield per unit area in the entire Finland, which is greatly favored by its fertile soils and mild climate. The meadows on the island host several species of insects including the notable Glanville fritillary butterfly. Ayrshire cattle and sheep are also found on the farms of the Aland Islands.

Brief History

Bomarsund Fortress ruins in Sund, Aland Islands, Finland.

The Aland Islands were initially settled by some hunters and fishermen from the East, who came to the island around 5000 BCE and belonged to the Neolithic Comb Ceramic culture. In 3300 BCE, immigrants belonging to the Pitted Ware culture migrated to the islands from the West. With the rapid increase in population, the settlements quickly spread over the main island (Fasta Aland) around 500 to 800 CE. During the 12th century, the islands were converted to Christianity by missionaries from Sweden. The islands were conquered by the Russian Tsar Peter I the Great in 1714 During the Great Wrath, and once again in 1741 during the Lesser Wrath.

Under the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809, the Aland Islands and the Grand Duchy of Finland were formally ceded to Russia by Sweden. In 1830, the Russians began to fortify the island and constructed the Bomarsund Fortress. However, the fortress was destroyed by the Anglo-French troops during the Crimean War in 1854. In 1917, when Finland became independent, the Alanders voted to become a part of Sweden, due to their long history of association with Swedish culture. Finland refused to cede the islands to Sweden and therefore their fate was to be decided by the newly-formed League of Nations. In 1921, as per the Aland Convention, the League of Nations allowed the Aland Islands to become an autonomous and demilitarized region under the sovereignty of the Republic of Finland.

The economy of the Aland Islands is mainly dominated by commercial trade, banking services, shipping, and tourism. In addition to these fishing and agriculture are also important for the islands economy. There are several harbors on the Aland Islands including Berghamn, Langnas, and the Western Harbor. Located in the center of Mariehamn is Arkipelag Hotel, the most important tourist resort of the archipelago. The Aland Islands serve as one of the most popular vacation destinations for both the residents of Sweden and Finland, and the islands are well connected with the mainland by ferry services.
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Gammanpila says Govt. should stick to its mandate, vows to continue struggle from within By Kasun Warakapitiya View(s): View(s):

Among those eleven political party leaders who want to put the Government back on track are two Cabinet Ministers, one of them an official spokesperson.

They met at the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) headquarters at Darley Road last week under the chairmanship of Former President Maithripala Sirisena to discuss the issues.

Now they are to meet Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa tomorrow and place their wishes. The two are National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerwansa and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila.

Mr Gammanpila, who articulates government policy at regular news briefings, complains that there is frustration and disappointment among the 6.9 million voters, pointing out that We are duty bound to struggle within the government, he says. Our struggle is to take collective action.

Asked by the Sunday Times why they had, together with the SLFP, chosen to take up cudgels against the Government, Mr. Gammanpila, the computer engineer turned Energy Minister, replied We just have one slogan for our struggle. The Government should stick to the mandate it received from the people. He charged that the Government should not have introduced the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in it is current form though he was one of those who voted for it in Parliament.

No steps have been taken to implement the slogan one-country-one-law through the pledge was made one and half years ago, lamented Mr Gammanpila. His remarks, however, underscored a dividing line that has begun to run through the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Nidahas Sandanaya (SLPNS).

In the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the detractors of this newly emerging group say their struggle was triggered by factors other than politics but an effort to drive a wedge would fail.

Mr. Gammanpila declared that Minister Wimal Weerawansa and I made a written pledge on July 18 that we will act as an opposition within the Government.

Here are some highlights of the Q&A Mr Gammanpila gave the Sunday Times:

Meeting Former President Maithripala Sirisena:

The host for those meetings changes time to time. The SLFP was the host for the last meeting. That was why we went to the SLFP headquarters.

The main issues affecting the people:

The burden issue is the cost of living; we strongly believe the Government should directly intervene to control market forces.

Why have you not placed your grievances before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

These issues have been discussed with the President at the cabinet as well as at party leaders meetings. That is why the President took corrective actions in the form of the 20th Amendment and in the decision to cancel the East Container Terminal (ECT) deal.
Critical Race Theory Is Divisive, Researcher Says

SANTA CLARA, Calif.Editor and filmmaker Christopher Rufo has been focusing his research on critical race theory (CRT) in K12 schools for the past four months.

Since California announced its ethnic studies curriculum in March, there has been much discussion of CRT, a quasi-Marxist theory that divides people by race into oppressors and oppressed.

Those who oppose the ideology, such as Rufo, say its divisive and harmful. He said he sees how the theory manifests as a curriculum and a teacher training program, as well as its effects on kids.

First graders in Cupertino, California  are forced to deconstruct their racial and sexual identities and then rank themselves according to their power and privilege, Rufo told NTD Television. I did a story about middle school teachers in Springfield, Missouri, who were forced to locate themselves on an oppression matrix. White, male, Christian, English-speaking teachers were told that they were inherently oppressors, and other teachers were told that they were inherently oppressed.

He also wrote a piece about teachers in Philadelphia asking fifth-graders to celebrate black communism and simulate an Angela Davis Black Power rally. He believes these examples of CRT in schools illustrate just how nonsensical, how divisive, how destructive, and how truly manipulative it can be, especially when applied to very young children.

Rufo said he has seen the theory expand outside schools. He pointed out that Portland, Oregon, was one of the first cities to adopt the concept, and he suggested this is partially responsible for the unrest last year.

Weve seen it as more than 150 days straight of rioting last year after the death of George Floydincluding the group called the Northwest Youth Liberation Frontcomprised and led by teenagerswho perhaps, in some cases, absorbed some of the ideology in school, he said.

Hes concerned that over time, this form of instruction will lead to a deformed education system.

On March 18, the California State Board of Education approved the implementation of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum in schools, after four revisions in four years. Its the first in the nation to make the curriculum available to educators.

Todays historic action gives schools the opportunity to uplift the histories and voices of marginalized communities in ways that help our state and nation achieve racial justice and create lasting change, Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of public instruction, stated in an announcement.

According to the announcement, ethnic studies courses can help minority students increase graduation and college admission rates. The curriculum wont be mandatory.

After the announcement, Lee Ohanian, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, wrote a piece, titled Californias education department chooses critical race theory over 100,000 objections, pointing out flaws in the curriculum.

The curriculum continues to be founded on critical race theory, which is the view that our legal, economic, and social institutions are inherently racist and are exploited by some Whites to retain their dominance by oppressing and marginalizing others. The CRT-focused curriculum will foster divisions among students and will almost certainly not improve learning outcomes, as advertised by its proponents, Ohanian wrote.

Ohanian stated that students should be taught about the world and American history in an honest, open approach, allowing them to understand the past and do better in the future.

Meanwhile, Rufo says hes working with a coalition of attorneys to file lawsuits, saying CRT-based programs violate the Civil Rights Act.

Theyre racially discriminatory, they promote race essentialism, they promote collective guilt based on skin color and other inborn attributes. And they also promote neo-segregation, separating students, teachers, and employees on the basis of race, all of which are illegal under existing law, he said.

They already have filed three lawsuits and are planning to file more this summer.
PRAGUE-- The explosion was massive, blowing out windows of houses kilometers away, leaving a smoldering crater in the eastern Czech forest, not far from the border with Slovakia.

The blast, on October 16, 2014, destroyed a cache of ammunition and related weaponry. The bodies of two men who worked at the site were recovered nearly a month later. A second explosion occurred about two months later at nearby location, about 1 kilometer away.

The incident rattled Czech authorities, who were already watching warily as 1,700 kilometers away, Ukraine was gripped in a ferocious fight with a separatist uprising that was stoked, and fueled, by Russia. If there was a known connection at the time, it wasnt ever revealed publicly by investigators.

On April 17, however, Czech officials made a stunning allegation, drawing a direct line between the explosions and the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU -- specifically, a division known as Unit 29155 that has been linked to assassination attempts and other subversive actions across Europe.

Coming as tensions mount in Ukraine over a massive Russian buildup of troops near its border, and with the United States hitting Moscow with major new sanctions, expelling 10 diplomats, the Czech announcement shook Pragues politics and was likely to further roil Western relations with Moscow.

"There is unequivocal evidence about the involvement of officers of the Russian intelligence service GRU...in the explosion of the ammunitions depot, Prime Minister Andrej Babis told an unusual night news conference on April 17. He also said 18 Russians working at the Russian Embassy were being expelled.

The Czech Republic is a sovereign state and must react accordingly to those unprecedented revelations, he said.

The president of the Czech Senate, Milos Vystrcil, a political opponent and longtime critic of Babis, suggested that the explosion could be considered an act of "state terrorism," saying, "It is necessary to react clearly, confidently, and harshly on it."

With the announcement, Czech authorities drew an indirect line not only to Ukraines war with Russia, but to a mysterious poisoning six months later in the Bulgarian capital that nearly killed an arms dealer named Emilian Gebrev.

Czech officials have not publicly announced a link between the explosions and Gebrev, but the public broadcaster Czech Radio and the news magazine Respekt cited unnamed security sources as saying Gebrev was involved.

Jan Hamacek, the Czech interior minister and current foreign minister, signaled that there was a connection with Bulgaria.

"Without specific details, I can confirm that international cooperation on this issue is under way, including cooperation with Bulgaria, he said in an interview with CT24 Czech news.

And a top former Ukrainian security official also confirmed to RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service that Kyiv had sought Gebrevs help in acquiring ammunition in 2014.

Russian officials denied the accusations; the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called them hocus-pocus. Moscow was expected to expel a similar number of Czech diplomats in retaliation.

"I cannot recall any single event over the past 30 years of Czech independence, since 1993, having this significance, Pavel Havlicek, a research fellow at the Prague-based Association for International Affairs, told RFE/RL. This will have numerous political, diplomatic, social implications for Czech-Russian relations.

What Is Unit 29155?

The link between the ammunition blasts and the Gebrev poisoning, if confirmed, would add explosive new details to a growing body of evidence surrounding Unit 29155 and the GRUs overall activities across Europe.

Two other divisions -- known as Units 26165 and 74455 -- have figured into several international cyberhacking investigations. Both were named by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into the hacking of political party computers in the United States in 2016.

They were also linked to efforts to hack into the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the latter of which has played a key role in investigating the use of Novichok and similar Russia-designed nerve agents.

Unit 29155, meanwhile, burst into wide public awareness nearly three years after the Gebrev poisoning, when a former Russian military intelligence officer named Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia fell suddenly ill in Salisbury, England.

Skripal had been convicted of treason in Russia more than a decade earlier, for allegedly passing classified information to Western intelligence. He was kicked out of Russia in 2010 in a spy swap involving undercover Russian agents working in the United States.

British authorities determined that the substance Skripal was exposed to was Novichok, a powerful nerve agent first developed by Soviet scientists. British officials, using closed-circuit TV footage and other data, accused two men they said were Russian military agents of being behind the incident, which also killed a British woman. The Russian agents were known to carry various passports, including Russian documents, in the names of Aleksandr Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

Reporters and open-source investigators, including the group Bellingcat, later pinpointed the identities of the men as Aleksandr Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga, which U.S. and British authorities ultimately confirmed.

In October 2019, RFE/RL revealed further details about Unit 29155 when it uncovered photographs from a wedding hosted by the units commander and attended by one of the two alleged Novichok poisoners.

On April 17, at the same time that Babis and Czech officials were announcing the findings of the depot explosion investigation, Czech police released a statement saying Mishkin and Chepiga had been in eastern Czech Republic in October 2014, around the time of the explosions, and said they were wanted for questioning.

The Bulgaria Connection

On April 28, 2015, while at a dinner at a luxury restaurant in Sofia, Gebrev began vomiting and was rushed to a military hospital, where he suffered from intense hallucinations. He ultimately fell into a coma. His son also fell ill suddenly, as did an executive at Gebrevs arms trading company EMCO.

Gebrev ultimately recovered. Bulgarian investigators made little headway in identifying a cause, or culprit, for his illness -- until some three years later, after the Skripal poisoning.

Working with the FBI, British intelligence, and other agencies, Bulgarian authorities concluded that a door handle of a car that belonged to Gebrev and which was parked in a Sofia parking garage had been smeared with a substance by an unknown man.

Bellingcat said that a known Russian operative who had traveled to England around the same time as the Skripal poisoning had also traveled to Bulgaria repeatedly. The man is believed to part of Unit 29155.

In January 2020, Bulgarian prosecutors charged three Russians for their alleged role in trying to poison Gebrev.

Gebrevs role in trying broker weapons sales to Ukraine isnt fully understood. News reports say Gebrevs company, EMCO, indeed had signed a contract with the Ukrainian government in 2014 to supply artillery ammunition.

However, Viktor Yahun, who was deputy chief of the Secret Service of Ukraine, the countrys main intelligence unit, said that Kyiv in October 2014 had sought to acquire ammunition from Bulgaria around the time of the Czech depot explosions.

This businessman who was poisoned and was allegedly poisoned by the Russian intelligence services, he was searching for such ammunition in the countries of the former Warsaw Pact, and the best place for their transit storage before sending to Ukraine was, in fact, the Czech Republic, Yahun said in an interview with RFE/RL.

After the explosions, both Czech law enforcement and we ourselves had suspicions that it might not have been a coincidence, he said.

Gebrev did not immediately respond to phone calls and text messages from RFE/RLs Bulgarian Service seeking comment.

Despite announcing charges against the three Russians in January 2020, Bulgarias prosecutor-general nine months later announced that the probe had been suspended, a move that raised eyebrows inside and outside Bulgaria.

Boyko Noev, a former defense minister who is known to be close to Gebrev, said the revelation highlighted major problems with the Bulgarian investigation.

The latest findings in the Czech Republic bring up again the question: Why was the investigation of Gebrevs poisoning systematically hindered and finally stopped? he said.

Czech Case

After stalling for nearly three years with insufficient evidence, the Czech investigation into the explosions gained new momentum after the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.

Czech relations with Moscow have been choppy in recent years, despite the open sympathies for Moscow by Czech President Milos Zeman.

Bilateral relations took a decided turn for the worse in early 2020, when Prague city officials dismantled a statue of a Russian World War II hero and renamed the square in front of the Russian Embassy after slain former Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. The two countries exchanged heated rhetoric.

With the Czech Republic having one of the worst COVID-19 infection rates in Europe, the issue of acquiring the Russian Sputnik V vaccine has also divided the government in recent months.

It wasnt clear why the Czech authorities decided to move against Russia now, however, and make their allegations public.

The news magazine Respekt said investigators last year received new information regarding the explosion, and the government's intelligence committee had discussed the case just two weeks ago.

Czech government officials suggested that among the fallout from the scandal would be the tender to build a new 6 billion euro nuclear power plant. After the state energy group CEZ canceled a plan to build new reactors in 2014, the government has been entertaining bids from China, Russia, the United States, France, and other nations.

But Russias involvement has been seen as problematic. Last November, a working group including intelligence officers and Foreign Ministry officials called for the government to bar Russia and China from the bidding, saying both posed a strategic risk.

On April 18, Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlichek said the Russian state atomic agency Rosatom would not be allowed to participate.

The expulsion of the Russian diplomats follows the expulsion of other Russian diplomats from the United States, announced as part of major set of new sanctions aimed in part at pressuring Russia to back down from a buildup of troops on Ukraines eastern borders.

While the Czech expulsions do not appear directly related to the U.S. expulsions, the Prague decision was quickly welcomed by the U.S. Embassy, which said in a post to Twitter late on April 17: The United States stands with its steadfast ally, the Czech Republic. We appreciate their significant action to impose costs on Russia for its dangerous actions on Czech soil.

RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel and Bulgarian Service Director Ivan Bedrov reported from Prague; RFE/RL Ukrainian Service reporter Olha Kamarova reported from Kyiv.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 06:14:21|Editor: huaxia

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PRAGUE, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian embassy staff from the Russian embassy in Prague, said Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday.

The expelled, who were allegedly "identified as members of the Russian secret services", will have to leave the Czech Republic within 48 hours, said Czech Interior Minister and also acting Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek.

According to local media reports, the move comes in response to evidence obtained by the country's security services which suggests Russia's involvement in two ammunition depot explosions in 2014 in the Czech Republic which killed two people.

In response to the Czech decision, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying on Saturday by TASS news agency that "Prague is well aware what follows such 'tricks'." Enditem
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After successfully staging a safe and entertaining awards show last year, the Academy of Country Music sticks to what works and returns to Nashville for the 56th ACM Awards. Like in 2020, the ceremony scatters its musical performances over three iconic locations in Music City  the Ryman Auditorium, Bluebird Cafe, and Grand Ole Opry House  handing out trophies along the way.

Were excited to be back in Nashville. This is a great city thats had a really rough year, even more of a rough year than other cities have had. Our country music industry has basically been out of work and suffering, says Damon Whiteside, CEO of the ACM and an executive producer of the awards show. It started with the tornado [in March 2020] and then the bombing [on Christmas Day]. Its like, oh my gosh.

In an effort to show gratitude to the medical community, the show will feature a small audience at both the Opry House and Ryman made up of fully vaccinated healthcare workers from the citys Vanderbilt University Medical Center. But Whiteside stresses that Covid safety guidelines will remain as strict as they were at last years show.

Maybe in some ways we could lighten up restrictions, but honestly, its not worth the risk to the artists, to the industry and to our crew. So were every bit as detailed and meticulous about the safety as we were in September [2020], Whiteside says. Testing is the same, masking is the same, social distancing is the same. Were still being very cautious.

Heres all you need to know to watch the 2021 ACMs.

When Are the ACM Awards?

The 56th ACM Awards are Sunday, April 18th. Like last years show, the 2021 ACMs will originate from three different venues in Nashville: the Ryman Auditorium, the Bluebird Cafe, and the Grand Ole Opry House. This marks only the second time in the ACMs history that the awards were held in Nashville.

How Can I Watch the ACM Awards?

The ACMs air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. ET on April 18th. The show airs on tape delay on the West Coast.

Will the ACM Awards Be Available for Streaming?

The ACM Awards will stream on Paramount+, ViacomCBSs streaming service, both live and on demand. You can use this link to get a 30-day free trial to Paramount+ to watch the ACM Awards online free.

Whos Hosting the ACM Awards?

Keith Urban returns for his second stint hosting the ACMs and will be joined by co-host Mickey Guyton.

Whos Nominated at the ACM Awards?

Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton are the top nominees at the 2021 ACM Awards, with six nominations apiece. Other top nominees include Miranda Lambert with five, and Ashley McBryde and Thomas Rhett with four each. First-time nominees include Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, John Legend, Pink, Gwen Stefani, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, who appears on Chris Stapletons album Starting Over.

All nominees will be announced at the Opry House, even if some artists receive their awards remotely at other venues. To keep it really safe, were rotating in the audience, Whiteside adds. So basically youll have each category come up, and the five nominees will be escorted into the Opry House. Theyll be masked and theyll be socially distanced, and each artist will get one personal guest with them. Then as the winners revealed, that winner would go up onstage and the rest will be escorted safely out of the venue, back on their bus in the parking lot.

Who Are the Entertainer of the Year nominees?

All dudes. Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, and Chris Stapleton compete for the nights top prize. Thomas Rhett shared the Entertainer honor last year with Carrie Underwood in a first-time tie. Selfishly, I liked it in the sense that we actually got to honor two people, but it was a total crazy surprise, says Whiteside. Its never happened in our history and probably will never happen again.

Whos Performing at the ACM Awards?

Miranda Lambert and Elle King open the ACM Awards with the live debut of their party song Drunk (And I Dont Wanna Go Home). Other collaborations include Dierks Bentley and the War and Treaty performing U2s Pride (In the Name of Love) at the Station Inn, Nashvilles legendary bluegrass club, and Kelsea Ballerini and Kenny Chesney singing Half of My Hometown. Carrie Underwood offers a medley from her spirituals album My Savior, Brothers Osborne perform Im Not for Everyone, Dan + Shay harmonize on Glad You Exist, and Chris Stapleton performs his tear-jerking Maggies Song from the Bluebird Cafe. Luke Bryan was scheduled to perform but had to bow out after testing positive for Covid-19; the trio Lady A is taking his place. (Little Big Town have also been affected by the pandemic: The quartet will now perform as a trio after member Phillip Sweet contracted Covid.)

I spoke with Lukes team yesterday, and hes so disappointed. Hes up for Album of the Year and Entertainer, but Album especially means a lot to him, so hes real disappointed, Whiteside says. Were somewhere in the neighborhood of over 27 performers at this point and weve got over 30 songs in the show. Its going to be probably our most musically jam-packed show weve ever done.

Who Are the Presenters at the ACM Awards?

Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, Ingrid Andress, Blanco Brown, Amy Grant, Martina McBride, Clay Walker, and actor and Instagram star Leslie Jordan will all present awards at the ACMs.

ACM Awards vs. CMA Awards: Whats the Difference?

The ACM Awards are the centerpiece ceremony of the Academy of Country Music, a West Coast-based country music organization established in 1964. The ACMs are traditionally held every spring in Las Vegas, but were previously held in Los Angeles and, for their 50th anniversary, in Arlington, Texas. The pandemic caused the ACM Awards to move to Nashville for 2020 and for this years show. The CMA Awards are the flagship of the Country Music Association, a Nashville-based country org founded in 1958. The top prize for both the ACMs and the CMAs is Entertainer of the Year. The CMAs are traditionally held in Nashville in November.

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th April, 2021) There are no US servicemen at the Balad Air Base in Iraq that came under a rocket attack on Sunday, Spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Col. Wayne Marotto, said.

"It is being reported that Balad Air Base was attacked with rockets tonight.

There are no Coalition/US Forces stationed at Balad AB," Marotto wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Alsumaria tv reported that the Balad base, located north of Baghdad, came under a rocket attack on Sunday night. A security source told the news channel that the air base was hit by four Katyusha rockets.

The Iraqi News Agency (INA) said that several rockets fell inside the base, injuring at least two people.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.  The Minnesota National Guard says its soldiers were shot at early Sunday morning in a drive-by shooting in Minneapolis.

The Guard says it happened around 4:19 am near Penn Avenue and Broadway. A light-colored SUV reportedly fired several shots at an Operation Safety Net security team. The Guard says one soldier was hurt from shattered glass and was taken to a local hospital and another soldier received superficial injuries.

"I am relieved to know none of our Guardsmen were seriously injured," says Major General Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General. "This event highlights the volatility and tension in our communities right now. I ask for peace as we work through this difficult time."

The names of the injured Guardsmen have not been released.

Operation Safety Net is a joint effort among the Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, the State of Minnesota and local jurisdictions. The Minnesota National Guard says it was activated as part of the effort to protect people, freedom of speech and property during the Derek Chauvin trial as well as the aftermath of the police involved shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center.
Lahore, April 18 : Clashes erupted between members of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and police at Multan road in Lahore, leaving "a few" group supporters killed and more than 100 injured, sources said.

Sources said that 11 police officers were injured, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police and others held hostage by the rioters. A few TLP members were reportedly killed at the Markaz, but only two deaths have been confirmed so far.

Further, TLP leaders have asked that the members killed in the clash not to be buried unless their demands are met.

"TLP may begin its long march this evening which will further weaken the law and order situation," a source said.

The clashes started on Sunday morning when members of the banned group gathered outside the party's Saddar office and chanted slogans against the arrest of their chief Saad Hussain Rizvi.

"Violent clashes took place between TLP protesters and police and other security agencies at Chowk Yateem Khana in Lahore, the stronghold of TLP, since 8:30 a.m.," said the source.

As security personnel, comprising both paramilitary Pakistan Rangers, and local police reached the spot, they came under attack and summoned reinforcements as bullets were fired and stones pelted. The local police said that Rizvi's supporters attacked them with petrol bombs. It is also alleged that TLP members went berserk after firing.

The mob barged into the Nawankot police station and held DSP Umar Farooq, five constables, and two Rangers officials hostage for hours and also tortured them. After this, reinforcements were called again and huge deployment of police personnel was done at the protest sites as police believe that the protesters will again create ruckus later.

On last Monday, TLP supporters carried protests in major cities across the country for three long days, leaving hundreds of police officers injured. The demonstration came after its chief was arrested as a "pre-emptive measure".

During the crackdown, police arrested thousands of TLP supporters and charged them for attacking police. On Thursday, the government formally banned the party.

The Interior Ministry notification stated that TLP "engaged in terrorism, acted in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the country".

"The religious group intimidated the public, caused grievous bodily harm, hurt and death to the personnel of law enforcement agencies and innocent bystanders," it added.

The group was proscribed under Section 11B (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, empowering the government to ban an organization involved in terrorism.

Rizvi had threatened the government with widespread protests if it did not expel France's Ambassador over depictions of Prophet Muhammad. He had called on the government to honour what he said was a commitment it made in February to TLP to expel the French envoy before April 20 over the publication in France of depictions of the Prophet.

Rizvi is the son of late Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who protested last year against sacrilegious sketches in France and demanded expulsion of French Ambassador. Later on, the protesters, led by him, dispersed peacefully after the government reportedly assured him that it would take action in the matter.

The TLP says that initially the government had assured to fulfill its promise of expelling the ambassador in February but later asked for time and finally agreed to fulfill its commitment by April 20.

Amid this, the French Embassy in Pakistan on Thursday had advised all French nationals and companies to temporarily leave the country, after violent anti-France protests paralysed large parts of the country this week.

"Due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan, French nationals and French companies are advised to temporarily leave the country," the embassy had said in an email to French citizens.
New Delhi: On Saturday (April 17), Bollywood actress Sameera Reddy took to Instagram to inform her fans that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday (April 16). The actress wrote a detailed message on her Instagram handle about her health condition with a short motivational message asking her fans to remain positive during these tough times.

The 'De Dana Dan' actress wrote, "I tested covid positive yesterday. We are safe and taking necessary precautions. Sassy Saasu by the grace of god has been living separately and is safe. We will be in home quarantine and will continue to be our positive upbeat selves. I know I have you lovely peeps to put a smile on my face. This is the time to be strong with positive affirmations. We are all in this together. Stay Safe," and concluded her message with a folded hands emojis.

Here's her post:

The actress made her debut in Bollywood with 'Maine Dil Tujhko Diya' opposite Sohail Khan in 2002. She then went to appear in films like 'Darna Mana Hai', 'Musafir', 'Taxi No 9211', 'De Dana Dan', 'Race' and 'Tezz'.

Sameera Reddy married Akshai Varde in 2014 and the two are parents to Sans and Nyra.
The new Crossland is the first model to adopt Opels unmistakable new Vizor face, which was showcased just a few months ago by the new Opel Mokka (due on sale in Ireland soon).



Physically integrating the grille and headlights, the Opel Vizor on the new Crossland extends in one single sweep across the front of the vehicle, and provides the fascia with a reduced amount of elements, while Opels lightning-flash emblem dominates the centre. The Vizor will become a hallmark of all Opel models in the course of the 2020s with the idea of further integrating new technologies along the way.



At the rear, new dark-tinted tail-lights enhance the signature Opel wing light design, and the new high-gloss black tailgate surface (available in combination with the black roof) makes the new Crossland look wider and stronger. As with the forth-coming Mokka, the Opel Crossland dispenses with the X-appendix that adorned its predecessor.



Dynamic Driving Experience

In order to prove that the new Crossland is much more than just a pretty face, Opels engineers have further developed the chassis and steering of the car to deliver a dynamic driving experience. The new Crossland is crisp and compact on the outside, but very spacious and versatile on the inside, with sliding rear seats (Elite trim) designed to enhance cabin or boot space  depending on the need. With the rear seats in their rearmost position, an impressive 410-litres of space is on offer.

However, this can be extended to 520-litres with the rear seats in their foremost position, or increased to a vast 1,255-litres with the rear seats folded flat.



Test Car

My test car was an Opel Crossland 1.2-litre 83bhp SRi model, which was finished in White Jade solid paint, with contrasting black mirror casings, black roof and black alloy wheels. The 1.2-litre petrol engine produces 83bhp and 118Nm of torque, enabling the 0-100km/h sprint to be completed in 14.0-seconds, on the way to a top speed of 170km/h.



With WLTP fuel consumption as low as 5.9l/100km on a combined driving cycle, the new Crossland promises to be easy to live with, and easy on the pocket too. The Crosslands light steering makes it easy to nip in and out of lanes of traffic in an urban setting, and also helps with low-speed manoeuvres, while maintaining excellent stability at motorway speeds.



The five-speed manual gearbox in my test car was slick and precise in its operation, and all major controls inside the car are within easy reach of the driver. The Crosslands interior fit and finish is excellent, with plush, soft-touch materials used throughout the cabin, along with some neat chrome and gloss black finishers for an upmarket look.



Headroom in the cabin is excellent, while foot space under the front seats provides additional legroom for rear seat passengers. Additionally, the central tunnel that runs along the Crosslands floor isnt as pronounced as it is in its competitors, thereby ensuring the middle rear seat passenger doesnt lose out in terms of leg room either.



Pricing

Pricing for the new Opel Crossland starts at just 22,395, with my test car specification priced from just 23,895.



Contact Fitzpatricks Opel Naas on 045 875 800.
As Covid death toll passes 3 million, a weary world takes stock

The total number of deaths due to the deadly has reached a staggering 3 million worldwide as countries struggle to put up with multiple waves. The global pace of deaths is accelerating, too. After the emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the pandemic claimed a million lives in nine months. It took another four months to kill its second million, and just three months to kill a million more. As the United States and other rich nations race to vaccinate their populations, new hot spots have emerged in parts of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Read here

Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 140,735,224 Global deaths: 3,011,014 Nations with most cases: US (31,628,017), India (14,788,003), Brazil (13,900,091), France (5,321,176), Russia (4,640,537). Source: John Hopkins Research Center

In a bid to curb the virus, Zimbabwe releases hundreds of prisoners

Zimbabwe released at least 320 prisoners from its jails to ease congestion in the countrys notoriously overcrowded jails as a second wave of the coronavirus devastates the country. The move comes amid growing allegations that a government crackdown has sent dozens of activists, journalists and opposition leaders to prisons. Most of those released had been convicted of non-violent crimes, but were being held in one of the countrys largest prison facility, and it is known for overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. Read here

J&J scientists refute idea that vaccine's design linked to blood clots

Scientists at Johnson & Johnson refuted an assertion in a major medical journal that the design of their vaccine, which is similar AstraZeneca's, may explain why both have been linked to very rare brain blood clots in some vaccine recipients. In a letter on New England Journal of Medicine, J&J scientists refuted a case report published earlier this week in the same journal that the rare blood clots "could be related to adenoviral vector vaccines." Scientists with J&J's Janssen vaccines division pointed out that the vectors used in its vaccine and the AstraZeneca shot are "substantially different" and that those differences could lead to "quite different biological effects." Read here

Which European countries have fared worst in the pandemic?

Now that a year has passed since the pandemic began, it is a good time to assess which countries have performed the worst. In last June, England topped the table with the highest relative age-standardised mortality rate (7 per cent) among 21 European countries. But by the end of the year, positions had changed. Poland, which did not see increased mortality in the spring, suffered large fatalities from October onwards and now topped the table (total relative rate of 12 per cent), with Spain second (11 per cent). This year has seen a steady decline in deaths in the UK, while the Covid death rate in Italy and France is 10 times that of the UK. Read here
Andrea DiCenzo/Getty

Passover ended on April 4 as Easter was celebrated. On the other side of the globe, the Jewish community could openly celebrate Passover for the first time in Dubai, UAE. In September, the Abraham Accords peace agreement was signed by the UAE, Israel and three other predominantly Muslim countries (Morocco, Sudan, Bahrain).

The agreement normalizes diplomatic relations between the countries. The UAE's Jewish community joyously celebrated Passover in Dubai with large communal Passover of certified Kosher food. The Gulf News reports that the UAE has been trying to court Israeli tourists to come visit for Jewish holidays.
New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday (April 18) imposed a night curfew in all districts across the state to contain the spread of the deadly virus. The night curfew will remain imposed from 10 pm to 5 am with effect from April 20. A notification released by the government said a complete lockdown will be imposed across the state on Sunday.

As per the notification, eateries will be allowed to function during Sunday relock. However, all beaches, parks and places of tourist attractions will remain shut during this period. The government also postponed class 12 examinations in the state, however, schools can conduct practical examinations for board classes as per the schedule.

Below are the fresh guidelines issued by the Tamil Nadu government:

General restrictions:

Night curfew from 10pm to 4am, across Tamil Nadu, during which public transport and private taxis, autos will not be allowed. Exception for travel to airport, railway stations. Essential services such as milk, petrol, medical services, ambulances, goods transport etc will be permitted.

No private or government inter-state and inter-district buses during curfew.

COVID-19 protocol to be followed in buses and heavy crowding to be avoided.

Press and media will be allowed to functions.

Continuous process industries will b allowed to function even during night curfew. Staff traveling to work must carry ID cards or permission letter.

Sunday full lockdown across Tamil Nadu:

No meat stalls, cinema halls, vegetable shops, commercial establishments, and other shops. Action will be initiated against violators.

Essential services such as milk, medical services, ambulances, goods transport, fuel transport, newspapers etc will be permitted.

Hotels can permit parcel service from 6am-10am, 12noon-3pm and 6pm-9pm.

Zomato and Swiggy delivery can function during the stipulated times. Other E-Commerce firms will not be allowed to operate.

Media and press can work on Sunday as well.

Continuous process industries and those making essential goods will b allowed to function.

During full lockdown and otherwise, only 100 persons allowed for weddings, 50 persons for funerals.

General guidelines:

Ban on entry of Tourists (local and outstation) in destinations like Nilgiris, Yercaud, Kodaikanal on all days.

No entry for public in any beach or coastal areas on all days.

Public not allowed in parks, protected sites.

IT and IT Enabled Services firms must take a call on ensuring 50 percent Work from Home.

All shops, showrooms, malls, bog format stores must permit only 50pc occupancy and can function only until 9pm.

Ban on Hindu religious events in place since 10th April. In case of pre-planned events for which permission has been sought, they can be conducted with maximum of 50 persons, temple staff.

Ban on any new temple festivals until further notice.

12th std state pard exams postponed, but practical exams alone will happen as planned.

College and University faculty can continue online classes.

Govt and Pvt colleges and universities can conduct online exams only.

Education and coaching institutes can handle online classes.

Ban on summer camps.

Hotels permitted to run COVID-19 care centres for patients alone, based on permission from authorities. Such hotels cannot allow other guests.



Marriage venues must ensure compliance of COVID-19 protocols and only 100 persons at weddings.

Cinema halls can function with 50pc occupancy and COVID protocols.

Restaurants and tea shops can function with 50pc occupancy and COVID protocols.

Action will be taken against violators.

Live TV
KYODO NEWS - Apr 18, 2021 - 22:57 | All, World, Japan

About 60 family members of former leprosy patients in South Korea will soon apply for compensation money over discrimination and prejudice they suffered under Japan's decades-long policy of isolating the patients, a source familiar with the move said Sunday.

Six family members of former patients in Taiwan have filed such applications with the Japanese government, the source told Kyodo News.

It marked the first time that such applications from abroad have come to light.

Their actions are in line with a 2019 Japanese law regarding compensation for families of former leprosy patients, including those who lived in Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula, both of which were under Japanese colonial rule during and before World War II.

The patients suffered discrimination as they were isolated in sanatoriums in the island and the peninsula under the Japanese government's segregation policy dating back to 1931.

The actions also come as this year marks the 20th anniversary of a landmark ruling in which the Kumamoto District Court in southwestern Japan ordered the government to pay a total of 1.82 billion yen ($16.7 million) in compensation to a group of more than 100 former leprosy patients.

The plaintiffs said the state violated their human rights, arguing they had limited freedom and many were sterilized or in some cases forced to have abortions.

According to the 2019 law, the government will pay 1.8 million yen each to parents, children and spouses of former leprosy patients in compensation for psychological distress.

Siblings, as well as nephews, nieces and grandchildren who resided with the patients will be paid 1.3 million yen each.

The law and a separate law to compensate former leprosy patients stipulate they are intended to "console" the victims and families.

Yasuyuki Tokuda, a lawyer who has been dealing with the compensation issue, said it is extremely rare for the government to compensate for Japan's acts during the colonial era.

"State-to-state relations with South Korea have now become chilly. But firm coordination with local people has made it possible to win state compensation (from Japan) for human rights infringements," Tokuda said.

"I would like many people to think about the significance of this (movement)," he said.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, is now curable.
People aged over 50 could be vaccinated sooner and more mass-vaccination sites opened to speed up the vaccine program, as the first of new bi-weekly national cabinet meetings focuses on the countrys vaccine rollout.

The countrys leaders on Monday will discuss a reset of the vaccination program, including changes to national vaccination strategy and state plans following updated advice from the countrys top immunisation experts on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

People over the age of 50 could be vaccinated sooner as National Cabinet discusses a reset of the vaccine program. Credit:Bloomberg

Quarantine-free travel also resumes with New Zealand on Monday, and discussions are under way with Singapore and the South Pacific about travel bubbles.

For those travelling elsewhere for essential work or important family business including funerals, vaccinated return travellers may be able to quarantine at home from the second half of the year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday.
Cancer causing coconut oil: Public fear probe on slippery slope By Kasun Warakapitiya View(s): View(s):

As Customs, police and health inspectors escalated investigations into whether toxic coconut oil has reached the market, the government defended itself against public complaints that importers who might have broken the law in sending out the oil for sale were not being punished.

Customs Deputy Director Sudattha Silva said the agency was carrying out separate investigations into whether two coconut oil importers had distributed imported coconut oil containing aflatoxin.

There are many consignments of oil at the warehouses, so we need to really confirm whether these containers [found outside the warehouses] are the same ones that Customs instructed be held back until the Sri Lanka Standards Institute and Food Control Administration Unit gave their reports he said.

He said officials are also trying to find out whether the volume of oil in the two containers had changed.

There is no specification on where the private storage areas are or how the coconut oil is held. The condition is that the coconut oil could not be send to the consumers. Thats why we are trying to confirm whether the coconut oil held back has been found in the market, Mr. Silva said.

He said on Monday, Customs had monitored the re-export of six containers of aflatoxin-contaminated coconut oil imported by one company.

The company had to bear the re-export costs as well as the loss of fees paid to the government, he said.

Public Health Inspectors said they were collecting oil samples from the market and sending them to the Government Analyst.

PHI Union Secretary Mahendra Balasooriya said his members have repeatedly urged the government to equip Health Ministry-operated laboratories, which have legal power to take action against offenders, with equipment, chemicals and human resources to carry out such testing.

The Attorney-General has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department into action on the matter and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is carrying out a separate investigation to find whether coconut oil containing aflatoxin has hit the market.

The State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, said he had received reports on 109 random coconut oil samples sent by the CAA to the Coconut Development Authoritys laboratories, and none of the samples contained aflatoxin.

He said action could not be taken against importers unless it was proved that tainted coconut oil they had been ordered to hold in their warehouses had reached the market.

Consumers said they were concerned that the Government Analysts reports were taking a long time to come while the Coconut Development Authoritys reports were issued speedily.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Accra, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, has urged the media to name and shame sanitation law offenders to serve as a deterrent to others as part of the measures to ensure healthy environmental practice.

He said sensitisation programmes on environment should not only focus on exposing some of the challenges facing local assemblies, but must also expose those who engage in practices such as open defecation and indiscriminate littering of the environment.



So as we embark on educating people on good sanitation practices, I hope the media will consider all measures, including naming and shaming of people engaged in unhealthy sanitation practices in communities, the MCE added.



Mr Sowah, who was speaking during a courtesy call on him by a delegation from the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) in his office in Accra yesterday, said some years ago they used to publish pictures of people engaged in open defecation in newspapers and also display on television; and this helped a lot in the clean sanitation drive.



The MCE said no nation had witnessed significant development, particularly in the area of environmental sanitation, without the collective involvement of all stakeholders.



He said efforts to keep cities and towns tidy was a collective responsibility that should involve all stakeholders, including the private sector.



Mr Sowah, therefore, commended the GCGL for their contribution to environmental sanitation by bringing out issues of sanitation to the fore.



Greening project



Mr Sowah also said there was the need to plant more trees in the national capital to make the city green, adding in every major city, we have solid waste, liquid waste and green maintenance and cemetery management teams,



Pre Order Ghana Year Book 2021

The MCE said even though the Assembly was doing its best with the greening project, there was more room for improvement through the involvement of the private sector.



Graphic sanitation campaign



The GCGL delegation was led by the Director of Marketing of the company, Mr Franklin Sowa.The others were the Adverts Manager, Mr George Danso, and a Senior Corporate Communications Officer, Mrs Kyerewaa Boateng.



Mr Sowa informed the MCE of the upcoming launch of the companys national sanitation campaign in Accra on April 28, 2021.



Dubbed: Graphic sanitation awareness campaign, the initiative is aimed at bringing together key stakeholders in the sanitation sector to brainstorm on best ways to tackle sanitation challenges and also create awareness of the need to support efforts to keep the country clean.



We will dedicate the whole year to sanitation campaign to educate the people on the consequences of insanitary environment and vice versa, Mr Sowa said.



He expressed the hope that the companys sanitation campaign this year would help remind the people of the need to always keep their surroundings clean.





Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is now said to be abandoning the launch of her 'America First' caucus having received criticism from leaders in her own party.

The turnaround comes less than 24 hours after the Georgia Republican confirmed that the caucus would indeed launch.

On Saturday, Greene's spokesperson, Nick Dyer said the Republic is not 'launching anything.'

Marjorie Taylor Greene is abandoning her plan to launch a right-wing congressional group dubbed the America First Caucus

Greene suggested in a tweet that she still has plans to move forward on advocating for former President Donald Trump's America First agenda

'The Congresswoman wants to make clear that she is not launching anything. This was an early planning proposal and nothing was agreed to or approved,' Dyer said in an email to CNN that backtracked the plans.

'She didn't approve that language and has no plans to launch anything,' he said.

On Friday, Greene's office had confirmed that she would launch the caucus 'very soon.'

'Be on the look out for the release of the America First Caucus platform when it's announced to the public very soon,' Dyer had written in a statement on Friday.

On Saturday, Greene attempted to distance herself from the caucus proposal claiming that it was from an outside group that I hadn't read.'

On Saturday afternoon, Greene went on to claim her draft proposal of her 'America First' caucus was 'from an outside group that I hadn't read.'

She then went on to accuse the media of creating 'false narratives' and focusing on race to 'divide the American people with hate through identity politics.'

But in a tweet she suggested she still has plans to move forward on advocating for former President Donald Trump's America First agenda.

'I have plans to drive President Trump's America First agenda with my Congressional colleagues but we won't let the media or anyone else push the narrative. America First policies will save this country for all of us, our children, and ultimately the world.'

On Friday night Hard-right House Republicans had touted their America First Caucus, with one document describing it as championing 'Anglo-Saxon political traditions' and warning that mass immigration was putting the 'unique identity' of the U.S. at risk.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) said Friday that he is joining the caucus. 'We will end wars, stop illegal immigration & promote trade that is fair to American workers,' he tweeted

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said he was joining and indicated that fellow conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was also behind it.

The document was being circulated as the GOP is struggling to determine a clear direction as it prepares to try winning back control of the House and Senate in the 2022 elections.

Among the party's divisions are how closely to tack behind Donald Trump, and the caucus' seven-page policy platform clearly embraces the former president's world view.

'The America First Caucus (AFC) exists to promote Congressional policies that are to the long-term benefit of the American nation,' it read, saying the group aims to 'follow in President Trump's footsteps, and potentially step on some toes and sacrifice sacred cows for the good of the American nation.'

The group calls for limiting legal immigration 'to those that can contribute not only economically, but have demonstrated respect for this nation's culture and rule of law.' It voices support for infrastructure 'that reflects the architectural, engineering and aesthetic value that befits the progeny of European architecture.'

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., issued a critical tweet that was aimed at the group

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) appeared to criticize the new caucus in a Friday afternoon tweet, saying the GOP 'is the party of Lincoln ... not nativist dog whistles.'

Democrats including Representative Peter Welch denounced the caucus on Twitter as 'nakedly racist and disgusting.' 'This supposed caucus and its members represent a dangerous nativist perspective that hurts our country, but sadly is not surprising,' Welch added.

Representative Don Beyer referred to the group as the 'White Supremacist Caucus' on Twitter.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., issued a critical tweet that an aide confirmed was aimed at the group.

'America is built on the idea that we are all created equal and success is earned through honest, hard work. It isn't built on identity, race, or religion,' McCarthy wrote. 'The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans-not nativist dog whistles.'

Asked to provide a copy of the caucus document, Greene spokesman Nick Dyer said in an email: 'We arent circulating anything. This was a typical DC gossip leak.'

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) on Friday told reporters on Capitol Hill that he is 'looking at' joining the group

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, told reporters he was considering joining the caucus and said, 'Yes,' when asked if Greene and Gosar were involved with it.

Gaetz tweeted: 'Im proud to join @mtgreenee in the #AmericaFirst Caucus. We will end wars, stop illegal immigration & promote trade that is fair to American workers.' Gaetz is facing a federal investigation for sex trafficking accusations, according to people who have described the probe on condition of anonymity.

GOP conference chair Liz Cheney responded about the new caucus from Greene in a tweet

Cheney tweeted rejecting the idea of the caucus on Friday

GOP conference chair Liz Cheney responded about the new caucus from Greene in a tweet.

'Republicans believe in equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all. We teach our children the values of tolerance, decency and moral courage,' she wrote. 'Racism, nativism, and anti-Semitism are evil. History teaches we all have an obligation to confront & reject such malicious hate.'

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said that he was 'disgusted' over reports about the caucus.

'While we can't prevent someone from calling themselves Republican, we can loudly say they don't belong to us,' he wrote on Twitter.

The document aims some of its toughest language at immigration. President Joe Biden's administration has struggled to handle large numbers of migrants at the Southwest border and has had little success winning legislation in Congress.

'America is a nation with a border, and a culture, strengthened by a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions,' the paper says. 'History has shown that societal trust and political unity are threatened when foreign citizens are imported en-masse into a country.'

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said that he was 'disgusted' over reports about the caucus

Kinzinger suggested that anyone who joined the caucus should lose committee privileges

It adds that 'the long-term existential future of America as a unique country with a unique culture and a unique identity being put at unnecessary risk is something our leaders' cannot ignore.

The document espouses Trump's false claims that 'recent election results demonstrate a compromised integrity of our elections.'

It proposes curbing high technology firms that are 'weaponized and deployed against conservatives' and lambasts steps against the pandemic like mandates for masks, social distancing and lockdowns for 'conditioning the culture and behavior of Americans' and destroying the economy.

It says 'better waste management' would be more helpful for the environment than Paris Climate Accord efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Tanaiste has been questioned by gardai over the leaking of a confidential Government document.

Leo Varadkar was interviewed by detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) earlier this month.

The Fine Gael leader met gardai by appointment and was questioned for several hours by officers in the presence of his solicitors.

The Dublin West TDs statement to gardai over the controversy was made voluntarily.

It is understood he was questioned at a garda station on April 9 and investigators examined his mobile phone as part of the probe.

The story was first reported in the Sunday Times and Sunday Independent.

In a statement, a spokesman for Mr Varadkar said: The Tanaiste met the gardai voluntarily by appointment earlier this month.

He made a full statement and answered all questions.

On advice the Tanaiste cannot say anything further until the investigation is complete.

He has made a full account to the Dail on this matter and looks forward to it being concluded. Mr Varadkar is under investigation into why he gave a confidential document to a friend of his while he was Taoiseach.

The Tanaiste has admitted that in April 2019 he sent a copy of a doctors pay deal between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to Dr Maitiu O Tuathail.

Dr O Tuathail was head of the rival organisation, the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), at the time.

It is understood Dr O Tuathail was also questioned by gardai earlier this month.

Mr Varadkar has apologised for leaking the document but has denied breaking any laws.

The Garda confirmed last month that an inquiry into the leak had been updated to a criminal investigation.

But Mr Varadkar said last month he did not believe it would lead to criminal charges.

At the time Mr Varadkar also hit out at what he called misinformation and inaccurate claims surrounding the controversy.

When asked if he should step aside if charges are brought, Mr Varadkar said: I dont believe its going to happen. Sinn Fein called for Mr Varadkar to resign or be sacked when it emerged the Garda inquiry had been updated to a criminal probe.

Mary Lou McDonald called the leak of the doctors pay agreement an abuse of power and said politically this cant be tolerated.

A spokesman for the Garda said: An Garda Siochana does not comment on ongoing investigations or on named individuals.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 22:45:57|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, April 18 (Xinhua)-- Nepal's government on Sunday reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a single-day high after a break of more than four months amid a surge in coronavirus infections in the Himalayan country.

Data released by the health ministry showed a total of 1,096 cases were detected in the last 24 hours, bringing Nepal's total tally to 284,673.

It is the first time since Dec. 11 last year that the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the country passed the 1,000-mark. Nepal had seen the number of daily cases drop from 1,044 on Dec. 11 to as low as 47 on March 6.

"The number of cases is rising alarmingly, hospitalized cases are in high numbers and critical cases are surging rapidly," Samir Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson at the health ministry told Xinhua on Sunday.

He said Nepal's government had foreseen a substantial rise in the number of daily cases considering the surge in infections and in the number of hospitalized cases recently.

"Nowadays, people with no symptoms have not been tested for coronavirus like before and they may spread the pandemic massively," he said.

On Sunday, Nepal's government reported eight more deaths from COVID-19. "The number of deaths per 1,000 cases is much higher this time compared to the first wave of coronavirus last year," Adhikari said.

Officials blamed the highly infectious variant of coronavirus first reported in Britain for the COVID-19 resurgence in Nepal in the last few weeks.

The Kathmandu-based Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital was once again fully converted into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital from Tuesday last week amid the surge in new infections. Many other Kathmandu-based hospitals are also reporting an increased flow of COVID-19 patients.

"If we fail to control the spread of current wave of coronavirus, we have to be ready for equivalent or more deaths compared to the first wave," said Adhikari.

As of Sunday, the health ministry has reported a total of 3,083 deaths from COVID-19 in Nepal. Enditem
Amid a steep rise in cases, senior Congress leader on Sunday urged Prime Minister to declare a national health emergency.

The former Union minister also called on the Election Commission to declare a moratorium on election rallies in view of the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

"COVID-19 infections faster than recoveries. Modiji: Declare a National Health Emergency. Election Commission: Declare a moratorium on election rallies. Courts: Protect people's lives," Sibal tweeted.

A record single-day rise of 2,61,500 infections has taken India's total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,47,88,109, while active cases have surpassed the 18-lakh mark, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The country has recorded over 2 lakh cases consecutively for the last four days.

(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.)
From left are KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo and Kakao Bank CEO Yoon Ho-young. Courtesy of each firm



By Lee Min-hyung



KB Financial Group and its major affiliates will benefit from Kakao Bank's much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO), as the nation's largest banking group may be able to achieve gains of up to 1 trillion won ($895.2 million) by selling its stake in the internet-only bank after it goes public.



KB Kookmin Bank holds a 9.3-percent stake in the internet bank, and is the third-largest shareholder of the Kakao subsidiary. No other commercial banks here have made equity investments in Kakao Bank.



Other major conventional banking groups  such as Shinhan, Hana and Woori  do not welcome the rapid growth of Kakao Bank, which continues to steal retail customers, particularly in their 20s and 30s, away from the existing players.



But this is not the case for KB, as the bank joined hands with the Kakao subsidiary even before its establishment in 2017. Some of KB Kookmin Bank's executives took part in the founding of Kakao Bank by sharing their decades-long knowhow with the emerging company.



"The rise of Kakao Bank served as a wake-up call for conventional lenders that they should be more agile in pushing for digital transformation," an executive at a bank said. "But the listing of the internet-only bank, in itself, does not pose a serious threat to existing lenders, as Kakao offers limited financial services targeting retail customers for now."



According to data from Stock Plus, Kakao Bank's unlisted stock was traded at around 87,500 won per share as of Friday. The company's pre-IPO market capitalization also reached 35.7 trillion won.



This is much higher than the corporate values of the nation's major financial holding firms. KB Financial Group's market capitalization during the same period stood at 21.91 trillion won followed by Shinhan Financial Group at 19 trillion won.



The local securities industry estimates Kakao Bank's post-IPO corporate value to be as high as 20 trillion won.



The lender will go public on the main bourse sometime in the latter half of the year. The company has not fixed the exact timeline.





Kakao Bank's office in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Kakao Bank
As it approaches its 90th birthday, Rio de Janeiros world-famous Christ the Redeemer faces some competition. The challenger is also Brazilian and even bigger, having a height advantage of five meters on the statue that has for decades been the best-known postcard image in the country. The newcomer will stand 43 meters tall, including its pedestal, and is under construction on a hillside in the small southern town of Encantado. Baptized Christ the Protector, it will be the worlds third-tallest statue of Jesus when it is completed.

The announcement that that the arms have been fitted to the statue, upon which the head has already been installed, came to international attention a few days ago and caused a tiff between the mayor of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and his counterpart in an unknown town of 23,000 inhabitants in the interior of Brazils southern state of Rio Grande do Sul that is seeking to up its tourism game. The exchange was cordial enough, though.

Eduardo Paes, Rios mayor, made an ironic reference to the Christ the Protector statue in a tweet: Building an even higher statue is a piece of cake! I want to see that view, he wrote next to a breathtaking image of Christ the Redeemer with his arms outstretched, as if embracing Rio and the spectacular Guanabara Bay beyond.

Until the coronavirus pandemic prevented thousands of tourists from making the trip up the Corcovado to visit the art deco monument, from there they would strain their eyes to make out Copacabana beach to the right of the statue and the Maracana stadium to the left.

Paes counterpart, the mayor of Encantado, in the face of the evidence, was forced to humbly concede: No argument. Rio de Janeiro is still beautiful and everybody in the world already knows it. Now let them come to discover Christ the Protector of Encantado, our culture and our gastronomy, Jonas Calvi wrote on Instagram.

A done deal, replied Paes, who in the spirit of brotherhood in a country containing the largest number of Catholics in the world, promised to attend the inauguration of Christ the Protector scheduled for later this year.

The construction of the new statue began two years ago. It will measure 43 meters in height and its arms extend for 36 meters. An internal elevator will carry tourists to a viewing platform with a sweeping panorama of the surrounding valleys. Encantado, near the state capital of Porto Alegre, was founded a little over a century ago by Italian immigrants.

Christ the Protector was the brainchild of the former mayor of Encantado, Adroaldo Conzatti, who died of Covid-19 in March, following up on the initial suggestion of a parish priest. Local businessmen embraced the idea and the statue is being funded by donations, without a single real of public money, Calvi has stressed. According to France Presse, the overall budget for the construction is two million reals ($350,000).

Rios Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated in October 1921 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Ascending the Corcovado, clouds permitting, to take photographs of Rio below is one of the most popular tourist attractions in a city that beneath such a beautiful surface still has serious problems with corruption (all of Rio de Janeiro States previous governors have been jailed or are under investigation), police brutality, inequality and, today, hospitals saturated with Covid-19 patients.

English version by Rob Train.
MONTREAL - Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal kicked off a series of weekend strikes today, adding to the overtime strike launched earlier this week as negotiations over a collective agreement drag on.

A container ship is docked in the Port of Montreal, Wednesday, February 17, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MONTREAL - Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal kicked off a series of weekend strikes today, adding to the overtime strike launched earlier this week as negotiations over a collective agreement drag on.

The labour actions mark the end of a seven-month truce that began in August as workers and employers bargain over wages and scheduling.

Representatives of the dockworkers' union and the Maritime Employers Association met Thursday along with three mediators assigned to the file by federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi.

The weekend strike by 1,150 workers, who have been without a collective agreement since September 2018, could be the first of many if discussions do not progress.

The dockworkers, who are not picketing, initially voted to strike in December 2018.

The move preceded more than two years of transport drama, punctuated by a CN rail strike in November 2019, track blockades in February 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which initially triggered sharp declines in cargo volume.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2021.
MOSCOW  The personal doctors of Aleksei A. Navalny, the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, sharply escalated their warnings over the weekend about his health failing from a hunger strike, the lingering effects of an attempted poisoning with a chemical weapon and what they said was ill treatment in prison.

Isolated behind prison walls and treated only by government doctors, Mr. Navalny is now at risk of dying at any moment from kidney and heart ailments, said a personal physician, Dr. Yaroslav Ashikhmin.

With the reports of Mr. Navalnys deteriorating health, his supporters announced a street protest in what they called a final effort to persuade the authorities to allow access for independent doctors, and to draw attention to the grim standoff over health care in detention for Mr. Navalny. The activist is nearly three weeks into a hunger strike over his medical treatment in prison.

The health alarms also prompted an international reaction. The United States national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said in an appearance on CNN that the Russian government would face consequences if Mr. Navalny dies.
Two teenagers are dead after they piled into a car with five of their mates on the way to a party before it swerved into a tree.

Seven teenagers in total were travelling in the grey Ford Falcon in Kalgup, near Bussletown in Western Australia, when the 17-year-old driver rounded a corner and collided with a tree after 8pm on Saturday.

Early indications suggest at least two of the passengers were in the boot of the car at the time. It is not clear if they are the two victims.

A 16-year-old and a 15-year-old boy, who were believed to be seated somewhere in the back of the car, were declared dead at the scene of the crash.

Seven teenagers in total were travelling in the grey Ford Falcon on Doyle Road in Kalgup, near Bussletown in Western Australia, when the 17-year-old driver rounded a corner and collided with a tree after 8pm on Saturday

The car had split in two from the impact of the collision.

The group, who are all reportedly students at Cape Naturaliste College in Vasse, are understood to have been on their way to a party at the time of the crash.

Police attended the scene about 8.50pm with Department of Fire and Emergency Services, St John Ambulance and two rescue helicopters.

The 17-year-old female driver was taken to Royal Perth Hospital about 200kms away via rescue helicopter with serious injuries.

Four other passengers - one girl and three boys aged between 15 and 16 - were taken by ambulance to hospitals in Busselton and Bunbury.

Police are now appealing to the public for information regarding the fatal crash.

Anybody with dashcam footage of the grey Ford Falcon or any information relating to the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Video evidence can also be uploaded to wapf.au.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/fatalcrashkalgup.
Karen Carter Peterson is attacking Troy Carter for not renouncing support from an outside Republican group backing him in the congressional race between them.

Peterson and Carter are both Democratic state senators from New Orleans, but Peterson is running to the left of Carter to represent a district that includes New Orleans, the west bank of Jefferson Parish, the River Parishes, and north Baton Rouge.

Karen Carter Peterson steers slightly left of Troy Carter in first Louisiana congressional debate Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter didnt disagree broadly Friday during the first debate between the two candidates for an open congressio

Its largely been forgotten, but there was a time when Peterson worked closely with a Republican, then-state Rep. Jim Tucker. In fact, she helped make Tucker the first Republican House speaker in Louisiana since Reconstruction.

In return, she became the first Black female speaker pro tem, the No. 2 position in the House.

This story begins following the 2007 elections when Bobby Jindal, a Republican, was elected as governor, and Republicans continued to gain seats on Democrats in the House.

After the elections, the breakdown was 53 Democrats, 50 Republicans and two independents.

Then-state Rep. Don Cazayoux, a third-term Democrat from New Roads, had consolidated most Democrats behind him to try to become the next speaker.

Troy Carter vs. Karen Carter Peterson: An updated look at their campaign war chests Troy Carter has continued to enjoy a substantial financial advantage over the past month compared to Karen Carter Peterson, his rival for the 

But Tucker, a developer from Algiers, believed he could pry off enough Democrats to win the nod. House members would choose their next speaker when they first convened in January 2008. Jindal had pledged not to back a candidate until someone had lined up a majority.

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Tucker had played a key role in molding the House Republican minority into a viable opposition force in recent sessions. Now a third-termer, Tucker cut a deal with Peterson. Tucker went to her because he knew Petersons father, Ken Carter, a politically active attorney and constituent of Tuckers, and because he and Peterson were members of the Orleans Parish legislative delegation.

Peterson did her part and delivered the support of several members of the Legislative Black Caucus who agreed to cross party lines and back Tucker.

Jindal then offered his support, and Cazayoux withdrew.

With Tuckers backing, the House elected Peterson as speaker pro tem.

Tucker served as speaker for four years. During that time, party switches left Republicans with a majority in the House that they havent relinquished.

'I'm no Trumper,' says Troy Carter in response to accusations from Karen Carter Peterson Karen Carter Peterson is seeking to tie Troy Carter to former President Donald Trump in the final 10 days of a special election that will send

Tucker narrowly lost a 2011 election to be secretary of state, was nearly chosen as LABIs president and CEO in 2013 and since 2015 has served as the CEO of Commcare Corporation, which owns 11 nursing homes and hospices.

Peterson served as speaker pro tem until 2010 when she won an open state Senate seat, a position she continues to hold.

Advocate library manager Judy Jumonville contributed to this article.
A new medical marijuana dispensary opened in Neptune Friday, becoming the 16th in the state as New Jersey expands medical cannabis and looks to launch legal weed sales for people 21 and older.

Zen Leaf opened to patients at 10 a.m. at the site of a shuttered Smashburger. The companys first dispensary in Elizabeth opened last spring.

Were expecting this to be a very busy store, said Anthony Marsico, executive vice president of Verano, the Illinois-based company that runs Zen Leaf. This is a widely underserved area.

Eatontown has the only other dispensary in Monmouth or Ocean counties. It opened last summer.

Bordering five other towns and five busy highways, Neptune is a city accessible to many patients who want to buy from Zen Leaf.

Patients enrolled in the states medical marijuana program have long complained about long drives and product shortages. Under Gov. Phil Murphy, the program has grown to more than 100,000 patients, but the opening of new dispensaries has not kept pace.

The location, just minutes from Asbury Park, is also ideal for public sales.

But those wont come quickly. New Jerseyans voted 2 to 1 to legalize marijuana in November, and Murphy signed a law in February to launch the industry. But the newly minted Cannabis Regulatory Commission must still adopt rules and regulations to guide the new industry and license new businesses. It met for the first time Monday.

Medical dispensaries will likely get the first shot at selling weed to the public, but they must first certify they have enough cannabis for both the medical market and new customers.

Zen Leaf, which is operated by the Illinois-based company Verano, is already expanding its cultivation footprint. It will eventually have 120,000 square feet of cultivation space at its grow site in Readington, Marsico said.

The company also plans to open a third location in Lawrenceville in coming months. Each medical operator currently licensed can open three dispensaries under the law.

The Neptune dispensary has already added 30 local employees, and could increase that to as many as 80 once sales to the public begin, Marsico said. They are interested in launch home delivery of cannabis to patients, but do not plan to open a consumption lounge, which is allowed under the legalization law.

Neptune welcomed the dispensary, which adds jobs and turns a closed restaurant into a profitable business.

To me, there are no downsides, said Neptunes Deputy Mayor Nicholas Williams. I think its going to open peoples eyes to what its really about.

Williams said Neptunes council has not discussed if it will ban 21+ sales. Now that New Jersey has legalized marijuana, municipalities have about four months to decide if they want to block any aspect of the cannabis business from their borders.

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.
Innovation has sent the energy industry to historic growth levels over the last two decades, and one beneficiary of that good fortune is acting to pay it forward.

Bryan Sheffield, former chief executive officer, chairman and executive chairman of Parsley Energy, and his wife Sharoll have pledged $15 million to Southern Methodist Universitys Edwin L. Cox School of Business to establish Bryan Sheffield Hall.

In announcing the gift, Sheffield, now founder and managing partner of Formentera Partners, an energy-focused investment firm based in Austin, first reflected on his time in Midland.

In my time there, I was able to see firsthand the value of the people, the culture and my own family roots in Midland, he said in remarks provided to the Reporter-Telegram. Your word is your bond. Midland helped me build Parsley Energy and lay the foundation for today. Im very fortunate for that town.

Matthew B. Myers, dean of Cox School and Tolleson Chair in Business Leadership, told the Reporter-Telegram in a telephone interview that the new building will be a major new portion of the schools planned renovation and expansion project. He said groundbreaking is expected in May 2022 with the building opening in May 2024.

Sheffield Hall will include up-to-date classrooms on the lower level designed for collaboration and data-focused problem-solving. Myers said it will house undergraduate programs in the schools Bachelor of Business Administration program, including admissions, academic advising and student records. Faculty offices will be located on the second floor.

He noted that the Sheffield family has helped the school with its energy programs, committing to create the Scott Sheffield Energy Investment Lab in the Maguire Energy Institute in 2014. But, he said, the new facility will not focus only on energy.

This will support new students and the new way of engaging students, he said. It will house more quantitative programs and hands-on programs where students work with companies directly.

In addition to faculty offices, the second floor of Sheffield Hall will house the Brierley Institute for Customer Engagement, which brings together students, marketing faculty and corporate leaders to explore why customers engage with brands and how that engagement drives loyalty and value.

I think thats why were here today. I know that SMU and Cox sees it, and its why were building this Hall. Were going to empower future leaders, train them with the skills to be good stewards of our pocketbooks and our environment, Sheffield said.

He continued, We need this building. We need leaders who know how to create a smart business. More than that, we need people who understand the value of relationships, and have a competitive drive to keep pushing.

Myers said another reason the school is honoring Bryan is because he is a young alumnus of the school who advanced rapidly in his career. That makes him a great example for the schools students, faculty and officials, he said.
US state of Texas Governor Greg Abbott has urged President to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, saying these groups enrich themselves on the misery and enslavement of immigrants.

In a letter dated Thursday, Abbott told Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris that these cartels meet the 3-part test required for the designation as foreign terrorist organisations. The letter also included background on how these drug cartels operate.

"As governor of Texas, I urge you to take immediate action to combat the dangerous and deadly Mexican drug cartels," the letter reads.

These cartels bring terror into our communities. They smuggle narcotics and weapons into the United States to fund their illegal enterprises. They force women and children into human and sex trafficking enriching themselves on the misery and enslavement of immigrants. They murder innocent people, including women and children," he said.

These Mexican drug cartels are foreign terrorist organisations, and it is time for the federal government to designate them as such, he said.

This is the fourth letter that Abbott has sent to the Biden administration, regarding the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

The previous letters have thus far gone unanswered.

(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 two-way quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has lifted off with the first flight leaving the Brisbane Airport at 9.35am on Monday.

Seven flights to Auckland were scheduled on Monday and six arrival flights were expected.

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokeswoman Rachel Bronish said the terminal was already buzzing from just seeing 250 passengers a day to expecting more than 2000 passengers a day.

Its amazing to be here at the international terminal, which has been a shadow of its former self in the past 12 months, she said.
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh on Sunday (April 18) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the grim COVID-19 situation in the country and recommended ways to tackle the current crisis.

In his letter to PM Modi, Singh stressed ramping up COVID-19 vaccination efforts and suggested that the focus must be put on the percentage of the total population vaccinated instead of absolute numbers.

The key to our fight against COVID-19 must be ramping up the vaccination effort. We must resist the temptation to look at the absolute numbers being vaccinated, and focus instead on the percentage of the population vaccinated," the letter read.

First, the government should publicise what are the firm orders for doses placed on different vaccine producers and accepted for delivery over the next six months. If we want to vaccinate a target number in this period, we should place enough orders in advance so that producers can adhere to an agreed schedule of supply, he said.

The veteran Congress leader added that the Centre should indicate the expected supply to be distributed across states based on a transparent formula.

"The central government could retain 10 per cent for distribution based on emergency needs, but other than that, states should have a clear signal of likely availability so that they can plan their roll out," the letter read.

Noting that India currently has vaccinated only a small fraction of its population, Singh said he is certain that with the right policy design, "we can do much better and very quickly".

"There are many things we must do to fight the epidemic but a big part of this effort must be ramping up the vaccination programme," he emphasized.

Manmohan Singh said that its over a year that people have been grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, and with the second surge that we are currently witnessing, people are beginning to wonder when their lives will get back to normal.

Singhs letter comes a day after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi chaired a meet of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and accused the central government of "gross unpreparedness" and "adhocism" in battling COVID-19 crisis.

Discussing ways of dealing with the coronavirus crisis, Gandhi demanded that the government should reduce the immunization age to 25 years from the current 45 years.

(With inputs from agencies)

Live TV
New Delhi, April 18 : As violence continues in Lahore and other parts of Pakistan, Dutch businessman and right-wing politician Geert Wilders has joined the controversy over the ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party in Pakistan.

"Crazy Pakistani's made #GarbageGeertWilder trending topic nr 1 in Pakistan now. It will not help you. I will always fight for freedom of speech including Muhammad-cartoons, and stand up against the unfreedom, violence + terror of the Islamic ideology," Wilders, the leader of the Freedom Party, said.

"Jail this Pakistani criminal #SaadHussainRizvi for life @ImranKhanPTI And ban his islamofascist party #TLP who's former leader issued a fatwa against me for organizing a #Muhammad-cartoon contest. Protect freedom," Wilders had said in an earlier tweet.

Social media is abuzz with continuing violence in Lahore in Pakistan by the police and armed forces against the Islamic party Tehreek-e-Labbaik.

The Pakistan government decided to impose a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan under the anti-terrorism law on April 14.

Visuals from Lahore posted on Twitter showed armoured vehicles clashing with supporters of the Islamic party. IANS cannot independently confirm the veracity of the Twitter post.

"Cameraman(#TehreekELabbaikpakistan Supporters) says rangers came in 40 to 45 vehicles with water canons and tanks (armoured vehicles) but miserably failed to suppress the voice of Tehreek-E-Labbaik supporters," the post said.

As per an official statement, early on Sunday, miscreants attacked Nawankot police station where Rangers and police officers were trapped inside the police station and DSP Nawankot was kidnapped and taken to the markaz.

At least one oil tanker with 50,000 litres of petrol has been taken by the miscreants to the markaz. The miscreants were armed and attacked the police/rangers with petrol bombs.

The government has banned internet in the province so even social media posts are restricted on the continuing violence which observers said will continue for 2-3 weeks.

"Thank you Sami Ibrahim. Very well.......I wish @ImranKhanPTI feel the pain of TLP followers. Sooner or later TLP will be victorious but their opponents will be punished by Allah in Both worlds InshaAllah #SaadHussainRizvi #IamSaadHusaainRizvi #supportTLP #tehreekelabbaikpakistan," said a Twitter post in support of the TLP.

Media reports from Pakistan are silent on the issue as Pakistan's Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has barred the TV channels and radio stations from providing any kind of coverage to the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.

France 24 reported that Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik played a major role in fomenting this week's anti-French protests in Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to announce the group's dissolution on Thursday as France's embassy told French nationals to leave the country over safety fears.
Sony brought its smartphone lineup for an entire year in a single announcement this week and there are things we want to talk about.

So here go a few early thoughts on what we found interesting, what are the key points and what we think about them.

A true band of brothers

The Sony Xperia 1 III, Xperia 5 III and Xperia 10 III are very different and yet they clearly follow the same formula. You could say they have more things in common than any smartphone lineup out there.

All three have 21:9 OLED screens, a 4,500mAh battery, expandable storage, 3.5mm headphone jacks and all have triple cameras. They're all IP68 certified as well.

The Xperia 10 III cuts the most corners, as you'd expect for a cheaper phone. But it still has the same priorities as its more premium siblings.

All about the cameras

Sony has always put emphasis on its smartphone cameras but with the Xperia 1 III and 5 III it's doing things nobody else has done.

Sony was keen on keeping the resolution of all three of its camera sensors at 12MP, noting that a lower resolution means it can do computational reads up to 3 times faster than on competing phones with higher resolution sensors.

All three sensors have dual-pixel phase detection autofocus, which is aided by the 3D iToF sensor, which measures distance to help with focus accuracy and focus tracking.

But the true innovations comes from the telephoto lens, which offers two zoom levels - 70mm and 105mm. That translates to about 2.9x to 4.4x zoom from a single lens and sensor, which is a first on a smartphone.

The dual tele camera sits in front of an impressive 1/2.9-inch sensor and has optical stabilization.

We're very eager to take this new zoom camera around and give it a test.

Sony has brought its Eye AF technology from its popular line of cameras and is currently the only phone maker to feature both human and animal eye autofocus.

Another thing that Sony brought over from its camera line to the flagship Xperia 1 III and 5 III is its real-time tracking technology. The phones cameras can keep focus on a selected target inside the field of view of the camera. And if that subject is lost behind an object or obstacle, the real-time tracking can resume tracking automatically, once becomes visible again.

Finally you get a nicer side-mounted shutter button with an embossed finish for improved tacktility.

Potent movie-watching machines

Sony wants all three new Xperia's to be ideal for movie-watching. All three have HDR-ready AMOLED displays with a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and two (the 5 III and 1 III) have front-facing stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos.

Sony's Creator mode screen preset has a specially-calibrated D65 white point to match Sony's professional monitors used in Hollywood studios. And you can set the Creator mode as default specifically for your video playing apps.

The X1 mobile engine can remaster videos, simulating an HDR effect, even for lower-quality streaming content.

Headphone jack and expandable storage - yay!

Sony is one of the last remaining manufacturers to still include a headphone jack on its high-end flagships. And it includes microSD card slots on all three of its new phones, which is also something of a rarity of late.

The new Xperias offer 360 Reality Audio, which simulates the stereo effect you get in a live concert or studio session. And if your music content is 2-channel you can enable 360 Spatial Sound, which upscales the sound in real time.

DSEE Ultimate enhances the quality of digital music through AI, upping frequency and dynamic range both on local stored files or streaming music.

Finally you can get 3 months of TIDAL for free with an Xperia 1 III purchase.

Truly compact

Like its predecessor, the Xperia 10 III is a truly compact phone at just 154mm tall. It's also light at just under 170g.

This makes the Xperia 10 III a unique proposition for those people looking for a reasonably-priced (well, hopefully) compact phone that doesn't skimp on high-end features.

The Sony Xperia 5 III is also reasonably petite at just 3mm taller than the 10 III and 1 gram lighter. And it adds 0.1-inch to the screen estate, not to mention the superior cameras and processor.

Price and un-availability

Sony made three phones that it thought specifically address the needs of its faithful fans. Those that adore the cinema aspect ratio of the screen, the headphone jack, the camera processing and features and the styling of the phones - both hardware and software-wise.

And we have no doubt that those very faithful fans will buy their pick of the three new phones.

But the thing is Sony hasn't said when those phones will become available, other than in "early summer". And more importantly there was no official statement on price.

History points to a high asking for the flagship Xperia 5 III and 1 III, and a listing in Russia seems to confirm that - around $1,300 for the Xperia 1 III and around $1,100 for the Xperia 5 III.

Still, by the time you can go out and purchase your coveted Xperia, you could've had a number of other high-profile and very capable cameraphones for a few months, which is something to consider.

Okay, we'll admit that we're also champing at the bit to get to the new Xperia's, especially the 1 and 5, and give their new variable tele camera a thorough test.




Haiti - FLASH : Gangs in Haiti are increasingly targeting children





According to UNICEF between September 2020 and February 2021 (6 months), the number of children and women, victims of armed attacks in Haiti, attributed to gangs increased considerably by 62%, from 45 to 73 cases compared to to the 6 month preceding September 2020.



"Children and women in Haiti are no longer simply the victims of criminal gangs, they are increasingly becoming their targets", warns Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. Adding, "Whether it's kidnappings, rapes or even murder, more and more violent gang incidents have involved children and women in recent weeks and months. This recent upsurge is fueling insecurity in this poor country."



According to the Brigade de Protection des Mineurs (BPM), at least 31 children were abducted in Haiti between 2020 and 2021.



Just days ago, a group of armed men broke into an orphanage and raped two girls, aged 13 and 14, and a woman, 27, in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33484-haiti-flash-armed-men-rape-two-children-and-an-adult-in-an-orphanage.html This incident left 36 girls and traumatized boys.



Insecurity in Haiti is increasingly disrupting the delivery of education and other basic services for children. During the 2019-2020 school year, approximately 60% of all Haitian schools were closed for 60 days due to violent social unrest. This year, growing gang violence and insecurity have prevented many children from attending school in several urban areas of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.



"Violence in communities is unacceptable," said Jean Gough. "We must end gang violence. Week after week in Haiti, criminal gangs are spreading terror and fear on more families and communities. Child safety should be the main priority of the new Haitian Government https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33483-haiti-politic-jovenel-moise-wants-to-quickly-install-a-government-of-national-unity.html "



UNICEF urges all concerned to refrain from targeting children and women and urges the new Haitian government to take action to limit gang violence against children.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33483-haiti-politic-jovenel-moise-wants-to-quickly-install-a-government-of-national-unity.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Amid the election season in West Bengal which is witnessing a fierce face-off between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly affirmed that BJP will implement CAA in West Bengal after it forms its government in the state. While addressing a rally in Swarupnagar, Amit Shah took pointed shots at Mamata Banerjee over the issue of illegal infiltration in the state. He said Mamata Banerjee favours infiltration as it serves her purpose of increasing her vote bank.

The Union Home Minister also mentioned giving citizenship to the Matua community, a scheduled caste Vaisnavite Hindu community that lives in West Bengal as well as Bangladesh. However, a significant part of the people from the Matua community living in West Bengal is devoid of citizenship. Speaking on the same, Amit Shah assured that after CAA is implemented in the state, the people from the Matua community will be given citizenship. Amit Shah added that Mamata Banerjee never wants CAA to be implemented because she fears her vote bank will get angry.

"Didi likes infiltrators as it is her vote bank. But for 3-3 generations, people of the Matua community-Naamshudra community have not been given citizenship. What is their fault? During independence, everyone including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad had promised citizenship to the people of the Matua community, I promise you, BJP will give citizenship to each of them," Shah said.

"I toured the whole of Bengal and reached Swarupnagar. I went to Jangalmahal, Sunderban, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Kolkata, Vardhaman, 24 Parganas too. I will tell you one thing that Didi will make an exit on May 2 and BJP will come to the state," Amit Shah said.

He also slammed Mamata Banerjee for not speaking against the TMC candidate who said "SC category people are beggars". While asking the people to vote for BJP in large numbers, Amit Shah urged them to oust the government which has been indulging in cut money, corruption and favouring nepotism.

West Bengal election voter turnout

The voter turnout for the seats that went to the polls in the first, second, third, fourth & fifth phases was 84.63 per cent, 86.11 per cent, 84.61 per cent, 79.90 per cent & 79.18% respectively. The polling for the remaining phases will take place on April 22, April 26 and April 29. Meanwhile, the election results will be declared on May 2.

The elections in the state of West Bengal have been embroiled in controversial statements and political mudslinging, besides the alarming surge in the incidents of political violence. The BJP which is eyeing to dethrone the Mamata Banerjee led government is leaving no stones unturned in its election campaigning, while the ruling TMC is also putting all its might in battling the BJP, despite the anti-incumbency acting against the TMC, coupled with the issues of corruption and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
2 1 of 2 Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less



Early voting is set to begin Monday for local elections, including heavily contested races for San Antonio mayor and City Council seats, two propositions and a number of suburban and school district contests.

Early voting continues through April 27 at 37 polling sites throughout Bexar County. Voting hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 26-27. Voting locations will be closed Sunday.
Time is running out to submit your nominations for the third annual Roscommon-Longford Garda Youth Awards.

With just over a week to go until the deadline for entries on April 30, 2021, local organisations are being urged to consider nominating a local young person or relevant group between the ages of 13 and 21 in one of four categories.

Awards will be considered for nominees who make their communities a better place to live.

Roscommon-Longford Garda Division Chief Superintendent Tony Healy welcomed the sponsorship of Roscommon and Longford County Councils for the awards. I am very pleased that the third annual Garda Youth Awards are going ahead within the Division, despite a global pandemic and delighted with the support of both local authorities. We in An Garda Siochana recognise that a lot of good work is being done by young people in all communities within the counties of Longford and Roscommon and it is only fitting that we provide a platform whereby they can be recognised for their efforts in making their schools, groups, local areas a better place to live in."

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Paul Ross is looking forward to the event which will be held virtually this year, in line with public health restrictions. We all know 2020 was a difficult year and there are young people in every community that have made significant contributions so its great to reward that.

Chairperson of the Roscommon-Longford Youth Awards Inspector David Cryan commented that this is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to nominate a young person, or persons, within their community, who they feel should be recognised for their contribution to their local area during 2020.

Its important to remember that due to COVID-19, there hasnt been the same opportunity for young people to become involved with activities or projects compared to previous years. However, we have also witnessed that many young people were active on the ground throughout the COVID-19 crisis, volunteering and becoming involved in a variety of projects that supported both the vulnerable in the community, and the frontline services.

Winners will be chosen in four categories:

Individual  where a young person has made a positive contribution to their community making it a better place to live

Group  where two or more made a positive contribution to their community making it a better place to live

Special Achievement  where a young person has overcome difficult circumstances, defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition

Community Safety  where a young person or persons, through a crime prevention or safety initiative / innovation, have made their community a safer place to live in





The Roscommon-Longford Garda Youth Awards will be presented at a virtual ceremony before the end of May. A judging panel will decide upon a nominee in each category and their nomination form will then go forward to represent the Roscommon-Longford Garda Division at the National Garda Youth Awards in October 2021.

Nomination forms can be requested from Roscommon.GardaYouthAwards@garda.ie and are available for download on www.garda.ie , www.roscommoncoco.ie and www.longfordcoco.ie

In order to qualify, completed nomination forms (in typed format) and media consent forms should be emailed to Roscommon.GardaYouthAwards@Garda.ie or posted/handed in to the Community Policing Unit at Castlerea / Granard / Longford / Roscommon Garda stations before 5pm on Friday, April 30, 2021.
Fourth stimulus check update: Biden faces mounting pressure for new payment

As the IRS continues to distribute the pandemic's third stimulus checks, for up to $1,400 each, the outcry is building for the government to provide Americans with a fourth payment  and possibly more.

Advocacy groups and dozens of congressional Democrats are stepping up the pressure on President Joe Biden to support regular cash payments until the COVID crisis is over. In a new report, one group calls stimulus checks "critical relief" that must continue.

Biden is being urged to include more direct aid in the $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan he's now promoting. But the path to a fourth stimulus check is littered with potential obstacles. Here's where things stand.

The arguments for more a fourth stimulus check

ItzaVU / Shutterstock

Around 20 Democratic U.S. senators, including Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, have sent Biden a letter calling on him to put recurring relief payments in his Build Back Better infrastructure package.

"Families shouldnt have to worry about whether theyll have enough money to pay for essentials in the months ahead as the country continues to fight a global pandemic," the senators write.

Most people used their recent $1,400 checks to pay for basics including food and bills, according to a new analysis of census data from the nonprofit Economic Security Project.

That's a familiar story. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found last year's first stimulus checks were largely spent on essentials, though some people saved or invested the money, or used it for other spending. That may have included buying affordable life insurance  demand for policies has surged amid the pandemic.

In their letter, the senators say almost 6 in 10 people thought the $1,400 payments would last them less than three months. Just one more direct payment would lift 6.6 million Americans out of poverty, according to a study by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

Story continues

Additional checks are vital, says the Economic Security Project, which supports guaranteed income. "This critical relief has played a leading role in helping Americans keep their heads above water during this recession," the group says in its report.

A fourth stimulus check faces major obstacles

The battle to pass Bidens $1.9 trillion COVID rescue package last month highlights the challenges of getting a fourth stimulus check approved.

The bill got no support from Republicans in Congress, who all voted against it. Even moderate Democrats were skeptical about the need for the legislation's third round of direct payments.

Democratic leaders pushed the bill through using a budget maneuver that allowed for passage with simple majorities. They could try the same tactic with the infrastructure package, which features money for roads, bridges, water systems and senior care.

But with the Senate evenly split between the two parties, it would take opposition from only one Democratic senator to kill any proposal to add regular relief payments to the bill, or even just one more stimulus check.

Opponents of additional direct payments argue that there's plenty of evidence the economy doesn't require more stimulation: Vaccinations are increasing, hiring is improving, consumer confidence is rising and the stock market is hitting new highs.

It's not clear whether President Biden is open to the idea of a fourth stimulus check. He hasn't commented, and neither has his press secretary, Jen Psaki.

If you could use another stimulus check right now

Pormezz / Shutterstock

If you need cash, waiting for action from Washington is  thankfully  not your only option. Here are some ways you might find some money on your own.
Siam Bioscience confident of delivering vaccine jabs on time

THAILAND: Siam Bioscience Co, the local biotechnology firm contracted to manufacture the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand, said it is confident that it will be able to deliver the vaccines on time once they have passed the required checks.

CoronavirusCOVID-19ChineseVaccinehealthSafety

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 18 April 2021, 09:50AM

Researchers work at the Siam Bioscience laboratory in Bangkok. Photo: Bangkok Post.

The company is in the process of sending samples of the vaccines it produced to several laboratories in Europe and the United States for quality inspection.

Once the samples are approved by the labs, they will be sent to AstraZeneca, which will then register the vaccine with the Thai Food and Drug Administration, so it can be mass-produced and used domestically, the company said.

After getting FDAs approval, Siam Bioscience will ramp up the production of the vaccines.

Before the doses are delivered to the government in July as planned, they will be sent to AstraZeneca, who will carry out final quality and safety inspections, it said.

Siam Bioscience said its plant is capable of producing vaccines at almost the same rate as other manufacturers in Australia and South Korea, as they use the same technology from AstraZeneca.

Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul earlier said that between 6-10 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be ready for use in June.

Nualphan Lamsam, corporate communication director of Siam Bioscience, said the company has been working closely with AstraZeneca to ensure both the quality and safety of the product.

All parties concerned are working against time to produce the vaccine as fast as possible and make it an alternative to help save lives, she said.

AstraZeneca (Thailand) Co president James Teak said the company is committed to ensuring equal and timely access to the COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reported to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration on Friday that the company has improved the vaccines efficacy against the Brazilian and South African strains of the coronavirus.
About five weeks after Nigeria commenced COVID-19 vaccination, over a million people have been vaccinated.

As of April 16, a total of 1,071,346 eligible Nigerians have received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, according to the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib.

The vaccination commenced with healthcare workers.

Having completed inoculation of frontline health workers in some states, attention has shifted to older adults, aged 65 and above, Mr Shuaib said.

Here is a round-up of some of the health stories which made headlines last week.

COVID-19: Nigeria records 60 new cases, no death on Saturday

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that the countrys active COVID-19 cases increased by 39, bringing the total number to 7,821.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Saturday.

It, however, recorded 60 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 164,207. The active cases are the difference between the total number of newly recorded cases and those discharged after treatment on that day (21 on Saturday).

Amidst vaccine insufficiency, Nigeria vaccinates over a million people

As the Nigerian government gives its component states a condition to halt new COVID-19 vaccinations, only about 50 per cent of eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated, an official said. Those vaccinated are, however, less than one per cent of the countrys estimated 200 million population.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, said on Friday that only about half of the eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated with the Oxford- AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19: Globally, over 3 million people dead, 140 million infected

The world has crossed the grim milestone of three million COVID-19 deaths as the latest resurgence of COVID-19 in some countries threatens vaccination efforts across the globe.

The number of coronavirus infections worldwide hit 100 million in late January. But within three months, another 40 million people have been infected, raising the tally to over 140 million, according to worldometer.info.

What Nigeria must do to eradicate malaria  Experts

If Nigeria is to eradicate malaria and save millions of people from dying from the disease, there is an urgent need to invest in quality Long Lasting Insecticides Nets (LLIN).

This was the consensus on Wednesday during a virtual panel discussion involving experts, partners and stakeholders to address existing gaps in eliminating malaria, a life-threatening disease.

Groups identify Nigerias major impediment to meeting family planning targets

Poor funding is the major reason Nigeria failed to meet the pledge it made in 2012 to achieve a modern contraceptive prevalence rate (MCPR) of 27 per cent among women by 202O, health experts have said.

The family planning (FP) 2020 goal was to enable 120 million additional women and girls of reproductive age, globally, to have access to contraceptives by the year 2020.

At the dawn of the deadline, the FP 2020 target indicators show that Nigeria has only 12 per cent MCPR for women in the country.

Killer Fruit Juice: Kano confirms 10 dead, 400 hospitalised

The Kano State Government on Thursday said 10 people had died and 400 others hospitalised after drinking a poisonous fruit juice.

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The state government had last month said the poisonous fruit juice claimed three lives and led to the hospitalisation of 183 others.

The states Commissioner for Health, Aminu Tsanyawa, in a video recording made available to journalists in Kano on Thursday, stated that out of 400 people hospitalised, 50 persons were undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments.

Wild Polio Virus may resurface in Nigeria if   UNICEF

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the Wild Polio Virus (WPV), which Nigeria has successfully eradicated, may resurface if preventive measures are not taken.

UNICEF Communication for Development Specialist, Elizabeth Onitolo, made this known during the opening of a three-day media dialogue in Yola, Adamawa State, on Tuesday.

NAFDAC workers commence strike

Health workers at the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday, embarked on a seven-day warning strike.

The workers are members of the Medical and Health Workers Union.

2021 supplementary budget to accommodate doctors hazard allowance  Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday, assured that hazard allowance for medical doctors would be included in the 2021 budget.

He also said the leadership of the House would invite the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, for a meeting next Tuesday.

Mr Gbajabiamila stated this during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Abuja.

Yes, taking pain relievers after or before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can be risky

The controversy around the COVID-19 vaccine has been prevalent since its emergence. Several arguments around its efficacy, effectiveness, affordability, regardless of its have led to the proposition of multiple theories regarding the Vaccine.

Recently, a piece of viral information making rounds on WhatsApp claims that taking pain killers like Diclofenac and others after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can be hazardous and may even lead to death.
SL may face vaccine shortage for 2nd jab By Kumudini Hettiarachchi and Ruqyyaha Deane We need to know who changed priority list which derailed immunization plan  former Chief Epidemiologist View(s): View(s):

Will Sri Lanka have adequate vaccines to give the second dose to 925,242 people who have got the first jab between January 29 and April 10?

Health experts pointed out that if the country does not get another stock of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines the latest by mid-May, there will not be adequate vaccines as the in-hand doses of 338,758 will run out.

This is the worry gripping the country as the Avurudu festivities and lengthy holidays came to a close, with many people throwing caution to the winds and going about hither and thither with nary a thought for the basic COVID-19 preventive measures.

No face-masks nor one-metre distancing were seen, while hand hygiene too was non-existent.

Promises and assurances by many including the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) that vaccines were due in March and then in mid-April turned out to be damp squibs, with no stocks arriving up to today. Attempts by the Sunday Times to contact the SPC failed.

The second dose for the first batch of frontline healthcare workers who got the first jab on January 29, is due on April 23. The vaccine rollout on January 29 began with the symbolic vaccination of Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama who has been at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Angoda.

A very pertinent question raised by former Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe, in the imminent scenario of a vaccine shortage was: Who decided to vaccinate all and sundry above 30 years of age in a limited vaccine setting?

We have still not got an answer to who decided to scrap the priority list given by the Health Ministrys high-level National Advisory Committee on Communicable Disease (NACCD), pointed out Dr. Abeysinghe, reiterating that this answer as to who changed the course of the vaccination programme should be provided by the Epidemiology Unit. This is because such technical decisions should usually be taken by the Epidemiology Unit in collaboration with the Health Ministry Secretary and the Director-General of Health Services.

Someone must take the responsibility for derailing this vital immunization programme, he added.

Others said that with the excuse of health officials at that time being that they wished to prevent COVID-19 transmission by administering the vaccine to those over 30, now with no flow of regular vaccine stocks, the country has been caught between a rock and a hard place.

Earlier, the priority list to prevent death and cover the high-risk categories was:

Frontline healthcare workers and frontline security forces personnel engaged in COVID-19 work

The elderly over 60 years of age

Others with co-morbidities

This was in keeping with the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations:

Stage I when there are very limited doses of vaccines available for 1-10% of the national population  health workers at high to very high risk of acquiring and transmitting infection, followed by older adults defined by age-based risk, specific to the country or region. Age cut-off to be decided at the country level.

when there are of vaccines available for 1-10% of the national population  of acquiring and transmitting infection, followed by older adults defined by age-based risk, specific to the country or region. Age cut-off to be decided at the country level. Stage II when there are limited doses of vaccines available for 11-20% of the national population  older adults not covered in Stage I, then groups with co-morbiditiesor health states determined to be at significantly higher risk of severe disease or death.

SLs vaccine status

Sri Lankas drug regulator, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), has so far granted emergency-use listing to Oxford-AstraZenecas COVISHIELD manufactured by Serum Institute, India and Sputnik-V manufactured by Gamaleya Research Institute, Russia.

The NMRA, meanwhile, has granted a waiver to the vaccine commonly called Sinopharm manufactured by the state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation for the import of a donation of 600,000 doses. This vaccine has been given to 2,469 Chinese workers in Colombo, Puttalam, Kandy and Hambantota between April 2 and 8.

Vaccines received and administered so far  500,000 doses of COVISHIELD (donation from India)

500,000 doses of COVISHIELD (bought from India)

264,000 doses of COVISHIELD (from COVAX)

Doses administered from January 29 to April 10  925,242

Doses remaining from stocks in hand  338,758

Second doses due between April 23 and May 20  393,469 COVAX (the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access) is a global initiative which works with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines. It is co-led by GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance); CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation); and WHO (the World Health Organization).
Simon Cowell cut a casual figure as he headed to America's Got Talent filming in Pasadena, California on Sunday.

The music mogul, 61, flashed his chest as he sported an unbuttoned blue shirt in the searing heat, while flashing a smile for the camera.

The head judge paired this with white shorts, black socks and trainers as he strolled.

Smile: Simon Cowell cut a casual figure as he headed to America's Got Talent filming in Pasadena, California on Sunday

Simon sported some trendy shades to complete the summery look for the show.

He wore his raven locks elegantly coiffed as he headed into the audition room.

Last month, it was reported that Britain's Got Talent judge walks over 40 miles a week to help him recover from breaking his back in an electric bike accident last year.

In August, Simon was rushed to hospital to undergo six hours of surgery after injuring himself in the accident, forcing him to cancel all his planned TV work for the rest of the year.

Delight: Simon sported some trendy shades to complete the summery look for the show

Walk and talk: The music mogul, 61, flashed his chest as he sported an unbuttoned blue shirt in the searing heat, while flashing a smile for the camera

But now the record executive is determined to do everything he can to ensure he makes a full recovery, including walking for several hours a day and holding business meetings at 9AM so that he no longer lives like a 'vampire'.

Of his new fitness regime, a source told MailOnline: 'Simon said how he hasn't worn trainers as much as this in 20 years.

'He feels fitter than ever before and is keeping to a normal routine rather than being on the phone until into the early hours of the morning.'

Adding to this, The Sun also reported at the time that Simon was set to start filming the reality competition show as a source said he was excited to be back.

The insider told the publication: 'Simon cant wait to get back to doing what he loves. Hes been focused on his return for months.'

Immaculate: He wore his raven locks elegantly coiffed as he headed into the audition room

Laugh out loud: Simon cackled as he headed into the audition room

Last year, reports claimed Simon was considering legal action against the manufacturers of his electric bike after breaking his back.

The TV mogul and his team were said to be 'weighing up' legal options and have been 'pressing' the manufacturers, Swindon Powertrain.

One lawyer claimed that a successful lawsuit could see Simon get up to 10million for medical bills and loss of earnings, The Sun reported once more.

TV: Although Britain's Got Talent has been put on hold until 2022, season 16 of America's Got Talent will air on NBC in June

Although Britain's Got Talent has been put on hold until 2022, season 16 of America's Got Talent will air on NBC in June.

Recently, Simon celebrated Easter in his LA home with girlfriend Lauren Silverman and ex Terri Seymour.

Terri posted a sweet family snap and the music mogul looked happy and healthy, with his son Eric, seven, enjoying an egg hunt in the sunshine after receiving a visit from the Easter Bunny.

The couple were joined by their son Eric, Lauren's son Adam, 15, Terri and her partner Clark Mallon, and her daughter Coco, six.

Terri captioned her post: 'Easter Love @francisclarkart #LaurenSilverman @simoncowell Hope everyone had a safe and hoppy Easter! #WhosTheBunny.'
Russia announced on Friday that they would expel 10 U.S. diplomats as a response to the sanction made by U.S. Pres. Joe Biden.

Russia To Expel 10 U.S. Diplomats

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would add eight US officials to its sanctions list and take steps to limit and prevent U.S. nongovernmental organizations from engaging in Russian politics, according to a published article in the USA Today.

He said that the Kremlin indicated that the U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan, as his Russian counterpart, returns home for meetings. Russia will also take steps not to allow the U.S. embassy in the country to hire personnel from Russia or support staff from third countries.

In a recently published article in the Associated Press, the recent move of the Russian government is a form of response to the sanctions given by the Biden administration. It can be remembered that Biden sanctioned 10 Russian diplomats and has sanctioned more than three dozen individuals and companies.

Biden Security Adviser Urges Russia Detained Putin Critic Release, EU Corroborate

Impact of the Sanctions

While the new US sanctions restricted Russia's ability to borrow money further by excluding US financial institutions from purchasing Russian government bonds directly from state institutions, they did not target the secondary market, according to a published report The Washington Post.

Tom Adshead, director of research at Macro-Advisory Ltd, said "It's very important that there're no sanctions on secondary debt because that means that non-U.S. persons can buy the debt and sell it to the U.S. persons.

Rising sanctions may inevitably force Russia into a corner, provoking yet more Kremlin actions, such as a possible escalation in Ukraine, which has recently seen an increase in clashes with Russia-backed separatists in the east and a major Russian troop mobilization across the border.

Russian Officials Ban Yoga Because It's Too Much Like A Religious Cult

Shared Interest of Russia and U.S.

Despite rising tensions, Russia and the United States have common interests in a number of global hotspots. For example, Moscow is concerned that unrest in Afghanistan will spread to former Soviet republics in Central Asia, and it is involved in reaching a political settlement there.

Despite its warm relations with Tehran, Moscow would not want to see Iran develop nuclear weapons. According to Lukyanov, Russia will not attempt to use global hot spots to harm the US and will instead watch as they erode US dominance.

He said "It's not a matter of playing the spoiler here or there. he ongoing developments will help accelerate the process of consolidation of leading powers against the U.S. domination."

What Biden Told on His Call With Putin?

President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation of tensions and said he was open to working with Russia in certain ways. Biden said in a phone call with Putin on Tuesday that he opted not to enforce harsher sanctions for the time being and suggested meeting in a third world in the future.

The call comes as the West expresses alarm about an increase in cease-fire breaches in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces have been at odds since Moscow's seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
London: Prince Philips early life was shaped by the sea so it was only fitting the navy should play a starring role in his death.

The Duke of Edinburghs first nautical encounter was in 1922, when the then 18-month-old was smuggled onto British destroyer HMS Calypso in an orange crate after his family was exiled from Greece.

He joined the Royal Navy just before World War II, saved hundreds of lives by foiling a Luftwaffe attack off the coast of Sicily in 1943, and enjoyed a decorated career halted only by the Queens ascension to the throne in 1952.

Prince Philip is carried into a near-empty St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle. Credit:Getty

Lesser known is that between 1954 and his death at Windsor Castle last Friday, Philip was also Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force, Field-Marshal of the Australian Army and Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy.
Pulaski, N.Y.  An Oswego County man was accused Friday of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 13, according to New York State police.

Matthew J. Maine, 33, of Albion, was charged with first-degree rape, a felony, first-degree criminal sex act, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, troopers said.

The abuse took place in February, troopers said.

Maine was taken to the Oswego County Jail for arraignment, troopers said.

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.
CHICAGO  A day after Cook County prosecutors partially disavowed statements they made in court about the police killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, the office declined to elaborate on what exactly went wrong and why.

But the assistant states attorney who made the statements was placed on leave Friday, a spokeswoman for the office confirmed Saturday morning.

The statement in question had been distributed widely for nearly a week before a spokeswoman for States Attorney Kim Foxxs office on Thursday said that while the facts stated in court were correct, the prosecutor, Assistant States Attorney James Murphy, should not have phrased them in a way that could imply Toledo was armed at the exact moment he was shot.

The sudden announcement backing away from Murphys in-court description of the shooting came less than an hour before footage of Toledos March 29 death was made public, sowing confusion and further anger during an already tense afternoon.

Watched in aggregate, the videos show Toledo apparently tossing a gun away a moment before the officer fires, and his hands appear empty and raised at the moment he is shot.

After requests on Friday for an interview with a spokesperson or someone familiar with the matter, spokeswoman Sarah Sinovic said that for now they would reiterate the statement they provided the day before, and noted that the matter is undergoing an internal investigation.

An attorney who works in this office failed to fully inform himself before speaking in court, the statement reads. Errors like that cannot happen and this has been addressed with the individual involved. The video speaks for itself.

In an email to staffers late Friday that was obtained by The Chicago Tribune, Foxx said the prosecutor in court relayed facts to the judge regarding details of the circumstances related to the death based on evidence provided by various law enforcement agencies.

It later became evident that the language ... did not fully reflect all the evidence that had been given to our office, she wrote.

Story continues

Still unclear: How many people in the prosecutors office had access to footage of the shooting; how much footage they could access; who signed off on the language Murphy used in court; and why they waited nearly a week before clarifying their statement.

The statement in question, known as a proffer, was given in court March 10 during a bond hearing for Ruben Roman, the 21-year-old man who was with Toledo the night of the shooting.

Roman is charged with felonies including child endangerment, and in order to bolster their assertion that Romans acts helped lead to Toledos death, Murphy gave a description of the shooting.

Toledo had a gun in his right hand as he turned toward the officer, Murphy said. The officer fires one shot at (Toledo), striking him in the chest. The gun that (Toledo) was holding landed against the fence a few feet away.

While each of those sentences in isolation appear to be supported by the video, prosecutors did not mention in court that at the precise moment Toledo was shot, his hands were apparently empty.

And immediately after Murphy gave his narrative of the shooting in court, news accounts stated prosecutors said 13-year-old Toledo was holding the weapon at the precise moment a Chicago police officer shot him.

The states attorneys office did not dispute or question those stories for nearly a week.

Foxx came into office in 2016 after harshly criticizing predecessor Anita Alvarezs handling of another high-profile police shooting of a teen: the death of Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times by a police officer later charged and convicted in the case.

Throughout her first and into her second term, Foxxs office has repeatedly stressed their commitment to transparency.
In 1624, a physician called Jean-Baptiste van Helmont told a strange story in his book of magnetic cures about a man from Brussels who had lost his nose. Having had his nose cut off in combat, the man went to a famous Italian surgeon, Gaspare Tagliacozzi, who promised to make him a new one resembling natures pattern. The problem was that Tagliacozzi wanted to use some of the mans own skin to recreate the nose. Not keen on this idea, the noseless man decided to buy his way to a new face. He hired a local porter to donate some of his skin and had the surgeon fashion a new nose out of this foreign tissue.

All seemed well, recounted Van Helmont, until just over a year later, the man found that his new nose suddenly grew frigid and cadaverous. Over the next few days, it began to putrefy on his face, and within a week it had dropped off entirely.

Investigating the cause of the sudden misfortune, the mans friends found out that the porter who supplied the flesh had died at just the same time that the nose first turned cold. Though Van Helmont admitted that the story seemed fantastical, he insisted that there were men of good repute, that were eyewitnesses of these occurrences. This, he insisted, was not superstition, but evidence of a powerful affinity between the borrowed tissue and its original owner.
Photo: The Canadian Press U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry gestures while speaking during a round table meeting with the media in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 18, 2021.

The United States and China, the worlds two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to co-operate to curb climate change with urgency, just days before President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.

The agreement was reached by U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua during two days of talks in Shanghai last week, according to a joint statement.

The two countries are committed to co-operating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands, said the statement, issued Saturday evening U.S. time.

Meeting with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, Kerry said the language in the statement is strong and that the two countries agreed on critical elements on where we have to go. But the former secretary of state said, I learned in diplomacy that you dont put your back on the words, you put on actions. We all need to see what happens.

China is the worlds biggest carbon emitter, followed by the United States. The two countries pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planets atmosphere. Their co-operation is key to the success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade and Chinas territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine such efforts.

Noting that China is the worlds biggest coal user, Kerry said he and Chinese officials had a lot of discussions on how to accelerate a global energy transition. I have never shied away from expressing our views shared by many, many people that it is imperative to reduce coal, everywhere, he said.

Su Wei, a member of the Chinese negotiation team, told state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday that a major accomplishment of the talks was restarting the dialogue and co-operation between China and the United States on climate change issues. Su said the two countries reached a consensus on key areas for future co-operation on climate issues.

Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The U.S. and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.

Its unclear how much Kerrys China visit would promote U.S.-China co-operation on climate issues.

While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signalled Friday that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next weeks summit.

For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered, Le said during an interview with The Associated Press in Beijing. Some countries are asking China to achieve the goals earlier. I am afraid this is not very realistic.

During a video meeting with German and French leaders Friday, Xi said that climate change should not become a geopolitical chip, a target for attacking other countries or an excuse for trade barriers, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

On whether Xi would join the summit, Le said the Chinese side is actively studying the matter.

The joint statement said the two countries look forward to next weeks summit. Kerry said Sunday that we very much hope that (Xi) will take part in the summit but its up to China to make that decision.

Biden, who has said that fighting global warming is among his highest priorities, had the United States rejoin the historic 2015 Paris climate accord in the first hours of his presidency, undoing the U.S. withdrawal ordered by his predecessor Donald Trump.

Major emitters of greenhouse gases are preparing for the next U.N. climate summit taking place in Glasgow, U.K., in November. The summit aims to relaunch global efforts to keep rising global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) as agreed in the Paris accord.

According to the U.S.-China statement, the two countries would enhance their respective actions and co-operating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

It said both countries also intend to develop their respective long-term strategies before the Glasgow conference and take appropriate actions to maximize international investment and finance in support of the energy transition in developing countries.

Xi announced last year that China would be carbon-neutral by 2060 and aims to reach a peak in its emissions by 2030. In March, Chinas Communist Party pledged to reduce carbon emissions per unit of economic output by 18% over the next five years, in line with its goal for the previous five-year period. But environmentalists say China needs to do more.

Biden has pledged the U.S. will switch to an emissions-free power sector within 14 years, and have an entirely emissions-free economy by 2050. Kerry is also pushing other nations to commit to carbon neutrality by then.
Former President Barack Obama, who served as the 44th president of the United States for two terms starting in 2009, is known for many historical moments.

He was the first African-American president. He pushed for major reforms of Americas healthcare system. And he oversaw the push for LGBTQ equality. But even presidents make mistakes, and Obama once gave a speech about Disneyland and opened up about a major faux pas that got him kicked out of the so-called happiest place on earth.

Obamas first presidential inauguration took place on January 20, 2009

RELATED: Barack Obama Facts: 10 Interesting Things You Might Not Know About the 44th President of the United States

After growing up in Hawaii, Obama attended Columbia University and Harvard Law School. His political career began in the Illinois Senate in the mid-1990s, and he announced in 2007 that he would be running for president.

At the time, a presidential bid from a junior lawmaker like Obama raised eyebrows. But his long-shot campaign prevailed. On November 4, 2008, Obama defeated Republican presidential nominee John McCain, 52.9 percent to 45.7 percent, to win election as the 44th president of the United Statesand the first African American to hold this office, reports Biography.com. His running mate, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, became vice president.

Obama won his second presidential campaign in 2012. Barack Obama has won more popular votes than any Democratic candidate for president in historyexcept Barack Obama in 2008, reported The Nation at the time. Barack Obama is the first Democratic president to win more than 50 percent of the popular vote in a re-election run since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944.

But before he was one of Americas most popular politicians, Obama reveals that he once faced the ire of Disneylands security guards.

Obama once got kicked out of Disneyland

Former President Barack Obama | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

RELATED: Youll Never Believe Which Presidents Visited Disneyland (and Whether Donald Trump Made the List)

According to the Chicago Tribune, its well-known that the former president used to be a heavy smoker. While Obama was in college in the 1980s, he paid a visit to Disneylands Magic Kingdom where his smoking habit landed him in hot water.

In 2018, Obama visited Anaheim, California, where he gave a speech just minutes from the entrance to Disneyland.

Im ashamed to say this, so close your ears, young people, but a few of us were smoking on the gondolas [in Disneyland], he says, as quoted in Travel +Leisure. Theres these two very large Disneyland police officers and they say, Sir, can you come with us? And they escort us out of Disneyland. This is a true story, everybody  I was booted from the Magic Kingdom.

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger quick responded to Obamas story

@BarackObama just opened his speech in Anaheim with a story from his college years about getting kicked out of Disneyland for smoking cigarettes on a ride. "This is a true story everybody, I was booted from the Magic Kingdom!" He can always come back, as long as he doesn't smoke!  Robert Iger (@RobertIger) September 8, 2018

RELATED: Disneys Bob Iger Is Still the Most Powerful Person in Hollywood Thanks to Marvel

The same day that Obamas speech in California went viral, Bob Iger  who served as Disneys CEO for 15 years  reached out on Twitter.

He can always come back, as long as he doesnt smoke!, quipped the business executive.

In a sense, Obama was already back. Disney added the former presidents likeness to their Hall of Presidents attraction at Disney World back in 2009. The attraction, located in Disney Worlds Liberty Square, features animatronic, moving statues of every U.S. president.

The Hall of Presidents has a long history of unsatisfying, unsettling or inadequate figurines, reports NPR, pointing out that many fans think the animated statues are slightly terrifying. Former president Donald Trumps robotic figurine was added in 2017. Several supporters expressed surprise that Trump was even added to the lineup, based on a theory that Disney was run by liberals who would never respect the president enough to add him to the exhibit, as it had for every president before him.
People wait for COVID-19 vaccinations at the opening day of a new vaccination site at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif., on March 31, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Orange County Reports 79 New COVID-19 Cases

SANTA ANAOrange County reported 79 new cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths April 18, while coronavirus hospitalizations in the county decreased.

The latest numbers brought the countys totals to 252,963 cases and 4,896 fatalities since the pandemic began, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The number of COVID patients in county hospitals dropped from 134 on April 17 to 124, while the number of those in intensive care dropped from 25 to 23. The county has 35.2 percent of its ICU beds available and 74 percent of its ventilators.

Another 8,032 COVID-19 tests were logged April 18 for a total of 3,542,407.

As of April 15, the countys average daily rate of new COVID cases was 2.9 per 100,000 residents, and the overall positivity rate was 1.5 percent. The positivity rate in underprivileged communities in the health equity category was 1.6 percent, Orange County Chief Executive Frank Kim said.

In terms of positivity rates, there isnt a significant disparity, Kim said.

Andrew Noymer, a University of CaliforniaIrvine professor of population health and disease prevention, said the countys trends continue to offer good news.

Hospitalizations are still holding steady, but not going up appreciably, Noymer said April 15.

The county is pumping more shots in arms as the eligibility has widened to anyone 16 and older, Kim said.

We did almost 16,000 vaccinations yesterday, Kim said. Were taking 16,000 to 17,000 appointments a day, so thats up a couple of thousand.

Kim said staff at the vaccination sites have been trained to make sure anyone who is underage has a parent or legal guardian with them. A letter from a parent will not be accepted, he said.

Noymer said it will likely be a few weeks before its easy to get an appointment for an inoculation.

I have Twitter followers saying they cant get appointments, Noymer said. To some extent, you have to be somewhat tenacious if you want a vaccination within the next few weeks. Just because were going wide doesnt mean you werent going to have go through some rigamarole.

People are just going to need to be patient and keep trying.

As more people get vaccinated, the appointments will open up, Noymer said.

It will come to the point and, quite frankly sooner than later, when anyone can get a shot anytime, where they can basically walk into any retail pharmacy and get a shot, he said.

If things were going to take a turn for the worse, those tests would blindside us with positives, and that hasnt happened, so thats good news, Noymer said.

Noymer said he wouldnt second-guess the federal officials who put a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of six cases of potentially dangerous blood clots among millions of vaccinations.

One thing a lot of people dont realize is just how high the bar is for these vaccines, Noymer said. One-in-a-million blood clots might actually be enough to knock it off the market.

So far, the county has dispensed nearly 2 million doses of vaccine, Kim said.

County-run vaccination sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as usual, but on Thursdays, the OC Fair and Event Center site will be open from noon to 8 p.m., Kim said. The Santa Ana College vaccination site also offers noon to 8 p.m. hours on Mondays, he added.

If the night hours are popular, officials will consider adding more evening hours in the future, Kim said.
The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern):

6:55 p.m.

Ontario is reversing course on sweeping new police powers a day after they were announced.

Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says officers will no longer have the right to stop any pedestrian or vehicle to ask why they are out or request their home address.

Rather, she says police will only be able to stop those who they have reason to believe are participating in an "organized public event or social gathering."

The backtrack comes after politicians from across the spectrum decried the measures as overkill and several police forces said they had no plans to conduct random stops.

6:30 p.m.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says two federal field hospitals will remain in Ontario until at least the end of June.

He says he's extended the deployment of the mobile health units until June 30 as the province deals with a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

The military-style field hospitals are deployed at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto and Hamilton Health Sciences.

6 p.m.

Alberta's chief medical officer of health is reporting 1,486 new COVID-19 cases, as well as three additional deaths.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says in a series of tweets that there are 17,307 active cases in Alberta, with 445 people in hospital, including 94 in intensive care.

She says the province has a test positivity rate of 9.2 per cent out of 16,353 tests.

The province says 977 of the most recent cases involve virus variants of concern.

4 p.m.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province has decided to keep playgrounds open after all.

They were initially among a number of outdoor recreation facilities the government ordered closed as part of an effort to contain a massive spike in COVID-19 cases.

But Ford partially walked the measure back this afternoon, saying on Twitter that the rules will be amended to keep playgrounds open.

He says the enhanced restrictions were always intended to clamp down on large social gatherings where the virus can spread more easily.

---

3:50 p.m.

Saskatchewan is reporting 249 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths.

One of the deaths was a person in their 40s from the province's Central East zone, while the other was over 80 and from the North West zone.

Nearly 10,500 new doses of vaccine have been administered in Saskatchewan since the last report on Friday, raising the total number to 334,063 since immunizations began.

2:30 p.m.

The Canadian Press has learned that the Ontario government is planning to backtrack on new police powers to enforce anti-pandemic measures.

A source with knowledge of the discussions says a "scoping-down"

clarification is currently being approved.

The measures -- which give police the power to stop anyone at random and ask why they're not at home and where they live -- drew intense criticism after Premier Doug Ford unveiled them on Friday.

Civil libertarians and politicians denounced them as overkill.

Police forces across the province also said they would not be stopping drivers or others at random.

2:05 p.m.

Nova Scotia is reporting eight new cases of COVID-19, including a staff member at a long-term care home.

Five of the new infections are in the Eastern zone, two are in the Halifax region and one is in the Western zone.

Four cases are related to travel outside Atlantic Canada, two are related to international travel and two are close contacts of previously reported cases.

Officials say a close contact case in the Halifax region is a staff member at Glasgow Hall, a long-term care home in Dartmouth, which has prompted all residents to be isolated and cared for in their rooms while all residents and staff are tested.

2 p.m.

Manitoba is reporting 183 new COVID-19 cases today and three additional deaths.

According to the province's daily pandemic update, a man in his 60s in the Northern health region and two men in 80s in the Winnipeg region have died.

One of the Winnipeg deaths was connected to an outbreak on a unit at the city's Health Sciences Centre.

Manitoba has 128 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 32 in intensive care.

Officials are reporting a test-positivity rate of 5.3 per cent provincially and 5.4 per cent in Winnipeg.

12:20 p.m.

Public health officials in New Brunswick are reporting 11 new cases of COVID-19 today.

They say eight of the new infections are contacts of previously reported cases, two are travel related and the other is under investigation.

Seven of the new cases are in the Edmundston region, three are in the Saint John area and one is in the Moncton region.

The number of active cases in New Brunswick is 150.

12:05 p.m.

Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq says the territory recorded six new cases of COVID-19 today.

The announcement brings the number of active infections to 19, all in Iqaluit.

The premier says all patients are stable and isolating at home.

12:05 p.m.

Albertas chief medical officer says the province has confirmed a rare blood clot case in a patient who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says the patient, who is in his 60s and is recovering, marks the second Canadian case of the blood clot disorder known as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT.

More than 700,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered across Canada to date.

Hinshaw says the second case does not change the provinces risk assessment, and that she continues to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine for anyone 55 and older.

11 a.m.

Quebec is reporting 1,537 new COVID-19 cases today and eight more deaths attributed to the virus, including five in the past 24 hours.

Health officials say hospitalizations rose by 28, to 692, while the number of patients in intensive care increased by eight to 175.

The province says it administered 70,908 vaccine doses on Friday.

Quebec has reported a total of 335,608 COVID-19 infections and 10,793 deaths linked to the virus since the onset of the pandemic.

10:50 a.m.

Ontario's daily COVID-19 case count is down from yesterday's single-day high, but the province has set a new record for virus-related hospitalizations.

There are currently 2,065 COVID-19 patients in hospital, marking the first time that figure has passed the 2,000 mark.

The province is reporting 4,362 new infections today, down from the record-high 4,812 logged a day earlier.

A number of new public health measures have taken effect across the province today, all of which are meant to contain the surging case counts.

They include new powers allowing police to randomly stop drivers and pedestrians to ensure compliance with the province's extended stay-at-home order, tighter capacity limits on essential retailers and public gatherings, and the closure of outdoor recreation spaces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2021.
Texas Tech University and Premier Oilfield Group have formed a public-private partnership for Techs core repository at 503 S. Marienfeld in downtown Midland.

Tech received the repository from ExxonMobil in 2019, a facility that houses over 230,000 geological rock core samples and cuttings taken from oil wells. The Tech repository  now known as the Texas Tech Core Repository Powered by Premier Oilfield Group  joins Premiers existing collection of over 300,000 well cuttings and core samples at its Midland library.

Randal Wichuk, chief executive officer of Premier Oilfield Group, cited his companys experience in operating its own repositories in enhancing its ability to help Tech.

The value of the data there will grow as we develop and others develop it, he told the Reporter-Telegram by telephone. Its rock, but theres information in those rocks and how decisions are made. Its meaningful to us, to operators in the Permian Basin and future generations.

Lawrence Schovanec, president of Texas Tech, told the Reporter-Telegram in a telephone interview that the partnership between the two offers educational opportunities for the students and research opportunities for the faculty.

More importantly, it increases our connection to the oil and gas community and to Midland, which is important to us, he said.

The partnership includes scholarships for students and a revenue stream from the use and development of the repository.

Between his companys repository and the addition of Techs repository, Wichuk said there are samples from the 1930s and from last week.

He said he loves being around geologists and the excitement they get when they see the samples. They see what we dont see.

Wichuk added, The way I look at it from our side is, we need to develop resources economically, efficiently and in an environmentally friendly way. The best information on doing that is from the subsurface.

Access to these wells and the associated geological data from the core and cuttings is made available through datastak, Premiers proprietary online search engine and marketplace. Premier and Texas Tech will work together to continue expanding this collection and make all samples and data available for access.

The value of the cores the school received from ExxonMobil is enhanced by access to Premiers state-of-the-art laboratories and analyses and the ability to get that information to the industry, which needs that data, Schovanec said.
Permission to Export Flower Would be Huge Catalyst for OWP

LAS VEGAS, NV, March 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  One World Pharma Inc. (OTC: OWPC), (OWP or the Company), a U.S. based, fully licensed, pure-play hemp and cannabis ingredient producer in Colombia, is encouraged by a formal recommendation to allow for the international export of dry cannabis flower. In a recently published letter from the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection to the President of Colombia, related to Law 1787 and Decree 613, the Ministry calls for modifications that would allow for the exportation of dry flower.

One World Pharma believes the freedom to sell its dry flower internationally would be of enormous benefit to the Company and the entire industry in Colombia and would significantly increase the Companys ingredient product offerings in scale, and reduce time to market. Dry flower represents over 50% of the demand in many markets such as the United States, Germany and Australia. Currently, such sales are not allowed.

One World Pharma, through its strategic relationships with small farmers, indigenous groups, FEDECORE, and the Colombian Federation of Regional Advisors, has access to significant acreage for cultivation. Given One World Pharmas operational strengths, the modifications to Colombias laws would make it possible to go from seed to sale within 120 days.

The Company continues to increase its production capacity at its initial farm in Popayan and is currently negotiating contracts that would provide it with its own extraction capabilities.

Permission to export our flower would indeed be a milestone for One World Pharma, said Isiah Thomas, CEO of One World Pharma. We are well-positioned to act on this excellent opportunity with the relationships, technology and genetics to grow the finest flower at scale and leveraging the tremendous equatorial advantages provided by Colombia. This would be a great complement to our existing efforts to sell high quality extracted products under existing law.

About One World Pharma

Formed in 2017, One World Pharma Inc. (OWP) is a fully licensed global supplier of high-quality hemp-derived ingredients for use in the manufacturing of Consumer Packaged Goods (CPGs) and Over-the-Counter (OTC) products. OWP offers a reliable and sustainable supply chain for chemical formulators, food & beverage producers as well as beauty product manufacturers worldwide. The company maintains corporate offices in Las Vegas, NV and Bogota Colombia and a facility in Popayan, Colombia.

One World Pharma Investor Relations & Financial Media

Kurt Divich, CEO

Integrity Media Inc.

team@integritymedia.com

Toll Free: (888) 216-3595

www.IntegrityMedia.com

Information about Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that include information relating to future events. 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: the failure to close the remaining funding installments with ISIAH International, the Company's need for additional funding, the demand for the Company's products, governmental regulation of the cannabis industry, the Company's ability to maintain customer and strategic business relationships, the impact of competitive products and pricing, risks related to operating in Colombia, growth in targeted markets, the adequacy of the Company's liquidity and financial strength to support its growth, and other risks that may be detailed from time-to-time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting One World Pharma, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 2020, which is available at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
The Sunflower State has endured the greatest social safety net FAIL of the pandemic that has been so catastrophic that local charities have emerged to assist victims of ongoing tech crisis.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

On Feb. 2, Homeland Security Investigations put out a be on the lookout alert for Omar Cueva  a 39-year-old who was believed to be smuggling methamphetamine and fentanyl inside a hidden compartment in a vehicle.

Agents believed Cueva had brought the drugs from Arizona and was in the Deming area. The notice said he had an extensive criminal history out of California and is known to carry firearms.

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Officers must develop their own (probable cause) for stop and subsequent search, the notice states.

Two days later, New Mexico State Police officer Darian Jarrott was assisting HSI when he stopped Cueva along Interstate 10, near Deming. He told Cueva he pulled him over because his window tint was too dark.

Within minutes Cueva had shot Jarrott multiple times, killing him. And Cueva would go on to shoot at multiple officers and deputies  wounding one  before he was killed in a wild gunfight in Las Cruces.

State Police officials have confirmed Jarrott was helping HSI on a narcotics operation, but they have not released any more details about that investigation or Jarrotts role.

An attorney for Jarrotts widow has alleged that the officer was sent into an ambush.

This HSI BOLO is another piece of evidence to show how much the (Department) of Homeland Security knew that this guy is dangerous, that he was carrying firearms with him, and yet they did nothing to warn this State Police officer before he walked into this  in fact they encouraged him, attorney Sam Bregman told the Journal.

Bregman said HSI had contact with Cueva between the BOLO being issued and the traffic stop and knew Cueva had a gun on him but failed to warn (Jarrott) of any of it.

Bregman said Jarrotts demeanor during the traffic stop  seen in lapel and dash camera footage  shows he was not prepared by HSI. At one point in the video, Jarrott notices that Cueva is armed and asks him to hand over the rifle at his patrol vehicle.

His actions suggest clearly just watching the video that he had no idea how dangerous this monster was.  Does it look like hes worried? Not really, Bregman said.

In a tort claim notice, Bregman alleges that Jarrott was told by HSI and his supervisors at State Police to create a pretext to pull Cueva over. The claim states he was not told Cueva was an armed and violent felon, carrying a large quantity of drugs and desperate not to be arrested.

The claim states Jarrott was not given suitable backup or any details of the investigation, nor was he informed of Cuevas extensive criminal history of drug trafficking.

That criminal history is reflected in dozens of pages of court records that give glimpses into Cuevas life in California and the trouble he fell into there.

Cueva had dropped out in ninth grade and once told authorities he couldnt read. At one time, he claimed to have worked an apprenticeship at West Coast Rail Constructors. When not behind bars, Cueva told authorities, he lived with his grandmother or the woman with whom he shared an infant child. He had struggled with methamphetamine abuse and had been arrested on suspicion of possession of meth and reckless driving.

Cueva first caught the eye of federal authorities in 2002.

On Oct. 13, 2002, Cueva drove a Nissan Maxima, which had no license plates, from Mexico into a border checkpoint at Calexico, California.

The then-21-year-old told inspectors he was a field worker in El Centro and had just dropped off his cousin in Mexicali.

Cueva couldnt provide a registration for the car but told inspectors he had bought it the month before from a man he knew from work.

Border inspectors found the trunk and glove compartment empty, and Cueva said he had brought nothing back across the border. Authorities said he was nervous and fidgety.

As a result, inspectors used a drug-sniffing dog, which led them to 37 pounds of cocaine hidden in the rocker panel of a car door. During the drive to jail, Cueva asked what was really in the car. When he was told cocaine, Cueva replied, They told me it was marijuana.

Cueva told authorities he came into contact with a person who put him up to the illegal activity and told him where to take the car in California.

At the time of the arrest, Cueva was living in El Centro, California, and had a warrant out for a possession charge and not showing up to court.

A federal judge deemed him a flight risk and ordered he remain behind bars until trial.

During the trial, court records state, Cueva and the government had a debrief session, and agents were continuing to investigate information given to them by Cueva.

Cueva eventually pleaded guilty to importation of cocaine and was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison followed by four years of probation.

Within six months of his release in 2006, an arrest warrant was issued after he violated probation by failing at least two drug tests for methamphetamine and not abiding by almost every condition of his supervised release.

By that time Cueva had also been arrested and accused of trying to cash an $800 stolen check at a casino and fighting with casino security when they tried to detain him.

In the following years, Cueva bounced between supervised release and monthslong prison stays as he violated probation and refused to check into a program or with his probation officers. At one point he absconded from two probation officers at the same time.

Mr. Cuevas behavior clearly demonstrates failure to take supervision seriously and his blatant disregard towards the judicial system, a probation officer wrote. Mr. Cueva was given the opportunity to become compliant; however it is evident that he has failed to take advantage of the opportunities afforded him.

In 2010, while still on probation, Cueva, Jose Cueva and Juan Gomez were chased by police when Gomez, the driver, refused to stop after running a red light. Officers chased the trio  who drove 130 mph at times  until Gomez crashed through a fence, and all three ran into a ravine.

Police arrested the three men soon after and found a duffel bag with 14 pounds of meth in it and a semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine. Omar Cueva was taken to a hospital for a sprained ankle as the other two were brought to a police station.

At the station, Gomez asked what they were being charged with, and an officer replied, possession. Gomez then said, Thats it? and later asked, What if one of us took the hit?  would it help the other two?

In a probation violation report filed after the arrest, authorities said Cueva had failed to take advantage of the valuable opportunity given him when he was put on supervised release.

He once again found himself violating the law with total disregard for law enforcement and the public, recklessly leading police officers on a dangerous vehicle pursuit, a probation officer wrote. Apparently, Mr. Cuevas last federal custody sentence did not have a serious impact on him as he continued his criminal lifestyle rather than changing it and becoming a law-abiding citizen.

For the probation violation, Cueva was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to be held until trial in the methamphetamine case.

In 2011, all three pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful use of a communication facility. Omar and Jose Cueva got 10 years, while Gomez got 12. They were each sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Cuevas attorney filed a motion to reduce his sentence in 2014, but the motion was denied in 2015.

Cueva was released on Aug. 8, 2019, from a medium-security federal prison in Phoenix.

From there, the federal court records and probation violations that had followed him since 2002 go silent.

In the months after his release from prison, Cueva got married, and he and his wife moved to Deming. The couple lived in a nice home along a rural stretch of road southwest of town.

His wifes Facebook profile says she is from El Centro as well, and the two were married in December 2019. A photo collage from Oct. 28, 2020, shows a photo of the couple wearing masks as Cueva embraces his pregnant wifes belly. Another photo shows Cueva holding a baby to his chest as he smiles at the camera.

Although details are scarce on Cuevas life after prison, less than 18 months went by before, authorities say, he was back to smuggling drugs. And their attempts at catching him ended with the first New Mexico State Police officer in more than 30 years shot and killed.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Covid-19 crisis, stressing that ramping up vaccination was the key to battling the pandemic, and mooted steps to boost supply including invoking compulsory licensing provisions as in case of HIV/AIDS drugs.

In a letter to the prime minister, the veteran Congress leader said one must not look at absolute numbers but the total percentage of the population that has been vaccinated.

"The key to our fight against Covid-19 must be ramping up the vaccination effort. We must resist the temptation to look at the absolute numbers being vaccinated, and focus instead on the percentage of the population vaccinated," he said in his letter.

Noting that India currently has vaccinated only a small fraction of its population, Singh said he is certain that with the right policy design, "we can do much better and very quickly".

"There are many things we must do to fight the epidemic but a big part of this effort must be ramping up the vaccination programme," he said while making several suggestions.

The former prime minister suggested that states should be given some flexibility to define categories of frontline workers who can be vaccinated even if they are below 45 years.

Currently, people above 45 years of age are eligible for vaccination.

He said some states may want to designate school teachers, bus, three-wheeler and taxi drivers, municipal and panchayat staff, and possibly lawyers who have to attend courts as frontline workers, and they can then be vaccinated even if they are below 45 years.

The suggestions come a day after the Congress Working Committee met and discussed the efforts required to fight the Covid pandemic.

Singh said the Centre should publicise vaccine dose orders placed and accepted for delivery over the next six months. He said the government should indicate how vaccine supplies are to be distributed to states.

"If we want to vaccinate a target number in this period, we should place enough orders in advance so that producers can adhere to an agreed schedule of supply," he noted.

The former PM said the government should indicate how this expected vaccine supply will be distributed across states based on a transparent formula.

He suggested that the central government could retain 10 percent for distribution based on emergency needs, and states should have a clear signal of likely availability so that they can plan their rollout.

Noting that India has emerged as the largest vaccine producer in the world, he said at this time of a public health emergency, the government must proactively support vaccine producers to expand their manufacturing facilities quickly by providing funds and other concessions.

"I believe this is the time to invoke the compulsory licensing provisions in the law so that a number of companies are able to produce the vaccines under a licence. This, I recall, had happened earlier in the case of medicines to deal with the HIV/AIDS disease," he said.

Citing Israel's example, which has already invoked the compulsory licensing provision, he said there is an overwhelming case for India to do so as well quickly.

With domestic supplies being limited, Singh said any vaccine that has been cleared for use by credible authorities such as the European Medical Agency or the USFDA, should be allowed to be imported without insisting on domestic bridging trials.

"We are facing an unprecedented emergency and, I understand, experts are of the view that this relaxation is justified in an emergency.

The relaxation could be for a limited period during which the bridging trials could be completed in India," he said.

A warning to all consumers of such vaccines be given that these vaccines are being allowed for use based on the approval granted by the relevant authority abroad, he said.

Singh said he is forwarding his suggestions for consideration in a spirit of constructive cooperation in which he has always believed and acted upon.

"I hope the government will accept these suggestions immediately and act on them promptly," he said.

Singh recalled how over the year, the world and India have been grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic with many parents not seeing their children in over a year.

Many have lost their source of livelihood, and several millions have been pushed back into poverty, he said, noting that with the second surge being currently witnessed, "people are beginning to wonder when their lives will get back to normal".

India has seen a massive surge of Covid-19 cases with over two lakh cases being reported every day in the past four days.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has expressed the hope that the government will adhere to the suggestions.

"Whether the government is open to good suggestions will be known from the action taken on the letter. Also, whether the government is serious about containing the spread of the pandemic will also be known from its response," he said.
The herald who proclaimed Prince Philips styles and titles as his coffin descended into the royal vault spoke yesterday of the honour he felt at being part of a moment of history.

Thomas Woodcock, 69, has been Garter Principal King of Arms since 2010 and will retire later this year.

As Garter, he is a member of the royal household and the principal adviser to the Queen on ceremonial matters and heraldry.

Thomas Woodcock, 69, has been Garter Principal King of Arms since 2010 and will retire later this year, pictured, read out the list of Prince Philip's titles and honours

Mr Woodcock did not take part in the funeral procession on Saturday, but was seated in St Georges Chapel, Windsor, behind the Archbishop of Canterbury, as he waited to perform his role

He wore his ceremonial dress of a tabard bearing the royal coat of arms, black breeches and stockings, and a black sash, or mourning scarf. He carried a sceptre, a badge of his office

Mr Woodcock did not take part in the funeral procession on Saturday, but was seated in St Georges Chapel, Windsor, behind the Archbishop of Canterbury, as he waited to perform his role.

He wore his ceremonial dress of a tabard bearing the royal coat of arms, black breeches and stockings, and a black sash, or mourning scarf. He carried a sceptre, a badge of his office.

Prince Philip's titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter; Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle Member of the Order of Merit Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order upon whom had been conferred the Royal Victorian Chain Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom One of Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council Admiral of the Fleet; Field Marshal in the Army; Marshal of the Royal Air Force Husband of Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second Advertisement

The list of styles and titles included Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich and Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, as well as more familiar ones such as Admiral of the Fleet.

The final one was Husband of Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second..., whereupon a long list of the Queens styles and titles followed.

Yesterday Mr Woodcock told the Daily Mail: The concept of a senior herald proclaiming styles and titles goes back centuries. It was wonderful and an honour to participate in a moment of history.

It was a particularly moving service, and I felt in some ways more so than if it had been a huge one. It made it somehow more sombre with everyone [the family] in civilian dress.

During his research for the funeral, Mr Woodcock referred to Heralds Of England. The book includes an image of the funeral of Princess Charlotte, daughter of future King George IV, at St Georges in 1817, which shows the heralds wearing mourning scarves similar to Mr Woodcocks.

Since 1843, Garters have attended royal funerals without the other heralds; in the case of the sovereigns, they all attend. The College of Arms was founded in 1484. The heralds mainly work on granting coats of arms and genealogical research. Mr Woodcocks duties also include attending the State Opening of Parliament.

The officers are self-employed but are also paid nominal, historical salaries of less than 50 by the Crown.
Amaravati, April 18 : Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday said suspended IPS officer A B Venkateshwar Rao pressurized his then subordinate officers to falsely implicate Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family in the murder of his uncle and former MP Y S Vivekananda Reddy.

Rao, as the then intelligence chief of state police, pressurised then Superintendent of Police of Kadapa district Rahul Dev Sharma and other officers to implicate Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family in the murder case.

The police dismissed the allegations by the suspended IPS officer. Deputy Inspector General (Technical services), Palaraju, former SP Rahul Dev Sharma and representative of IPS officers association Ammireddy addressed a news conference to deny the allegations levelled by the former intelligence chief of the state police.

In a nine-page letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CB) director, Venkateshwar Rao had alleged that the important information pertaining to the murder of Vivekananda Reddy was ignored.

The police officials said the timeline of the case exposed ABV. "For 15 days after the murder, ABV was running the entire investigation and passing orders to the then Kadapa SP and others. Why didn't he use important information that he had on the murder when he was an active part of the investigation," asked Palaraju.

"While leaving, it is mandatory for any officer to disclose every single detail to the successor. Why didn't he do that? For three month after the murder, the then government was in power. Nine months after the present government took over also the case was with us. Since the last one year, it has been with the CBI. What took ABV more than two years to come out with this information," wondered the DIG.

Questioning the manner in which the letter was made public and the timing of the same, the officer said when ABV was investigating the case, he tried to implicate Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was then the Leader of Opposition.

"Even today, if he actually wants to provide evidence, he could do so in sealed cover to the CBI. Why does he have to go to media? That shows the intention," the officer said.

Venkateshwar Rao was suspended in February 2020 on charges of violating the All India Services rules, a few months after Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party came to power in the state.

Vivekananda Reddy, a former state minister and a former MP was found murdered at his residence in Kadapa on March 15, 2019, a few days before the election.

The 68-year-old leader was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him. He was killed hours before he was to launch YSR Congress Party's election campaign in Kadapa.

Though three Special Investigation Teams (SITs) conducted the probe they failed to solve the mystery.

On the direction of Andhra Pradesh High court, the CBI in July last year began probe into the case.

Vivekananda Reddy's daughter N. Suneetha Reddy early this month found fault with the delay in the probe by the CBI.

She reiterated that she has doubts about some of her family members.
Burma Myanmar Junta Turns Auspicious New Year into Nightmare of Bloodshed

At least 26 people were killed by the junta's forces in five days of Thingyan holiday.

Myanmars military junta marked what has traditionally been one of the countrys most joyful and auspicious holidays by brutally killing at least another 26 citizens, sending the death toll since the Feb. 1 coup to 738.

That number is expected to climb higher because several people were still missing and several others were severely wounded and may not survive.

The five-day Thingyan water festival is usually celebrated with joyful outdoor events, dominated by people splashing water on each other to symbolize the washing away of bad luck from the previous year, offering prayers, and welcoming a new year. Similar celebrations are seen in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

However, this year Thingyan has been muted in most cities across the country as people called off celebrations in an act of defiance against the regime and as a way of honoring those murdered by the military junta.

Instead of festivities, people marked Thingyan with daily protests against the re-imposition of the military dictatorship.

Their peaceful demonstrations, though, were not spared by the regime, turning the water festival holidays into a nightmare of bloodshed.

On Tuesday, the eve of Thingyan, Myitnge, a small town in Mandalay Region, saw its first violent deaths since the coup. Five civilians were killed when the regimes forces opened fire on residents while looting public donations that were intended for the towns striking railway staff. The donations had been kept at a monastery.

During the gunfire, more than a dozen were wounded. Myitnge had staged protests daily against the military regime.

In the border town of Tamu, a town in Myanmars northwest along the border with India, a Gurkha couple were shot dead by troops. The pair were riding a motorbike and returning home after collecting cows milk to sell in their community.

In Yangon region, U Nyein Htet, 44, was shot dead by regime forces while he was waiting for a bus at the MinLan bus stop in Bahan Township on the eve of Thingyan.

The shooting happened around 5 p.m. Soldiers and police were stopping passing vehicles on U Chit Maung Road as they conducted inspections after a series of explosions. Troops fired at a car that drove away and hit U Nyein Htet as he waited for the bus. His body was taken away and later returned to the family. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters, aged 8 and 14.

On Wednesday, the first day of Thingyan, another man was shot dead and one was wounded in Myitnge of Mandalay region, when troops opened fire during a raid in Thazin ward. According to local residents, soldiers and police raided a mosque and reportedly took away donations.

On the same day, a 25-year-old man was killed in Myingyan township in Mandalay region. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) stated in their latest fatalities report that he was driving a motorbike when he was shot and tied up, then dragged away and tortured to death.

A 28-year-old female in Myingyan was also shot in the arm and died on Wednesday in Myingyan, the AAPP stated. Her body was taken away by junta forces.

On Thursday, the second day of Thingyan, a total of nine people were killed, including six in Sagaing Regions Kani Township, two in Myingyan Township and one in Maha Aung Myay Township of Mandalay region.

The six deaths in Kani township on Thursday occurred during a shootout between the regimes forces and a civilian protection group formed by anti-regime protesters. After the shootout at least 20 people went missing.

The shootout came after security forces detained more than 70 protesters, including leading members of the protest committee in Kani Township. The group tried to release them and waited at the checkpoint on the Kani-Monywa highway.

A victim shot dead in Maha Aung Myay Township was a 20-year-old Muslim youth, Ko Ko Htet. He was shot in the chest when soldiers randomly opened fire in the compound of Sule Mosque. At least four others were wounded during the raid.

On New Years Day, Saturday, at least three people were killed and four were injured when the juntas troops attacked anti-regime protesters in Mogoke, a ruby town in Mandalay. The soldiers and police were firing on civilians who were dispersing after an anti-regime protest.

Ko Aung Ko Ko Phyo, 25, died on Saturday night after being shot in the head about 9 p.m. in Kyaukme, northern Shan State, when he and two other friends were on a motorbike. His two friends were detained by soldiers and their details are unknown.

Another two people were killed in Kani Township of Sagaing reigon on Saturday. One was shot during a shootout, while another was arrested first and later died.

A 20-year-old, Ko Tun Oo, was shot by the regimes forces in Myingyan Township on Sunday during a crackdown on an anti-regime protest. He is in a critical condition, according to a rescue association. Another young man also wounded when junta forces opened fire on protesters in No. 8 ward in Myingyan. The regimes crackdown in Myingan has left as least 25 dead since March 3. No fatalities had been reported as of late Sunday.

In addition to taking lives during the traditional religious event welcoming a new year, the junta also made more arrests, sweeping up protest leaders, student protesters, rights activists, celebrities, youths, doctors and media personnel.

As of Saturday, 3,152 people were under detention by the regime.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Military Artillery Kills Kachin Civilians

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At the worst moment in the COVID-19 pandemic, Peruvians voted Sunday for a new president in the most fragmented elections in their recent history and without any favorites.

Among the 18 contenders, no one accumulates more than 50% of intended votes, a figure necessary to win in the first round.

Two candidates are therefore expected to head to a second vote on the 6th June to replace interim President Francisco Sagasti.

All seats in Peru's congress, too, are being contested.

Some residents had to wait for hours to cast their ballots and at least one president in charge of a voting center said he didn't have proper assistance to open the voting to people.

The election comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and meager progress in their vaccination programs.

Lockdowns have returned, threatening further damage to the nations' already battered economies.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken defended President Joe Biden's decision to completely withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan despite pushback from the Pentagon and intelligence community.

'What everyone recognizes is there's no military resolution to the conflict,' Blinken told ABC News' 'This Week' on Sunday morning.

'So if they start something up again, they're going to be in a long war that's not in their interest,' he continued in reference to concerns the Taliban is planning to immediately topple the Afghan government after the U.S. exists.

'If the Taliban is going to participate in some fashion in governance, if it wants to be internationally recognized, if it doesn't want to be a pariah, it's going to have to engage in a political process,' he said.

At the same time, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who was reportedly the decision to withdraw all troops by September, also backed Biden on Sunday.

'I can tell you that President Biden has no intention of sending forces back to Afghanistan but at the same time, he has no intention of taking our eye off the ball,' Sullivan told 'Fox News Sunday' host Chris Wallace. 'We have the capacity from repositioning our capabilities over the horizon to continue to suppress the terrorist threat in Afghanistan.'

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken defended Joe Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021: 'What everyone recognizes is there's no military resolution to the conflict'

At the same time, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told Fox News on Sunday: 'I can tell you that President Biden has no intention of sending forces back to Afghanistan but at the same time, he has no intention of taking our eye off the ball'

He did, however, added some warning and caveat to the defense.

'I can't make any guarantees about what will happen inside the country,' Sullivan said. 'No one can.'

'All the United States could do is provide the Afghan security forces, the Afghan government and the Afghan people resources and capabilities, training and equipping their forces, providing assistance to their government,' he added.

'We have done that and now it is time for American troops to come home and the Afghan people to step up to defend their own country.'

In deciding to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the Spetember 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Biden ignored the advice of the Pentagon's top brass and some of his closest advisers.

Retired Army Major General Mark Quantock, who was in charge of operations against the Taliban, claims extremist groups, who already celebrate 9/11, are lauding the move to withdrawal.

Multiple sources told U.S. News in a report last week that leaders at the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies pressured Biden not to withdraw troops  especially not before the end of the year.

The U.S. intelligence community released its annual assessment Wednesday where it said withdrawal risks a resurgence of that terrorism threat that could further go undetected by U.S. forces once pulled from Afghanistan.

'When the time comes for the U.S. military to withdraw, the U.S. government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That is simply a fact,' CIA Director Bill Burns said.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Mark Milley, reportedly gave an 'emotional' argument in a March meeting with Biden to allow U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan.

Cabinet members have also appealed to Biden over the last few months to give the mission more time to achieve a peaceful settlement with the Taliban to allow for a more orderly American withdrawal.

Biden's announcement for a withdrawal by September 11, 2021 does exceed the May 1 deadline set in an agreement between former President Donald Trump and the Taliban.

Biden announced, against the advice of top brass at the Pentagon and the intelligence community, that he is withdrawing all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021  the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks

While speaking with CNN on Thursday, Sullivan said the dynamics between the U.S. and Afghanistan will change without a military presence there, but still defended his boss' decision.

'It is simply a fact that our ability to deal with the threat on the ground will change when there aren't U.S. forces and coalition forces there,' Sullivan said. 'But we believe our posture will remain at a level where we can suppress the terrorist threat in Afghanistan.'

Blinken took an unannounced trip to Kabul last week where he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other leaders to recommit to relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan despite the forces withdrawal.

The secretary of State told ABC on Sunday the administration will maintain 'the means to see if there is a resurgence, a reemergence of a terrorist threat from Afghanistan ... in real time, with time to take action.'
Part two of two

A century ago, the 19th Amendment ushered in womens right to vote and, indirectly, their right to serve on a jury.

The amendment, ratified in 1920, led to the change in Pennsylvania law. Lackawanna County did not delay, calling eight women to jury duty on Jan. 10, 1921. Emily Wilcox of Scranton and Hannah Wilson of Dunmore made it through jury selection and, along with 10 male jurors, returned a verdict in a civil case pitting a building company against a woman who refused to pay the bill. Wilcox served as the foreman of that jury, in fact.

A few days after that case was decided, court officials began preparing for an upcoming court session featuring up to 148 criminal trials, according to a list compiled in late January by District Attorney Harold Scragg, a Jan. 19, 1921, Scranton Times article reported.

Five were homicide cases, meaning that, for the first time ever, women could help decide a verdict on cases that carried harsh sentences, including death by the electric chair. Thirteen women were selected to appear as potential jurors in the first two weeks of the sessions, the newspaper reported.

Among the most serious criminal cases scheduled for trial: Salvatore Arcidiaco, charged with killing one man and wounding another in Jessup with a stiletto and a revolver; Michael Kaszelica, accused of killing his son; and Martin Moyle, accused of killing a man with a mine sprag in Mayfield.

The potential for longer, more complicated cases brought a unique issue to the surface  a lack of facilities for (womens) comfort, as Newcomb phrased it in a Jan. 31, 1921, Scranton Times story. As the new session of court began, The Scranton Times wrote an editorial calling attention to the issue.

A woman attendant should be named and a retiring room installed, the editorial published Jan. 25, 1921, said. Next week criminal court will open. This will be a severe test for women jurors and both court and county commissioners will be at fault if some plan is not immediately devised to properly protect the health and comfort of women.

Officials did not move quickly enough. On Jan. 31, 1921, jury selection began in the Arcidiaco case. Mary James, a housekeeper from Dickson City, was called as a potential juror, followed immediately by Nellie Papezak, a Scranton native and bookkeeper, according to a Jan. 31, 1921, Scranton Times story.

Judge E.C. Newcomb made a suggestion to solve the problem of lacking comfort facilities.

 With propriety I think that counsel on both sides should agree to the challenging of women because of the lack of facilities for their comfort, the judge said when James was called, according to the newspaper. Scragg, for the commonwealth, and the attorneys for the defendant agreed.

It isnt clear when the courthouse improved its offerings of restrooms and jury lounges for women, or when the first woman served as a juror in a criminal trial.

But in April 1944, women again made history in the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Out of an evenly split pool of potential jurors  40 men, 40 women  prosecutors and defense attorneys winnowed the jury down to 14 women who served as jurors and alternates in a murder trial.

The group consisted of Lena Naher, Loretta McGowan, Kittie Donovan, Verna Jenkins, Mary Snyder, Mary Golden, Dusha Thomas, Anna Schultz, Maude Price and Irma Igler, all of Scranton; Lydia Cooke of Dunmore; Margaret Bower of South Abington Twp.; Ruth Swift of Jessup and Edith C. James of Factoryville.

Never within the memory of veteran court attaches has an all-female jury been picked in Lackawanna County, The Scranton Times reported on April 11, 1944. Even Judge M.J. Eagen, who was presiding, emitted a low whistle of surprise after the 12 jurors and two ... alternate jurors ... had seated themselves inside the jury box.
After postponing the CBSE board examinations, the Union Education Ministry has decided to postpone the Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) in India and abroad. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) not to conduct the JEE Mains examination in view of the rising Covid cases. The JEE Mains examination was scheduled to be held on April 27, 28 and 30 this year.

According to the Education Ministry, the students will be informed about the next date of examinations 15 days in advance.

On the entrance test, Nishank said, "JEE (Main) 2021 April session date will be announced later. It will be announced at least 15 days before the exam and all students will be informed about it."

The Union Education Minister said, "In view of the Covid surge, I have advised the NTA to postpone the examination for the JEE (Main) April 2021 session. I would like to reiterate that the safety of our students and their academic career is my major concern right now."

The results of the JEE Main Exam Season 2, which was held in March this year, have been declared. The entrance exams were also conducted for the first time in foreign cities like Kuala Lumpur and Lagos. These exams were conducted in 12 foreign cities and 334 Indian cities in collaboration with the Government of India.

In this examinations held by the NTA, 13 students topped the exam by scoring 100 per cent marks. The JEE Main examination was conducted by the NTA from March 16 to 18, 2021. A total of more than 6.19 lakh candidates had registered for BE and B.Tech degree course through this examination.
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Last week Liam Cooper attacked Channel 9 for 'covering up' a leaked homophobic rant recorded by a fellow groom.

And Married At First Sight fans also seemed irate when Sunday night's reunion again failed to address the infamous video obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia.

'So I guess were just sweeping the video under the rug, huh?' asked one fan on Twitter.

In his corner: Married At First Sight fans seemed to agree with Liam Cooper [L, with Georgia Fairweather], based on their reaction when Sunday night's reunion again failed to address the infamous homophobic rant video that featured Georgia

In the two-minute video, Jason Engler, 35, calls Liam, 29, a 'full-blown homosexual' - even though he has made it clear he is attracted to both women and men - and ridicules him for 'not going to the gym' and calls him 'ugly' and 'chubby'.

The clip also features Liam's bride Georgia Fairweather and fellow MAFS star Johnny Balbuziente, who giggle along with a visibly drunk Jason.

However, the issue of the video was not raised, despite Liam and Georgia taking to the couch during the episode and being grilled by the reality TV hit's 'experts'.

Angry: Last week Liam attacked Channel 9 for 'covering up' a leaked homophobic rant recorded by a fellow groom

Let off: However the issue of the video was not raised on Sunday, despite Liam and Georgia taking to the couch during the episode and being grilled by the reality TV hit's 'experts'

Instead, Liam praised Georgia for 'accepting' him during their 'marriage'.

The prison case officer said that as a queer man, 'you go through a lot to get where you are. It's not an easy process. And Georgia didn't judge'.

'I wanted to be accepted and yeah, Georgia did it'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel 9 for comment as to why there was no mention of the leaked video.

Changing his tune? Instead, Liam praised Georgia for 'accepting' him during their 'marriage'

Leaked: In the video in question, Liam's fellow groom Jason uses a homophobic slur against his bisexual co-star and calling him 'ugly' and 'chubby'

It was a far cry from Wednesday's reunion dinner party, when Cooper refused to acknowledge his ex-wife.

Following the episode airing, Liam attacked producers of the show and their editing tactics for not showing what really happened.

In a leaked Snapchat video, posted just minutes after the episode aired, Liam expressed his anger for the way producers edited his arrival at the dinner party and failed to mention the reason he was angry during the show's reunion.

'How in God's name are you guys covering this edit up?' he says in the clip.

'Like [the dinner party] was solely based around the (homophobic) video that came out from Georgia, Johnny, Jason, that video was f**king disgusting,' he continued.

Fury: In a leaked Snapchat video, posted just minutes after the episode aired, Liam expressed his anger for the way producers edited his arrival at the dinner party and failed to mention the reason he was angry during the show's reunion

Backing him up: 'So i guess were just sweeping the video under the rug, huh?' asked one fan on Twitter

Explaining his version of events, Liam said: 'Tonight at the very start of the dinner party, we all went to town and questioned Jason about the video.'

'I pulled Georgia up on this video.... Georgia sat there and said that she was sorry. And then I said to her, "now you're only sorry, because you've been caught out", and then everyone else jumped in and we talked about it.'

'Jason just sat there with a smug look on his face and didn't even want to talk about it,' he said.

Liam told his followers he was 'disgusted' that he was edited to make it look like he walked into the room and ignored his former bride for drama.

Demands: Fans echoed that sentiment during the reunion episode, with one tweeting, 'Are we seriously not going to discuss Jasons homophobic rant video with Liam?!!'

Fans echoed that sentiment during the reunion episode, with one tweeting, 'Are we seriously not going to discuss Jasons homophobic rant video with Liam?!!'

'Why are they still not acknowledging the homophobic video with Georgia and Jason and Johnny against Liam?' demanded another.

One fan took it a step further, demanding that LGBTQ stars boycott the show.

'If #MAFS is going to allow something like the video to go unchecked I dont want queer people on the show. They obviously dont have an issue with homophobia so they dont care about creating lgbtq+ safe environments,' they wrote.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A motorcyclist who police reported as critically injured after a collision with an SUV on Friday has since died.

Michigan state police on Saturday, April 17 said 45-year-old Jacob Fortier died on Saturday, April 17.

Police said he was riding a motorcycle south on Plainfield Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Friday when a Dodge Durango attempted a left hand turn onto the westbound I-96 entrance ramp.

Police said the Durango driver failed to yield to the motorcyclist, who had the right-of-way.

The Durango driver, a 39-year-old Rockford woman, had minor injuries.

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Syracuse, N.Y.  A man pointed what was later discovered to be an airsoft gun at another driver Saturday afternoon during a road rage incident near the 7th North Street exit on Interstate 81, deputies said.

The incident was reported just before 2:30 p.m. when the other driver, also a man, exited I-81 and drove to Destiny USA to call 911, according to Onondaga County Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Jon Seeber.

Deputies found no evidence of shots being fired, Seeber said.

The man who pointed the air gun was later found and arrested, Seeber said.

The identities of both men were not immediately released by the sheriffs office.

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.
Manchester United moved within eight points of Premier League leaders Manchester City as Mason Greenwood's double inspired a 3-1 win over Burnley, while Eddie Nketiah's last-gasp goal gave Arsenal a 1-1 draw against struggling Fulham on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are unlikely to catch City, but Greenwood's late winner puts a little pressure on their bitter rivals with six games left.

Greenwood had opened the scoring early in the second half at Old Trafford before James Tarkowski equalised moments later.

Greenwood's second made him the joint-top scoring teenager in Premier League history for United, level with Wayne Rooney on 15 goals.

Edinson Cavani grabbed the third goal in stoppage-time as second placed United won six consecutive Premier League games for the first time since January 2019.

"Fantastic for Mason, two very good goals coming in off the left," Solskjaer said. "He's maturing all the time. It's lovely to see."

Although they have probably left it too late to overhaul City, United are on course for a second place finish and could still win the first silverware of Solskjaer's reign.

They face Roma in the Europa League semi-finals after easing past Granada in the quarter-final second leg on Thursday.

"We've always said this year has to be progress and improvement. We've already got as many points as last season. That's progress," Solskjaer said.

"We want to finish with a trophy in the Europa League. We've got loads to focus on."

Amid talk of United being one of six Premier League teams who have agreed to join a proposed European Super League that would replace the Premier League, Solskjaer's team looked far from elite in a scrappy first half.

They were fortunate not to fall behind in the opening minute when Chris Wood's header was disallowed for offside after keeper Dean Henderson failed to reach Matt Lowton's cross.

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Greenwood opened the scoring in the 48th minute with a clinical close-range finish after Bruno Fernandes cleverly dummied Marcus Rashford's pass.

The England forward's fourth goal in his last six appearances was cancelled out 114 seconds later.

Burnley defender James Tarkowski out-muscled Harry Maguire as he climbed high to head Ashley Westwood's corner past Henderson from six yards.

Greenwood restored United's lead in the 84th minute when his shot deflected in off Jack Cork before Cavani slotted home from Donny van de Beek's pass in the final moments.

- Fulham hearts broken -

Arsenal were seconds away from a first ever home defeat against Fulham as they laboured to find a response to Josh Maja's second half penalty.

But Nketiah's leveller pushed Fulham closer to relegation deep into stoppage-time.

It was a major setback for third bottom Fulham, who are six points from safety and have just five games left to beat the drop.

Fifth bottom Brighton travel to Chelsea on Tuesday and, like fourth bottom Burnley, will still have a game in hand on Fulham after that match.

"I'm disappointed and gutted," Fulham boss Scott Parker said. "I've just seen their goal back. Rob Holding looks offside to me.

"That's what's disappointing. We were so close, it's painful."

Ninth placed Arsenal are nine points adrift of the top four and their best hope of reaching next season's Champions League is winning the Europa League, where they face Villarreal in the semi-finals.

Fulham midfielder Mario Lemina burst into the penalty area in the 59th minute before making a theatrical tumble after Gabriel stood on his foot.

After a lengthy VAR review, Maja took the penalty, lifting it high into the net for his first goal in nine games and only his third since arriving on loan from Bordeaux in February.

But Fulham's nerve cracked with seconds left in seven minutes of stoppage-time.

Bobby Decordova-Reid needlessly conceded a corner and from the set-piece, Arsenal keeper Mat Ryan came up and remarkably rose highest for a header that reached Granit Xhaka.

When Xhaka's low drive was pushed out by Alphonse Areola, Nketiah was on hand to break Fulham's hearts as he tapped in from close-range.

smg/dj
Colombo Port City will herald new era for SL View(s):

Sri Lanka is set to achieve unprecedented economic gains from the Colombo Port City which will be transformed as a centre of excellence in doing business with all necessary facilities made for doing business easily available under one roof, State Minister of Finance Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.

Rejecting opposition concerns over the Port City Economic Commission Bill and that provides provisions for the establishment of a Chinese colony in Colombo, he noted that the reclaimed city area is under the authority of the government and the countrys rule of law.

The Economic Commission comprising eight competent and qualified members appointed by the president has been vested with necessary powers to grant approvals needed to set up business ventures at the 269 hectares of reclaimed area without any hindrance.

Chinese developer of the project, CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd has already made an investment of US$980 million out of the total cost of $1.4 billion of the project, he disclosed adding that all investors will be granted tax exemptions and other facilities to carry out their businesses at the city. However he noted that the Government will get 1 per cent of the total revenues of such businesses and the land slots will be leased out to investors for a 40 year period.

There will not be any infringement to Sri Lankas sovereignty from the functions of the economic commission which is coming under the purview of the president, he emphasised.

Proposed laws for the $1.4 billion port city at reclaimed land at Colombos sea front have been devised in accordance with the countrys Constitution and it will facilitate foreign investment and doing business.

The proposed Bill to set up the Economic Commission has been given powers for business registrations and it is accountable to the state and the President, headed. This is an investment hub for foreign capital so that foreign investors will have to be given the expected returns for their money, he said pointing out that Sri Lanka needs to come out of its shell and compete with other countries.

Parliament will not be deprived of its control over public finances as the money accrued from the business transactions at the port city will be credited to the Consolidated Fund, he disclosed.

There will not be abuse of power by members of the commission and the president can remove any member of the commission in case of irregularity. The Port city administration will be a transparent system with checks and balances, he said. According to the bill, enactments which shall have no application within the area of authority of the Colombo Port City include the Urban Development Authority Act and the Municipal Council Ordinance. (BS)
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The United States has ordered its non-essential staff in Chad to leave the African country as rebel fighters approached the capital on Sunday after early election results showed President Idriss Deby on course to extend his three-decade rule.

Mr Deby, who seized power in 1990 at the head of an armed rebellion, is a staunch ally of France and the United States in the fight against Islamist militants in the arid Sahel region.

Due to their growing proximity to NDjamena and the possibility for violence in the city, non-essential U.S. government employees have been ordered to leave Chad by commercial airline, the U.S. state department said in a statement.

The British government on Saturday urged its citizens to leave because, it said, two armed convoys from the rebel Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) were advancing towards the capital.

One convoy was seen approaching the town of Mao, about 220 km (137 miles) to the north of NDjamena, it said.

Large numbers of heavily armed Chad security forces were patrolling the streets of the capital on Sunday morning, a Reuters witness said.

Chads army said it had destroyed a rebel convoy in the north of Kanem province on Saturday afternoon.

The column was totally decimated, army spokesman Azim Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement late on Saturday.

Partial provisional results have given Mr Deby a strong lead in the April 11 poll despite signs of growing discontent over his handling of the nations oil wealth.

Mr Deby, one of Africas longest-serving leaders, has successfully put down a string of rebellions since taking power, sometimes with military assistance from France.

French air strikes helped the Chad army to repel a rebel incursion from Libya in February 2019.

FACT, which is based on Chads northern frontier in Libya, attacked a Chadian border post on the evening of April 11, just as polling stations were closing.

On Friday FACT said it had seized a garrison of Gouri in the countrys north.

The enemy, despite the logistical support of the French Air Force, was totally routed, FACT spokesperson, Kingabe Ogouzeimi de Tapol, said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Frances defence ministry on Sunday declined to comment on whether it was involved.

Reuters
The Service NSW app has broken down, leaving thousands of people unable to cash in on their Dine and Discover vouchers, check into venues or show their digital driver's licence to police.

The app allows people to check into a venue for COVID tracking reasons, display their licence, pay for fines or redeem up to $100 on meals or other experiences through the Dine and Discover scheme.

Service NSW said the app was experiencing an outage and asked people to check-in to venues using a webform on their browser for COVID tracking.

The Service NSW app has broken down, leaving thousands of people unable to cash in on their free Dine and Discover vouchers

People complained on social media that the outage ruined their plans for the night.

'I need this app to show my license to police when pulled over on the way to work Monday,' one person said.

'Any chance of this being fixed tonight because friends and I are about to go out,' wrote another.

The Dine and Discover scheme gives all adults in New South Wales four $25 vouchers to spend at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs or other tourist experiences.

They can be redeemed seven-days-a-week at any business which has signed up and are valid until June 30.

The app was fixed hours after first breaking down on Sunday night, a Service NSW spokesperson confirmed.

'We can confirm that the Service NSW app is now back up. We apologise for any inconvenience the outage might have caused,' the spokesperson said.
A group likely trying to send a message to a defense expert in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin splashed the wrong house in animal blood, police say.

A little after 3 a.m. Saturday, Santa Rosa police responded to a call from a home in west Santa Rosa. The victim said they'd been awoken by the sound of individuals splashing blood and throwing a decapitated pig's head at the front of their home. Police said in a statement the home once belonged to Barry Brodd, who recently made headlines for his controversial testimony defending Chauvin's actions on the day George Floyd died.

"Mr. Brodd has not lived at the residence for a number of years and is no longer a resident of California," the Santa Rosa Police Department said in a statement. "Because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted."

Brodd was a key expert for Chauvin's defense team, which is arguing his restraint of Floyd was not excessive force and did not constitute murder. Brodd served 22 years in the Santa Rosa Police Department before retiring in 2004; he bills himself as a private consultant and expert in use-of-force. His testimony contradicted a parade of authorities from both inside and outside the Minneapolis Police Department.

Brodd stoutly defended Chauvin's actions, even as a prosecutor pounded away at the witness, banging the lectern at one point during cross-examination and growing incredulous when Brodd suggested Floyd was struggling because he wasn't resting comfortably on the pavement.

Several top Minneapolis police officials, including the police chief, have testified that Chauvin used excessive force and violated his training. And medical experts called by prosecutors have said that Floyd died from a lack of oxygen because of the way he was restrained.

After Brodd's testimony, Santa Rosa Police Chief Rainer Navarro issued a statement denouncing him. "Mr. Brodds comments do not reflect the values and beliefs of the Santa Rosa Police Department," Navarro said.

In addition to the blood splattered on Brodd's former residence, Santa Rosa police say a large statue of a hand in front of the Santa Rosa Plaza mall was also vandalized with suspected animal blood that night; they believe it may have been done by the same suspects based on witness descriptions. Police did not release suspect descriptions.

Because the damage exceeds $400, the suspects could be charged with felony vandalism. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police tip line.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

With Earth Week underway, there are plenty of ills that ail the old mothership.

Scientists from Los Alamos National Labs have joined a coalition of research organizations looking to tackle one of the more serious of those ills: the proliferation of plastic waste.

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Los Alamos biochemist Taraka Dale will discuss the issue Monday from 5:30-7 p.m. in a free, public talk via Webex. A 14-year veteran of the Labs, Dale has a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Colorado.

There are a couple of different threads that have all converged, specifically where Los Alamos fits in, Dale said. The lead of the project, the National Renewable Energy Lab has known that standing bacteria can degrade plastics for the past few years. What theyve learned is there are certain types of proteins that serve certain functions in cells. They can bind plastic and break it down into really, really small particles.

Every year, the world produces 300 million tons of plastic waste, nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Researchers estimate that 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced since the 1950s and about 60% of that has ended up either in a landfill or the natural environment.

Dale, who is also the labs team lead for an alliance of scientific organizations fighting plastic pollution, called the BOTTLE Consortium, will show how the labs Smart Microbial Cell Technology could eventually drastically reduce the plastic pollution problem.

The challenge is these proteins or enzymes that do this breakdown act really slowly, she said. Weve been focused on making these enzymes work faster and finding new enzymes that naturally work faster. At Los Alamos National Labs, we have a real strength in ID-ing proteins that perform better. Were a perfect fit to help this project find new and faster properties that can degrade the plastic quicker.

The talk is being held in conjunction with the Bradbury Science Museum as part of an ongoing series of community outreach talks, Science on Tap, that for years has been held monthly at area brew pubs. The COVID-19 outbreak forced the talks online and the audience is bigger than ever, said LANL spokeswoman Tricia Ware.

The project is currently targeting polyethylene terephthalate plastic, also known as PET, which most commonly is used in water and soda bottles.

The reason were starting with this is these bacteria, or microbes, that degrade plastic happen to degrade PET, Dale said. Thats the class of plastic that the most is known about.

Have no fear, though, these bottles will not suddenly be degrading away while using them. As a matter of fact, any fix along these lines at this point is still some time away, she said.

The bacteria was discovered about five years ago, Dale said. And it really has been a lot of research in trying to understand how they work and how they interact with plastic, and what makes them tick.

That effort has been ongoing. In order to make it proactive, we have to make the whole process faster and that will take a little bit of time.

Once the process has been honed to a science, the plastics must be collected and the enzymes introduced to begin the breakdown process, she said. Likewise, the project must progress to the point that it is both cost-effective and energy-wise to the point that the use of water and power is sustainable.

This close to Earth Day, this is a really fitting topic for this time of year, Dale said. And then, the other thing is, I always like to have the opportunity to share the breadth of work Los Alamos is involved in. This is an area of research that some people might not associate with Los Alamos. We really do work in all types of areas at the lab.

To register for the talk, go to lanl.gov/museum and look for the Science on Tap link.
With confidence we proclaim that hottie Candice might be the greatest hottie supermodel and purveyor of skivvies in all of human history and right now she inspires this peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Community Worker Leads Neighborhood Renaissance

180: Neighborhood Cleanup Resources On this week's episode of the Northeast Newscast, Rob Woods is joining us today from the Kansas City Neighborhood and Housing Services department to talk about neighborhood cleanup assistance programs. We discuss the recent NEAT cleanup in Northeast, the Dumpster Program, Tire Amnesty Program, Blue Bag Program, Adopt-a-Street Program and more.

Running Toward Recovery

Need something to shake the quar' blues? Rock that Trolley Run A runner crosses the finish line at the 2019 Trolley Run. // Photo by John Kelly Photos What better way to get back into outdoor races than to take part in a historic race to raise money for children who are visually impaired?

Drive Carefully

One dead following crash in construction zone in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) --- One person has died following a crash in a construction zone in Kansas City. Police say the fatal crash happened on southbound Interstate 435 and NE 48th Street around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. An initial investigation says a blue Toyota Corolla crashed into the rear of a semi truck.

Candice Considered

Catching Up with...Candice Swanepoel - Daily Front Row With spring in the air, it's the perfect time to check in with the divine Candice Swanepoel, who covers our April issue. The Lions Management superstar tells us about wearing the dress of the moment, how she's keeping busy with her own line, and where she's raring to go!

Prez Biden Beset

On foreign policy decisions, Biden faces drag of pragmatism WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden this past week found himself in search of a foreign policy sweet spot: somewhere between pulling a screeching U-turn on four years of Trumpism and cautiously approaching the world as it is. In recent days, Biden has piled new sanctions on Russia, announced he would withdraw all U.S.

AOC Stays Winning

AOC declares victory after Biden reverses course on refugee cap New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez championed the Biden administration's decision to lift Trump-era refugee limits Friday night, following outcry from prominent congressional Democrats. "This is a testament to the power that people's movements, community advocates, & progressive coalitions have built," the progressive wrote on Twitter.

Plague Persists

The US made little progress this week in preventing more Covid-19 deaths, an influential forecasting team says As health experts worry about a Covid-19 resurgence, an influential forecasting team said the country did not make significant progress against the virus this week. And it warned about Americans taking fewer safety precautions.

Killer Tech Workout Rebuked

Peloton Tread Plus: CPSC warns it can kill kids, pets; says stop using it 'immediately' The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an "urgent warning" Saturday, telling people to immediately stop using the Peloton Tread Plus treadmill because of a potentially fatal risk to children and pets. The Tread Plus poses "serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death," the agency said.

Brit Comforts Fans

Britney Spears Tells Fans She's 'Okay' and 'Extremely Happy': 'I'm Totally Fine' "I'm taking a break right now because I'm enjoying myself," Britney Spears told fans in a video On Friday, the 39-year-old pop star posted a video on her Instagram page answering a series of fan questions.

Crafting KC Success

Comic book creator designs app to help vendors find conventions, sketch path to profitability "When I go to a [convention], I'm not only selling my product, I'm building a fan base," said Juaquan Herron, co-founder of VenBoo. "... I want other creators to be able to take more control of their business and to help them locate these events so that they can strategically sell."

Growing Community Again

Overland Park Farmers Market Begins OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - With Spring season in full effect, it means the return of farmers markets around the Kansas City area. The Overland Park Farmers Market started on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Matt Ross Community Center. According to the OP Farmers Market website, vendors will be spaced out in the parking lot for safety reasons regarding COVID-19.

Katie Forecasts Springtime

Spotty rain showers possible Saturday afternoon Hide Transcript Show Transcript DIRECTION ALL DAY. IMPACTS FROM ONE UNTIL ABOUT 9 NOT THAT IT'S GOING TO RAIN IN ONE SPOT THAT ENTIRE TIME BUT DURING THAT TIME WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ROLLING THROUGH I'LL SHOW YOU THAT ON FUTURE SCAN IN JUST A MOMENT.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
For generations, American philanthropists have devoted their lives to empowering their fellow citizens. I chose philanthropy as a career because it gave me the opportunity to pass on the ideals of hard work, personal responsibility, education, and faith  ideals that allowed my family to overcome many difficulties. Yet the philanthropic sector is now abandoning this time-tested approach. Instead, it is embracing a political approach that is dividing the country and holding Americans back.

Darren Walker, the head of the Ford Foundation and perhaps the countrys most prominent philanthropist, summed up the new philosophy in a recent interview with 60 Minutes. While Walkers life is proof that philanthropy can enable people to thrive  it helped him rise from the bottom 1 percent to the top 1 percent  he argues that our industry must turn from generosity to justice, which includes reforming capitalism and confronting privilege. The subtext is that philanthropy must replace broad-based empowerment with left-wing advocacy.

Walker is far from the only philanthropic leader pushing for ideologically motivated charity. The well-known nonprofit writer Vu Le wrote in September that nonprofit and philanthropy need to stop with this pretense of neutrality and being above the fray. Writers in Nonprofit Quarterly have called on philanthropies to reorient their giving to support more left-wing causes, while the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has called on foundations to devote at least 25 percent of grant dollars to advocacy and organizing on politically charged issues. In my conversations with fellow philanthropic leaders, I have seen the overwhelming pressure donors face to support specific groups and causes favored by the left.

The current focus is on racial equity and social justice, which Vu Le has said must be the foundation of all charitable giving  a view which Darren Walker has endorsed. Since George Floyds death last May, foundations, businesses, and philanthropists have devoted well over $10 billion and counting to racial-justice efforts. The Ford Foundation contributed at least $180 million, while the Andrew M. Mellon Foundation declared last year that its $7 billion endowment would henceforth fund grants focus[ed] entirely on social justice.

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Some of this funding may have a positive impact, and philanthropy is right to focus on empowering communities of color. Yet racial equity and social justice are often a cover for tearing some people down as much as lifting others up. Groups such as Black Lives Matter, which raked in $90 million in 2020, promote concepts such as critical race theory and intersectionality, which divide Americans based on race, gender, and sexual orientation and demand that those with privilege be punished. With nearly $5 billion in George Floyd-related charitable giving going to unknown groups in 2020 and 2021, huge sums are surely being spent on left-wing efforts to reorder American society according to their world view.

But division doesnt just arise from philanthropic funding in some areas. It also springs from the lack of charitable giving elsewhere. As foundations have increasingly embraced ideological causes, they have increasingly ignored other meaningful efforts, especially in rural America. Perhaps they wish to avoid conservative regions. Perhaps they care less about helping white Americans, who are oppressors according to critical race theory. Either way, support for rural America is plummeting even as it faces the opioid crisis, a poverty rate thats 25 percent higher than urban areas, an epidemic of single motherhood, and many other challenges.

The decline in rural philanthropy is not new, extending as far back as the mid 2000s. But it is also accelerating. Federal data show that foundation grants to nonmetro areas are more than 50 percent smaller, per capita, than grants within metro areas. A recent headline in the Stanford Social Innovation Review summed up the current situation, calling it philanthropys rural blind spot.

Division is the inevitable result. Rural Americans know theyre both overlooked and looked down on. Ive been in dozens of meetings where prominent philanthropic leaders rail against the backwardness of rural Americans. Ive lost track of how many times Ive been told that foundations must only support efforts that align with the liberal political mood. Is it any wonder rural resentment is on the rise? While such anger is often targeted at the political class, the philanthropic set is also to blame. It is ignoring the crises it could help solve, if only it put principles ahead of politics.

Philanthropys embrace of left-wing ideology is damaging and dividing America. But it doesnt have to be this way. At its best, philanthropy passes on the values and ideals that have been proven throughout history to help people rise. Of course, foundations, corporations, and generous individuals are free to support whatever causes they wish  freedom demands it. But not all philanthropy is created equal, and the industry that can empower people from all walks of life shouldnt deepen inequities even as it promises to solve them.

More from National Review
Romania ranked sixth in the EU by last year's wheat crop, with a total of 6.41 million tons, by 3.88 million tons (37.7%) lower compared to 2019, shows provisional data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS); the crop decline was the result of the extreme pedological drought.

France tops the EU wheat production ranking, with a crop of 30.073 million tons last year, followed by Germany - 22.171 million tons, Poland - 11.728 million tons, Spain - 8.267 million tons, Italy - 6.716 million tons and Romania - 6.410 million tons.

By cultivated area, Romania was fourth in the EU with 2.146 million hectares, after France (4.513 million hectares), Germany (2.833 million hectares) and Poland (2.472 million hectares).

According to the data sent by the Ministry of Agriculture at the request of AGERPRES, Romania's 2020 intra- and extra-community wheat exports amounted to 4.336 million tons - over two thirds of the country's entire harvest - that brought in 844.3 million euros in proceeds.

Domestic wheat consumption stands at about 3 million tons, of which about 2.2 million tons are used in the bakery industry, about 500,000 tons - for seed, and almost 400,000 tons - for feed and the alcohol industry.
(Natural News) NextEra Energy will use solar power from its principal subsidiary Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) to produce green hydrogen through a 20-megawatt electrolysis system. The hydrogen will then be used to replace some of the natural gas burned at FPLs Okeechobee Clean Energy Center in Florida.

Unlike blue hydrogen, which is created from fossil fuel sources, green hydrogen is made from non-fossil sources. The $65 million Okeechobee pilot project will utilize solar energy that would have otherwise been clipped to create green hydrogen to replace some natural gas, said Rebecca Kujawa, chief financial officer at NextEra  which last year briefly overtook ExxonMobil as the most valuable U.S. energy company.

Hydrogen burns like natural gas without carbon dioxide emissions and can be produced by separating water molecules using electricity. According to industry experts, surplus renewable electricity produced during hours of slack demand can power electrolysis machines to make hydrogen. The goal is to have a store of carbon-free energy that can be dispatched when demand is strongest.

Theres clearly an opportunity to displace the last 10 percent of the carbon emissions out of the electric sector by manufacturing hydrogen with renewables within the next five to 10 years, said NextEra Chairman, President and CEO James Robo. This is a big strategic initiative for us, and were going to drive it, and its going to be very important for this company over the next decade.

NextEra playing the long game with its hydrogen initiative

NextEra, one of the biggest developers of wind and solar projects globally, hopes to have the pilot project operational at FPL by 2023.

If hydrogen technology proves to be cost-effective, it would in turn drive gigawatts and gigawatts and gigawatts and gigawatts of renewable [energy] demand in this country, said Robo.

We wont make any money on it in the next five years, just like we didnt make any money in batteries in the first five years, Robo said, noting that NextEra now views batteries as lucrative investments and plans to spend $1 billion on the technology this year.

NextEra has recently disclosed other green energy ventures, including a $20 million installation to create hydrogen with solar power. The company has about 50 potential green hydrogen projects in the pipeline to serve the power, transportation and industrial sectors, according to John Ketchum, president of NextEras bulk-power division.

Producing hydrogen, storing it and then using it to generate electricity is inefficient and expensive. The process, known as power-to-gas-to-power, returns less than 40 percent of the electricity put in at the start, according to Dharik Mallapragada, research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative.

Energy is lost both in breaking the molecular bond between hydrogen and oxygen in the water and in burning the resulting hydrogen in turbines.

Using power to make hydrogen to make power is in most cases really dumb, because there are so many losses involved in the cycle, said Thomas Koch Blank, senior principal at Rocky Mountain Institute, a clean energy think-tank.

Rapid-starting natural gas power turbines have become the go-to generation source for grid operators looking to keep the lights on during heat waves and winter freezes.

Green hydrogen could perform the same role, but at a much larger cost. According to Morgan Stanley estimates, even if hydrogen production costs fell more than two-thirds to $1 a kilogram, the price in energy terms would still be $8 per million British thermal units  three times as costly as standard U.S. natural gas. (Related: Enormous supply of clean hydrogen fuel can now be tapped for the hydrogen economy.)

Hydrogen is not quite economic yet, said Jeffrey Eckel, chairman and CEO of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc. But look at storage and wind and solar panel, 10 years ago. I think the trend is absolutely inevitable. Costs are coming down.

Interest in hydrogen soars as the world tries to curb carbon emissions

As the world scrambles to curb carbon emissions, hydrogen-related projects are being launched everywhere.

Los Angeles, which under California law is required to use 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2045, will convert a coal-fired plant it operates in Utah, initially to natural gas and then to hydrogen. According to manufacturer Mitsubishi Power, the plants newly ordered turbines can take a 30:70 blend of hydrogen and gas by 2025 and only hydrogen by the 2045 deadline.

Mitsubishi and a partner have proposed a nearby facility to store green hydrogen sufficient to generate 150,000 megawatt-hours of electricity.

Hydrogen is that one technology where you can actually do seasonal storage, said Paul Schultz of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. All of this amount of over-generation that you potentially have in the spring and the fall can be used when you are renewable resource-poor during the summer and the winter.

Schultz acknowledged that a hydrogen blend would cost more than natural gas, but we have an environmental commitment to this. According to Schultz, Los Angeles had approached the Department of Energy about securing low-cost federal funds to help finance the project.

New York-listed New Fortress Energy has launched a business to make green hydrogen for sale to the power, industrial and transport sectors. (Related: Are hydrogen-powered freight trucks ready to roll out?)

German utility Uniper hopes to use renewable electricity produced during the most prolific four hours of each day to make hydrogen for storage in underground structures in Hamburg. These structures were previously used to hold natural gas.

The Hydrogen Council, an industry group, said in a 2017 report that 250 to 300 terawatt-hours a year of surplus solar and wind electricity could be converted to hydrogen by 2030. In comparison, renewables generate a mere 8,000TWh worldwide this year, according to the International Energy Agency.

Follow HydrogenWater.news for more news and information related to the production and uses of hydrogen.

Sources include:

FT.com

SPGlobal.com
Larry W. Buie, PharmD, BCOP, FASHP, Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has begun his term as HOPA Board President. As Board President, Dr. Larry Buie hopes to expand HOPAs reach and will oversee the launch of an Oral Chemotherapy Collective; Task Force for Student Engagement; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.

The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) board leaders for 2021-2022 began their terms today during HOPAs virtual annual conference. Larry W. Buie, PharmD, BCOP, FASHP, Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will serve as Board President while Amber P. Lawson, PharmD, BCOP, Program Coordinator at University of Kentucky HealthCare and Andrea Iannucci, PharmD, BCOP, Assistant Chief Pharmacist at University of California Davis Medical Center will serve as Secretary and Member-At-Large, respectively.

As Board President, Dr. Buie hopes to expand HOPAs reach by making inroads with pharmacy students, prioritizing patient advocacy, and focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion within the pharmacy profession and HOPA. His board presidency begins mid-way through HOPAs 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Buie highlighted three particularly exciting new committees: an Oral Chemotherapy Collective; a Task Force for Student Engagement; and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. Also mentioned in his address were the many other HOPA committees, all of which are currently recruiting member volunteers.

In his incoming presidents address, Dr. Buie, who is also PGY2 Adult Oncology Residency Program Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering, said working with residents has played a role in his career success and satisfaction. Among other attributes, he cited residents commitment to health equity as a source of inspiration. Dr. Buie also paid tribute to his mentors, including those he met at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

His address, entitled A Journey of Gratitude, was in memory of an educator and caregiver who was instrumental during Dr. Buies teenage years.

About Dr. Larry W. Buie

Larry W. Buie, PharmD, BCOP, FASHP is a Clinical Pharmacy Manager and PGY2 Adult Oncology Residency Program Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York, NY, where he had previously worked in direct patient care. He has been a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist since 2008 and is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists. Dr. Buie received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill, NC in 2005. Dr. Buie has made multiple contributions to medical literature and routinely provides continuing education to pharmacists in a variety of settings. He has been a HOPA member since 2008.

About HOPA

The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) supports hematology/oncology pharmacy professionals and promotes the role of the pharmacist in collaborative cancer care. Founded in 2004, HOPA provides crucial education, networking, and advancement opportunities frequently sought by pharmacists, pharmacy interns, residents, fellows, students, technicians, researchers, and administrators who specialize in hematology/oncology pharmacy. Its vision is to ensure that all individuals affected by cancer have a hematology/oncology pharmacist as an integral member of their care team.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on April 9 met his Kazakhstan counterpart Lieutenant General Nurlan Yermekbayev in New Delhi. While taking to Twitter, Singh informed that during the meeting, they both reviewed the full range of bilateral defence ties and exchanged views to further strengthen defence cooperation, including through training, defence exercises and capacity building. The two ministers also agreed that sides must look at the possibility of defence industrial collaboration of mutual interest.

Held talks with the Defence Minister of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General Nurlan Yermekbayev in New Delhi today. We reviewed the full range of bilateral defence ties and deliberated on ways to enhance cooperation in all fields pertaining to security and defence. pic.twitter.com/el33GFPY8r  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 9, 2021

The Defence Minister of Kazakhstan thanked the Raksha Mantri for the opportunity given to the Kazakh troops for deployment as part of the Indian battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Both the leaders also positively assessed the annual KAZIND Exercise. Other officials including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar, were also present in the meeting.

Kazakh Defence Minister accorded with Guard of Honour

Yermekbayev, who is on an official visit to India from April 7 to April 10, also visited the War Memorial in Delhi and paid his respect to the fallen soldiers by laying a wreath. According to ANI, the Defence Minister of Kazakhstan was accorded with the Guard of Honour at Vigyan Bhawan in the presence of Rajnath Singh. Yermekbayev also visited HQs 12 Corps at Jodhpur and the Longewala sector in Jaisalmer.

Defence Minister of Kazakhstan, Lt General Nurlan Yermekbayev lays wreath at War Memorial in Delhi.



He is on an official visit to India from April 7 to 10. pic.twitter.com/sD3RvE0yRr  ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2021

It is worth mentioning that Fridays meeting was Yermekbayevs first with Singh after he was re-appointed as the Defence Minister of Kazakhstan. According to the official press release, the two Ministers had last met in Moscow in September 2020 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers meeting. The Kazakh Defence Minister is in India on the invitation of Rakha Mantri Rajnath Singh.

(Image: @rajnathsingh/Twitter)


Paulette Martin stood on Saturday evening near a makeshift memorial for her brother, Robert Douglas Delgado, who police shot and killed at Lents Park on Friday.

Martin was moved by the outpouring of support for her 46-year-old brother, who she said suffered from mental illness and substance abuse.

He had a rough life, Martin said. We tried to help him.

Portland police on Saturday identified East Precinct Officer Zachary DeLong as the officer who fatally shot Delgado. The shooting occurred after Delgado drew what appeared to be a gun, according to two sources with knowledge of the investigation. Investigators recovered what appears to be a replica firearm with an orange tip at the scene, the sources said.

DeLong has worked for the bureau for eight years and was placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure following a shooting.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Friday, police received multiple calls about a man in the Southeast Portland park with a gun. One witness apparently caught video of Delgado throwing a mangled tent at police shortly before the shooting. Juan Chavez, who works at the nearby AM/PM convenience store, said he heard two gunshots.

Police fired less-lethal, 40-millimeter munitions at Delgado before the fatal shooting.

Emergency medics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead beside a fence by the parks ball field off Southeast 92nd Avenue. He died at the scene.

Martin said her brother lived on the streets on and off for years and that a head injury about seven years ago compounded his struggles. She last saw him a month ago when he showed up at her home in Gladstone needing medical care. She said she took him to the hospital and told him that he needed to get off the streets and into treatment.

Martin said her brothers encounters with police were typically negative. She said shes struggling with guilt because she wasnt there on Friday to help him.

He was always scared of them, she said. They never helped him.

Court records show Delgado had 14 misdemeanor convictions, one felony and 10 probation violations, dating between 1993 and 2016. The convictions were for reckless driving, assault, driving under the influence of intoxicants, theft, harassment, eluding police and violating probation.

A small makeshift memorial with candles, flowers and messages has sprouted along a chainlink fence at Lents Park for Robert Delgado. Portland Police fatally shot Delgado Friday morning at the park. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

In a Washington County report on April 19, 2016, his probation officer Dominic Del Bosque wrote that Delgado struggled on court-ordered supervision with homelessness. He wrote that Delgado failed to report to him or start court-ordered treatment programs.

Delgado was convicted in December, 2015, of domestic violence-related fourth-degree assault and of harassment in 2014. He was put on two years of supervision, ordered to complete a domestic violence intervention program, submit to substance abuse testing and recommended treatment and complete 50 hours of community service.

Mr. Delgado presents in extreme victim stance, has substance abuse issues and mental health issues which if not addressed, hell continue to find himself back in the criminal justice system, Del Bosque wrote.

The probation officer wrote that Delgado wished to move to either Nevada, where an uncle lived, or California for more support and stability.

The uncle alerted court officials in April 2016 that Delgado had been having a very difficult time with housing and some mental health issues, the report said.

The probation officer advised that Delgados court supervision couldnt be transferred to Nevada if he fails to report as required to his probation officer.

Delgado reported in 2016 that he was couch surfing, staying with friends in SE Portland and sleeping in parks, the report said.

The probation officer ended up recommending that Delgados probation be revoked for non-compliance and that he serve another six months in custody, the records show. He was ordered to serve six more months in jail on April 26, 2016, records show.

It is hopeful that upon release, he is able to reside where he has pro-social support that will assist him where his needs are, the probation officer wrote.

Delgados most recent arrest was in Portland in late December 2020 on a menacing allegation. He was camping around an auto body shop off Southeast Powell Boulevard and 71st Avenue, when he was accused of pulling a knife and telling an employee, Im going to kill you, according to court records.

During a court intake interview, Delgado was described as agitated, interrupting the interviewer and cursing about the alleged victim. Prosecutors did not pursue the case and the charge was dropped the same day, according to court records.

Martin said her brother grew up in Southeast Portland and that he had anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. He stopped taking medication for his mental illness about a year ago, she said.

On Saturday evening, she stood with her daughter, Savannah Dennis, 10, who said that Delgado always said nice things to her whenever she saw him. Nearby, Delgados growing memorial featured candles, flowers and messages such as We remember you, brother. We will fight for justice in your name.

It goes to show how many people on the streets cared for him, Martin said. Everybody who knew him liked him.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Mumbai: Bigg Boss 13 housemate and actor Arhaan Khan is currently fasting for Ramadan. However, the actor adds that he is also making sure to take care of his immune system amid the ongoing pandemic.

"I enjoy fasting every year. However, since last year, I fast but also make sure to have a very good immune system. As COVID-19 is here, we need to be careful about our health. I make sure to eat fruits as these help in strengthening the immune system," he says.

Arhaan also opens up about the significance of Ramadan in his life. "The festival has had a great significance in my life since childhood. As it is considered to be one of the holiest months. It is believed that the holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. Fasting is encouraged as it is believed to promote self-reflection. During the fast, we do not eat or drink anything," he says.

The actor adds that you are also expected to have a positive attitude during these days.

"Emotions like anger, jealousy, sadness are discouraged during roza. At dusk, when the evening call for prayer is announced, we break our fast by eating dates and drinking water. This time is called Iftar. A regular roza day is usually spent praying and reading the Quran, along with doing other activities of day-to-day life," he says.

Arhaan Khan has featured in the fiction drama "Badho Bahu" as well as the reality show Bigg Boss 13.
Bengaluru, April 18 : Amid the pandemic's second wave and reported shortage of beds and drugs, Karnataka on Sunday set up a war room to ensure supply of medical oxygen to hospitals for treating Covid patients, especially in Bengaluru.

"A dedicated war room has been set up at the office of the state Drug Controller here to facilitate availability of medical oxygen in both state-run and private hospitals," Health Minister K. Sudhakar told reporters here.

The war room comes up following complaints of oxygen shortage in hospitals in the capital, which recorded 11,404 new cases on Saturday and 87,724 active cases.

Karnataka registered a whopping 17,489 positive cases on Friday, taking the state's Covid tally to 11,41,998, including 1,19,160 active cases.

Out of 80 deaths, 43 were from Bengaluru on Saturday, taking the state's toll to 13,270 and the city's toll to 5,063.

Of the 589 Covid patients in ICUs, 124 are in Bengaluru hospitals, followed by 109 in Kalaburagi, 45 in Kolar, 40 in Mysuru, 29 in Dharwad, 24 in Bidar and 23 each in Davangere and Hassan.

"We will supply jumbo cylinders to private hospitals, which do not have liquid oxygen tanks, from state-run hospitals to overcome the shortage and meet the demand," said Sudhakar, a medical doctor by profession.

Though about 800 tonnes of oxygen is produced by four bottling plants across the state, demand for the gas has been exceeding supply due to surge in cases and despite the Centre rushing 300 tonnes to the state recently.

"We have urged the Centre to supply 7,500 jumbo oxygen cylinders to meet the demand in the state, as cases continue to spike daily," said Sudhakar.

The war room has been set up a day after Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (Phana) wrote to Sudhakar on the acute shortage of oxygen in their hospitals and nursing homes to treat Covid patients.

"Many private hospitals, which have been ordered to reserve 50 per cent of their beds for Covid patients are facing oxygen shortage and if the situation persists, they will be out of stock soon," said Prakriya Hospital chief executive Srinivas Chirukuri in a statement here.

As more patients are reporting to hospitals with low saturation, there is a sudden increase for oxygen supply.

"As the number of patients infected with coronavirus rises, so will the need for ICU beds. There is scarcity of ICU beds and ICU resources like oxygen and ICU trained nurses," Rainbow Children's Hospital 's neonatologist and pediatrician M.S. Sreedhara said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi: Unidentified miscreants on Sunday (April 18) opened fire at Gopal Chandra Saha, the BJP candidate from Malda, in the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal. The incident occurred on Sunday evening in the Sahapur area of Malda. He was returning from booth level meeting when he was shot at by the miscreants.

Gopal Saha was immediately rushed to Malda Medical College and Hospital where the doctor treating him said his condition is stable. According to reports, he suffered injuries in the neck.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the area following the incident. The Bengal police have begun an investigation into the firing incident on the BJP candidate. Further details are awaited.

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Vandals have struck the former home of an expert witness who testified in Derek Chavin's defense, smearing it in blood and leaving a severed pig's head on the doorstep, days after he took the stand in the George Floyd trial.

The group of vandals struck at around 3am on Saturday, wiping animal blood on the front door and garage of the residence in Santa Rosa, California, where use-of-force expert Barry Brodd once lived.

Police said the hoodlums, dressed entirely in black, tossed the pig's head onto the front porch and fled on foot as the resident called 911.

Soon afterwards, a similar looking group splattered animal blood on a statue of a hand in a nearby shopping mall, leaving a sign with a picture of a pig and the words 'Oink Oink'.

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A group of vandals struck at around 3am on Saturday, smearing animal blood on the front door and garage of Barry Brodd's former residence in Santa Rosa, California

'Because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted,' police said

The other target in the vandalism spree was a large statue of a hand, carved from marble, that rests outside Santa Rosa Plaza shopping mall

'Mr. Brodd has not lived at the residence for a number of years and is no longer a resident of California. Because Mr. Brodd no longer lives in the city of Santa Rosa, it appears the victim was falsely targeted,' police said in a statement.

Brodd, who had a long career in law enforcement including with the Santa Rosa Police department, is now a consultant who serves as an expert witness on police procedures and tactics.

Floyd died in Minneapolis last May after Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes while he was handcuffed. Chauvin is charged with manslaughter and murder, and the case is expected to go to the jury this week.

Last week, Brodd testified police were justified in keeping Floyd pinned because he kept struggling instead of 'resting comfortably.'

That sparked a lectern-pounding response from prosecutor Steve Schleicher: 'Did you say 'resting comfortably'?' he asked incredulously.

Last week, Brodd (above) testified police were justified in keeping Floyd pinned because he kept struggling instead of 'resting comfortably'

Prosecutor Steve Schleicher (above) pounded the lectern as he replied incredulously: 'Did you say 'resting comfortably'?'

'Or laying comfortably,' replied Brodd, whose testimony contradicted that of authorities from inside and outside the Minneapolis Police Department who said Chauvin violated his training.

'Resting comfortably on the pavement?' Schleicher asked again. Brodd responded: 'Yes.'

Following Brodd's testimony in Chauvin's defense, Santa Rosa Police Chief Rainer Navarro issued a statement disavowing Brodd's view on the case.

'Mr. Brodd has not been employed by the department since 2004. His comments do not reflect the values and beliefs of the Santa Rosa Police Department,' Chief Rainer said.

Cops said that the damage to Brodd's former home exceeded $400, making the crime a felony.

Chauvin (right) is charged with murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd

The other target in the vandalism spree was a large statue of a hand, carved from marble, that rests outside Santa Rosa Plaza shopping mall.

The perpetrators who targeted the hand were seen fleeing the area and matched the descriptions of the suspects who vandalized the house.

The statue, titled 'Agraria' by artist Larry Kirkland, does not appear to have any political significance that would make it a target.

Kirkland has said he intended the sculpture as a tribute to immigrant agricultural workers in Santa Rosa, the county seat of fertile Sonoma County.

The sculpture is a well-known landmark for tourists visiting Sonoma's wine country, and visitors often pose with the giant hand for photos.
Woman Arrested after Multi-County Pursuit

By West Kentucky Star Staff

EDDYVILLE - State Police arrested a St. Louis woman on Saturday after a pursuit through four western Kentucky counties.The Kentucky State Police says an eastbound vehicle on I-24 passed a trooper near the 52 mile marker at a high rate of speed. The Trooper pursued the vehicle through Lyon, Caldwell, and Trigg County before entering Christian County.Troopers successfully deployed a tire deflation device at the 83 mile marker, slowing down the vehicle.The driver, 57-year-old Kathleen Kummant, continued to flee. Christian County sheriff's deputies deployed another tire deflation device near the 84 mile marker. Kummant pulled over shortly after that, and was taken into custody without further incident.Kummant was booked into the Christian County Jail on charged of first-degree fleeing or evading, first-degree wanton endangerment, reckless driving, and speeding.
April 18, 1971

Hindu wedding held in YWCAs Laurel Hall

Laurel Hall at the Scranton YWCA was the setting for a Hindu wedding ceremony on April 11 for a young Scranton couple.

The bride was Pramila Shah, graduate student at the University of Scranton, and the groom was Manilal Chheda of Bombay, India. Attending the couple were Surnya Nanavati and Naren Kadakis, fellow University of Scranton students.

The ceremony was conducted by Ram Patvardham, a Hindu priest from New York City.

Following the ceremony, the couples 100 invited guests enjoyed a dinner of Indian food and beverages.

The couple made their home at 628 Quincy Ave., Scranton, while attending the university.

For more matrimonial flashbacks be sure to check out Marry Memories on Page D9 in todays Life&Times section.

FBI office to stay in Scranton amid threats

FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had recently announced that FBI field offices in some cities and towns could have been closed due to security issues.

His announcement came after the then-recent break-in and theft of important documents from the FBI office in Media.

The documents related to the Harrisburg Seven case. A group of seven people faced conspiracy charges saying they planned to kidnap a presidential aide and destroy heating tunnels in federal buildings in Washington, D.C.

They were called the Harrisburg Seven because the case was filed in the Harrisburg federal court house in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The Scranton office was unlikely to be on the closure list because the office was staffed with five agents and was located inside the Federal Building in Scranton.

In speaking with the Scranton Times Joe Jamieson, the special agent in charge of the Philadelphia office stressed they were always looking for men and women of all backgrounds to work at the bureau. He said a clerk job had a starting salary of $4,897 a year, and stenographers salary was $6,202 a year.

He said advancement at the FBI depended largely on a persons ambition, qualifications and work performance.
Libyas transitional government on Saturday welcomed a U.N. Security Council decision to deploy international monitors to watch over a nearly six-month-old cease-fire in the conflict-stricken country.

The Government of National Unity also urged the council to help get mercenaries out of the oil-rich country, as it heads toward December elections after a decade of fighting and upheaval.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recent proposal for up to 60 monitors to join an existing political mission in Libya.

The monitors would arrive in an incremental deployment ... once conditions allow, according to the councils British-drafted resolution. The council also urges all foreign forces and mercenaries to get out of the country, as was supposed to happen months ago.

The vote, announced on Friday, was conducted by email, due to the coronavirus pandemic; the results were announced at a brief virtual meeting.

The interim government, which took power last month, expressed its willingness to facilitate the work of the U.N. monitors.

It also said it would would provide all financial and logistic capabilities to the countrys elections authority to hold a fair and transparent vote on Dec. 24.

Libya has been plagued by corruption and turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. In recent years, the country was split between a U.N.-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, and rival authorities based in the countrys east.

Each side was backed by armed groups and foreign governments. The U.N. estimated in December there were at least 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, including Syrians, Russians, Sudanese and Chadians.

In April 2019, east-based military commander Khalifa Hifter and his forces, backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, launched an offensive to try and capture Tripoli. His 14-month-long campaign collapsed after Turkey and Qatar stepped up their military support of the U.N.-backed government with hundreds of troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries.

The cease-fire agreement, reached in October, called for the foreign fighters and mercenaries to leave within three months. No progress was made in that regard.

The cease-fire deal has dramatically reduced civilian casualties, but the U.N. has continued to document killings, forced disappearances, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, hate crimes and attacks against activists and human rights defenders in Libya, U.N. special envoy Jan Kubis told the council last month.

(Image Credits: Associated Press)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Right now we consider the redemption of an iconic panty brand along with pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Making Space For Homeless

Merging KC, St. Mary's Episcopal Church open parking lot to houseless community KANSAS CITY, Mo. - People in the Kansas City area who are experiencing homelessness now have a designated parking area downtown. Located at 13th and Charlotte streets, the St. Mary's Episcopal Church's parking lot will be available from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those in need.

JoCo Confronts Phone Threat

Johnson County Sheriff warns about phone call scam involving Walmart gift cards OLATHE, Kan. - The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about reports of a phone call scam directing people to purchase Walmart gift cards to avoid an arrest. According to a Facebook post, the sheriff's office has received reports that someone is impersonating Lt. Woods and calling about outstanding warrants.

Downtown Revival Contd

Former KC Federal Reserve building awaits conversion to hotel [PHOTOS] - Kansas City Business Journal One of Kansas City's premier historic buildings soon could see a long-planned $182 million conversion to an Embassy Suites hotel begin after 13 years of vacancy. Delta Quad Holdings LLC seeks to build 284 hotel rooms, a parking garage with about 450 spaces and a series of sidewalk, streetscape and lighting improvements for the former Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City headquarters, located at 925 Grand Blvd.

Panties Reversed

L Brands Stock: A Great Turnaround Story (NYSE:LB) L Brands could improve its bottom line and report record free cash flow levels. The stock is certainly no bargain any more, but might still be fairly valued.

GOP Decries MAGA Faction

Marjorie Taylor Greene scraps planned launch of controversial 'America First' caucus amid blowback from GOP Conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is scrapping the planned launch of her "America First" caucus after receiving blowback from leaders in her own party, despite confirming through a spokesperson on Friday that the caucus would launch.

Testimony Threatens Rep.

Gaetz ex-girlfriend feared alleged sex-trafficking victim taped call for feds Gaetz's former girlfriend has played a bit role in the unfolding public drama - she is the woman who sent the lawmaker a nude video of her performing a hula hoop dance that he showed to other members of Congress.

Prez Trump Part Deux?!?

GOP White House hopefuls move forward as Trump considers run WASHINGTON (AP) - Less than three months after former President Donald Trump left the White House, the race to succeed him is already beginning. Trump's former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has launched an aggressive schedule visiting states that will play a pivotal role in the 2024 Republican primaries and he has signed a contract with Fox News Channel.

Tragic Talking Point

Chris Cuomo says there won't be police reform until 'White people's kids start getting killed' CNN's Chris Cuomo Friday during "Cuomo Primetime" said that police and gun reform won't happen until "White people's kids start getting killed." "Shootings, gun laws, access to weapons. Oh, I know when they'll change," said the anchor. "[When] your kids start getting killed. White people's kids start getting killed."

Fashion Statement

Kate Pays Tribute to the Queen, Princess Diana at Prince Philip's Funeral Duchess Kate is paying tribute to more than just Prince Philip on Saturday, April 17. Royal watchers were quick to spot Queen Elizabeth II 's pearl necklace on Prince William 's wife as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were spotted on their way to Windsor for the funeral.

Royal Rebuilding

Kansas City Royals in interesting company in 2021 The Kansas City Royals were one of the biggest surprises of the offseason. They were one of the few teams to actively sign players in free agency, aggressively pursuing players that fit a specific mold. With the Royals still seemingly a year or two from contending, these moves seemed as though they would help teach the younger players how to win.

KC Comfort Food Debuts

These Pot Pies Are Insanely Hot-and We're Not Talking Temperature - In Kansas City The hottest thing in Kansas City right now? It's Amy Marcus's new pot pies. Up until a couple of weeks ago, The Sweet Tea Pie Co. chef was famous for her specialty fruit pies. That was before she decided to try her hand at making savory pot pies.

Kansas City Improving Accessibility Sign Of The Times

KC cafe employees learn American Sign Language for customers KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A cafe in the West Bottoms is going the extra mile for their customers by learning American Sign Language, so that they can communicate with people coming in to get a cup of joe. For people who are deaf and hard of hearing, trying to find someone who knows simple sign language can be tough.

Sunday Storms Loom

Some clouds Sunday, snow heading to metro Tuesday morning Hide Transcript Show Transcript YOU CAN SEE THE MESS ON THE GRAPH ECK NOW. IT WILL BE QUIET TODAY AND TOMORROW BUT THEN MONDAY NIGHT WE START NOT ONLY FEELING THE COLDER AIR MOVE IN BUT COMING WITH IT PRECIPITATION. THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO A MESSY TUESDAY MORNING.

Weezer - Grapes Of Wrath is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
(Newser)  Over the decade beginning in 2010, a study determined that 133 lawsuits had been filed in connection with lost, discarded, or damaged frozen embryos. Dr. Elaine Meyer and Dr. Barry Prizant are engaged in one such lawsuit, and Katherine Rosman dives into their story for the New York Times. The Rhode Island couple suffered a series of miscarriages before turning to Women & Infants Hospital in 1995. After several cycles of IVF, Meyer became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Noah. In 2000, they returned to the hospital in the hopes of having a child via the nine embryos that remained. Three survived the thawing process, and to the couple's knowledge, all three were implanted. A pregnancy did not result. The couple resigned themselves to life with one child. Then in 2017, two letters from Women & Infants arrived.

story continues below

One read, "If you would like WIH to continue to store your embryos/oocytes, please return a copy of this letter, signed and notarized, along with a check in the amount of $500." Meyer and Prizant, now 63 and 69, respectively, learned that two of their embryos had been discovered at the bottom of tank in 2010. The vial they were in had a crack in it, meaning the tank's nitrogen cooling agent would have seeped in; the embryos were almost certainly not viable. And it turns out there was a note in her medical file: "2 missing." The hospital suggested the couple had been told decades ago the embryos were missing and simply forgot. "There is no way on Gods green earth," says Meyer. Displeased with the hospital's response the couple have sued for breach of contract, negligence, bailment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Meanwhile, they're trying to decide what to do with the embryos. (Read the full story for much more.)
Its not every day the phone rings and the person on the other end wants to send a stakes-caliber mare to your stable. But thats exactly what happened a few weeks before the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series first leg when Todd Buter answered Bill Bercurys call.

Then the trainer of Blue Ivy, who he was pointing to the Matchmaker Series at Yonkers Raceway, the western Pennsylvania-based Bercury asked New York-based Buter to take the mare on the recommendation of Todds son, Tyler.

Mr. Bercury contacted Tyler and said he wanted him to drive Blue Ivy in the Matchmaker. He asked if Tyler had any suggestions of who he should send her to. Tyler said, well, Im sure my dad would take her, so he gave me a call and thats how it ended up. He brought her out about a week before her first start.

Todd Buter didnt know Bercury before that call and Tyler Buter hadnt driven Blue Ivy since Bercury took over the training in Nov. 2019. However, Tyler Buter had success with the mare in the past; in nine starts together from July 2018 through Oct. 2019, Buter and Blue Ivy paired for four wins, two seconds, and a fourth in the $122,224 Lady Maud Pace at Yonkers. Bercurys instructions were concise.

Shes easy to get along with and likes being outside as much as possible; being a mare, thats kind of routine anyway. He left the rest up to me, Todd Buter said.

Buter found that Blue Ivy was easy to get along with, as advertised, and had no bad traits.

When you put her on the racetrack to head to the starting gate, shes all business, he said. Very easy on herself on the racetrack, very good attitude on the track, and since shes been here, shes had all good days.

Blue Ivy debuted for the Buters in the Matchmaker first leg on March 12. After a fifth-place finish in a Meadows open handicap against males the week prior, the public dismissed her at 6-1, the second longest shot in the field of a half-dozen distaffers. Blue Ivy got away fifth as 4-5 favourite Soho Burning Love set the tempo. In the second lap, Blue Ivy grabbed the cover of Lady Dela Renta and advanced within 2 3/4-lengths of the lead passing the three-quarters.

At the midway point of the final turn, Buter  motionless in the sulky to that point  made his first move, popping the ear plugs and putting the whip on Blue Ivys tail before guiding her three-wide into the stretch. Buter tucked the whip in the final yards as Blue Ivy glided past Soho Burning Love to record a length win in 1:53.3.

She went some good miles before and you never know what to expect coming over to Yonkers and putting them on the half-mile track, but she adapted well and shes been very good, Todd Buter said. I thought after the first week that we probably could go up against most of the ones that were in there. She did that very easily. That built our confidence up, thats for sure.

In the Matchmaker second leg, Blue Ivy charged home with a :27.1 final quarter to finish second behind Seaswift Joy, who had set a dawdling pace. The third leg saw Alexa Skye catch a soft half of :57.3 and Blue Ivy unable to track her down in the stretch, again finishing second. Legs four and five each resulted in a win for Blue Ivy, including a 4-length, 1:53 romp on April 2 and a 1 1/4-legnth, 1:52.3 effort while setting the pace a week later. In her career, Blue Ivy is 25-for-56 with $374,040 earned.

Shes won on the front, she won first-over, and she won second-over. Shes done it all ways, she doesnt just have to go one way all the time, Todd Buter remarked.

With 325 points accumulated throughout the preliminaries, Blue Ivy leads the standings heading into the $232,800 series final Monday night (April 19). She secured a coveted inside position in the open draw in post three while Jeff Culliphers series favourite Alexa Skye will start from post six. The field also includes Machnhope, winner of two preliminary legs for Noel Daley and Andrew McCarthy, Nick Devitas duo of Siesta Beach and Caviart Cherie, Monica Gallagher, Snobbytown, and My Ruebe Star.

For Todd Buter, drawing inside Alexa Skye, who won all four Matchmaker preliminary legs she entered, is already a win. The Matchmaker final will be Blue Ivys second crack at Alexa Skye after the pair avoided each other in all but one of the preliminary legs.

I was glad to see that. I surely didnt want to have the six, seven, or eight, Buter said. Its probably going to depend on the trip. Theyve both shown that theyre very nice mares. Well just have to see how it shakes out. The ideal trip would be sitting the two-hole behind Alexa Skye, but I think theres probably six other ones in there that would like to do the same thing.

Well hope shes happy and healthy on Monday and see how it shakes out, Buter continued. Shes been feeling good, we didnt change anything. It seems like shes having a very good week leading up to it. She doesnt take a lot of work.

Monday nights 10-race card also features the $514,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series Final, the $100,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series Consolation, the $60,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series Consolation, a $40,000 race for MGM Borgata Series eligibles, and a $35,000 open handicap pace. First post time is 7:15 p.m. Free past performances for the races are available here.

(SOA of NY)
Calls to ban popular artificial stone benchtops are growing louder amid rising rates of a deadly respiratory illness among Australian construction workers.

The benchtops, which have become popular in recent years as an affordable alternative to the marble or granite traditionally used to cover kitchen counter space, are attractive and thousands of dollars cheaper than their natural counterparts.

But the National Dust Diseases Taskforce says the renovation trend has coincided with soaring rates of silicosis - an incurable and debilitating lung disease described as the biggest threat to tradespeople since asbestos.

It is a progressive and irreversible disease contracted by inhaling tiny particles of silica dust that settle in the lungs.

Artificial stone benchtops have become popular in recent years as an affordable alternative to the marble or granite traditionally used to cover kitchen counter space (stock image)

The particles become airborne during the cutting, polishing and grinding of engineered stone, a common substitute for marble benchtops which is made of about 90 percent crystalline silica.

Many who are diagnosed with the condition are aged in their 20s and 30s, prompting tradies and medical professionals to push for change.

The latest latest meeting of the task force saw members agree on a ban of artificial stone if other measures to protect workers' safely fail, news.com.au reported.

The issue became headline news in early 2019 when Gold Coast stonemason Anthony White died of silicosis at the age of 36.

What is silicosis? Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling unsafe levels of silica dust, usually over a period of many years. You are at risk of silicosis if you work with quartz, sand, stone, soil, granite, brick, cement, grout, mortar, bitumen or engineered stone products. These materials contain the mineral silica and working with them can create a very fine dust that's easily inhaled. Once inside your lungs, the dust particles can scar the tissue, resulting in the condition known as silicosis. Those most at risk of contracting the disease are stonemasons, stonecutters, potters, miners, sandblasters and anyone working in construction or demolition. Source: Health Direct Australia Advertisement

His younger brother, former stonemason Shane Parata, broke down during an interview on Sydney's Triple M radio station as he urged fellow tradesmen to reconsider their future in the industry.

Mr Parata, who had recently been diagnosed with the condition himself, questioned why companies are still using products that pose such a grave risk to up to 500,000 stonemasons across Australia.

'Why are we still using this product we know is still killing people? It's killed one, it's killed my brother,' he said at the time.

Mr Parata said there wasn't enough emphasis on how bad the product can be, and how it was treated like granite or marble.

Because of his lower levels of exposure, Mr Parata suffers from a milder case of silicosis than his brother had.

Anthony White (pictured) was believed to be the first tradesman to die after experts warned about engineered stone in 2018, calling it 'the next asbestos'

Shane Parata (pictured) was diagnosed with silicosis days before it killed his brother Anthony

The National Task Force has received submissions from unions, workplace experts and advocacy groups including the Australian Cancer Council, arguing for enhanced safety measures.

The NSW government responded by warning that a blanket ban would result in widespread job losses and suggesting 'effective risk controls' in its place.

It noted that dry cutting has already been banned in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, while a lower standard for the level of silica dust considered safe in the workplace and a new national code of practice have been implemented.

A final report by the task force is set to be handed down in June.

Meanwhile, Australian stonemasons affected by the disease are leading a class action against manufacturers.
A MOTORIST was found to be over the limit the morning after he consumed alcohol, Kilmallock Court heard.

David Ryan, aged 54, of Old Pallas pleaded guilty to drink driving at Rathanny, Hospital on January 11, 2020.

Inspector Pat Brennan said Garda Patrick Aherne was on mobile patrol at 9.30am when he observed a car coming in the opposite direction.

He noticed the driver was not wearing a safety belt. He turned around, pursued the vehicle and stopped it in Hospital.

Garda Aherne got a strong smell of alcohol from the defendant. A breath test was carried out which he failed, said Insp Brennan.

The court heard that Mr Ryan was conveyed to Bruff garda station. An intoxalyser test showed 60mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath, said Insp Brennan.

Kevin Power, solicitor for Mr Ryan, said it was a morning after case.

He is a mechanic by trade. He isnt currently working. He is on disability of 203 a week, said Mr Power.

Judge Patricia Harney handed down the mandatory driving disqualification of two years and fined Mr Ryan 250.
The UK should be terribly concerned about the impact the Indian mutation of coronavirus could have if it takes hold in the country, an expert has warned.

Professor Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology, said he thought India ought to be placed on the Governments red list of hotel quarantine countries as the variant first discovered there could scupper Boris Johnsons road map out of lockdown.

Despite the warning, Downing Street insisted the Prime Ministers trip to India later this month will go ahead, although it will be drastically scaled down.

Public Health England (PHE) reported that 73 cases of the B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India, have been found in England, as well as four cases in Scotland.

Officials have currently designated it a variant under investigation (VUI) rather than a variant of concern (VOC), such as the Manaus (Brazil) or South African variants.

But Prof Altmann said he suspected the Indian mutation would be escalated to a variant of concern as it holds properties that make it more evasive to the vaccines currently on offer, like the South African variant, and more transmissible, in a similar fashion to the Californian version of coronavirus.

He told BBC Radio 4s PM: I think we should be terribly concerned about it.

They (variants of concern) are things that can most scupper our escape plan at the moment and give us a third wave. They are a worry.

The Imperial College expert said he found it mystifying that India was not a red-listed country already, adding that the new variant was being found in quite high proportion of positive cases in the South Asian country.

Downing Street has insisted the Prime Ministers trip to India will still go ahead (Aaron Chown/PA)

India has seen soaring Covid-19 rates, with more than 14 million confirmed cases and 174,000 deaths recorded.

The Prime Minister has already postponed his trip to India once, due to dealing with a surge in cases in Britain in January.

No 10 signalled that Mr Johnson was reluctant to push back what will be his first major international trip since securing a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union.

Story continues

A Downing Street spokesman told reporters: The Prime Ministers visit is still happening later this month.

We have said that the programme will be slightly shorter than it will have been, and you can expect the main body of his programme to take place on Monday April 26.

As you would expect, safety is obviously important and is a priority for us on this trip, which is why we will make sure that all elements of the visit are Covid-secure.

Mr Johnson was due to spend four days in the South Asian country at the end of the month but, following talks with Narendra Modis administration, the bulk of the meetings could be fitted into one day.

(PA Graphics)

The country is not currently on the Governments red list for travel, which sees people who have been in those countries in the previous 10 days refused entry to the UK.

British or Irish nationals, or people with UK residency rights, are able to return from red list countries but must isolate in a quarantine hotel for 10 days.

Asked why India has not been put on the red list despite the soaring number of cases, Downing Street said the situation is under constant review.

Labour said the blame for the Indian mutation making its way into Britain rests squarely with the UK Government.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: Ministers have been warned time and again that failing to introduce a comprehensive hotel quarantine policy would leave us exposed to variants of Covid.

The figure of 77 UK cases comes from the latest update of PHEs surveillance of the distribution of different variants across the country, based on data up to April 7.

It is understood that the cases detected in England are dispersed across different parts of the country and many are linked to international travel, but investigations are under way.

According to PHE, the variant includes a number of mutations including E484Q, L452R, and P681R.

The 484 spike protein has been associated with the Manaus and South African variants, with the E484K mutation reported to result in weaker neutralisation by antibodies in lab experiments.

However, the E484Q mutation is different and still subject to investigation.

Lab studies suggest the L452R mutation may reduce antibodies binding to the virus, particularly seen in combination with other mutations, PHE said.

Viruses by their nature mutate often, with more than 18,000 mutations discovered over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the overwhelming majority of which have no effect on the behaviour of the virus.

PHEs latest findings mean there are now seven VUIs and four VOCs being tracked by scientists in the UK.

In London, extra testing facilities were launched this week to help limit the spread of the South African coronavirus variant following a cluster of cases being discovered.
A doctor for imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in the third week of a hunger strike, says his health is deteriorating rapidly and the Kremlin critic could be on the verge of death.

Physician Yaroslav Ashikhmin said that test results he received from the 44-year-olds family show him with sharply elevated levels of potassium, which can bring on cardiac arrest, and heightened creatinine levels that indicate impaired kidneys.

Our patient could die at any moment, he said in a Facebook post.

Anastasia Vasilyeva, head of the Navalny-backed Alliance of Doctors union, said on Twitter that action must be taken immediately.

Mr Navalny is Russian President Vladimir Putins most visible and adamant opponent.

His personal physicians have not been allowed to see him in prison. He went on hunger strike to protest the refusal to let them visit when he began experiencing severe back pain and a loss of feeling in his legs.

Russias state penitentiary service has said that Mr Navalny is receiving all the medical help he needs.

Mr Navalny was arrested on January 17 when he returned to Russia from Germany, where had spent five months recovering from Soviet nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

Russian officials have denied any involvement and even questioned whether he was poisoned, which was confirmed by several European laboratories.

Asked about Mr Navalnys worsening condition, US President Joe Biden told reporters: Its totally totally unfair and totally inappropriate. On the basis of having the poison and then on a hunger strike.

Mr Navalny was ordered to serve two-ad-a-half years in prison on the grounds that his long recovery in Germany violated a suspended sentence he had been given for a fraud conviction in a case that he says was politically motivated.
There may be nothing more nerve-wracking for a member of Congress than redistricting, when the once-a-decade redrawing of district boundaries injects a dose of uncertainty into their political careers.

In Pennsylvania, redrawing the districts to correspond with population shifts identified by the 2020 census will have a particularly unpredictable effect on congressional districts, since the state is expected to lose a district.

That means there will be 17 districts for 18 incumbent U.S. House members from Pennsylvania when next years elections roll around, raising the question of whose district will disappear and whose political career could be upended.

I think the first question that everybody asks is, Is anybody retiring? said Ryan Costello, a former two-term congressman from Chester County.

By the end of April, the U.S. Census Bureau is releasing the first numbers from the 2020 census, including the state population count that determines how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets.

If that confirms projections that Pennsylvania will lose a seat, it will be the 10th consecutive decade that the Keystone State has lost clout in Congress and presidential contests as its population growth continues to lag behind the nations.

A new map of districts must win approval from the Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and the districts they draw could have a dramatic effect on the political careers of the states 18 U.S. House members.

If each of the 18 wants to run for another term in Congress, two of them will have to run against each other.

What they have to look forward to is a bare-knuckled political exercise in a state Capitol where partisan disagreements over how the pandemic and last years election were handled have sown a particularly poisonous atmosphere.

A new map is necessary before it is time to circulate petitions to get on next years primary ballot. If Wolf and lawmakers cant agree on one, the state Supreme Court will do it for them.

What is this map about? Power, said Jim Burn, a former state Democratic Party chair. I would fall out of my seat if (Wolf and GOP lawmakers) worked it out. Thats why I think the court will have to take the lead in working it out again.

Courts have gotten involved in at least the last three redistricting rounds, to some extent, including ordering the map redrawn in 2018 after ruling that Republicans had unconstitutionally gerrymandered it six years earlier to benefit their partys candidates.

What makes Republicans nervous is that the state Supreme Court has a 5-2 Democratic majority.

The most practical place to eliminate a district is where the population is stagnant: northern and western Pennsylvania.

But by all accounts, it is too early for backroom political fights over which district must disappear.

Everythings speculation and conjecture at this point, said Sam DeMarco, chair of the Allegheny County Republican Party.

Redistricting data necessary to drawing districts that are equal in population  they include counts of population by race, Hispanic origin, gender and housing at geographic levels as small as neighborhoods  isnt expected to be released by the Census Bureau until August, at the earliest.

As a result, the question of how the new map will look hasnt come up too often in conversations, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, of Philadelphia.

Rather, the discussion tends to revolve around whether next years primary will be pushed back because of the delay in census data or whether courts will ultimately decide the next map, Boyle said.

Of particular interest is speculation that a member of Congress  if not several  will run for higher office and thus reduce the number of incumbents lobbying state lawmakers for favorable district lines.

In next years election, Pennsylvania has two very attractive lures for ambitious politicians: a U.S. Senate seat and governors office that are opening up in 2023.

Typically, partisan map drawers strive to give each incumbent of their party a district where they live and have at least a reasonable shot at winning another term.

If an incumbent decides to retire or run for higher office, map drawers become far more likely to eliminate that district, or at least substantially change it to accommodate the wishes of incumbents who plan to run again.

That seat then gets a little bit deprioritized, Costello said, because each of the political parties is going to go to bat for each of their incumbents first, not for a seat that nobodys in.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Jamila Ali Salman, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, yesterday thanked the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia for backing Bahrains proposal to adopt a unified stance against the position of the European Parliament members on the rights situation in the Gulf States.

Jamila Ali Salman said the move by the Saudi Shura Council reflects the depth of the brotherly ties enjoyed by the two countries.

Bahrain called for a unified stance on the issue during the fourth meeting of the Gulf-European Parliamentary Committee last March.

The European Parliament had accused Bahrain of harassing rights defenders and accused Bahrain of lifting a de facto moratorium on the death penalty, which were all categorically rejected by the Kingdom.

Dr Abdullah Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, the Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, had categorically rejected the politicisation of the human rights issued and selectivity in dealing with it and exploiting it.

He also called on the European Parliament members to adhere to neutrality, objectivity, and non-selectivity and respect the cultural diversities of nations around the world in their work.

Dr Al Sheikh also called for confronting attempts to impose cultural hegemony on the societies in the Gulf. Jamila Ali Salman said the gulf legislative council forms a powerful parliamentary force and will act together to confront repeated attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the GCC countries.

She also refuted the inaccurate information and data on which the positions of the European Parliament and other international organisations are based, especially in human rights. Ali Salman called on the European Parliament members to remain aware of the advanced steps the Arab nations had made in this field.

The Deputy Speaker also emphasised that cooperation and integration between shura and representative councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations are one of the pillars of the Gulf Parliamentary world.

Gulf parliaments play an important role in highlighting the achievements of the Gulf during their participation in the regional and international parliamentary forums, Jamila Ali Salman said.
It is hard to exaggerate the significance of the climate change statement issued by the United States and China on Sunday morning Australian time, despite the tepid diplomatic language in which it was framed.

Both countries committed to cooperating with each other on climate, which they agreed must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands.

United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea. Credit:Getty

Their cooperation would include enhancing respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes - which is to say they agreed to step up their domestic action and back more ambitious international cooperation via the Paris climate process.

For years it has been clear that the world cannot tackle climate change unless China, the largest current emitter, cooperated with the United States, which is the largest historical emitter.
Little Free Libraries are getting a face-lift in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division.

Little Free Libraries are getting a face-lift in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division.

The board of trustees has approved $3,850 to build, repair and re-stock tiny shelters located outside west Winnipeg schools for books community members can borrow, take and trade.

"While COVID-19 protocols have slowed the trading of books from home to home, we will use this opportunity to prepare these community spots for book trading and access in the near future," said Cheryl Smukowich, chairwoman of the school board, in an emailed statement.

"It is our hope that the Little Free Libraries will bring more joy and more books into our communities homes."

Its important to the board that literature is both freely and easily accessible and the grassroots libraries have a successful history, Smukowich said.

A total of 13 free little libraries, which will be selected after schools in the division put forward requests, will be supported through the initiative.

Ongoing learning disruptions amid the pandemic have prompted school divisions to increase resources to support early literacy interventions with more support staff this year.

Reading and writing skills, particularly among elementary students, who have yet to become fully independent readers, appear to have suffered the most amid the disruptions.

Early data from both local school divisions and studies out of the University of Alberta suggest fewer students in grades 1-3 are exceeding grade level literacy expectations this year, while the number of learners who are struggling has increased.

For library technician Darren Wesselius, the single most important thing educators and parents can do to boost literacy levels among young students is to encourage reading of any kind.

"It doesnt matter if its a graphic novel or a picture book, what reading material doesnt matter, to develop that love of reading at this stage its so important for us to get books into their hands," said Wesselius, who works at both Linwood School and Stevenson-Britannia School libraries in St. James-Assiniboia.

While COVID-19 has changed much about his job, the librarian technician said there have been some "silver linings"  among them, hes been able to spend more time reading to his students.

Students cant visit the library and scan shelves this year, in order to limit virus transmission, so hes set up a system where students are introduced to the online library catalog and pick out their books of choice via iPad. Wesselius then puts aside all the holds and delivers them to each class. When the books are returned, he puts them into quarantine for up to five days.

Since hes now fulfilling orders rather than helping students using library class time to find books, hes been able to read chapter books to his students  while wearing both a medical mask and double fabric mask  during scheduled library slots.

"The kids were always excited coming to library, but when I'm going to their classrooms, theyre super, super excited," he said. "The library, if anything, is even more important now."

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Costs more to travel to SL, says SLAITO By Sunimalee Dias View(s): View(s):

Sri Lankas tourism industry is finding it hard to attract tourists due to the strict health guidelines and added to this is the concern among tour operators of the need to have a high priced PCR test.

The US$40 PCR test is costing Rs.8000 whereas the real cost at a private hospital is about Rs.6500 and this payment needs to be made to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

Questions have been raised by the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) that has insisted that despite the Tourism Development Minister Prasanna Ranatunga agreeing to their requests to reduce the payment and the method of payment, the rules still continue to be in place.

It was pointed out that the SLTDA has established a bank account to collect these monies that have caused much issues at the board level when it came up for objection insisting that this was not correct.

However, the board approval with the majority of government officers in place has given consent and as a result the SLTDA has already established this account for this purpose.

It is interesting to note that the SLTDA while it is not a government body in the business of cash collections is now engaged in this act as well.

Further the tour operators are compelled to make the payments in dollar denominations, the SLAITO sources pointed out.

In this respect, the tour operators body explained that with the tight health protocols Sri Lanka is fighting hard to compete on the global platform in a bid to market the destination. Moreover, it was noted that following the initial charter operations carried out to be bring in travellers from Kazakhstan and Ukraine there have not been anymore since Sri Lanka has not been supportive of these charter operations, the sources said.

Further the Eastern European charters have become a concern since they are not interested in visiting Sri Lanka as there are no subsidised rates offered to generate more traffic and the stringent health protocols have become a concern as well. It is learnt that Russias Aeroflot that was supposed to recommence operations has been delayed as agents have cited the strict health protocols as being too tough for them.
Acknowledging the best volunteers

Regional volunteering centres received a record 287 nominations to award volunteers and projects.

Online ceremony during whihc Volunteer of the Year awards were handed down. (Source: Courtesy of the Slovak National Volunteer Centre - CARDO)

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The Covid pandemic has inspired solidarity among people, with many helping without requiring any financial compensation. CARDO - the National Volunteering Centre, the Platform of Volunteering Centres and Organisations and regional volunteering centres, acknowledges the best volunteers with the prestigious Srdce na Dlani and Volunteer of the Year awards.

Related article Volunteering persists in Slovakia, despite the challenges of pandemic Read more

The online ceremony took place in mid-March.

"We are extremely pleased to find volunteers and projects in each region that improve different areas of life, making our society better, said Zuzana Vinklerova, executive director of CARDO.

Regional volunteering centres received a record 287 nominations to award volunteers and projects.

Regional volunteering centres received a record 287 nominations to award volunteers and projects. The commissions granted as many as 91 Srdce na Dlani awards and special awards, going to each of the eight regions of Slovakia.

List of laureates of the Volunteer of the Year 2020:

Volunteer aid in Slovakia - David Jakub

Volunteer aid abroad - Monika Tomastikova

Volunteer aid abroad within the official development aid of the Slovak Republic under the logo SlovakAid - Andrij Dichtaruk

Coordinator of volunteers - Maria Ciparova

Volunteering group - Orava Rescue System

Volunteering project or programme  the BilGym EduBox project of the C. S. Lewis Bilingual Gymnasium and the civic association OZ Cesta Mladych

Support of volunteering  Slovak Red Cross in Presov

Long-term volunteering aid - Marcela Vaclavkova-Konradova

18. Apr 2021 at 7:05 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Standard and Poor's Global Ratings (S&P) affirmed on Friday Romania's long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings at 'BBB-/A-3', and also revised its outlook on Romania from negative to stable, the Finance Ministry announced.

This is the agency's first upward revision of Romania's outlook since November 2013, agerpres.ro confirms.

"We revised the outlook to stable because we believe Romania's short-term fiscal risks have abated. The government, led by the Liberal party that assumed office after the December general election, has rolled back costly pension hikes that had previously been legislated. It has also charted a consolidation course that we consider will ensure that Romania's government and external debt stocks remain moderate through 2024," reads the rating agency's statement.

Standard & Poor's expects Romania's output to expand by 5% in 2021 and remain steady in 2022-2023, based on a recovery in private consumption and an uptick in investments, especially within the public sphere. The latter will be supported by the government's multiyear infrastructure plan, under which public spending is to increase by 15% in 2021. This will boost the investment-to-GDP ratio to a historical high of 5.5%, the agency notes.

The rating agency points out that the government's successfully executing its investment ambitions will depend on its ability to absorb the plentiful EU funds designated for Romania, and that in order to access the EU funds, Romania will need to design eligible projects and implement the accompanying reform agenda.

"Our economic forecast remains sensitive to the still-evolving situation regarding the pandemic, and to possible delays in vaccination roll-out. In particular, success in administering immunization programs, both domestically and abroad, will determine the extent to which Romania's economy can reopen," the S&P analysts note.

The rating agency expects Romania's government deficit to be 7% of GDP this year.

"We project that the government deficit will stand at 7% of GDP in 2021, with fiscal policy gradually adapting in a bid to assist the near-term economic recovery. We also forecast that the fiscal deficit will gradually reduce to 3% of GDP in 2024 supported by the government's medium-term consolidation ambitions and the recovering economy. We believe this will halt the erosion of Romania's government balance sheet and we see its net general government debt to GDP stabilizing at around 50% of GDP by 2023," S&P predicts.

According to the cited source, Romania's recently instated government has taken action to defuse near-term fiscal risks by rolling back previous costly pension legislation, which is seen as key to achieving budgetary stability. "Importantly, government has defused near-term fiscal risks by rolling back, through emergency ordinance, legislation passed by the previous administration that would have hiked pensions. We understand that the PNL-led government aims to present legislation that more clearly charts the fiscal framework regarding future wage and pension increases, by the end of this year," S&P writes.

The agency goes on to note that thus far, the government's consolidation efforts have primarily focused on the expenditure side of the budget, and the government is now expected to broaden its budgetary rebalancing efforts to include revenue-side measures. "In our view, such efforts are key to improving Romania's dismal revenue generation performance and closing the largest value-added tax gap in the EU," S&P states.

In the rating agency's view, risks from Romania's still-elevated twin deficits are mitigated by the prospect of sizable EU funds deployment, the government's stated reform ambitions, and a return to economic growth (as Romania is one of the key beneficiaries of the structural funds designated under the EU's upcoming Multiannual Framework, alongside the newly created EU Recovery and Resilience Fund). S&P forecasts that Romania's GDP growth will average 5% in 2021-2022.

The agency's affirming Romania's sovereign rating is also supported by the country's robust access to financing from international capital markets, the Finance Ministry stressed.

"Standard & Poor's decision is proof of the international recognition for Romania's efforts to ensure fiscal and budgetary consolidation and confirms that the measures adopted were the right ones our country needed and which our external partners were expecting. We also note the agency's positive estimates on Romania's medium-term economic growth potential," Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare remarked.

The Finance Ministry pledges to continue both the steps for the implementation of measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and at economic recovery, as well as the prudent fiscal-budgetary policy capable of ensuring that Romania meets the committed targets. "This signal encourages us and shows us that we are on the right track, but this does not mean that we have already arrived there, efforts must be continued," the Finance Minister states.

The reforms planned by the current government would ensure the creation of a more robust fiscal framework, limiting the risks of reversal of the fiscal consolidation policies, which will lead to the improvement of Romania's sovereign rating, the Finance Ministry's release concludes.
Crossing the Suez Canal on the SS Himalaya With the Suez Canal very much in the news these past weeks, Chinta Neangoda recalls a crossing made in 1959 View(s): View(s):

It was on the return journey after an enjoyable six-month trip in the European sub-continent and the United Kingdom with my parents, brother, uncle and aunt that we faced a different kind of experience aboard the SS Himalaya.

Leaving London

On July 3, 1959, travelling by tube from London we reached dock 32 at Tilbury at about 3.30 p.m. and went on board the SS Himalaya. The Himalaya sailed at 10 p.m. sharp. Around 12.30 p.m. we were passing the coast of France and were about to enter the Bay of Biscay.

Having come alongside the coast of Portugal at 8 p.m.,we passed a group of islands in the distance and a little later another group of islands where Portugal has a prison for political prisoners. A prominent lighthouse is seen on the largest island where the prison is located.

On July 6 the Himalaya passed the last part of the Bay of Biscay and entered the Straits of Gibraltar. By 11 a.m, we sighted the rock. Till then land on the African coast was seen on the right and the Portugal coast on the left.

Entering the harbour of Gibraltar at about 12 noon, the ship anchored. The cost of transport from ship to land was 4-6 pence per head. Those going ashore left at 1.30 p.m. and returned at 4.15 p.m.The ship left Gibraltar at 5.15 p.m. for Malta and had to slow down due to a fog. The ships siren was blown for four minutes. A large shoal of dolphins followed the ship for a considerable distance.

Journey from Gibraltar

to Malta

By Tuesday the 7th noon the SS Himalaya had done 405 km from Gibraltar and the seas were calm. The Captains cocktail party was held the previous night. The hall was full with all passengers wearing paper hats.

Arriving at Maltas Valletta harbour, we left for the shore. The fare paid for the local lunch was one shilling per head. Sightseeing from Kings Palace Post Office, which was Napoleons headquarters was interesting. The streets were narrow and winding up to the shore; we went along Merchants Street where the prices of goods were not so cheap and returned to the ship in time for dinner.

The distance from Malta to Port Said is 933 miles out of which 232 had been covered up to 12 noon on the 9th of July. It was a dull day on board and there was a film being shown called, It happened to Jane.

Suez Canal- Port Said

to Port Suez

One of the most important shipping lanes in the world, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.The Suez Canal from Red Sea to the Nile Delta came to be built by Ferdinand De Lesseps, a French Engineer in the middle of the 18th Century in 1859. It took over 10 years to construct at a cost of pounds 29,725,000. The Canal began at Port Said in the North and its length was 193 km or 120 miles to Port Suez in the South.

It was formally opened on November 17, 1896. Suez Canal from Port Said to Suez is 87  miles. The width at head was 72 feet originally and later expanded to 200 feet, while the depth is 42 feet.

There were 13 signal stations. Preference was given to mail steamers and convoys of eight ships could pass at a time.In July 26, 1956 the Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal which caused a serious rift with the British and the French. Thus on the journey we were more welcome because of our non-aligned approach as a country during their dispute.

At Port Said harbour

On the 11th we entered the Port Said harbour at 3 a.m. The ship was berthed about 100 yards from the shore and boats with various articles for sale like bags, wallets, carpets and camel chairs soon approached. Egyptian salesmen also came on board and put their wares on C deck.

The next day, the ship started off at 9 a.m and at 11 a.m. we passed Qantara. At 1.30 p.m we had to let a convoy of ships to pass at the by-pass where the canal is duplicated to enable ships to pass each other on a one way system. Till 6p.m the ship was anchored and it was very hot. I remember the canals blue water.

Held up at Suez Bay

The ship had struck some object in its transit through the canal and it was suspected that damage had occurred to the propeller. This resulted in it having to stay at Suez Bay. It was discovered by a diver that the shaft had got damaged and not the propeller and the damage was not as serious as earlier thought.The ship was still at Suez Bay on the 13th of July. Different officials were repairing the damage.

Leaving the port at 1.30 p.m., she entered the Red Sea at 2 p.m. travelling at 2  knots per hour. Itwas very warm but bearable. At the speed that the ship was travelling the journey to Colombo would have taken 5-6 days. We were to reach Colombo on the 19th but now it would be the 25th or so.

The Gulf of Aden and

on to Colombo

When the ship docked at Aden on the 17th we were allowed to go ashore after dinner and return to the ship at 10 p.m.

We expected to leave the African coast by the next morning for Colombo. The seas were still rough from 19th till 21st and the ship was swinging from side to side. The waves were very high and people on C deck got drenched including my relatives. We were travelling at 13.2 knots per hour.

Our journey ended on July 24, 1959 when the ship docked at the Colombo harbour. We disembarked at 8.30 p.m. and left with a last look at the SS Himalaya which had been a wonderful ship to make that voyage.
US President Joe Biden holds up a silicon wafer as he participates in the virtual CEO Summit on Semiconductor and Supply Chain Resilience in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, April 12 in Washington. AP-Yonhap



By Kim Yoo-chul



A continued mismatch in the global supply and demand of computer chips, vital components of all digital devices, has impacted manufacturing around the world. Making matters worse, the situation is not expected to end any time soon.



The global shortage of semiconductors has become a "political issue" with U.S. President Joe Biden seeking to effectively handle the political and economic headaches caused by the scarcity of the high-tech products.



The semiconductor shortage has rattled the U.S. automotive industry. Vital parts in manufacturing cars and trucks have become unavailable, forcing automakers to halt production. That will hurt Biden's economy-focused policies and Washington's initiative to maintain a lead over Beijing in the race to develop next-generation technologies.



Biden recently imposed restrictions on Chinese technology firms, including Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., one of China's largest chip makers.



The U.S. president invited the top executives of major semiconductor companies, including Samsung Electronics and Intel, to an online meeting linked to the White House, where Washington urged them to invest more to expand production capacity in the United States. President Moon Jae-in also invited senior executives at Samsung, Hyundai, SK and others to Cheong Wa Dae to explore the best possible ways for the government to help them stay competitive.



Samsung Electronics is the world's top memory chipmaker with a massive presence in the U.S. While Samsung is supporting Biden's drive to invest $50 billion in America's semiconductor industry as part of his signature "CHIPS" for U.S. program, the Korean company is also facing pressure by China to invest more there. China is hoping Korea will become its technological ally.



"Samsung is feeling pressure as Washington is viewing the semiconductor shortage problem as a political issue. China wants South Korea to be a crucial partner in semiconductor-driven businesses such as big data and artificial intelligence. Given Samsung's previous hefty investments in China for memory chips and President Moon's hopes to revive the momentum of inter-Korean dialogue, Samsung is being asked to pursue a dual-track approach in investments for semiconductors," said a senior industry executive, Sunday.









Sources said Samsung Electronics is "very close" to specifying its mega semiconductor investment plan both in the United States and South Korea. "I can cautiously say the timing of the investment will come just few days before President Moon's face-to-face meeting with Biden at the White House possibly in early May," another industry executive said asking not to be identified.



Washington has largely ceded to China, Taiwan and Korea its position as a manufacturer of computer chips. U.S. companies are heavily reliant on a global chain of suppliers and traders that have all come under unprecedented strain during the COVID-19 pandemic. That reliance of U.S. industries on foreign companies, such as automobiles, telecommunications and defense, poses a potential threat to America's national security and its economy.



Meanwhile, Samsung is known to have generated some 40 percent of its annual chip revenue from China.



Samsung is expected to soon announce a 70 trillion won investment plan, including 20 trillion won ($17 billion) possibly being allocated to its plant in Austin, Texas, according to sources.





A visitor passes an Intel logo at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 26, 2018. Reuters-Yonhap
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Matt Magee is a collector.

He finds items, picks them up and reimagines a new purpose.

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Its part of his process  one that stems as far back to him living in Brooklyn, New York, years ago.

Its a natural impulse, he says. Over the years, Ive collected all these kinds of materials.

With inspiration always around him, its no wonder Magee turned to the found items to help him tell his latest story in Random Order.

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art currently is showcasing the exhibit, which embodies Magees careerlong interest in playful permutations of bold forms and repurposed unconventional materials.

Magee had been invited to put on the exhibit, so he traveled from his Arizona home to Zane Bennett to see the space.

I think artists need to see the space where the pieces will hang before, Magee says. There are about 16 or 17 pieces that I needed for the space.

The majority of the pieces were made in 2020.

One is called Burst and is gold foil on Arches.

Magee says he was inspired for the piece after a friend made a visit to Arizona and brought chocolate from the Dandelion Chocolate Company based in San Francisco.

Its wrapped in this heavy gold foil and I couldnt throw it away, he says. I love the texture and feel of the foil. I had to order more chocolate to get the foil. I sent the image of Burst to Dandelion and they are interested in using it for packaging.

When Magee works, he does it alone.

A usual day for the artist is spent in his studio creating for at least eight hours at a time.

I dont have assistants, he says. I work with my hands. Theres a sense of my hand in the work.

Magees work ethic is strict and full of routine. Entering the studio around 10:30 a.m., he will work until 6 p.m. Usually seven days a week, but he will take off an occasional Sunday.

Hes consistent about getting work done and everything is a natural progression.

I dont tend to work on two or three things at the same time, he says. I work on one piece until completion. I definitely think about my routine a lot. My brain is half in the studio and half in my life outside of the studio. Im constantly absorbing all that I can.
THE proposed renaming of Anglesea Street will not take place until early next year due to a procedural stipulation.

At last week's full council meeting, councillors signalled their intention to move forward with the process of renaming Anglesea Street to MacSwiney Street.

Proposals to rename the busy thoroughfare date back to 2019.

Sinn Fein councillors Kenneth Collins and Henry Cremin proposed that the local authority would examine the possibility of renaming the street to honour former Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney.

Following discussions at committee meetings since, the renaming of Anglesea Street is intended to honour the MacSwiney family as a whole.

Now that the vote has been passed, the next stage is for the local authority to notify the public of the change.

Cork City Council must invite submissions in writing from members of the public in relation to the proposal not later than two months from the date of the publication of the notice.

Once all submissions have been considered, a final decision on the name change will be made.

However, if a change is to take place it will not come into effect until next year as a stipulation states:

If the declaration is not made within three months of the 1st January, the new place name would not come into effect until the following 1st January.

Speaking to The Echo, Cllr Kenneth Collins said he was delighted by the unanimous support by councillors to rename the street.

Its about Terence MacSwiney but its his family as well, his sisters and his brothers - they were all activists.

They were all instrumental in a part of Irish history and for us to fight for our sovereignty, he said.

Its absolutely an honour to have my name next to that motion, along with Cllr Henry Cremin of course, he continued.

There was some disagreement at the last full council meeting regarding the Irish translation of the new street name, however, Mr Collins said this has since been resolved.

Lord Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney a writer, soldier, politician and hunger striker.

The Irish translation of the proposed street name will be Sraid na Suibhneach.

Im on the board of management at Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers and I contacted the Principal there and he got onto a scholar at UCC to get the exact translation, Mr Collins said.

Mr Collins said renaming Anglesea Street to MacSwiney Street would be particularly significant given the fact that the street was the site of MacSwineys arrest by the British Forces on August 12, 1920.

Its one of the most important streets of our city and to have it named after one of the most important fathers of our city would be historic and very special, he added.

In relation to the cost of the potential renaming of the street, Mr Collins said it would not be significant.

Its advertising it and two name plates  it wouldnt be a huge cost whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Cllr Henry Cremin also welcomed the unanimous support to rename the street.

It still has another one or two phases to go before its actually official.

I think its something of real significance to do in memory of Terence MacSwiney because while weve had a lot of commemorations over the last year or two this will be something of real significance that will be remembered for a long time.
In this June 24, 1999, file photo, Dr. Charles M. Geschke, president, co-chairman and co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc., delivers his keynote address about the future of workplace information on the final day of PC Expo at New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Charles "Chuck" Geschke, the co-founder of the major software company Adobe Inc., who helped develop Portable Document Format technology, or PDFs, died at age 81. Geschke, who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Los Altos, died Friday, April 16, 2021, the company said. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Charles "Chuck" Geschkethe co-founder of the major software company Adobe Inc. who helped develop Portable Document Format technology, or PDFsdied at age 81.

Geschke, who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Los Altos, died Friday, the company said.

"This is a huge loss for the entire Adobe community and the technology industry, for whom he has been a guide and hero for decades," Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen wrote in an email to the company's employees.

"As co-founders of Adobe, Chuck and John Warnock developed groundbreaking software that has revolutionized how people create and communicate," Narayen said. "Their first product was Adobe PostScript, an innovative technology that provided a radical new way to print text and images on paper and sparked the desktop publishing revolution. Chuck instilled a relentless drive for innovation in the company, resulting in some of the most transformative software inventions, including the ubiquitous PDF, Acrobat, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and Photoshop."

His wife said Geschke was also proud of his family.

"He was a famous businessman, the founder of a major company in the U.S. and the world, and of course he was very, very proud of that and it was huge achievement in his life, but it wasn't his focusreally, his family was," Nancy "Nan" Geschke, 78, told the Mercury News on Saturday. "He always called himself the luckiest man in the world."

After earning a doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University, Geschke began working at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, where he met Warnock, the Mercury News reported. The men left the company in 1982 to found Adobe, developing software together.

In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded Geschke and Warnock the National Medal of Technology.

In 1992, Geschke survived a kidnapping, the Mercury News reported.

Arriving to work one morning, two men seized Geschke, then 52, at gunpoint and took him to Hollister, California, where he was held for four days. A suspect caught with $650,000 in ransom money eventually led police to the hideout where he was held captive, The Associated Press reported.

Explore further Adobe cuts off Venezuela clients, citing US sanctions

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Almost exactly a month ago, Peloton CEO John Foley wrote an open letter about the the company's treadmill. Im reaching out to you today because I recently learned about a tragic accident involving a child and the Tread+, resulting in, unthinkably, a death, it begins. While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving the Tread+ where children have been hurt, each one is devastating to all of us at Peloton, and our hearts go out to the families involved.

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning, telling users to stop using the Tread+. Citing 39 incidents, included the aforementioned death, the CPSC writes, The Commission has found that the public health and safety requires this notice to warn the public quickly of the hazard.

Peloton followed up with its own strongly worded statement writing, The company is troubled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) unilateral press release about the Peloton Tread+ because it is inaccurate and misleading. There is no reason to stop using the Tread+, as long as all warnings and safety instructions are followed.

The commissions warning includes multiple injuries involving small children and a pet. Specifically, the note calls for users with children at home to cease using the product, a more stern warning than the initial suggestions outlined by Foley back in March, who at the time told users to keep children and pets away from the system and store the device out of reach after using. Peloton has since added that there have been 23 incidents involving children, 15 with objects and, as the CPSC noted, one with a pet. The company added that it had not revealed the specifics previously out of privacy concern.

If consumers must continue to use the product, CPSC urges consumers to use the product only in a locked room, to prevent access to children and pets while the treadmill is in use, the organization notes. Keep all objects, including exercise balls and other equipment, away from the treadmill.

Story continues

For its part, the connected fitness maker adds:
BROOK PARK, Ohio -- City Council is considering the creation of an outdoor safe exchange zone near the police station.

Councilman Jim Mencini proposed legislation at the April 13 caucus that would establish it, emphasizing that he wants residents to feel completely safe, particularly when meeting strangers to buy or sell items through online sites.

If people are exchanging things, they could have a safe area, Mencini explained. It could also be an exchange with some type of child support, where a woman may not feel comfortable when exchanging her child. Or maybe theres a young guy selling a car to people he doesnt know.

The zone would not be supervised, but surveillance cameras would monitor the designated site. He said a police officer told him there might be available space on the police department property as long as it wasnt going to conflict with any of their job duties or station operations.

Councilman Rick Salvatore called the legislation a great idea with a lot of potential. He did ask, however, whether the city could be found liable if an incident were to occur in the safe exchange zone.

Law Director Carol Horvath responded by recommending that certain conditions be met when establishing the zone. She suggested installation of signage indicating camera-only monitoring of the area. In addition, she said an emergency number should be prominently displayed.

The legal risk, if we do those things properly and people understand no one is directly monitoring them, is minimal, Horvath said, adding that she will put those stipulations in writing for councils review.

Brecksville, Parma and Olmsted Township have established exchange zones.

Councilwoman Lisa Schmuck recalled an instance in which she accompanied a friend picking up an online item from a seller. She described the exchange area as sketchy.

I felt unsafe, Schmuck told Mencini. Im glad youre bringing this legislation forward.

The ordinance will appear on the next regular council agenda for consideration.

Read more stories from the News Sun.
Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
In late 2020, Id discussed how Canadians could turn $10,000 into a small fortune in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). When the TFSA first launched, investors had little cumulative contribution room to work with. Those who were able to become TFSA millionaires were able to do so with ingenuity and some good fortune. Today, the cumulative contribution room in a TFSA is $75,500. That means the goal of becoming a TFSA millionaire is more attainable this decade.

Why the TFSA is the ultimate growth vehicle in 2021

North American markets have erupted since the March 2020 market pullback. The last year has proved to be fertile ground for TFSA investors on the hunt for growth. We have seen explosive growth in technology and health care. Meanwhile, the crypto space is starting to run into the mainstream. There has been ample opportunity to gobble up big gains in this pandemic.

These stocks made TFSA millionaires in the 2010s



The North American economy was contending with a historic economic crisis in the wake of the 2007-2008 financial crisis. This allowed investors to feast on the gains that came from the recovery in the 2010s. Many more TFSA millionaires could be made in the 2020s.

Air Canada (TSX:AC) was one of the biggest success stories in the previous decade. Shares of Canadas top airliner fell below the $1 mark in the early 2010s. However, it would finish the decade just shy of the $50-per-share mark. The stock has nearly halved from this high since the beginning of the pandemic.

Shares of Air Canada put together a 10-year return of 3,680% from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019. A $15,000 investment in Air Canada would have been worth $552,000 at the end of the decade. That represents over a half a million in tax-free gains had the TFSA allowed that large of an initial investment to start the 2010s.

Here are stocks Id stash in my TFSA to start this decade

WELL Health Technologies (TSX:WELL) has thrived in the face of the pandemic. Id suggested that Canadians should stash this healthcare stock for the long haul in February. Shares of WELL Health have climbed 341% year over year as of early afternoon trading on April 16.

Story continues

Telehealth engagement has soared during the pandemic. WELL Health has achieved record earnings on the back of this trend. Investors looking to become a TFSA millionaire should look to jump on this exciting growth stock today.

Nuvei (TSX:NVEI) launched its IPO on the TSX in September 2020. The company provides payment technology solutions to merchants and partners around the world. Its shares have climbed 18% in 2021. The stock has increased 89% since its IPO. Tech IPOs like Kinaxis and Shopify have made investors fortunes over the past decade. Nuvei has the potential to make you a TFSA millionaire by the end of the 2020s. The payment solutions technology market is geared up for strong growth in the years ahead.

Farmers Edge (TSX:FDGE) debuted on the TSX in early March. The company develops digital agriculture solutions in North America and globally. Shares have dipped since its launch, but this company holds promise for investors in the long term. Grand View Research recently projected that the global precision farming market would expand at a CAGR of 13% from 2021 to 2028.

This company delivered record results in 2020. Revenue soared 93% to $45.9 million and digital agronomy solutions jumped 85% to $35.5 million. It delivered revenue growth of 186% in Q4 2020 over the prior year.

The post Heres How You Can Become a TFSA Millionaire This Decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Shopify and Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends KINAXIS INC.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2021
Following a meeting with An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, Macra na Feirme has outlined concerns regarding the delays to the planning process overall and the resultant implications which affect young farmers investing in their industry.

Macra na Feirme stress that these delays pose a significant risk to the aims of generational renewal.

The organisation's national president, Thomas Duffy, highlighted the need for investment in facilities to diversify dairy product output in the face of Brexit to protect the long-term viability of rural areas, family farms and the dairy sector.

Also highlighted was the impact of a move away from summer production of milk as result of limitations on processing capacity.

This discussion was not about any individual cases but the need for government to ensure the sector is able to operate and investment, supporting family farms, said Mr Duffy.

The risk of unintended consequences of such limitations were raised with An Taoiseach and Minister for Agriculture of limiting capacity. A move away from the dominant grass-based system practiced on the majority of Irish dairy farms would undermine our environmental credentials.

As demonstrated by Teagasc figures, moving the supply of milk towards housed systems could increase emissions per kg of milk by as much as 20%. Greater production of milk from the housed period will result in greater amounts of slurry, which despite significant investment by farmers in low emissions slurry spreading technology, will increase ammonia emissions.

This is not about expansion. We talk about a Just Transition in many sectors, well there is simply nothing Just in actions forcing farmers away from a more sustainable and economically viable system to one that will leave them worse off and with bigger risks, said Mr Duffy.

There is a legal right to make submissions, but the delayed nature of the entire planning process has meant that a delay is as good as a win and that must be addressed, he said.


By Lee Seo-hyun





North Korea is a poor country, but people who live in the capital live pretty well  residents there are said to live in "Pyonghattan," a combination of Pyongyang and Manhattan. When Pyonghattans learn about the outside world, they begin to face a moral dilemma: should they continue to live as part of the elite in the country, or take a chance to live in freedom?







Pyonghattans are the wealthiest people in North Korea, but they may also be the most watched people in the world. No matter where Pyonghattans are, at their organizations, at work, at home, they are being watched, and they know it. Every word and move is watched, even if they cry hard enough for the dictators. A higher position means higher levels of surveillance. It's very normal for Pyonghattan residents to have their phones and their homes tapped. I remember my mom and I whispering into each other's ears at home about Kim Jong-il having many wives. It's been six years since my family left North Korea, but my mom still sometimes whispers directly into my ears. And I remind her every time: "Mom! We're not in North Korea anymore!"







North Korea brainwashes us with propaganda and lies, tries to scare us about the outside unknown world, and makes it so difficult to escape. It puts one final barrier in our brains: guilt.







Once we learn how cruel the regime is, we realize what can happen to those left behind if we leave. It is another moral dilemma that the cruel regime forces on us with its "guilt by association" strategy of punishing entire families for the actions of one person.







North Koreans don't remain silent because they support the regime. North Korea's surveillance state and guilt-by-association strategy are the main reasons that North Koreans can't rebel and even those who left the country a long time ago remain silent.







Most of the elite in North Korea are also victims and slaves of Kim Jong-un the dictator. Of course, there are certain people who deserve to be punished along with Kim. However, the majority of Pyonghattanites are good people. When they learn the true reality of North Korea, they may find themselves with the moral dilemma: they can stay as the ruling class of the suppressive society or leave  which could jeopardize their families.







The lack of a revolution in North Korea does not mean the elite support Kim Jong-un or the nation's poverty. Those who have been brainwashed don't even have the opportunity to talk with a Chinese taxi driver. They are blocked from accessing both domestic and international information. Others remain quiet, for the sake of their families.







Pyonghattanites who are living well compared to other North Koreans may seem to be rulers in hell, but that isn't true. Once we learn about the outside world, we start to realize that we are serving in hell. Pyonghattanites aren't the ones who rule in hell; it is the dictator and his family who rule in hell and make North Korea a hell for everyone else there.





















Lee Seo-hyun is co-host of the

Her remarks were edited by Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of FSI.



Pyonghattan Youtube channel along with her brother Lee Hyun-seung. Her remarks are an excerpt from her speech at the International Freedom Conference held online on April 3 by Freedom Speakers International (FSI).
Photo: GC Images

Black Rob, the Harlem-based rapper who helped define the sound of turn-of-the-millennium rap, has died at the age of 51, according to his fellow former Bad Boy collaborator and friend Mark Curry. Curry posted (and later deleted) a heartbreaking video of himself crying and saying, I dont know where to begin this, but I thank everybody for the donations. Rob passed away about an hour ago. On April 10, Love & Hip Hops DJ Self Instagrammed a video of Black Rob in a hospital bed, apparently in severe pain, sharing big love to X a day after the passing of DMX. On April 11, Self shared that Black Rob, who was born Robert Ross, was out of the hospital, and that his kidneys are failing again. He also posted a video of Ross seated upright, explaining that hes suffered four strokes in the past five years and is suffering immense pain, saying, I dont know what the people are going to do, what the people are going to say. I need some rest. That same day, Curry shared a GoFundMe to help Ross find a home, pay for medical help & stability during these trying times. Weve lost a lot [of] legends and we cant afford to lose anymore. The page listed 1,000 donors at the time of writing. Curry explained on Instagram that Ross had been undergoing dialysis.

Black Rob joined Diddys Bad Boy label in the mid-1990s, and released his platinum-selling debut album, Life Story, in 1999. Black Rob is best known for his 2000 single Whoa!, which reached the Top 10 on Billboards R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts. In Vultures 100 Songs That Define New York Rap omnibus, writer Shamira Ibrahim praised the track for Black Robs stream-of-consciousness storytelling, writing about how it still gets played out of car speakers during Harlem and Bronx summers.
Lucknow, April 18 : With the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) failing to respond to the needs of Covid patients, it is now the Chief Minister's helpline which is coming to the aid of Covid infected persons.

Out of the 8,16,962 people who have contacted the CM Helpline through its toll free number 1076 for different kinds of support, it has addressed issues of 8,13,930 people to date.

According to the government spokesman, the CM Helpline has also contacted 13,526 corona positive patients living in home, or hospital isolation so far to enquire about their health and offer them appropriate medical advice regarding doses of medicines and quarantine rules.

Similarly, the helpline has called 2,477 Covid positive patients to get details of their treatment and condition.

Besides, the helpline has contacted a total of 6,100 Covid positive individuals to date to offer them advice on home isolation, to get information from them on any other suspected case in their families and also making arrangements for sending them medicines.

The helpline is receiving a large number of calls on a daily basis from those seeking information on how to fight the virus.

Around 500 employees work in three shifts at the helpline's headquarters to listen to corona related problems of people and help them find ways to resolve them.

Apart from this, the helpline has called 2,115 village heads and 1,638 councilors to seek information from them on the status of the special cleanliness and communicable disease control campaign in their areas.

A total of 2,14,140 people have been contacted in this regard so far.

The CM Helpline has also contacted several patients in seven major Covid hospitals to get their feedback on the provision of medical facilities, sanitation and toilets and apprised the superintendents of the concerned hospitals and the district magistrates of the concerned districts about it.

The helpline also informs people about the sample testing facilities in the state, and how to treat Covid patients.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The executive committee of the opposition party Indian National Congress, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), has accused Narendra Modi government of colossal mismanagement of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. It said that despite sufficient warning from experts and examples of several European and South East Asian countries, the government failed to prepare itself to handle the second wave of the pandemic.

The CWC said government failed to create sufficient public awareness that a waning pandemic could be a precursor to a second wave that may be more devastating than the first wave. and failed to rapidly scale up the production and supply of the two approved vaccines in India by providing sufficient funds and other concessions, if sought. The CWC in a statement on April 17 said Modi government also failed to resort to compulsory licensing and production of the two approved vaccines in other pharma manufacturing facilities in India and failed to universalise vaccination after health workers and front line workers had been vaccinated in Phase I.

Congress also accused the government for not providing adequate funds to 'the state governments that were fighting a two front war - one against the pandemic and the other against the economic recession - despite accumulating hundreds of crores of rupees in the opaque PM-CARES Fund'.

The committee observed that the government should have allowed the state governments and public and private hospitals to handle the vaccine rollout. It failed to prevent, or at least minimise, the wastage of vaccine doses that stands at more than 23 lakh doses today; failed to maintain the scale and momentum of testing, tracking and tracing of infected persons and their contacts; failed to grant emergency-use approval to other vaccines that had got approval in the US, UK, European Union and Japan and failed to allow the import of other approved vaccines manufactured in other countries to augment the supply of vaccines The committee also blamed the government for failing to adopt a need-based, fair and equitable allocation of the vaccine doses to the various states.

"We regret to say that the nation is paying a very heavy price for the thoughtlessness and unpreparedness of the NDA government to tackle the gravest disaster that has hit the country and has affected millions of families claiming 1,75,673 lives so far. It is a shame that the country with the world's largest vaccine manufacturing capacity has earned the odium of being among the most affected countries in the world. With a heavy heart, we caution the people that unless urgent corrective measures are taken the nation faces an unprecedented catastrophe," the committee concluded.

ALSO READ: 'Despite a year to prepare India caught off guard': Sonia Gandhi criticises Modi govt

ALSO READ: 'Tughlaqi lockdown': Rahul Gandhi slams Centre's COVID-19 strategy
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Almost 13 million Britons tuned in to watch Prince Philip's funeral - more than the figure for Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview.

The BBC's live coverage of the day- fronted by Huw Edwards - had 11.4 million viewers at its peak, nearly ten times the 1.2 million ITV pulled in.

Harry and Meghan's tell-all Oprah Winfrey interview - in which they accused the Royal Family of institutional racism - had 12.4 million viewers tuned in at its peak when it aired in the UK.

The BBC's average viewer figure for yesterday's funeral stood at 6.6 million, while ITV's was significantly lower, at just 851,300.

ITV's coverage was co-hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham. Prince William recently ended his long-standing friendship with Bradby because of his concerns he sided with Prince Harry.

Almost 13 million people tuned in to watch Prince Philip's funeral (pictured) on BBC and ITV - more than the figure for Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview

The BBC's live coverage - fronted by Huw Edwards (left)- had 11.4 million viewers at its peak, with an average of 6.6 million. The coorporation's peak viewers figure was ten-times what ITV pulled in, with its peak standing at 1.2 million.

Harry and Meghan's tell-all Oprah Winfrey interview (pictured) - in which they accused the Royal Family of institutional racism - pulled in 12.4 million at its peak when it aired in the UK

The BBC pulled in its biggest amount of viewers at 3.08pm (the broadcast at 3.08pm, pictured) - with ITV's most views coming in one minute earlier at 3.07pm

Meanwhile, Bradby's broadcast on ITV - Prince Philip, a Royal Funeral - began at 1.15pm. It hit its peak viewer figure at 3.07pm, when Prince Philip's funeral was being brought into St George's Chapel (pictured)

At 2.53pm on the BBC, 10,015,400 viewers tuned in to watch Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, among others, walk behind the coffin

At 3.49 on ITV, the Royal family was seen filing out of St George's Chapel after the funeral. At this point 2,376,300 people tuned in

News reader Edwards took over the BBC's sombre live broadcast titled The Funeral of HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at 12.30pm.

Meanwhile, Bradby's broadcast on ITV - Prince Philip, a Royal Funeral - began at 1.15pm.

The BBC pulled in its biggest amount of viewers at 3.08pm - with ITV's most views coming in one minute earlier at 3.07pm.

This coincided with the start of the funeral, which began after a minute's silence at 3pm.

It follows a week which saw the BBC receive 109,741 complaints about the amount of coverage it gave to Philip's death - a figure believed to be the record for complaints in British television history.

The BBC cleared its schedules last Friday, the day of the duke's death, to simulcast special programmes on BBC One and BBC Two, with episodes of shows such as MasterChef and EastEnders dropped from that day's TV guide.

While the BBC came out on top in yesterday's ratings war, viewers criticised Edwards for talking over too much of the footage.

Prince Harry speaks to Prince William as they leave the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle yesterday afternoon

The Duke of Sussex is seen speaking to the Duke of Cambridge following the service at St George's Chapel, in their first public appearance together since Megxit

Britons rushed to social media to say they had 'switched to ITV' to watch the historic event due to Edwards' 'constant inane chatter' over footage of the procession ahead of the official ceremony.

The Queen looked grief-stricken and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved Philip's coffin on its final journey.

Prior to Prince Philip's coffin emerging from the State Entrance, Edwards provided background and context in a voice over from a studio in the grounds of Windsor.

Viewers rushed to Twitter to share their frustration at Edwards' interjections, with Ruth Nguyen writing: 'Poor coverage by the beeb.

'Huw Edwards just kept talking throughout. Repetition, same coverage as all the other programmes.

'ITV did a more sensitive and moving programme. Get a grip BBC.'

Meanwhile, Jackie Racher said she 'switched to ITV coverage of the funeral' because 'Huw Edwards' constant inane chatter was driving us crackers'.

Footage after the funeral captured what appeared to be a temporary thaw in the frosty relations between Princes William and Harry as the pair were seen chatting after the service.

It was more than a year since they were last seen in public together.

Only weeks have passed since the devastating Oprah Winfrey interview, which was said to have left William 'incandescent' with rage.

Despite this, he and Harry looked relaxed in each other's company as they walked the short distance from St George's Chapel back to Windsor Castle.

The Foot Guards Band are seen marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with his Personal Standard, is carried on the purpose built Land Rover Defender followed by the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex, the Earl of Snowdon and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence during the funeral of Prince Philip

It was the Duchess of Cambridge, ever the peacemaker, who smoothed the way for one of the most talked-about reconciliations in years.

As the Royals filed out of the chapel, Prince William spoke to the Right Reverend David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, while Harry chatted with Kate behind them.

Eschewing a waiting fleet of Rolls-Royces, the family then began to walk up the hill.

William was initially ahead of his wife and brother but turned back towards them to speak to Kate while Harry exchanged pleasantries with the Dean.

Harry then caught up with his brother and sister-in-law and they walked together for a while as William removed his face mask. Then, Kate delicately stepped away to speak to the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise  leaving the brothers alone.

The apparent rapprochement was a welcome moment after a day of palpable tension. Earlier, the siblings had maintained stony expressions as they walked behind their grandfather's cortege, separated by their cousin Peter Phillips.

The Duke of Cambridge strode ahead of his brother as they entered the 15th Century chapel, and once inside the atmosphere remained decidedly frosty.

William sat with Kate directly opposite Harry but did not appear to make eye contact, instead preferring to focus his gaze towards his grandfather's coffin.

Members of the Royal Family walk behind the Land Rover hearse carrying Prince Philip's coffin

Pallbearers of the Royal Marines carry the coffin at the West Steps of St George's Chapel

Members of the Royal family march behind the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of Prince Philip

Sources told The Mail on Sunday that Harry has experienced 'a great deal of frostiness' from many of his relatives since arriving in Britain a week ago and self- isolating at Frogmore Cottage, the house given to him and Meghan as a wedding present by the Queen. 'Ironically the only one who has expressed any sympathy towards him is Prince Andrew,' said one source.

'He knows from Sarah Ferguson  and now first-hand  how it feels to be the outsider, which Harry very much is.

'As far as the others are concerned, there is a deep sense of protection towards the Queen and resentment towards Harry. There is little sympathy for him after what he and Meghan said on Oprah.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the Royals of institutional racism during the bombshell 90-minute interview last month and claimed one member of the family  not the Queen or Prince Philip  questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie failed to acknowledge Harry before or during yesterday's service.

'They are still very upset,' the source added. 'They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.'
Prince Philip, who emerged as the longest-serving consort of the British crown, was laid to rest at St. Georges Chapel on April 17. With social distancing laws in place, a sombre queen sat alone, mourning the loss of her strength and stay. Now, a royal insider has revealed that Elizabeth II paid a secret tribute to her husband with hidden objects in her bag.

Handkerchief, photograph and more

Speaking to Daily Mail, royal sources said that throughout the funeral, the monarch kept one of Philips white handkerchief in her bag. Additionally, she also kept his statement accessory, which was designed by his Savile Row tailors in Kent and Haste. It is worth noting that the heartbroken queen, who was seen in her unshakable dignified stance, throughout the ceremony was also carrying a vintage photograph. The picture which featured the royal couple, was from their time living in Malta between 1949 and 1951.

Apart from the Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge also honoured the Queen and her husband. Kate was pictured donning her choice of necklace, which she borrowed from the Queen. She had previously worn the statement piece to an official dinner in 2017 to celebrate the royal couple's 70th wedding anniversary.

This afternoon, The Duke of Edinburghs Funeral took place at Windsor Castle.



It was a family occasion which recognised His Royal Highnesss military associations and included some unique personal touches, in line with The Dukes wishes: https://t.co/utgjrb8rmD pic.twitter.com/bYWCMsEgk3  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 17, 2021

The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Windsor Castle alongside Duke of Cambridge Prince William for Prince Philip's funeral at St George's Chapel on the Windsor castle's grounds. The Royal couple drove a black Land Rover and each wore customary Black mourning dress. While Kate Middleton was seen in a long-sleeved black dress, black sheer tights, and matching pumps, sporting a black hat with netting and Japanese four-row pearl choker jewellery, which was worn by Princess Diana. Prince William wore a black suit to attend the funeral, which will have only thirty attendees.

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was seen covered with his sword, a wreath of flowers and his Naval cap. The cascade was brought into the inner halls of Windsor from the Queens private chapel by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, according to Metro. Several key members were forced to miss the Duke of Edinburghs service including Prince George, Meghan Markle and Sarah, Duchess of York, popularly known as Fergie.

(Image Credits: The Associated Press)
Russia has ordered 20 Czech diplomats to leave the country in response to the Czech governments expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats identified as spies for an intelligence agency involved in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion.

Czech Ambassador Vitezslav Pivonka was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday evening and told that the 20 diplomats must leave by the end of Monday.

Earlier, a ministry statement called the expulsion of the Russians a hostile step In an effort to please the United States against the backdrop of recent American sanctions against Russia, the Czech authorities have even surpassed their overseas masters in this regard.

A woman blows a whistle in front of the Russian Embassy in Prague (Petr David Josek/AP)

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Saturday that the expulsions were based on unequivocal evidence provided by the Czech intelligence and security services that points to the involvement of Russian military agents in the massive 2014 explosion in an eastern town that killed two people.

Interior minister Jan Hamacek, who is also serving as the countrys foreign minister, said the 18 Russian Embassy staffers were clearly identified as spies from the GRU and SVR, Russias military and foreign intelligence services.

At the same time, the Czech police organised crime unit on Saturday published photos of two foreign citizens who visited the country, including where the depot was located, between October 11 and October 16 in 2014 and asked the public for any information about them.

The two men travelled to Prague using Russian passports.

Czech police said the names and photos matched two Russians whom British authorities charged in absentia in 2018 with trying with trying to kill former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the Soviet nerve agent Novichok, in Salisbury.
Thailand's foreign ministry on Saturday revealed that Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is reportedly expressing his intention to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN members are arranging to hold its summit in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, next Saturday to discuss their responses to the situation in Myanmar, reported NHK World.

Following the revelation that the military leader is willing to join the ASEAN summit, people protesting the took to social media to express their opposition.

Some said that the senior general is not a national representative, while others question whether ASEAN would approve of military rule, reported NHK World.

Meanwhile, a human rights group in said that security forces on Saturday opened fire at anti- protesters in the second-largest city, Mandalay, and its surrounding areas, leaving two people dead.

The group said that 730 people have been killed since the military on February 1, reported NHK World.

Last month, Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries held an informal meeting to discuss the situation in But its chair's statement only said that the ministers expressed "ASEAN's readiness to assist Myanmar in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Victoria will resume administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged under 50.

Health Minister Martin Foley announced on Sunday the jab will once again be available to people from Wednesday.

The state had stopped using the vaccine following advice from the Technical Advisory Group to the federal government on April 8.

The ATAGI had warned against the use of the vaccine because of its rare and potentially fatal blood-clotting side effect.

Health Minister Martin Foley announced on Sunday the jab will once again be available to people from Wednesday

The state had stopped using the vaccine following advice from the Technical Advisory Group to the federal government on April 8

Health services across Victoria were advised to continue administering the vaccine to people over the age of 70.

Three people across the country have already developed blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

A Western Australian woman, aged in her 40s, was admitted to hospital after receiving the vaccine in mid-March.

Then a 44-year-old Melbourne man was taken to hospital after getting the jab on March 22.

He was treated for serious thrombosis and a low platelet count at Box Hill Hospital.

The third case was 48-year-old New South Wales woman Genene Norris, who received the vaccine on April 8.

She developed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia before passing away in hospital.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration's Vaccine Safety Investigation Group have issued a warning alongside the vaccine.

'Common side effects include fever, sore muscles, tiredness and headache. These usually start within 24 hours of vaccination and last for one to two days. These side effects are expected and are not of concern unless severe or persistent.

'The reports of these rare clotting complications have occurred later (between day 4 and 20 after vaccination) and have generally been severe, requiring hospitalisation.
One of France's last surviving commandos who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day has died aged 106.

Hubert Faure was one of 177 French-led commandos who landed in the first wave troops ashore on June 6, 1944.

French President, Emmanuel Macron led tributes to Faure, claiming he had 'the gratitude of the nation'.

Former French commando Hubert Faure, who was among the first troops to land in Normandy on June 6, 1944, pictured, has died, aged 106

Faure, pictured, was among a group of 177 commandos under the command of Lieutenant Philippe Kieffer

Faure and his comrades landed on the beach at Colleville, northern France and secured German fortifications at Ouistreham

Addressing Faure's family, he said the former commando provided 'a wonderful lesson in commitment and heroism'.

As part of the 'Kieffer Commandos', named after the unit's head Lieutenant Philippe Kieffer one of the first French fighters to join Charles de Gaulle's Free France resistance movement, Faure landed on the beach at Colleville in northern France.

The only French soldiers to be involved in the D-Day landings, they achieved their objective of securing German fortifications at Ouistreham before joining up with Allied forces to drive on further.

Ten of their number were dead by the end of the day.

'They were the soul of our nation,' said the armed forces ministry in a statement announcing Faure's death which leaves just one living member of the Kieffer Commandos, 98-year-old Leon Gautier.

Faure had been imprisoned in 1940 but escaped and reached England where he joined the Free French Forces

Faure had been imprisoned in 1940 but escaped and reached England where he joined the Free French Forces.

There, in the spring of 1944 he joined the 1st Battalion Marine Commando Fusiliers, which became better known as the 'Kieffer Commandos'.

It took another 75 years before a statue of Kieffer, who died in 1962, was erected in Ouistreham.

Some of the survivors of his commando group waited until 2004, the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, to receive the Legion of Honour, France's highest award.
An employee checks the print quality of copies of the Apple Daily newspaper, published by Next Media Ltd., with a headline "Apple Daily will fight on" after media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily, was arrested by the national security unit, at the company's printing facility in Hong Kong, on Aug. 11, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Hong Kong Officials, Beijing-Backed Media Threaten to Shut Apple Daily Newspaper

'Lets stand tall in fallen times,' Apple Daily says

Pro-Beijing media and government officials in Hong Kong have set their sights on efforts to shut down local independent newspaper Apple Dailyone of the citys few remaining free media outlets.

Apple Daily was founded by Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who on April 16 was sentenced to 14 months in prison for participating in Hong Kongs mass anti-Beijing and pro-democracy protests in 2019.

During the opening ceremony of Hong Kongs newly introduced National Security Education Day on April 15, the citys chief executive, Carrie Lam, stated that the local government would strengthen publicity, guidance, supervision, and management of schools, social organizations, media, and the internet regarding national security issues, based on the national security law imposed by Chinas ruling communist regime in Beijing last year.

Critics say the vaguely worded law, which punishes offenses such as secession and collusion with foreign forces, has been used as a tool to suppress dissidents. Since it took effect, the city has seen a drastic rollback of its freedoms, as dozens of pro-democracy figures have been charged or convicted under the legislation or similar laws. The clampdown has also stoked fears of further restrictions on press freedom in the city.

The same day, Hong Kong Police Commissioner Chris Tang told reporters the police would strengthen the supervision of the media and criticized Lais Apple Daily without directly identifying it. He also threatened the remaining press by saying, If there is evidence that someone uses fake news to incite hatred, they will be arrested and prosecuted.

Apple Daily editor-in-chief Luo Weiguang said Tangs remarks against the media represent typical rhetoric from an official shirking his or her responsibility to the people, in effect making way for the government to suppress the media.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association also issued a statement that condemns Tang for making unreasonable remarks [about the media] without substantive evidence. The association requested that Tang retract his statement.

On April 16, Hong Kongs Secretary for Security, John Lee, said at a legislature meeting that saboteurs and Hong Kong independence advocates are in the governments sights as they continue to spread their message through the media.

Hong Kong Chinese language newspaper Ta Kung Pao, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Partys liaison office in Hong Kong, also published an editorial calling for a ban on Apple Daily. The article accused the Apple Daily of engaging in collusion with foreign forces, inciting violence, and making fake news, as well as challenging national securityall illegal under Beijings National Security Law.

Apple Daily responded to the accusations by citing Lai, Lets stand tall in fallen times.

Media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, arrives at the Court of Final Appeal for an appeal by the Department of Justice against the bail decision of Lai, in Hong Kong, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Apple Daily is widely regarded as the benchmark of Hong Kongs press freedom, and observers are worried that the Beijing-backed Hong Kong government may start with Apple Daily to completely purge the Hong Kong media.

I believe that the authorities will take actions against the entire Hong Kong media, Fu King-wa, associate professor of the Journalism and Media Research Center of the University of Hong Kong, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) about the situation.

He said that as one of Hong Kongs most influential media outlets, Apple Daily must be one of the main targets, adding that the authorities are now suppressing influential media in order to intimidate and silence other media, and make it difficult for them to function as the fourth power of society to supervise the government and voice the peoples concerns.

Newspapers of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times come off the press on April 17 as the outlet resumes production after an attack on its print facility on April 12. (The Epoch Times)

Meanwhile, as another media thats independent of the Chinese regimes influence, the Hong Kong Epoch Timess printing press was attacked and machines were damaged by unknown individuals on April 12. The international community and politicians from around the world have condemned the attack and expressed support for The Epoch Times.

Press freedom in Hong Kong has been in steady decline since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Once hailed a beacon of freedom of expression, the citys ranking on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 80th place, from 18th in 2002.
Foxtel local drama The End recently concluded its first season on screens, with plenty of praise for its story around euthanasia and the performances from cast including Harriet Walter, Frances OConnor, Noni Hazlehurst and more.

Theres no word yet on whether there will be more of the co-production with Sky UK, but writer Samantha Strauss recently told TV Tonight she has more in store if it is picked up for a second season.

This story definitely has the capacity to keep going. Our fingers are crossed, she said.

These are characters that definitely havent left me. They all have more life in them after 10 episodes. We would love to do a second season. We have mapped out a second season and had a really terrific Writers Room on it but then COVID happened.

Would COVID factor into future storylines?

Its not a story where you can completely ignore COVID, I dont think. Weve been waiting a little bit for the dust to settle to work out how this would have affected our characters, said Strauss.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 00:01:07|Editor: huaxia

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A man with flowers observes a minute's silence ahead of the funeral of Britain's Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in Windsor, Britain, on April 17, 2021. The funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was held Saturday in Windsor in line of the British government's coronavirus restrictions. Britain fell silent for a minute of reflection ahead of Prince Philip's funeral which began at 15:00 BST (1400 GMT) at St. George's Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which is about 35 kilometers away from central London. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was held Saturday in Windsor in line of the British government's coronavirus restrictions.

Britain fell silent for a minute of reflection ahead of Prince Philip's funeral which began at 15:00 BST (1400 GMT) at St. George's Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which is about 35 kilometers away from central London.

More than 730 members of the armed forces took part in the event, but given the current pandemic restrictions, only 30 mourners were allowed to attend the funeral inside St George's Chapel, including Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family.

The 30 guests at the funeral wore morning coats with medals, or day dress, but not military uniform.

The event was a "ceremonial royal funeral", rather than a state funeral, which "very much reflects the duke's wishes", according to Buckingham palace.

Members of the public are not allowed to attend the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funeral was shown live on television.

Some members of the public have been in Windsor to pay tribute to the late duke, but the area has largely been quiet due to restrictions, according to the BBC.

Prince Philip died at the aged of 99 last Friday. He was born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921. He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

The couple had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Enditem
Only eight countries are set to feature on the Government's green travel list when the ban on overseas holidays lifts on May 17.

The British overseas territory of Gibraltar, along with Israel, Iceland and the US, will be among the nations and territories on the safe list, according to industry modelling reported by the Telegraph.

The research was carried out by Robert Boyle - the former strategy chief at British Airways.

It also reveals that nearly all of Europe is either on the Government's 'amber' list, where arrivals must go into self-isolation for ten days, or the red list - where arrivals have to quarantine in hotels at a cost of 1,750.

According to the new research, the other countries which will reportedly be on the green list are Malta, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Both Australia and New Zealand are currently closed to foreign arrivals while Iceland, Gibraltar, Israel, Malta and the United States all have heavy restrictions in place which ban holidaymakers travelling to the countries.

Ireland's Government advises against non-essential travel and arrivals must quarantine for 14 days, with 'limited exceptions' according to the Foreign Office.

The research contradicts expectations from travel industry leaders that most of Europe would be on the Government's green list.

Only eight countries are set to feature on the Government's green travel list when the ban on overseas holidays lifts on May 17

The findings put Spain, Greece, Italy and Cyprus - all of which are hugely popular with British tourists - on amber because of their high coronavirus rates.

However, they could still turn green by June 28 - when the Government is set to carry out a review which could see nations moved between lists.

The report, which has reportedly been circulated among figures in the travel industry, ranks 52 countries based on a series of coronavirus-related statistics.

These include vaccination rates, infection rates and the extent of Covid-19 variants.

The report is said to read: 'The surest case for green must be Gibraltar. It has essentially zero cases of any type and the population is fully vaccinated.

'Israel must be the next most likely. Again, it has vaccinated close to its entire population and case numbers are below even last years threshold.'

The British overseas territory of Gibraltar (pictured), along with Israel, Iceland and the US, will be among the nations and territories on the safe list, according to industry modelling

New Zealand, which is currently closed to foreign travellers, is expected to be on green list

The report contradicts previous expectations from industry leaders that most European countries would be in the Government's quarantine-free category.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet's chief executive, said when asked if he expects destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Turkey to be on the 'green' list: 'Yes, by the time we open up for travel on May 17 and if the Government continues to have the plan in place on the two-test system.'

Senior industry figures told MPs on the Transport Select Committee last week that the proposed traffic light system is 'too complex' while the overall strategy set out by ministers is 'very vague in many areas'.

They also warned border control at airports is already 'unable to cope' with Covid checks despite passenger numbers being massively reduced due to the lockdown ban on non-essential international travel.

They warned there will need to be a 'dramatic improvement in border performance if we are to increase passenger numbers' when flights do resume.

Meanwhile, British Airways boss Sean Doyle said the continued success of the vaccine rollout in the UK and the US could allow for a transatlantic travel corridor to be put in place.

Ireland is among the destinations rumoured to be set for the Government's green list

The US is also reportedly set to be on the Government's 'green' list of countries

Last month, experts said London and Washington were already discussing piloting a bilateral safe travel scheme between the two countries.

Mr Doyle, who was speaking at an online industry event, also said the firm would be offering 60 PCR tests to its customers amid concerns the bill charged by some testing firms of approximately 120 could price many families out of a trip abroad.

His comments reflect the announcement made by testing firm Randox who said last week it would be offering 60 tests through partnering airlines in a bid to aid the sector's recovery.

The Government has yet to say which countries will make it onto the 'green list' for low risk travel but the Department for Transport has pledged to categorise countries 'in early May'.

Assessments will be based on a range of factors, including the proportion of a country's population that has been vaccinated, rates of infection, emerging new variants, and the country's access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.

The Government's Global Travel Taskforce published details on the proposed traffic light system earlier this month.

Pictured: Iceland which is expected to be on the UK government's green list on May 17

It will see countries rated green, amber or red, with travel from 'green' countries quarantine-free but passengers will have to take one test after flying home, rather than the current two.

Boris Johnson's lockdown exit roadmap states that international travel will resume no earlier than May 17.

Travel bosses this week delivered a damning assessment of the taskforce's report as they claimed it lacked detail and argued the proposed timetable for the return of flights is too slow.

Simon McNamara, the UK and Ireland country manager for the International Air Transport Association, told MPs: There was a tremendous amount of expectation from this report and we expected it to be, if you like, the start of the sprint to the finish.

But it has turned out to be another milestone and I think that is the disappointment in it.

It has provided that framework, it has provided some clarity but there are many areas that are still unanswered it is very vague in many areas such as the timescale to when the border will be ready, which countries will fall into which category.

Pictured: The fishing village of Marsaxlokk in Malta which is expected to be on UK's green list

I think crucially the approach to reopening we believe is still too complex and too cautious Im afraid.'

Chris Garton, chief solutions officer at Heathrow Airport, expressed concerns about the proposed testing regime and added: Our biggest issue in terms of the summer particularly is the performance at the border and we need to see a dramatic improvement in border performance if we are to increase passenger numbers travelling through Heathrow.

Mr McNamara echoed a similar sentiment on border checks as he said: Finally, it is the point that Chris raised which is the ability of the border to handle any scale up in operations.

'It is unable to cope at the moment so we are very concerned about that also.

Brian Strutton, the general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association, told the Committee that the taskforce's report was a 'bitter disappointment to everybody working in the industry'.

The expectation was this would be the blueprint to get summer flights going again,' he said. In fact it is not, it is a jam tomorrow, we might let you know next month where you can fly to and when.

Australia, which is currently closed to foreign travellers, is expected to be on UK's green list

There is no specificity in it at all so as a result many airlines have already told us they will be curtailing the plans they had for the summer.

Mark Tanzer, the chief executive of the Association of British Travel Agents, said firms are increasingly feeling the strain as he cautioned against further delays to resuming holidays abroad.

He said: I guess I cant emphasise enough the urgency of pushing forward with this given the state of the industry which has been in suspension for over a year now and the fact that we have gone through Easter and out the other side with international travel illegal means there is even more pressure on the summer season.

A week lost is vital for a lot of members who could be teetering on the brink.'

The evidence to MPs came after Mr Lundgren struck a more optimistic tone on Wednesday morning, telling reporters: 'I will struggle to see that there will be, unless something happens between now and then, that there would be many (European) countries who wouldn't be in that green category.'

The chief executive of easyJet Johan Lundgren (pictured) said that by the time travel restarts in Britain on May 17, most European countries should be on the UK's green list for travel

Mr Lundgren said the main question customers were asking was which countries would be on the 'green list' as he urged the Government to come forward with more details as soon as possible.

He added: 'We would expect that, if the Government continues with the approach on the testing regime that they have said, I would expect almost all major European countries, that by the time it comes to travel reopening, that most countries in Europe should be in that category.'

Travel to and from a 'green' country will require people to be tested before they leave their holiday destination and again two days after arrival back in the UK.

The Government is exploring whether cheaper rapid lateral flow tests could be used for the pre-departure check with a PCR test then used for the test after arrival.

Mr Lundgren said: 'If the PCR test and the lateral flow test will need to be in place for 'green' countries, I couldn't see that there would be many countries in Europe that wouldn't be in the 'green' category.

BA boss Sean Doyle (pictured) has said swift vaccine rollouts in the UK and the United States should enable transatlantic routes to open once international travel resumes this summer

'It's important the Government comes out with this list as soon as possible because this is the main question for most of our customers right now.

'They want to know if the favourite destination for them to go on their holiday or to visit friends and family across Europe is that country in the 'green' category.

'And it will be a big difference, of course, if you're in the 'green' category, versus if you're in 'amber' or 'red'.'

The UK's seven-day rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people stands at 29, while many popular short-haul locations have much higher figures, including France (348), Greece (185), Italy (169) and Spain (111).

Asked if he expects destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Turkey to be on the Government 'green list', Mr Lundgren replied: 'Yes, by the time we open up for travel on May 17 and if the Government continues to have the plan in place on the two-test system.

'I wouldn't see reason why you wouldn't have the majority of the countries of Europe in there.

'We really believe that, if you're in the 'green' category, there should not be any need of any testing at all because it would be considered low-risk.'

Meanwhile, BA boss Mr Doyle said swift vaccine rollouts in the UK and the US should enable transatlantic routes to reopen.

'There's an immediate opportunity to open up the US,' Mr Doyle said during CAPA Live, an online industry event.

With the two countries 'more or less mirroring each other' on vaccination, he said 'that should lead to the UK and the US being able to lead the way in terms of opening up'.

Paul Charles, the CEO of The PC Agency, said he believes discussions between the US and the UK are 'proceeding positively'.

He told MailOnline: 'The UK/US governments are in negotiations at the moment which are proceeding positively, about a possible pilot bilateral corridor scheme to enable safe travel between the two countries after the end of May.

'One of the (eight) Global Travel Taskforce workstreams is called 'Engaging with other like-minded countries'  these are countries such as the US which have advanced vaccine rollout programmes and are focused on reducing infection and variant rates.

easyJet boss Johan Lundren has urged the Government to come forward with details of its green list as soon as possible but Malta (pictured) is one that sources say could be included

'The Biden Administration has also been consulting in the US about opening up borders in advance of American Independence Day in July.'

One Whitehall source said Greece could make it on to the so-called 'green list' next month despite a recent rise in cases, while the USA, Gibraltar, Malta and much of the Caribbean are tipped for green status.

There remains a rumbling row over the Government's plans to require people travelling to 'green' countries to be tested for coronavirus.

Current PCR prices mean a family of four with two children over the age of 11 could face a testing bill of approximately 500.

Airline bosses have called for the testing requirement to be ditched or for teh PCR tests to be replaced with lateral flow tests which take 30 minutes to deliver a result.

The Association of British Travel Agents has warned that the cost of testing could be a 'major barrier' to going abroad this summer.

Luke Petherbridge, Abta's director of public affairs, told Sky News that the travel industry feels 'an overriding sense of frustration' with the 'lack of detail' in the Global Travel Taskforce's recent report on how international travel could safely return.

He said the sector needs to know the precise criteria by which countries are going to be assessed to determine their risk levels.

Mr Petherbridge said: 'Testing is going to be a major barrier to travel this summer - we need the Government to engage with the industry on how we can bring down the cost of testing.'

Commenting on the Global Travel Taskforce's recommended approach to potentially low-risk countries, he said: 'We cannot understand why countries in the green category should require a PCR test.

'We believe a double lateral flow test approach would be a more proportionate approach to follow in that category.'

Mr Strutton told Sky News the Government should be subsidising the PCR tests to make the price more reasonable.

He also urged the Government to 'kick-start' international travel by offering the tests free to key workers as 'they deserve a holiday'.

Mr Doyle said his airline will make PCR tests available to customers for just 60.

Randox, a major coronavirus testing firm, announced yesterday that it is to halve the cost of PCR tests for travellers returning to the UK from overseas in a bid to aid the sector's recovery

This echoes the announcement by a major Covid testing firm that they were going to halve the price of their tests.

Randox said last week that it will charge holidaymakers jetting back to Britain 60 for the gold standard tests, rather than the usual 120 they would cost.

The cut-price tests will be available for customers of partnering airlines, which have not yet been revealed but Mr Doyle's comments this morning suggest British Airways could be among them.

Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald said: 'In recognition of the needs of both the travel industry and the British public at this unprecedented time, Randox will reduce the all-inclusive cost of PCR testing for those in the UK undertaking international travel to 60 per test.

'We can see the pressures faced by both the travel industry and the general public and are committed to effective and economical testing to support holidaymakers and those undertaking international travel.'

The 60 PCR test will be ordered online and purchased using a discount code, Randox said.

It comes as easyJet has said it is getting ready to 'ramp up' services for the summer holiday season by offering more flights from late May after restrictions ease.

The carrier said it expects to fly up to 20 per cent of 2019 capacity levels between April and June, with most countries planning to resume flying at scale in May.

EasyJet flew just 14 per cent of its 2019 flight programme between October and the end of March.

The group confirmed it will slump to a steep first-half loss, of between 690 million and 730 million for the six months to March 31, but said this is slightly better than expected thanks largely to stringent cost-cutting.

It burned through around 470 million of cash during its second quarter to the end of December, which was lower than feared as it slashed costs by nearly 60 per cent to about 854 million.

Mr Lundgren said: 'We continue to closely monitor the situation across Europe and, with vaccination programmes accelerating, most countries are planning to resume flying at scale in May.

'We have the operational flexibility to rapidly increase flying and add destinations to match demand.

'EasyJet is ready to resume flying, prepared for the ramp-up and looking forward to being able to reunite people with their families or take them on leisure and business flights once again.'

But he reiterated calls for the Government to cut the price of Covid-19 tests for air passengers, having previously said they sometimes cost more than easyJet's tickets.

He said: 'EasyJet was founded to make travel accessible for all and so we continue to engage with Government to ensure that the cost of the required testing is driven down so that it doesn't risk turning back the clock and make travel too costly for some.'
Married At First Sight had plenty of drama at the reunion on Sunday.

And it appears viewers also had beef with expert Mel Schillings' plunging black frock which featured statement ruffles on the shoulders.

'Expert Mel is channelling the 1980's shoulder pads vibe with a Jurassic Park spin on them,' one fan wrote.

'Why is she dressed like a death eater?' Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling, 49, got playfully ribbed by viewers over her plunging, big-sleeved frock on Sunday night

'I haven't been able to hear a thing tonight over Mel's sleeves,' wrote another.

One fan noticed a distinct resemblance to the terrorist group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter Franchise.

'Mel Shilling is dressed as a death eater. Why?' they wrote.

Another viewer preferred to see the practical side of her outfit.

Talk: It appears viewers had beef with expert Mel Schillings' plunging black frock which featured statement ruffles on the shoulders

'Oh, good, Jason [Engler] can clean his act up with the two loofas on Mel's shoulders,' they joked.

Mel certainly looked worlds away from the usual corporate glam she adheres to on the hit reality show.

The bombshell expert wore her blonde tresses slicked back on the night, while opting for a glossy makeup look for the show.

Mixed reaction: One fan noticed a distinct resemblance to the terrorist group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter Franchise

She finished the glamazon look with drop down earrings along with a pair of black high-heel shoes.

It comes amid talk Mel could soon quit the program after five years appearing on the juggernaut series.

According to New Idea magazine last month, Mel has landed a role on a 'revamped' version of the show in the UK.

Ready to go? Mel is 'secretly planning to quit Nine' after joining the 'revamped' UK version of the dating show according to a report in New Idea magazine

An insider said Mel has been 'exploring other options' and is considering producing her own dating show.

'Mel has a passion for relationships and helping people transform but MAFS isn't exactly pushing those buttons anymore,' the source claimed.

'She is now looking at opportunities and projects where there is a stronger focus on personal development.'
While some school districts in Hudson County and nationwide tested the waters of reopening this past year amid the pandemic, others erred on the side of utmost caution, pushing back reopening dates multiple times.

Well, more than a year has passed and districts in communities hit hardest by the coronavirus  like West New York and Union City  say its safe enough to head back to the classroom.

When teacher Jasmine Valentin bid farewell to her West New York eighth-graders at the end of a virtual lesson Thursday, one said, See you next week.

Yes! Valentin responded. Bye guys, Im excited.

Local districts that have waited until now to reopen say they waited because of a commitment to stay open for good once students return.

Were very optimistic that things will go well because one thing that West New York did not want for the community, which is a working-class community, was a flip-flop approach where you have a little bit of days in school, said Superintendent Clara Brito Herrera, whose students will be back in the classroom Monday.

You may be in school a week and then youre out again. We did not want to do that. That tampers with the emotional self.

Kearny and East Newark will join West New York in reopening their schools for the first time in more than a year Monday. Theyll do so with a variety of safety precautions like temperature checks, shields sneeze guards and, of course, face masks.

Then next Monday, North Bergen plans to do the same and the following week comes Union City and Bayonne. Jersey City school officials are expected to announce today whether they will reopen schools on April 26.

Opening at last is a decision many districts said they made in collaboration with their health departments, remaining wary even after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that any district, given the proper precautions, could open safely.

West New York has 52,000 residents packed into one square mile. When a guy sneezes on 63rd Street, theres someone on 64th Street shouting God bless you  so its no surprise the coronavirus spread quickly and infected at least 13% of the population.

A lot of people might question why April, Valentin said. I think its a testament to the district showing them that they wanted to make sure that they were prepared for the reopening. This is a big deal, and it is an area that was heavily hit and so the parents needed to feel that confidence in their district.

Her middle school classroom has six tables, and since her classes are split up into three cohorts, there will only be one student at each table per day, each behind a clear plastic sneeze guard.

Theres a split amongst teachers, with about half feeling overwhelmingly excited and half still apprehensive about returning, said West New York Education Association President Anita Kober.

Once I knew that we were coming back I got on CVSs site and did what I could to get a shot wherever I could at the time, Kober said.

That 50-50 split is an echo of parents sentiment about in-person learning. Most districts say that no more than half of students are signed up to return.

Everybody has to make a decision and I made my decision based upon what I think is best for the kids, said Gisselle Salgado, whose pre-K and fifth-grade sons will begin school in-person when North Bergen returns the week of April 26.

Salgado has been working in Hackensack University Medical Center since the beginning of the pandemic while her parents have watched over her sons during school. Shes had COVID-19 and so have her parents, she said.

But no matter when the schools reopened, she would have sent her boys.

They miss their friends, Salgado said. All they do is watch and look at the computer all day long.

Ryan Garcia, her fifth-grader, said getting to see his friends and teacher is both what hes most excited about and most nervous about.

Ive only seen (my teacher) through a virtual screen, and Im going to see all my classmates in real life, and Im going to be nervous to talk to them because Im pretty shy, Ryan said. Unless were in breakout rooms and were in the same group, thats the only time were talking to each other.
WASHINGTON - France will begin to lift travel restrictions on international travel with non-European Union nations like the United States starting next month, French President Emmanuel Macron told CBS News.

"We will progressively lift restrictions at the beginning of May," Macron told the CBS News' "Face the Nation." The French president added officials in Paris are working to develop a way for "French, European citizens but also American citizens" who are vaccinated to travel more freely by this summer.

Macron said, ideally, travel would be open "for US citizens who are vaccinated, with a special pass," suggesting a so-called vaccine certificate or passport would be necessary for travel in France.

Macron said he had spoken with the White House about potential plans for lifting some travel restrictions between France and the US, though talks were still in their early stages.

French President Emmanuel Macron has indiciated France may lift its COVID-19 travel restrictions as soon as May.

Hawaii restrictions: Visitors to Maui will soon need not one, but two, COVID tests to bypass quarantine

The announcement is the most notable statement so far by a European leader indicating that travel restrictions may soon ease across Europe. On Friday, Italy announced it would begin to ease some COVID-19 restrictions ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pushed the country's parliament for stronger federal powers to increase lockdowns as case numbers rise in what health experts warned the chancellor may become a third wave of the virus.

Europe, US mixed on proof of vaccinations

French and European officials are in the final stages of developing a European vaccine certificate that would allow people to show proof of vaccination and travel the continent, the French president said.

The Biden administration has repeatedly said the federal government will not implement any federal vaccine tracking system that would certify if a person has been vaccinated. Officials have also stressed any private systems to be used in the US should be regulated to protect Americans' health privacy and civil liberties.

Story continues

"Let me be very clear on this ... The government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on April 6.

Video: President Joe Biden gives powerful tribute, pays respects to slain Capitol police officer

"As these tools are being considered by the private and nonprofit sectors, our interest is very simple, from the federal government, which is Americans' privacy and rights should be protected so that these systems are not used against people unfairly," Psaki said.

Private sector firms like travel cruise lines have expressed interest in mandating "vaccine passports" before customers can participate in a trip. Other institutions like major retail employers, as well as colleges and universities, have begun to mandate vaccines for Americans to return to work and schooling.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emmanuel Macron says France will lift some travel restrictions in May
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Israeli police on Saturday night dispersed dozens of Muslim worshippers gathering at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, a popular public area during the month of Ramadan.

It was the second violent night since the holy month of Ramadan began earlier this week.

Police deployed water cannons, and stun grenades were thrown to disperse the crowd.

Metal barriers were placed on the steps of the Damascus Gate square to prevent Muslim worshippers from congregating.

The move angered Muslims who often gather at the plaza to pass Ramadan nights.

On Thursday, police used stun grenades to break up a group of protesters gathered after evening prayers that attract big crowds of Muslim faithful in the Al Aqsa compound inside the Old City.

Ramadan is marked by longer prayers, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts with family and friends.

However, crowded shoulder-to-shoulder gatherings in mosques and large gatherings for meals remain prohibited due to the continued spread of coronavirus globally.

Throughout Ramadan, Muslims abstain from any food or drink  including water  from morning to night.

The month-long practice is aimed at heightening remembrance of God, curbing unhealthy habits and deepening gratitude.

Israel allowed 10,000 fully vaccinated Palestinian residents of the West Bank to pray in the al-Aqsa mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan. The sacred mosque in Jerusalem is open for prayers during Ramadan amid Israel's rapid vaccination rollout.

Image: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

It was an emotional June afternoon when Rio Arriba County workers removed a statue of Juan de Onate from its pedestal in Alcalde  some cheered and danced, while others screamed curses.

Since then, though, all has mostly been quiet around the Onate Monument Center just north of Espanola as the final fate of the controversial statue remains unknown.

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County Manager Tomas Campos had told the Journal hours after the statues removal that a community-wide discussion would be held to determine whether the statue would return.

But, 10 months on, those conversations are still waiting to happen, with the statue  once a lightning rod for controversy  now sitting quietly in an Alcalde garage maintained by the county.

Campos cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the cause for the delay.

(The County Commission is) waiting for COVID to go away, so we can have an open meeting and have public input, he said.

Campos said officials wanted to wait until after the November 2020 election, since the commission was expecting at least one new member. Originally, though, he had wanted to place the matter on a ballot for voters to decide, but was advised that asking voters such a question was not permitted.

The statue has been a source of controversy since it was erected in 1994. Three years later, someone removed one of the Onate statues feet, a callback to when Onate and his men purportedly cut off the right foot of dozens of Acoma men in 1599.

Last year, Campos decided to remove the statue from its location and place it in storage after the county had received word that protesters would attempt to tear it down.

Monuments of racist and controversial figures were a flashpoint across the country in 2020, with protesters tearing down several in several cities, including the Soldiers Monument Obelisk in the Santa Fe Plaza.

Some local governments decided to take down offensive monuments.

Hundreds of Indigenous activists and protesters celebrated when authorities removed the Onate statue. Still, its unclear how temporary Onates removal will be.

For Espanola City Councilor John Ramon Vigil, who also serves as president of the Fiesta del Valle de Espanola, the wait for a community discussion has been tense.

Im a little concerned, Vigil said. Theres a large majority of the community that supports the statue being in public.

He also said he would like discussions held between the local Hispanic community and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo tribal officials  but he added that so-called outsiders had no place in those talks.

He noted that then-Ohkay Owingeh Gov. Ron Lovato had authored a joint statement with former state Sen. Joseph Sanchez, criticizing the decision to remove the monument.

I really do not care what Santa Fe, or people from back east, or someone from California have to say about this discussion, he said.

While the Journal was unable to reach county commissioners for comment, Campos said he expects most public speakers to be in favor of putting the statue back.

Both Campos and Vigil claimed protesters that had attended the statues removal were not from the Espanola Valley.

However, Elena Ortiz, a Red Nation organizer and Ohkay Owingeh tribal member, said many of the protesters and organizers were from the area.

There were two or three dozen pueblo people, Ortiz said. The famous photograph that was taken of Thantsideh dancing on top of the platform  hes from Ohkay Owingeh.

The Journal also interviewed multiple local residents who had attended the protest that day.

Ortiz said she didnt support the Ohkay Owingeh government speaking solely for pueblo people at a future meeting, adding Lovatos statement had been widely criticized in the community.

Pueblo women are the ones who carry the weight of what Onate did, she said. We have not been given a voice in pueblo government.

Campos said he would advocate for the statue to be placed inside a county building and that hes worried someone might try to damage it again.

It cost me $12,000 to put the foot back, he said.

I dont want to go through that again.

Ortiz agreed the county would be taking a risk by putting the statue back on display.
Beating empty black storage trunks, used in concerts and theatres, the workers gathered in Rome's Piazza del Popolo to dramatize their demand for a government fund to help them survive.

On Friday (April 16), the government said Italy will ease coronavirus curbs in many areas from April 26 but warned caution was still needed to avoid any reversals in the reopening of many long-shuttered activities.

In March, with cases and hospitalizations rising, Italy paused the four-tier, color-coded system it uses to calibrate the restrictions in place in its tweny regions and enforced the tougher red or orange zones nationwide.

From April 26, the more lenient yellow and white zones will be reinstated where infection levels are low.

In these areas, restaurants and bars will be able to serve clients at outside tables and cinemas and theatres will reopen with attendance limits.

Those protesting on Sunday from the group "Bauli in Piazza" (Cases in Square) said reopening did not mean they will get their income back.

Video Transcript

[NO SPEECH]
Apart from Michel Rodanges Renert, DMaus Katti, might be Luxembourgs best-known fable. The tale is a staple in childrens early education and the book can be found in most Luxembourgish children's bedrooms, mine included.

DMaus Katti (literally meaning the mouse called Kat) was written by August Liesch - a prominent political, legal and literary figure in late 19th to mid 20th century Luxembourg. Born in Mondorf in 1874, Liesch worked in various courts after completing a law degree before he served as MP from 1918-1921. Belonging to the liberal party, he quit working for the government when the latter started to be mainly made up of members from the far-right party. He was appointed as head of Customs before becoming a member of the council of state until 1945. Liesch died in 1949.

In addition to the various positions he held in public service, Liesch was also a prolific writer known for his satirical depictions of Luxembourgish society. As is often the case for Luxembourgish authors, Liesch wrote in three different languages, namely Luxembourgish, French, and German. While Liesch also wrote a novel, most of his works were short stories, out of which DMaus Katti is the most successful. The exact date of composition remains unclear, but the text was first published in 1936 and included illustrations by Pierre Blanc, a fairly successful Luxembourgish painter. Since then, many editions followed, however, at least to my knowledge, the book has never been translated into one of Luxembourgs many other common languages.

Liesch based his fable on Aesops The town Mouse and The Country Mouse, a tale that had notably already been adapted by Horace and Jean de la Fontaine. Like most fables it employs animals to criticise human behaviour and deals in universal concerns, which explains why it was picked up by many authors from different periods. In line with many other fables, Liesch used verse to tell the story of two mice who visit each other in their respective homes. In the Luxembourgish version, Katti, lives in the countryside, in Burmerange, to be specific. She is visited by her cousin, Mim, who lives in the Clausen district in Luxembourg City. From the beginning, the author thus sets up two opposing worlds, and implies a rift between rural and urban, poor and rich, uncultured and cultured mice or people.

Katti is first depicted living a simple and happy life, but when her, supposedly, more sophisticated cousin Mim comes to visit, the latter is not impressed by Kattis home cooking nor her frugal way of life. Mim manages to instil doubts about her way of life in Katti when she does not stop raving about the cakes and other delicacies they could eat in town. Ultimately Katti accepts Mims invitation to the city even though that means leaving the safety of her home behind. After Katti arrived in town the two mice sneak into a house where they feast on all the foods Mim promised Katti. However, their banquet is interrupted by two house cats who almost catch and eat them. Thus, Kattis a joy came to an abrupt end and she finds herself brought back to reality. Still shaking in fear Katti decides to immediately return to her less exciting but much safer home in the countryside. In the end order is fully restored when Katti marries the mouse Metti and they lead a content live together in the countryside.

The lesson here is clear, being happy with what you have even if it is not much is more valuable than the worries that come with pursuing a more exclusive lifestyle. In addition, the tale criticises the perceived superiority of people from the city who are looking down on the simpler lives of people from the countryside, without realising that these people are often happier, simply by being less concerned about appearances and pretence.

Even though it is not Lieschs own invention, DMaus Katti is an important part of Luxembourgs literary culture and you can find small memorials to Liesch and the beloved mouse across the country. In Mondorf, Lieschs place of birth, a sculpture, by Wil Lofy, shows how the mices feast is being interrupted by two cats. Next to this youll find a restaurant that is also named after the mouse. Similarly, youll find a tribute to the mouse in Burmerange, Kattis home town. Here, a sculpture depicts Katti happily sitting on a wheel of cheese. Moreover Burmeranges cultural centre is also named after her. The mouse has even found her way into popular culture and has her own emoxie (Luxembourgs own version of emojis).

If you are interested in a reading of the story, you can find a video of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa reading DMaus Katti here.
New Delhi, April 18 : Amid demand of oxygen across the country after Covid surge, the railways is getting fully ready to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and Oxygen Cylinders from one place to another. The railways has geared up to run oxygen Express trains through green corridor for fast movement of LMO as availability of oxygen is key in the treatment of certain medical conditions due to Covid infection.

Ministry of Railways in a statement said that the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments had approached the Ministry of Railways to explore whether Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) tankers could be moved by the railways and it immediately explored the technical feasibility of transportation of LMO. This has to be done through Roll On Roll Off (RO RO) service with road tankers placed on flat wagons.

"Due to restrictions of height of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Over Head Equipment (OHE) at certain locations, out of the various specifications of road tankers, the model of road tanker T 1618 with height of 3320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons (DBKM) with height of 1290 mm." it said.

To ensure that parameters of transportation are tested, trials were conducted at various locations.

This DBKM wagon was placed at Kalamboli goods shed in Mumbai on April 15 and a T 1618 tanker loaded with LMO was also brought here. Joint measurements were taken by representatives of Industry and Railways.

Based on these measurements, route clearances were taken and it was found that it would be possible to undertake movements as RO RO as ODC (over dimensional consignment) with speed restrictions on some sections depending on overhead clearances.

In order to enable commercial booking and freight payment for RO RO movement of LMO in cryogenic tankers, the Ministry of Railways brought out a circular on April 16 providing all the necessary details and guidance on the matter.

On April 17, a meeting was held between Railway Board officials and State Transport Commissioners and representatives of industry on the subject of "Issues related to transportation of Liquid Medical Oxygen.

It was decided that the tankers would be organised by Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra. These empty tankers would be moved from Kalamboli/Boisar, Railway stations in and near Mumbai, and sent to Vizag and Jamshedpur/Rourkela/Bokaro, for loading of liquid medical oxygen tankers from there.

In pursuance of the above decision, instructions have been issued to Zonal Railways to ensure readiness to receive the trailers and load them back. Ramps have to be built at Vizag, Angul and Bhilai and the existing ramp at Kalamboli is to be strengthened.

The Kalamboli ramp would be made ready by April 19. Ramps at other locations would also be ready in a couple of days by the time the tankers reach those locations.

On April 18 a trial was organised at Boisar (Western Railway) where a loaded tanker was placed on a flat DBKM and all the required measurements were taken.

The railways have already placed DBKM wagons at Kalamboli and at other locations in expectation of movement of tankers to various locations. It is awaiting advice from Maharashtra to move the tankers.

Tentatively a movement plan has been made for dispatching 10 empty tankers on April 19. Transport Secretary of Maharashtra has assured to provide the tankers by April 19.

Zonal Railways have been informed regarding the demands from state governments. CFTMs and PCOMs are in touch with the Industry and State Governments. Railway Board has directed concerned GMs to be fully prepared and proactively assist the State and Central Government Agencies in movement of Oxygen by Rail and has also nominated ED/TT/F as Nodal Officer in Railway Board.
Dubai Customs completed 5 million transactions in Q1 this year, equivalent to double the number of transactions in the same period in pre-pandemic 2019, and 20% more than Q1 2020, in which 4 million transactions were completed.



"We will target new international markets and attract more foreign investments to achieve Dubai vision of raising trade to 2 trillion dollars in the next 5 years following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai," Abdullah Mohammed Al Khaja, Executive Director of Clients Management Division, was quoted as saying in a Wam report.



"We will actively participate in achieving the objectives of Dubai Strategic plan 2030 through building on what has so far been achieved in the emirate, which turned it into a regional and global hub for trade and tourism."



Figures of Q1 are very positive and they reflect not only a quick recovery from the pandemic, but also an outstanding growth. Economic performance is expected to grow 4% this year."



Customs declarations grew 24% in Q1, 2021 to 4.47 million (50,000 declarations a day on average) from 3.4 million in Q1, 2020. Payment requests came second at 238,400, followed by certificate and report requests at 141,800. Booking inspection date service received 76,700 requests and business registration service received 59,600 requests.



"This noticeable growth in the number of customs transactions reflects the sustainability and resilience of Dubai and UAEs economy. It is a result of hard work and accumulated experiences of Dubai Customs in developing smart services. We are moving forward towards more automation and digitalisation of our services. Transactions completed through smart platforms in Q1, 2021 formed 99.6 percent of the total 5 million transactions, with 67.2 percent completed through smart channels (3.4m transactions), 32.3 percent through electronic systems (1.6m transactions), and only 23,500 transactions through the counters.



"We worked together with all parties including the private sector and managed to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic last year. We are confident the economy will keep the momentum, especially with Dubai hosting EXPO 2020 this year," Al Khaja added.



To bolster partnership with the private sector and stimulate business activities, Dubai Customs gave authorisation to appointed car agencies to register their cars with the aim of saving time and cost.



Dubai Customs is organising the 5th WCO Global AEO Conference in coordination with the Federal Customs Authority and the World Customs Organisation (May 25-27, 2021).



The conference will shed light on trade opportunities and different means and paths to develop trade. More than 1,500 trade and business experts will take part in the event.



Dubai Customs has recently signed an agreement with JAFZA, Dubai South and DAFZA to enable them enjoy all the services and benefits Dubai Customs provides through its cross border e-commerce platform. This will help enhance Dubais position on the global online commerce map.








Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 21:07:04|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- After working for six years as a waiter at one of Zambia's prestigious five-star hotels, 25-year-old Diana Jela suddenly found herself among the many unemployed youths in the country.

According to Jela, the hotel management announced the sad news of closing down the premises around March 2020, citing loss of business resulting from COVID-19 as the main reason.

"It was a very difficult time for over 150 employees that had relied entirely on their jobs for survival. A lot of my colleagues lost hope and went into a deep depression," she recollected.

But after a month of staying home, Jela, a resident of Lusaka, Zambia's capital, decided to use the skills she gained from her job to embark on her lifelong dream of running eateries in busy places.

"As a waiter, I interacted with chefs in the hotel kitchen a lot, which gave me the opportunity to learn how to prepare a range of custom-made dishes. It is that very skill that has helped me to stay afloat financially today," she explained.

Jela now provides takeaway foods to mini-bus drivers operating in Lusaka's Kamwala South area who faced challenges accessing hot meals as many restaurants in the area had been closed.

"I saw that gap in the provision of food for this population group and decided to capitalize on it. I make a 100 Zambia Kwacha (about 4.5 U.S. dollars) profit on a good day. The business is easy to run as one only needs a few cooking utensils and ingredients to run," she enthused.

Many people in Zambia continue to share how the COVID-19 pandemic has helped them to be innovative and think outside the box in terms of income-generating activities.

Thirty-eight-year-old Deborah Kanyinji, also a resident of Lusaka is yet another individual that has managed to survive the otherwise harsh economic times by being innovative.

Kanyinji, a single mother with four children, had been a freelance maid all her adult life and earned her living by doing household chores for busy people. But the advent of COVID-19 caused incomes to dwindle, compelling households to cut down on expenses including services such as those offered by Kanyinji.

After months of trying to find jobs and to no avail, she ventured into providing home-prepared hot meals to individuals and businesses operating in Lusaka Central Business District at the advice of a friend.

She now earns her bread from selling simple pre-packed homemade meals to the working class in Lusaka's Central Business District who are often too busy to go out and get something to eat.

"I work up at 5 am to prepare the meal which often consists of pasta and eggs which I sell in packs. One costs 10 Zambia Kwacha (about 0.45 U.S. dollars), and I sell over 25 packs every day. The profit is often half of all sales," she explained.

For Jessy Zulu-Kamuyuwa aged 37, a resident of Chilenje Township in Lusaka, being home after five years of teaching at a school for vulnerable children drove her to find ways of generating income to make up for her lost salary when schools closed due to COVID-19.

"I like making things. After reading about making pallet sofas, I went on to buy materials and made the first pallet sofa, which I sold within days. I also make ornamental items and furniture using recycled materials," Zulu-Kamuyuwa explained.

She revealed she sells plain pallet sofas for 500 Zambia Kwacha apiece, while the rest of the products have different prices. All in all, she is able to realize about 3,000 Zambia Kwacha every month from the sale of her crafts.

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught many including herself, to be innovative and to use available resources to earn a living.

"The bright side of the pandemic is that it has awakened the entrepreneurship spirit in many people," she said.

Zulu-Kamuyuwa has also been conducting entrepreneurship training that mainly focuses on making items from recycled materials such as pieces of cloth, used car tires to help groups and individuals be resilient. Enditem
This year's season of Married At First Sight has not been short on drama.

And Sunday's reunion episode will certainly not disappoint either, as another shock cheating scandal is set to be exposed.

Behind the scenes photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show Rebecca Zemek looking embarrassed as the cast is shown footage of her cheating on TV husband Jake Edwards.

Humiliated: Behind the scenes photos show Rebecca Zemek (pictured) looking embarrassed after footage of her cheating on TV husband Jake Edwards is shown to cast

It's understood producers played a video of Beck giving an ex-boyfriend a kiss on the cheek during the reunion.

The shocking moment left Beck feeling humiliated in front the experts, while her cast mates looked on in complete shock.

Meanwhile, Beck announced she was dating a man named Ben just two months before 'marrying' her husband on the Channel Nine experiment.

Shocking: The shocking moment left Beck feeling humiliated in front the experts and her cast mates completely shocked. Pictured Booka Nile [L] and Alana Lister [R]

Speechless: Beck's co-stars are said to have been left speechless following the shocking footage. Pictured Coco Stedman after watching the footage

The kiss is understood to have been documented on her producer's loaned iPhone by the bride during a last-minute trip to Perth in November.

The business manager was in Perth for just 24 hours. While she was there, she spent time with an ex-boyfriend, who helped with her sick dog.

Her TV husband, Jake, 32, is understandably blindsided by the revelation at the reunion.

Not impressed: Beck's co-stars Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson also weren't impressed while watching the footage

Called out: It's understood that Beck will be confronted about her actions by the experts. Pictured Mel Schilling

It's understood that the former Carlton player asked to re-watch the footage before getting into an argument with his former bride.

Sources close to Beck have rigorously denied that she and her ex-boyfriend Ben hooked up at the time, and insisted that she only met up with him as he offered to help her sick dog because his mum is a vet.

Married At First Sight's final episode airs Sunday at 7pm on Nine
WASHINGTON  Alleging that small farmers are being left behind, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on Wednesday demanded the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture immediately fix "disparities" allowing large corporate farms to receive more coronavirus relief.

The disparities in federal farm relief are unfair to our small farmers who are facing insurmountable debt and are struggling to stay afloat due to the pandemic," Gillibrand said. Furthermore, the CARES Act and CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program) simply did not go far enough to sustain small farms through this difficult time; they need urgent and direct loan forgiveness to continue maintaining operations, paying their workers, and keeping Americans fed."

New York is home to more than 30,000 farmers many of whom are small, family operations producing multiple crops, not large monocultures. The senator said onion, apple and grape farmers in New York have contacted her objecting to how billions of dollars of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments are being distributed. The CFAP program provides direct relief to farmers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

An analysis by NBC News found the top 1 percent of CFAP recipients got more than 20 percent of the money, totaling $1.2 billion. The top 10 percent got over 60 percent of the allocations, while the bottom 10 percent received just 0.26 percent. The top 10 percent of recipients got average payments of almost $95,000, while the bottom 10 percent averaged around $300.

The USDA has paid over $9.2 billion in aid to roughly 500,000 applicants across the country as of Monday, USDA data shows. More than $900 million of that aid went to farmers in Iowa alone, more than any other state by a large margin.

In New York, 4,714 applications for aid had been approved through Monday, totaling about $200 million. Over half of those applications were from dairy farmers.

"There were initial challenges that many of the specialty crops produced in New York did not qualify for CFAP funding," New York Farm Bureau spokesman Steve Ammerman said. "NYFB had made those concerns known and USDA has expanded the list and extended the deadline to apply."

Apple producers were not added to the program until July, after advocacy from U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, and Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, among others.

Applications for CFAP aid remain open until Sept. 11.

Gillibrand urged the USDA to make the program more equitable for small farmers and ranchers, collect data on farm size and demographics for CFAP applications, and set aside at least 50 percent of all assistance funds for small and mid-scale operations, with payment amounts calculated the same for all producers, based on revenue losses.

She has also introduced legislation providing for a one-time debt forgiveness of up to $250,000 for farmers with some USDA loans.

U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, whose district includes numerous small farms, recently introduced a bill to allow farmers to access loans with more favorable terms than those offered to other businesses by the small business administration.

With profitability margins shrinking and costs increasing, it cannot be overstated how much small farms in our region need additional assistance," said Delgado, who is a member of the House Agriculture Committee. "Im focused on addressing the disparate challenges facing farm operations, and last week I introduced the Helping Americas Farmers Act, which would create an agriculture-specific Economic Injury Disaster Loan run through the USDA. This program would allow farmers to access support tailored to their needs, and provide immediate financial relief paired with flexible loan terms."
Dominic Purcell clarified that he would 'periodically' return to Legends Of Tomorrow in a now-updated caption for a post made to his Instagram account on Saturday.

The 51-year-old actor had previously generated a minor frenzy by announcing that he would be leaving the cast of the CW show due to clashing with figures at the corporate level.

However, the Prison Break star later revised his post's caption to note that he would not be permanently absent from the series and that he would return to set every now and then.

Clearing the air: Dominic Purcell, 51, clarified that he would be 'periodically' returning to Legends Of Tomorrow in the now-updated caption for a post made to his Instagram account on Saturday; he is pictured in 2016

In his message, Purcell wrote, 'Truth is yes I am leaving @cw_legendsoftomorrow but will come back periodically.'

He also clarified that he was not clashing with any of the higher-ups, as he noted, 'It's a handshake deal with my boss Phil Klemmer. I don't have a beef with studio @warnerbrostv.'

The Straw Dogs actor went on to write that the original caption for the post 'was a joke'.

Purcell then expressed that he had been stressed over the long period of time that he had spent away from his family and that his original message was not reflective of his actual feelings.

Over and over: The actor had previously revised the caption for a post he had made on Saturday several times and created a media frenzy concerning his relationship with figures on the corporate level

All in good fun: The Prison Break star wrote that his announcement that referenced his departure from the show and friction with studio executives was 'a joke and the press went nuts'

'My wording was aggressive in tone because sometimes I get frustrated and annoyed [sic] it's been a long long heavy year locked up in #Vancouver for 9 months without going home,' he wrote.

'Who doesn't and who hasn't lashed out. Im f***in human. So for god sake chill on,' he added.

The actor then told his fans that his departure was ultimately based on contractual factors and that he never had any intention of reneging on what he had previously agreed upon.

'I haven't quit. My contract is upI've never quit on a contract and never would. So to all the fans you will see me again next year on season 7 periodically,' he wrote.

Working through things: Purcell also clarified that he had previously 'lashed out' due to the stress of being away from his family for an extended period of time; he is pictured in 2017

In another updated caption for his post, Purcell concluded that he had found himself in 'a viral #press s*** storm' before writing that he had generated 'The most publicity @cw_legendsoftomorrow and @dccomics has ever had.'

Though the CW drama  which is based on the DC comic series  was already renewed for a seventh season, the actor, who plays Heatwave, previously said that he had 'no interest' in returning.

He had alluded to a gripe with Warner Bros in his exit statement, and a now-deleted part of his social media post read: 'The studio does not care.'

Purcell had deleted the Instagram post in its entirety before re-adding it with two different amended captions.

Fanning the flames: The actor wrote that his previous messages concerning his participation in the CW show had generated the 'most publicity @cw_legendsoftomorrow and @dccomics has ever had'; he is seen in 2017

The photo that accompanied his announcement showed him cracking open a cold one while sitting shirtless.

And though his statement revealed gratitude for the experience, it was tinged with a bit of ego.

He wrote, 'Deal isn't done. I have no interest. What ever cash they throw on the corporate level. Im walking away from @cw_legendsoftomorrow.

'It's been a total pleasure and a humbling experience bringing @dccomics iconic character #heatwave (aka) MICK RORY to life. I smashed this character not an actor in the world could have done better,' he added.

And according to Variety, the now deleted part of his post read: 'The studio does not care. The actors work ethic and talent must give them the confidence to question authority. .Much love to all. It's not lost on me how very fortunate I am.'

Character: The Prison Break star played Heatwave in the CW drama which is based on the DC comic series about heroes and villains coming together to save the world

Brewing tension: And according to Variety, the now deleted part of his post had read: 'The studio does not care. The actors work ethic and talent must give them the confidence to question authority

The Prison Break star later followed up on his initial post and said he 'fooled' everyone and 'wanted a laugh,' despite maintaining that he would still be exiting on a 'full time basis.' Additionally he called his post a 'nice negotiation tactic.'

'WHY SO SERIOUS. I needed a laugh and got one fooled ya!!!!! Everyone's losing their mind. No issue with studio. Or anyone. Wanted a laugh. Now I know I am loved....but yes I am leaving @cw_legendsoftomorrow on a full time basis but have every intention of coming back periodically just not full season.'

He ended the post: '@warnerbrostv sorry for freaking u out. Nice negotiation tactic,' with a winky face.

Swift adjustment: He had amended his original post after deleting it saying that he 'wanted a laugh' and that he would return to the show in some capacity

And then he changed his wording for a third time while alleging he has no 'beef' with anyone.

'I don't have a beef with studio. I don't have beef with anyone except myself haha. Woke up this morning like I caused mass #riots...But what a genius negotiation move.'

Purcell had played Mick Rory since 2016, and the sixth season of the show that sees villains and heroes coming together to save the world is set to premiere on May 2.

It is currently unknown how Warner Bros and the CW will portray his character's exit in the forthcoming season.
More than stoned: CBD can be an option
A physics major at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted has received two pieces of good news  acceptance letters from MIT and Princeton University in the US.

MIT ranks fifth among THEs best universities in 2021 and leads the worlds schools in technology training according to QS 2021 ranking. It offered the student financial support of $64,000 a year.

Passion for astrophysics

In childhood, Quan was curious about natural phenomena in the universe. "Why are there constellations?" "Where do shooting stars come from?" These were questions that Quan wanted to answer.

Quan scored first in the entrance exam for the math major class at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, and the exam for the chemistry major class at the High School for the Gifted in Natural Sciences.

The great achievements were why Quans friends called him superman.

Le Manh Cuong, his physics teacher, discovered Quans special love for constellations in the sky. Though astronomy and astrophysics was not a subject in the general education program, he decided to help Quan learn about it.

Later, it was the teacher who sent Quan to the national astrophysics team to attend the international competition. In 2019, Quan attended the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) and won a gold medal with maximum scores.

After returning from the international competition, Quan began seeking an environment where he could study and conduct research.

He believed that leading schools such as MIT and Princeton would offer favorable conditions for students creativity, learning and promotion of their abilities, especially with the advice of leading professors in their fields.

Quan applied to the two schools because they are among a small number of schools that choose international students based on their abilities, not on candidates financial capability.

Quan had a strong profile when applying for the schools. The physics major had a 1600/1600 SAT and 8.0 IELTS. He twice won first prize in physics at the national competition for excellent students, when he was in the 11th and 12th grades.

Quan attended many national and international competitions and won a lot of medals, including the gold medal at the 2018 International Youth Science Olympia and gold medal at 2019 IOAA, gold medal at 2020 European Physics Olympiad.

The medals were not really made of gold, but from sweat during training, according to Quan. He said hopes he will have the chance to attend the International Physics Olympiad this year.

Thuy Nga - Huu Chanh - Phuong Thu

20 universities in southern VN recruit students based on IELTS, intl certificates In 2021, about 20 universities in the southern region of Vietnam will enroll students based on their IELTS and international certifications.
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Communications Minister Isa Pantami has renounced some of the controversial comments he made in the past that showed he supported Islamic extremist views.

Mr Pantami has been under fire since the clips of some of his lectures resurfaced over a decade later, some of which showed he was sympathetic to extremist sects like Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

The clips quickly caught online frenzy as many Nigerians demanded that the minister resign.

Others tore into the minister asking him to clarify the statements or at the least renounce them if truly his opinion has evolved.

While responding to questions during his daily Ramadan lecture at Anoor Mosque in Abuja on Saturday, the minister, an Islamic cleric, said his position on the subject has since changed, Daily Trust reported.

He noted that his position on the subject was based on the information he had at the time, some of which were the consensus opinion among clerics in northern Nigeria at the dawn of the faceoff between the West and some Islamic countries in the early mid-2000s.

Some of the comments I made some years ago that are generating controversies now were based on my understanding of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity, Daily Trust quoted him as saying.

I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager. I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars and individuals did not understand some of international events and therefore took some positions based on their understanding, some have come to change their positions later.

The minister nonetheless doubled down on his comment that some of the criticism he had received in the past days were politically motivated.

He also claimed that he has pushed for peace and preached to deradicalize convert young people who countenanced extremist views.

For 15 years, I have moved round the country while educating people about the dangers of terrorism. I have travelled to Katsina, Gombe, Borno, Kano states and Difa in Niger Republic to preach against terrorism.

I have engaged those with Boko Haram ideologies in different places. I have been writing pamphlets in Hausa, English and Arabic. I have managed to bring back several young persons who have derailed from the right path, Daily Trust quoted him as saying.

Mr Pantamis past came under public scrutiny earlier in the week when some platforms ran a story claiming that the minister was under the U.S. watch list for terrorism.

The papers would later retract the story and apologize. Checks by this newspaper also show that there was no evidence that Mr Pantamis was on a U.S. watchlist.

The accusation soon spiralled as some audio tapes surfaced where the minister was heard sympathizing with the extremist sects. Many of the tapes were of Islamic preachings the minister did over a decade ago.
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Quote: blackwasp Originally Posted by As discussed, please go ahead with your order Navin, I will help you out with the software side of things. This weekend I will try to run the software on my Pi and figure out all the startup items and try to incorporate a 2 line display as well.



I found these links, but don't know if they help.

http://naisema.blogspot.com/2017/10/...-with-dac.html

https://github.com/TomNiesse/volumio20x4LCDPlugin



A 2" screen and the code to connect it.

https://robu.in/product/2-0-inch-spi...ace-176-x-220/

https://www.reddit.com/r/raspberry_p..._raspberry_pi/



This guy uses Moode which is not MQA compatible.

https://github.com/antiprism/mpd_oled







FYI

"Allo USBridge Signature

I see more caps! The focus of the device is to lower the noise on the USB bus. Allo chose a USB hub IC (TI) and a separated Ethernet to USB Ic (Axis).

To lower the noise of the USB, Allo had to lower noise on each rail. In total, USBridge Sig uses more than 30 low-dropout regulators (LDOs). Even the SD card power rail has a dedicated LDO. There are zero switching elements on board."

source:



"USBridge signature uses a CM6 tweaked rpi board bereft of bluetooth, wifi and non-galvanised USB ports. So you will not have a choice of rpi.

It however supports hi-resolution files (DSD) out of the board, of course also depends on your DAC capability."

Source:



For those who do not want to build the Pi2AES - RPi4 based streamer they can get it fully configured from here:

https://www.pi2design.com/coming-soon.html



Volumio has also "productized" this concept using ASUS's TinkerBoard S with a DAC integrated for good measure.

https://digiphonix.home.blog/2019/05/08/volumio-primo/

The DAC is based on the 9038Q2M but the implementation is not as rigorous as Ben Du has done for his SonCoz SGD1 (probably the best implementation of the 9038Q2M chipset). The 9038Q2M chipset was really created as a DAC for mobile aka low power devices - some LG phones have it. The 9038Pro is still the flagship.

Asus has just released an upgraded version of the Tinkerboard and Tinkerbaord S - Tinkerboard 2 and Tinkerboard 2S. The Tinkerboards have lower noise on the USB ports than the RPi4 (which itself is better than the RPi3 as the RPi4 a separate bus for Ethernet and USB). The Tinkerbaords have still to catch up to the Allo USBridge Signature when it comes to noise on the USB bus. I would love to see what Allo does to up the game when they build a breakout board using the CM4 module instead of the CM3+ module used in the USBridge Signature.





I also was hoping to connect my La Cie D2 Professional to the streamer via the USB port of a router. I have the hard disk (see link) but would need a recommendation for a suitable router. This way the streamer would consider the Hard disk to be "just a source to stream from" like Tidal, Amazon Music or Spotify.

https://www.lacie.com/as/en/products/d2/



Some solutions that do this.

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home...-nas-solution/

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/connect-hdd-raspberry-pi/



Quote: haisaikat Originally Posted by If you need a complete streamer with its own display, spend additional bucks and get a dedicated streamer of the likes of CA CXN or the Bluesound Node 2i. You will even benefit from a better power supply.



If you want to stick to Open Source and SBC with I2S Hat, stick to headless for peace of mind.



And yes, stay away from those SMPS based power supplies, they will send noise through the main power supply to your DAC too and impact its clocks unless you have power isolators.



1. The CXN and BlueSound are "average" when it comes to sound quality. The cheapest streamer + DAC I could find that does a good job of audio, is DSD/MQA compliant, and can stream from an external hard disk is the $2000 Matrix Audio Element M. The implementation of the 9028Pro chip is good. If you do not need to stream from an external hard disk, the Matrix Audio Mini I Pro 3 is good too. It uses the same 9038Q2M found in the LG phone, SonCoz SGD1 and Volumio Primo linked above. Again it is not the chip but the implementation around it that matters.



2. The object of integrating a display is not for function but to tell if the streamer is actually playing something without having to turn the TV on. I won't be controlling the streamer from the display. I would be using an iPad.



3. Linear power supplies are far better for audio than SMPS power supplies with ONE exception - the Pi2AES. A conversation with Michael Kelly, the designer of the Pi2AES revealed that the Pi2AES is designed to accept a 24VDC SMPS (Meanwell) and it has the ability to clean the noise as well as offer protection to the Pi2AES as well as the 5VDC line that will power the Pi via the GPIO.



If I wasn't keen on AES or I2S, I would have used the DigiOne Signature. However SPDIF, at least in theory, can never be as good as AES or I2S if they are implemented correctly. SPDIF is a single wire which carries the data and the clock. AES is Balanced. I2S has 4 wires BCLK, LRCLK, SDATA, and MCLK (see links below)

https://electronics.stackexchange.co...audio-protocol

https://www.ti.com/lit/ug/sprufx4b/s...oogle.com%252F



Quote: JoeTheWanderer Originally Posted by [Edit]: PS - would love to see updates about the build in the forum.



The current lockdown might slow thing down (getting parts is going to be difficult) but with help from BlackWasp, we will make this happen albeit not as quickly as we could have if there was no lockdown. Awesome thanks. I am putting all I know about this topic here so that other members that find this thread, have more to go on.I found these links, but don't know if they help.A 2" screen and the code to connect it.This guy uses Moode which is not MQA compatible.FYI."source: https://theaudiostandard.net/thread/...reamer?page=29 Source: https://www.hifivision.com/threads/b...8gb-ram.83804/ For those who do not want to build the Pi2AES - RPi4 based streamer they can get it fully configured from here:Volumio has also "productized" this concept using ASUS's TinkerBoard S with a DAC integrated for good measure.The DAC is based on the 9038Q2M but theis not as rigorous as Ben Du has done for his SonCoz SGD1 (probably the best implementation of the 9038Q2M chipset). The 9038Q2M chipset was really created as a DAC for mobile aka low power devices - some LG phones have it. The 9038Pro is still the flagship.Asus has just released an upgraded version of the Tinkerboard and Tinkerbaord S -. The Tinkerboards have lower noise on the USB ports than the RPi4 (which itself is better than the RPi3 as the RPi4 a separate bus for Ethernet and USB). The Tinkerbaords have still to catch up to the Allo USBridge Signature when it comes to noise on the USB bus. I would love to see what Allo does to up the game when they build a breakout board using the CM4 module instead of the CM3+ module used in the USBridge Signature.I also was hoping to connect my La Cie D2 Professional to the streamer via the USB port of a router. I have the hard disk (see link) but would need a recommendation for a suitable router. This way the streamer would consider the Hard disk to be "" like Tidal, Amazon Music or Spotify.Some solutions that do this.Thanks. Lots of good points.1. The CXN and BlueSound are "average" when it comes to sound quality. The cheapest streamer + DAC I could find that does a good job of audio, is DSD/MQA compliant, and can stream from an external hard disk is the $2000 Matrix Audio Element M. The implementation of the 9028Pro chip is good. If you doneed to stream from an external hard disk, the Matrix Audio Mini I Pro 3 is good too. It uses the same 9038Q2M found in the LG phone, SonCoz SGD1 and Volumio Primo linked above. Again it is not the chip but the implementation around it that matters.2. The object of integrating a display is not for function but to tell if the streamer is actually playing something without having to turn the TV on. I won't be controlling the streamer from the display. I would be using an iPad.3. Linear power supplies are far better for audio than SMPS power supplies withexception - the Pi2AES. A conversation with Michael Kelly, the designer of the Pi2AES revealed that the Pi2AES is designed to accept a 24VDC SMPS (Meanwell) and it has the ability to clean the noise as well as offer protection to the Pi2AES as well as the 5VDC line that will power the Pi via the GPIO.If I wasn't keen on AES or I2S, I would have used the DigiOne Signature. However SPDIF, at least in theory, can never be as good as AES or I2S if they are implemented correctly. SPDIF is a single wire which carries the data and the clock. AES is Balanced. I2S has 4 wires BCLK, LRCLK, SDATA, and MCLK (see links below)Watch this space Joe.The current lockdown might slow thing down (getting parts is going to be difficult) but with help from BlackWasp, we will make this happen albeit not as quickly as we could have if there was no lockdown. Last edited by navin : 14th April 2021 at 12:57 .
Bill Maher ripped into liberals and the media for pushing 'panic porn' and praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for protecting his elderly population better than New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his show Real Time on Friday.

Maher, 65, also said he doesn't want politics mixed-in with his medical decisions and blamed the pandemic on obesity - while COVID-19 cases recently soared in 21 states, particularly among children.

'Texas lifted its COVID restrictions recently and their infection rates went down, in part because of people getting outside and letting the sun and wind do their thing,' Maher said.

'But to many liberals, that can't be right because Texas and beach-loving Florida have Republican governors.'

There have been 31,627,701 total cases in the United States as of Saturday night with 566,893 deaths. Those numbers were up from 31,567,744 total cases and 566,240 on Saturday morning.

Bill Maher ripped into liberals and the media for pushing 'panic porn' on Real Time on Friday

Maher also praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for protecting his elderly population better than New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo has repeatedly come under fire for his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic

As noted by the Texas Tribune, Gov. Greg Abbott ended almost all statewide restrictions more than a month ago but the seven-day average for daily new confirmed cases is lower now than when the mandates were removed on March 10.

The seven-day average for daily new confirmed cases in Texas was 2,456 on Tuesday and was was 3,020 on March 10.

'I know we like to think of Florida as only middle school teachers on bath salts having sex with their students in front of an alligator,' Maher said.

'But apparently [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis] is also a voracious consumer of the scientific literature and maybe that's why he protected his most vulnerable population, the elderly, way better than did the governor of New York.'

Cuomo has repeatedly come under fire for his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic and ongoing investigations into how the state allegedly concealed the true number of nursing home-related deaths during the pandemic.

'Those are just facts. I know it's irresponsible of me to say them. Look, here's what I'm saying: I don't want politics mixed in with my medical decisions,' Maher said.

The segment started with Maher ripping into the media and the 'medical establishment' for its approach in handling the pandemic.

'Over the past year, the COVID pandemic has prompted the medical establishment, the media, and the government to take a scared-straight approach to getting the public to comply with their recommendations,' Maher said.

'Well, I'm from a different school. Give it to me straight, doc, because in the long run that always works better than 'you can't handle the truth'.'

Maher alleged that the media has lied about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic because 'if it bleeds it leads.'

'The more they can the more they can get you to stay inside and watch their panic porn, the higher the ratings,' Maher said.

A chart shows the number of deaths per day in March and April amid the coronavirus pandemic

A chart shows that the total number of deaths since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is 566,893

A chart shows the total number of daily coronavirus infections in the United States

The liberal comedian then pointed to research from Dartmouth College in March. The research was covered by The New York Times, which noted that the study found that the U.S. publications with a national audience have 'been much more negative than coverage by any other source.'

'While other countries mixed the good news in with the bad, the U.S. national media reported almost 90 percent bad news. Even as things were getting better, the reporting remained negative,' Maher noted.

The research study noted that the share of negative news was an even 51 percent in international media and 53 percent in U.S. regional media - while slightly higher at 64 percent in scientific journals.

Maher also slammed politicians and the medical community for lying to fit their own agendas.

'When all of our sources for medical information have an agenda to spin us, yeah you wind up with a badly misinformed population - including on the left,' Maher said.

'Liberals often mock the Republican misinformation bubble, which of course is very real - ask anyone who works at Hillary's Pizza Parlor.'

In an apparent attempt to remain fair, Maher slammed 'conservatives have some loopy ideas about COVID - 'like the third of Republicans who believe it couldn't be spread by someone showing no symptoms.

'But what about liberals, you know, the high information and by-the-science people?' Maher said, before pointing to a recent Gallup survey from March that shows Democrats tend to exaggerate the risks of COVID-19.

'Democrats are also more likely to exaggerate COVID's toll on young people and to believe that children account for a meaningful share of deaths,' The New York Times reported on the survey.

Maher said: 'Democrats did much worse than Republicans in getting the right answer to the fundamental question: what are the chances that someone who gets COVID will need to be hospitalized.'

A chart shows that the total number of infections since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is 31,627,701

A map of the United States shows that there have been 31,627,701 total coronavirus cases and 566,893 deaths while some cases see increases

The late night show host then noted that the highest share of schools that are still closed are all blue states.

'So if the right-wing media bubble has to own things like climate change denial, shouldn't liberal media have to answer for: 'how did your audience wind up believing such a bunch of crap about COVID',' Maher asked.

Maher then cited a report in The Atlantic this week that found that media outlets keep posting pictures of people at the beach 'as a sign of why things are so bad in the United States' but that the articles 'actually leave some readers with a false sense of which activities are riskiest.'

'The media won't stop putting pictures of the beach on stories about COVID even though it's looking increasingly like the beach is the best place to avoid it,' Maher said.

'Sunlight is the best disinfectant and Vitamin D is the key to a robust immune system.'

Last year, Trump was mocked in the media for suggesting to Dr. Debra Birx that 'heat and sunlight' might be a treatment alternative amid the pandemic.

'Trump said we should ingest household disinfectants and we laughed as we should of course,' Maher said.

'And then it turned out 19 percent of America was literally drenching the fruit in Clorox. And now, of course, we find out that all that paranoia about surfaces was bulls**t anyway.'

After the coronavirus first emerged, it took until May 2020 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to clarify that the virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets and less commonly through contaminated surfaces, The New York Times reported at the time.

The CDC's website notes that people can become infected by 'touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.'

But those are 'not thought to be the main way the virus spreads,' The New York Times reported last May. That line on the CDC website was amended again and now reads that contaminated surfaces are 'not thought to be a common way that COVID-19 spreads.'

It appeared to take until August - six months after the start of the pandemic - for Dr. Anthony Fauci to explain, in an interview with actor Matthew McConaughey how early COVID studies may have misled researchers into thinking the virus was spread by touching objects, Best Life noted at the time.

'If you lie to people - even for a very good cause - you lose their trust,' Maher said.

Maher then claimed that he thinks many people died 'because of Trump's incompetence' but that Americans are ignoring how obesity impacts the pandemic.

'People died because talking about obesity had become a third rail in America,' Maher said.

'I know you've heard me pound this fried drumstick, before since I last mentioned it a stunning statistic was reported: 78 percent of those hospitalized, ventilated or dead from COVID have been overweight.'

That number comes from a CDC report cited by CNBC, who noted that 27.8 percent of the 71,491 people treated at 238 U.S. hospitals from March to December were overweight and 50.2 percent were obese.

'It is the key piece of the puzzle. By far the most pertinent factor,' Maher said.

'Imagine how many lives could have been saved if there had been some national campaign a la Michelle Obama's Let's Move program with the urgency of the pandemic behind it. If the media and the doctors had made a point to keep saying there's something you can do.

'But we'll never know, because they never did. Because the last thing you want to do is say something insensitive.

'We would literally rather die. Instead we were told to lock down. Unfortunately, the killer was already in the house and her name is Little Debbie.'

Maher's comments on Friday come as data from Johns Hopkins shows that coronavirus cases are on the rise in 21 states.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that CDC data show new daily infections in the country have increased 11 percent in the last two weeks.

Michigan leads the nation with nearly 8,000 new infections each day prompting Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, to urge Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to 'close things down.'

Washington, Minnesota, California and Maine are also among the states that have seen the number of coronavirus cases increase, the Journal-Constitution noted.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported this week that cases in children are on the rise, particularly noting the numbers in Pennsylvania.

'For instance, a year ago in Montgomery County, children under 19 accounted for just 3 percent of cases in the first two weeks of April. Now they make up a quarter of the countys cases, with 806 children testing positive in the first two weeks of the month,' the outlet reported.

'In Gloucester County, residents under age 20 similarly accounted for a small portion of known COVID-19 cases  just over 2 percent  during the first two weeks of April 2020 but now account for more than 20 percent of cases.'
Easter attacks: Anniversary mired in conundrums View(s):

Come Thursday (April 21) and it will be the second anniversary of that terrible, probably avoidable Easter Sunday bombing that shook the country, rocked the countrys intelligence gathering apparatus and accelerated the ouster of the political leadership of the time.

The Cardinal is blowing hot and cold on the entire issue. On the one hand, he is, in true Christian spirit, preaching the gospel of forgiveness and mercy to the perpetrators of this dastardly crime; on the other, he is all fire and brimstone, demanding what he calls justice for the victims. What he means by the latter is imposing severe punishment not only on the mastermind(s) behind those coordinated attacks on churches and hotels (who are still in the realm of the unknown), but also prosecuting those whose negligence allowed the attacks to happen.

The Attorney General is under pressure from the Church, which detractors of these pressure tactics call Catholic Action (from the lexicon of the botched coup attempt of 1962). The AGs office is expected to wade through reams of evidence from multiple agencies and a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to indict persons, among whom is a former President.

Proponents of the outspoken Cardinal publicly voicing his displeasure at the slow pace of investigations and prosecutions would, however, argue that sans this pressure, it is quite possible that this public posturing from all quarters would be much ado about nothing, just another file that would gather dust like so many other cases.

The Government is in a quandary. It seized the opportunity presented by virtual happenstance as far as it was concerned in April 2019 to bring National Security into the forefront of its campaign agenda and to have the sitting Government ejected from office for its miserable failure to avoid the Easter Sunday bombings of that year. Government leaders promised the Church speedy redress. Now they find the political leadership of the time (the then President) seated in their ranks as coalition partner. Furthermore, it has now transpired that the leader of the gang of suicide bombers who blew themselves up that fateful day had been on their payroll (for different reasons though).

Additionally, geo-politics has the Government in a tangle in meeting Opposition grilling on how come an external spy agency seemingly knew of the bombers every move, but left gaps in passing crucial information just when it mattered most and could have made a difference.

No doubt, there was a yawning gap in the local intelligence services. Clearly, political interference had crept into the intelligence gathering system with political leaders giving higher priority to their own agendas rather than the security of the state.

There is also a massive trust deficiency in regional information sharing cooperation between South Asias intelligence agencies. This is because some of these agencies are themselves involved, at the behest of their respective Governments, in meddling in the internal affairs of their neighbouring countries in their own national interest.

Outward displays of bonhomie, solidarity and good neighbourliness are just sugar coatings for cloak and dagger espionage and triggering means of destabilisation. Undercurrents prevail, and issues like cross-border terrorism, religious and ideological extremism, narcotics smuggling and the like get downplayed or are pushed to back-burners due to geo-political considerations. No one knows for sure who is friend or foe.

For the victims families and the injured, the anniversary is an unbearably painful reminder of the tragic loss they have to live with. The anguish lingers and the suffering is clouded in the fog of a political circus on display.

Avoiding a Covid third wave

Defenders of the Government are claiming that other issues like the sugar scam, the coconut oil scam, or the high price of coconuts and rice, and the humble vegetables, the rape of the forests etc., are being highlighted simply because the Government has successfully brought the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the entire world, under control.

In comparison to the new surge of the virus in India, Europe and the United States, the numbers in Sri Lanka may look relatively small, but it is too early to claim victory. After the first wave last year, there were similar boasts that Sri Lanka was an example to the world  the same way it defeated terrorism, only to see a more virulent second wave that drastically increased the number of cases detected and the fatalities from 13 at the beginning of October 2020 to more than 600 now.

The Governments decidedly more organised anti-pandemic campaign of the early part of 2020 has been all but abandoned. The lockdowns have been replaced by calls to the public to act more responsibly. The easing of those stringent controls of last year to open up a strangulated economy has led to a form of escapism by the populace best seen in the multitudes who took advantage of the long Avurudu holidays to travel around the country, many discarding the health guidelines. The one saving grace was that most wore masks. They threw a lifeline to the beleaguered hoteliers who waved them into their hallowed portals in the absence of foreign tourists.

Being an island-nation without porous land borders has been an advantage in the control of importing the virus from other countries. It is one major headache less. However, the opening up of the country to foreign tourists, especially from countries where the virus is raging with new waves and variants is a matter of serious concern.

India last week announced that its citizens can travel in air bubbles to countries like Sri Lanka, but this measure was not reciprocal. Given the dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases in India these weeks, not many Sri Lankans would want to risk travel to that country anyway, but the question is why these decisions are not reciprocal.

The vaccination programme in Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has gone haywire with the abject politicisation of the state regulator, the NMRA (National Medicine Regulatory Authority). The Chinese vaccine Sinopharm has been bulldozed through the NMRA gatekeepers, the watchdog of the nations health (pharmaceutical) system.

The Government is courting disaster by adopting a political approach to what is essentially a technical issue, especially at a time when at least some segments of the fight against COVID-19 are giving the red alert of a third wave to come. The lessons of the outbreak of the devastating second wave in October last year must at least be learnt. To state the obvious, we cannot afford a third wave.
The CEOs of the major Railbelt utility companies have asked for an extension to the legal deadline requiring an agreement on coordinating power generation and incorporating electricity from third-party generators. (Photo/File/AJOC)
What to do if you receive fraudulent unemployment claim paperwork

If you receive a notice, other paperwork or a debit card of an unemployment claim filed in your name that you didn't file, here are some steps you should take to protect yourself.

 File a fraud report with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment at cdle.colorado.gov/fraud-prevention. Click on links for either individuals or employers.

 Since most fraudulent unemployment claims are made with stolen identities, place security freezes on your credit reports with all three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

 File an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission at www.identitytheft.gov/.
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Digital Editor
By Hippolyte Fofack





CAIRO  The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which came into effect in January, could be a game changer in helping to lift the continent out of poverty and onto the path of long-term prosperity. The AfCFTA has the potential to accelerate and alter the composition of foreign direct investment in Africa, thereby diversifying the continent's sources of growth and boosting its internal and external trade. And merging Africa's relatively small markets into one of the world's largest will enable investors to capitalize on greater economies of scale.



But Africa risks squandering this huge opportunity unless its leaders can address the continent's unwelcome reputation as one of the world's most conflict-prone regions. According to the World Bank, nine African countries currently suffer from high institutional and social fragility; 12 are engaged in medium or high-intensity conflicts. Unsurprisingly, the number of conflict-related deaths in the region has surged from 2,200 in 2010 to an average of 14,000 per year since 2014. Transnational terrorist networks have recently intensified the problem.



Besides causing untimely deaths and suffering, and destroying infrastructure, conflicts impede economic activity and undermine formal and informal cross-border trade. Informal trade between Mali and Algeria, for example, has fallen by more than 64 percent since 2011, largely owing to the conflict in northern Mali and the closure of the two countries' border.



The negative impact of wars on trade can be long-lasting. Globally, violent conflict is estimated to cause a 26 percent reduction in exports in the year that hostilities begin, rising to 35 percent five years later and 58 percent after a decade. Across Africa, where the median duration of conflict is about four years, the negative spillovers of wars on trade could persist in the medium and long term.



High-intensity conflicts also hinder trade and economic integration indirectly by triggering a sharp rise in military expenditures. African military spending grew by 17 percent over the last decade, to $41.2 billion in 2019, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. In a region where large government financing gaps already inhibit investment in productivity-enhancing infrastructure, this diversion of scarce resources can have a significant adverse long-term impact on economic development, because it undermines the diversification of sources of growth needed to alleviate supply-side constraints and to align domestic production and demand.



In recent years, especially in the Sahel, governments have shifted their resource allocation markedly from development to security. While that swing can be explained by the frequency of high-intensity conflict, sluggish development can itself stir up grievances that undermine security. The subordination of development goals to short-term security considerations also fuels corruption, which in turn drives horizontal inequality and intensifies resentment, creating conditions in which conflict and deprivation lock countries into a downward spiral of intergenerational poverty.



Most would attribute China's four decades of rapid growth and poverty reduction primarily to successful economic reforms, but these achievements can also be viewed as the dividends of a peaceful and secure domestic environment. Likewise, Ethiopia's strong economic growth since the mid-2000s has shown that mutually reinforcing defense and development objectives in Africa can attract both domestic and foreign private capital, helping to overcome the supply-side constraints that currently dog many of the region's economies.



One great benefit of a more peaceful Africa would be increased continental trade, which currently accounts for only 15 percent of the region's total trade and is dominated by scarce manufactured goods, owing to most countries' continuing dependence on commodity exports. In addition, sustained long-term investment will accelerate the diversification of sources of growth and trade to mitigate the risk of recurrent balance-of-payments crises associated with commodity-price cycles.



The AfCFTA's success in deepening African economic integration thus hinges on creating the right conditions for long-term security. Only lasting peace will guarantee lasting prosperity. If policymakers can complement economic and democratic governance reforms with similar improvements to the judicial system and security sector, emphasizing accountability and the protection of citizens, then the dividends in terms of conflict prevention will be even higher.



Encouragingly, a growing number of African countries are settling their political differences through diplomacy and the rule of law, not the barrel of a gun. Some judiciaries have been greatly empowered and are increasingly exercising their independence. One noteworthy example was the decision by Malawi's constitutional court to annul the result of the country's 2019 presidential election in light of substantial poll irregularities; the rerun in June 2020 resulted in a victory for the opposition candidate.



Governance reforms are also likely to have positive spillover effects for Africa's institutional stability and regional integration. Although integration is, at its core, a political project, its success is contingent on policymakers recognizing that the process is too important to be politicized. Greater institutional stability and predictability will curtail the risk of disruption to and discontinuity in regional integration during political transitions.



"There will be no development without security and no security without development," the late, great former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan once said. "And both development and security also depend on respect for human rights and the rule of law."



Rebalancing Africa's security and development objectives is a daunting task. But it is one the region's leaders must seize with both hands in order to realize the AfCFTA's enormous potential.





Hippolyte Fofack is chief economist of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


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.
ROCHESTER, Minn- April is a great time for spring cleaning and donating items you no longer need including tools. On Saturday, people stopped by 125 Live to say goodbye to their used wrenches, saws, and shovels for Greater Rochester Rotary's "April Tools Day."

The organization collected them to be refurbished and sent out to other non-profits so they can give them to people in need.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to give these tools new life instead of having them sit around in someone's garage," said Judy Wilson, a volunteer for Greater Rochester Rotary. "They are actually refurbished to like-new conditions for people to use."

Some of the places the tools will be donated include 125 Live and Revolutionary Earth.

"Were very appreciative of the Rochester community for dropping off their tools," explained Wilson. "Hopefully this can be an annual event."

The tools will be donated in the fall.
ROME (Reuters) - Atlantia investor and hedge fund TCI has urged Italy's government not to put any pressure on the Italian infrastructure group to strike a deal to sell its motorway business Autostrade, a letter seen by Reuters shows.

TCI's letter, dated April 12, asks the government to allow Atlantia to evaluate "independently and free from any political interference" an offer for Autostrade from Spanish infrastructure group ACS.

Autostrade, which manages half of Italy's motorway network, has been in the political crosshairs since the 2018 deadly collapse of a Genoa motorway bridge run by the company.

As part of a government-backed initiative to reclaim control of the motorways, Atlantia is in advanced talks with a consortium led by Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), which has presented a binding offer for Autostrade.

However, ACS has sent an expression of interest for Atlantia's 88% stake in Autostrade, which it values at between 9 billion and 10 billion euros ($12 billion), in a move that could foil the government's plans.

"Atlantia should be allowed to take the required time to consider the ACS offer," TCI said in the letter, adding that Rome should not make approval of Autostrade's economic and financial plan conditional on a deal with the CDP-led consortium.

Such a condition would be a "blatant violation of the principle of free movement of capital", TCI said.

The offer from the CDP and partners Macquarie and Blackstone is based on an Autostrade valuation of 9.1 billion euros, which some Atlantia investors, including TCI, believe is too low.

On Sunday Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that U.S. investment firm Apollo and Italian group Toto Holding might also submit offers.

The Atlantia board has called a shareholder meeting on May 28 to examine the CDP-led bid.

($1 = 0.8345 euros)

(Reporting by Francesca Landini; Writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by David Goodman)
Residents of Little Village, a well-known and predominantly Latino neighborhood in Chicago, are grieving the death of Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old Mexican American boy from the neighborhood who was shot and killed by a police officer on March 29, NBC News reports.

Why it matters: Adam Toledo's killing shines a spotlight on police shootings of Latinos, who are killed by law enforcement at the second-highest rate after Black Americans, according to data from the Washington Post.

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Residents have placed flowers and votive candles at in the street that Toledo was killed alongside a makeshift altar bearing his name. On Friday a local artist unveiled a mural of Toledo in the alleyway where he was shot.

Background: 13-year-old Adam Toledo was fatally shot by police on March 29 after being chased on foot by a police officer down an alley in Little Village. Police body camera footage released Thursday has brought a renewed focus on the circumstances of Toledo's death.

In the video the officer shouts at Toledo to show his hands, and the teen complies and raises his hands before a shot is heard.

Police say Toledo had a handgun on him prior to the shooting. A lawyer for the Toledo family said Thursday that even if he had, "he tossed it" before complying with the officer's demands.

Many residents have expressed how painful it was to see the police body camera footage of Toledo's shooting.

"It hurts, because he is a little kid," Toledo's aunt Theresa Chavarria told NBC news.

He didnt have nothing in his hands when the cop shot at him. As a matter of fact, he had his hands up and they still killed him, local resident Jesus Hernandez told the Chicago Tribune. After watching it, I feel like I have to worry about my own safety because we dont know how the cops are going to react, he said.

While city authorities braced for protests after the release of the body camera footage Thursday, community gatherings have remained peaceful, per the Tribune.

Story continues

A few dozen people gathered in protest outside local police headquarters to call for Mayor Lori Lightfoot's resignation, criticizing the mayor's call for calm.

Several peaceful marches took place in Chicago Thursday night, with residents calling for the police to be held accountable, per the Chicago Tribune.

Go deeper: Chicago releases video of fatal police shooting of 13-year-old boy

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April 16, 2021 is the day a Maserati finished one of the most sought-after events in the sailing world, Plymouth to La Rochelle. Not only did they finish this race successfully, but Multi70 trimaran team completed the journey in a record time of 12 hours, 15 minutes, and 21 seconds.All 239 miles (384 kilometers), from the U.K. to France, were completed with an average speed of 26.84 knots, breaking the time set by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson back in 2015 by almost two hours.Leading the six-man crew was Giovanni Soldini, the Multi70 skipper with over 25 years of ocean racing history . About the venture, Soldini explains: "Crossing the Channel we were sailing very fast, with 20-25 knots of north-easterly wind, then we arrived to Ouessant and it was great: the passage between the island and the coast is very narrow and we were sailing "a cannamorta" at 35 knots! Afterwards, sailing down along the French coast, the wind was 10-15 degrees more narrow than predicted and we slowed down, but we were able to achieve an excellent result, we're very happy!"Currently, the record is subject to the World Sailing Speed Record Council's ratification before its official.But what about the ship, after all, thats what these races are all about. The Multi60 trimaran is exactly what its name suggests, a trimaran. Overall, the vessel stretches over 21.2 meter (69.55 feet) in length and has a beam of 16.8 meters (55.1 feet). With a 29-meter (95-meter) rotating wing mast, this trident of the seas displaces only 6.3 tons.Designed by Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prevost and a former Team Gitana racing stable member, the Multi70 is at the top of the racing game. More optimized performance is brought by French designer Guillaume Verdier.Also working on the design for the craft is, of course, Maserati themselves. Here, the team applied all the aerodynamic knowledge and know-how they have, through some of the most advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations possible, studying and predicting the behavior around the craft.With numerous virtual tools and tests, the resulting vessel brings with it a 4% increase in propulsion force with less than a 1% rise in heeling force. With these numbers, the Multi70 can exceed cruising speeds of 43 knots in ideal condition. 43 friggin' knots!As the vessel rises out of the water and takes flight, the foils and rudders are there to offer unprecedented stability while also reducing the amount of wetted surface area, boosting performance, and of course, speed.This isnt the end of this story either. Whenever a team like this is formed, they will be working with a vessel like this for years to come until it is finally tuned to its absolute peak performance and ability. In the process, new technological know-how is applied to developing designs to further the teams conglomerate design goals.What sort of goals? What do you mean? I thought that Maserati would be enough to tell you that its all about speed, and control of course. Just so you get a clear view of what this vessel means to Maserati, theyre calling it the laboratory boat.With this sort of mentality, you can be sure to see more Multi70 news as this was one of the shorter races which this team has in mind of completing. Keep your eyes on autoevolution to see how this vessel and team evolve.
Prince Harry said to Prince William that the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral was 'as he would have wanted', lip readers have claimed.

The estranged brothers spoke to each other while leaving their grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at Windsor Castle yesterday, as they appeared in public together for the first time in more than a year.

Speaking to the Express, lipreaders claimed the Duke of Cambridge said: "Yes it was great, wasn't it", to which Harry replied: 'It was as he wanted,' on an exchange that took place after the emotional service at St George's Chapel.

The Duke of Sussex was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton as they left the chapel and began walking, but she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her.

Prince Harry said to William that the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral was 'as he would have wanted', lip readers have claimed. The brothers are pictured with Kate Middleton, chatting with the Archbishop of Canterbury following the service

The Duke of Sussex was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton as they left the chapel and began walking, but she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her

William, 38, and Harry, 36, were last seen in public together at a Commonwealth Day service in March last year, following Harry and Meghan's acrimonious split from the Royal Family.

Relations were further soured by the couple's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, in which they spoke out against senior royals while Philip, who died last Friday aged 99, lay in hospital.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the Royals of institutional racism and claimed one member of the family  not the Queen or Prince Philip  questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

It was reported last week that William had spoken briefly with his brother on the phone ahead of the ceremony, although the source said communication had been 'more texts than calls'.

William, 38, and Harry, 36, were last seen in public together at a Commonwealth Day service in March last year and chatted as they left Windsor castle

The brothers were among nine family members who walked behind Philip's coffin ahead of the ceremony.

William and Harry walked in the third row of mourners, with their cousin Peter Phillips in between them, behind the Queen's four children.

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers said yesterday that Peter Phillips, Philip's eldest grandson, may have been deliberately chosen to help his two younger cousins find a way forward with their relationship.

He said: 'Peter Philips was incredibly good with the boys when Diana died, so I think it will be very good for them. Sometimes I think that when people behave very well in public, which I think they will do, they find it easier to behave better in private.

'Prince Philip and the Queen were conciliators all their life so I'm sure that is what he would have wanted'.

The brothers were among nine family members who walked behind Philip's coffin ahead of the ceremony. William and Harry walked in the third row of mourners, with their cousin Peter Phillips in between them, behind the Queen's four children

A palace spokesman said yesterday the Queen had been forced to make 'difficult' decisions about who to include among the guests as a result of Covid restrictions.

But she did her best to honour her late husband's wishes and include representatives of all sides of the family  and from every generation, apart from his great-grandchildren who were considered too young to attend.

'The family have had to implement his wishes in the best way they can,' he said. He stressed that the decision for the two princes to move apart from Mr Phillips and go into the chapel separately was a 'practical' one, as they could not have walked three abreast through the door while social distancing.

Prince Philip had been involved in the planning for his funeral for at least two decades, but his wife had been forced to change it to a pared back event due to Covid.
I found out I was pregnant the day before I had my exam on the laws of kosher. I was ecstatic. I loved the symmetry of going through the trials of motherhood together with my rabbinic exams. Each set challenged me and pushed me into the role of mother and Torah learner. The previous summer I had completed another rabbinic exam the day before giving birth to my first child  a daughter.

With that pregnancy I had felt that the baby and I were a team. The baby diligently remained tucked up inside so I could finish studying and complete the exam. The next morning I woke up to my waters breaking and our new tiny family member was born just a few moments before Shabbat. We welcomed her together with the Shabbat bride, a prayer sung at dusk to usher in the coming day of rest, and her first Friday night blessings as new parents.

Rabbanit Ellyse Borghi is a Jewish Orthodox rabbi living in Melbourne.

This pregnancy was confirmed just before Passover and by the second night I was taking immense pleasure in counting the days and weeks of my pregnancy and the days and weeks of Sefirat HaOmer, the counting of the Omer. Sefirat HaOmer is a mitzvah of counting the 49 days between Passover and the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai  celebrated in the upcoming festival of Shavuot. I loved counting this time of harvest. I felt like the ground under my feet was supporting me and that we together were full of fertility and creation.

On Thursday night on the 27th day of the Omer that changed. I went into the clinic, leaving my husband at home with our toddler. I knew something was wrong and I could barely speak without crying. It was so jarring to be surrounded by these enormous bellies and joyfully exhausted women while I was so terrified.
Pennsylvanias total flu cases are down 97% compared to this time last year, according to state Department of Health data.

It is unprecedented in recent flu seasons and mirrors national trends  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say flu activity has been usually low this season. Cases in Pennsylvania are down so much the health department wont release a county-by-county breakdown of cases because to do so risks identifying flu patients.

Statewide there have been 3,351 lab-confirmed flu cases and 18 flu-associated deaths as of April 10, according to the weekly flu activity report released Tuesday by the health department. When a positive lab test is reported to the state, its logged as a confirmed flu case. The flus been detected in all 67 counties, resulting in 43 flu-related hospitalizations this flu season.

Pediatric deaths are generally considered an indicator of a flu seasons severity, which this year officially began Sept. 27 and ends May 22. There were 198 pediatric deaths nationwide last flu season. This year, theres been one, according to the CDC.

Illness tends to peak in the middle of the winter, often on the heels of the holidays, but there was no sustained peak this year, just one jump the week of Nov. 30.

And this is despite a reported sixfold increase in flu testing at public health labs nationally, most of which checked for Influenza A and B when testing for COVID-19.

It is important to say flu is still tested for and if flu were occurring we would know about it and when flu starts to emerge again well know about it, Lehigh Valley Health Network infectious disease specialist Dr. Luther Rhodes said.

The CDC recommends that providers test patients with coronavirus symptoms for both COVID-19 and the flu, because it is impossible to differentiate between the two without testing and patients can have both at the same time, explained Amber Liggett, a health department spokesperson.

Since flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses and are spread the same way, there have been fewer cases of flu this year since theres been more mask-wearing, social distancing and sanitation. Other factors that could have participated in having a mild season include better flu vaccination coverage, efficient seasonal flu vaccine, mild flu strains such as the strains that caused mild flu seasons previously, and viral competition, in which the pandemic virus has the advantage, Liggett said. It is likely that the mild flu season is the result of some or all of the mentioned factors.

Over this flu season, the coronavirus has infected 933,432 Pennsylvanians and claimed the lives of 17,417 people.

Rhodes said the health network began to see a dramatic drop in flu cases in February 2020 when the coronavirus began spreading in the community despite widespread flu testing. Coming into the 2020-21 flu season, there was widespread concern we could see twin pandemics that crushed U.S. hospital systems.

But this flu season never gained steam. It hasnt 100% disappeared, but its close to it, Rhodes said.

The COVID precautions alone dont explain it, he said.

If the precipitous drop of flu cases was a result of just masking and social distancing, wed see pockets of flu outbreaks in places with less compliance with mitigation measures, but that is not happening, he explained.

I think the pandemic has impacted the behavior of the influenza virus, Rhodes said.

Cases are unusually low nationwide in a remarkable way, he said. Some of this is likely related to natural competition between the flu and the coronavirus and COVID is winning currently. There also may be higher flu vaccination rates and the vaccine itself may be a better match to the dominant strain.

Nationwide flu activity is considered minimal for the week ending April 10, according to the CDC.Courtesy of the CDC

The flu virus circulates widely in nature, so human behavior alone is not going to alter influenza. It hasnt to date, Rhodes said. It can make things worse by being careless. We arent going to mask it out of existence. We arent going to hand wash it out of existence. Flu has the ability to carve out its own path, it is not just what people do. It has a lot to do with its spread in nature, in birds and pigs. Some of our worst human flu strains are shared with pigs and birds.

The health network internally monitors all of the flu testing across its hospitals and doctor offices, so Rhodes has a clear snapshot of the flus spread in the Lehigh Valley at any time. The vast majority of rapid testing in doctors offices is not reflected in state flu case reporting, he noted.

The first week of this flu season there were 142 cases reported in the network compared to 518 the year prior. On Feb. 19 of this year, there were 72 flu cases compared to 927 in 2020.

It is dramatically reduced, Rhodes said. Other respiratory viruses have dramatically decreased in number too.

There are two types of flu: A and B. In most seasons, Flu A predominates at the start and then Flu B near the end, Liggett of the health department, noted. Some seasons, H1N1 (a Flu A subtype) dominates in the beginning and then H3N2 (another Flu A subtype) takes over. The latter is known to cause more complications and deaths and seasonal vaccines are less effective against it, she said. Flu B is always milder and vaccines have a higher efficacy against it.

The circulating strains of flu may affect the activity, Liggett said.

(Cant see this? Click here.)

The health department continues to monitor what the rest of the flu season may bring, Liggett said.

Flu is unpredictable and its activity depends on many factors, including consistency in using COVID-19 mitigation actions (e.g. face masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, vaccination, etc.), she said.

Rhodes cautioned no one should think this means weve beat the flu.

What happens with the flu as time goes on? There is a lot of speculation about a virus suppressed in nature for whatever reason, natural selection, second virus elbowing it out, can emerge with an attitude and rush back, Rhodes said, noting hes prepared for when cases start popping up again.

COVID mitigation measures and changing human behavior have played a large role, but thats not the entire story and society wont support such precautions long-term, Rhodes said. Well have to strike a balance, like wearing masks early in flu season, and rethink our approach to flu vaccines, he said.

Rhodes is hopeful with the rise of mRNA vaccines, like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 shots, becoming more mainstream, science tries to modernize the flu vaccine. If a flu vaccine is 40% effective against the dominant flu strains thats considered a success, he said. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines boast efficacy rates of 90% or better.

I have been saying for a long time that our wolds flu vaccine is not up to par, he said. The egg and yolk technology is horse and buggy. ...We need to up our game to get the flu vaccine to a much better outcome. "

Rhodes is hopeful a better flu vaccine can be one positive outcome of the coronavirus pandemic

The vast majority of people who contract the flu never get tested or go to the doctor, so typically case counts actually only represent a faction of the flu in the state at any time. In a normal flu season, it is estimated that 5% to 20% of Pennsylvanians, or 600,000 to 2.4 million people, get the flu each year and 120 to 2,000 die from flu-related complications.

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In one of Ohios bigger casting calls, the field of announced candidates to succeed retiring Sen. Rob Portman, a Cincinnati-area Republican, keeps growing.

And at least two more GOP prospects are weighing the odds of making the race: Upper Arlington Republican Steve Stivers, a U.S. House member since 2010, and J.D. (James David) Vance, best-selling author of Hillbilly Elegy, born in Butler Countys Middletown.

Among Vances fans: PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Thiel has given $10 million to the Protect Ohio Values super PAC, a network of grassroots conservatives committed to electing a senator who will stand for and defend Ohios values. ... We believe J.D. Vance is the right man for the job.

All told, that could spark a GOP Senate horse race. In contrast, as of now, voters will likely re-elect Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, of Cedarville, despite whining by some General Assembly Republicans.

After all, the last time Ohioans refused to re-elect a Republican governor was in 1958. They unseated C. William ONeill, a Marietta native who later became the Ohio Supreme Courts chief justice.

Over the nearly 64 years since ONeill lost, every GOP governor has won re-election (James A. Rhodes; George V. Voinovich; Bob Taft; and John Kasich)  but just one Democrat: Lakewoods Richard F. Celeste.

Ohioans refused to re-elect the eras other Democratic governors: Michael V. DiSalle (1962); John J. Gilligan (1974); and Ted Strickland (2010).

True, much will hinge next year on whom Democrats field against DeWine. At this writing, it appears that Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley will be DeWines Democratic challenger.

A possible but so far unannounced DeWine GOP primary challenger could be former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, a Wadsworth Republican. In 2018, Renacci unsuccessfully challenged the re-election of Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat. (Renacci drew 47% of 2018s statewide vote to Browns 53%.)

As for Portmans Senate seat, four Republicans have thrown their hats into the ring: Cleveland investment banker Mike Gibbons; Westlake auto dealer and tech investor Bernie Moreno; ex-State Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Greater Clevelander who evidently thinks theres no such thing as bad publicity; and ex-Republican Party state Chair Jane Timken, an in-law of the Canton bearings-and-steel dynasty. (The Timkens have slid to the right since the days when H.H. Timken Sr., great-grandfather of Jane Timkens husband, was a pillar of Teddy Roosevelts Progressive Bull Moose Party.)

Democrats likely consensus candidate for Portmans Senate seat is U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a suburban Warren Democrat. His Youngstown-Warren-parts-of-Akron congressional district will likely vanish when Ohio loses a district later this year in redistricting after the 2020 Census.

In 2019, for 203 days, Ryan ran for president. Reared Catholic, Ryan opposed abortion when elected to Congress in 2002. But in 2015, Ryan announced that he favors a womans right to choose abortion. (Its sometimes said that theres just one always-pro-life Democrat left in the U.S. House, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, whose district is between San Antonio and the Rio Grande.)

Stivers, 56, the Republican House member from suburban Columbus pondering a run for Portmans seat, grew up in Adams County, along the Ohio River. Stivers, an Ohio State graduate and a major general in the Ohio National Guard, was elected to Congress in 2010. Cleveland.coms Andrew J. Tobias has reported Stivers had raised almost $1.4 million so far in 2021 ... [giving] him $2.4 million in total campaign cash on hand, [putting] him well on track with other Ohio Republicans who are considering a run for U.S. Senate. (That assumes Vance doesnt run).

Stivers, who went to high school in Ripley, 55 miles from Cincinnati, could be a strong contender. The announced GOP candidates are Northeast Ohioans. Leaving aside the late Sen. George Voinovich of Cleveland, who served from 1999 to 2011, the last time a Northeast Ohio Republican landed a full Senate term was 1940, when Cleveland Mayor Harold H. Burton won. (In 1954, U.S. Rep. George H. Bender, of Chagrin Falls, was elected to the remainder of Robert A. Tafts Senate term after cancer killed Taft. Bender failed to hold the Senate seat in 1956.)

Ohios population center has drifted southwest, toward Columbus. Thats why a candidate from Central Ohio (Stivers) or with roots in Butler County (Vance) might be well-positioned  politically and geographically  to become the GOPs pick to succeed Rob Portman.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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New Mexicos latest forest action plan outlines strategies including restoring forests, using fire as a management tool and getting more buy-in from private landowners.

The state Forestry Division released the plan last week. The federal government requires each state to update its plans every decade.

The latest version identifies areas that are priorities based on wildfire risks and their importance as sources for water. It also includes steps for how New Mexico can work with the federal government and other groups as part of a shared stewardship initiative.

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This collaboration is essential in moving forward with a solid foundation to address both human-caused and natural threats to our lands in a continually changing climate, New Mexico Forester Laura McCarthy said in a statement.

McCarthy said the 10 strategies outlined in the plan will guide decision-making on plans for conservation or restoration of areas where hazards pose the greatest threat to the states natural resources. She said public benefits also are part of the equation as the projects could provide jobs and support rural economies.

The threat of catastrophic wildfire has only grown in recent years as New Mexico has been stuck in a long-term drought. Winter snowpack and summer monsoon seasons have been disappointing, resulting in tinder-dry watersheds in the higher elevations and shrinking reservoirs downstream.

The latest drought map shows much of the U.S. Southwest mired in drought, with extreme and exceptional conditions in about 80% of New Mexico. The states largest reservoir is only at 11% of capacity, and weather forecasters have been issuing warnings about blowing dust and high fire danger.

In southern New Mexico, managers of the Gila National Forest this week pointed to strong spring winds as one reason they were increasing the fire danger level. They warned that all fine dead fuels could ignite readily, and unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape and spread rapidly.

Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small, the forest managers said in a statement, urging people to be vigilant.

The State Forestry Division took into consideration more than 200 layers of data from dozens of sources in creating an assessment of what areas and resources around the state are most vulnerable. Those resources range from communities that border forests to recreation, cultural uses, biodiversity, traditional uses such as grazing and wood gathering, and water supplies.

According to the plan, surface water is the source of slightly more than 50% of water withdrawals in New Mexico, including that used for the states multibillion-dollar agriculture industry. About 30% of the water diverted by public water systems comes from surface sources.

Todays fuel conditions and fire behavior are unprecedented, the document states. In a pattern that started in the late 1990s, wildfires have grown larger, burn hotter, and leave vast areas bare and vulnerable to debris flow. When exposed soil is washed away by rainstorms, restoration can be difficult, if not impossible.

State officials pointed to the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, which burned more than 150,000 acres in the Jemez Mountains, destroyed several dozen homes and more than 100 other structures, and devastated wildlife habitat and critical watersheds. They said downstream communities are still dealing with the lingering impacts of that catastrophic wildfire.

In crafting the plan, experts modeled factors such as burn probability, flash flooding, debris flow and erosion hazards.

They also looked at how susceptible forests are to diseases and insects. They said higher forest densities coupled with climate change lead to increased tree stress and mortality over larger areas. That mortality increases when drought conditions coincide with pest outbreaks.

Tree mortality by 2027 was modeled, showing that pest-driven mortality is expected to occur to some degree in all forests and woodlands in the state while the greatest losses of trees overall are expected in the Sacramento, Sandia and Manzano mountains and the Sangre De Cristo range.
Cut Off

Planning to do business with the Kremlin anytime soon? Too bad. President Biden announced a flurry of sanctions against Russia last Thursday and barred American banks from purchasing any new Russian government debt. The measure targeted 32 individuals and entities involved in Moscows disinformation campaigns and interference in the 2020 presidential election. Mr. Biden also formally blamed Russias top intelligence agency for the sophisticated hacking operation that breached American government agencies and dozens of large companies last year. By squeezing access to international finance, the Biden administration aims to pressure Russias president, Vladimir Putin, into negotiating a more stable relationship with the United States.

Image Credit... Giacomo Bagnara

Whats Next? (April 18-24)

Fresh Bytes

Apples first product unveiling of the year, titled Spring Loaded, will be streamed on the brands website this Tuesday. Anticipated gadgets include a new iPad Pro line (face it, your old iPad is out of storage space) and new iMac desktops (to improve your work-from-home setup, which you might need for the long haul). The company is also reportedly developing a small tracking device called an AirTag that can be stuck to items like keys and wallets, allowing you to find them with an app (now that you need them to go places again!). But its unclear if they will make their debut this week. Stay tuned.

Too Much Screen Time

For years, Instagram has been planning a special version of its app for users under age 13. The childrens version would supposedly include stronger measures to protect them from sexual predators and bullying. But it faces an uphill battle. Last week, an international coalition of 35 childrens and consumer groups called on Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Instagrams parent company, Facebook, to scrap plans for the app. Among their reasons: It will likely increase the use of Instagram by young children who are particularly vulnerable to the platforms manipulative and exploitative features.

Chips Down

What does a global shortage of tiny semiconductors  also known as chips  have to do with you? Well, theyre used for everything from cars to computers to kitchen appliances. And the companies that make them are reeling from pandemic-fueled production snafus, causing trickledown problems in the auto industry and many other sectors. Mr. Biden wants to fund more domestic chip manufacturing with his infrastructure plan and signed an executive order to bolster supply chains in the meantime. But that may not be enough to fix what has already become a big problem.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-19 00:31:59|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Around 160 people including firefighters and residents have been fighting to contain a steppe fire in Mongolia's eastern province of Sukhbaatar, the provincial emergency management department said Sunday.

The steppe fire broke out before noon on Sunday in Dariganga soum (administrative subdivision) of the province, and spread to the territory of neighboring Erdenetsagaan soum which borders Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Spring is normally a windy and dry season in Mongolia. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 20:55:58|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe is emerging stronger in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to support from local partners and friendly countries such as China, Russia and India, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Sunday.

In an address to the nation to mark the country's 41st independence anniversary, Mnangagwa also paid tribute to frontline and security workers for their dedication to duty, and the citizens for their steadfast adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

"The dedication and sacrifice of frontline workers and security services are equally applauded. I congratulate you, our citizens for abiding by the national lockdown regulations and measures. The accomplishments we have made to date are due to the unity of purpose and spirit of oneness we have all shown," Mnangagwa said.

Recalling that the nation had lost many of its citizens, including decorated heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle against the pandemic, Mnangagwa observed that Zimbabwe continued to learn lessons from the global health emergency, and pointed out that Zimbabwe is emerging stronger in the fight against the pandemic.

He said Zimbabwe is grateful for the financial and material support and solidarity from friendly nations and development partners in its efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

"Allow me to take this opportunity to thank various partners and friends of Zimbabwe including the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the Republic of India, for their support to our vaccination program," Mnangagwa said.

He also thanked the local private sector, individuals, institutions of higher learning, churches and other stakeholders for their support.

He assured citizens that the vaccines being administered by the government were safe, and urged eligible citizens to get vaccinated.

"No one is safe until everyone is safe," he said.

Zimbabwe, which launched its vaccination campaign on Feb. 18, has so far received 2 batches of China's Sinopharm vaccines and 2 batches of Sinovac vaccine.

In addition, India has donated 75,000 doses of Covaxin vaccine to Zimbabwe, and the country has since received the first consignment of 35,000 doses.

As it steps up the vaccination campaign, Zimbabwe has so far authorized the use of four COVID-19 vaccines, including China's Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines, Russia's Sputnik V and Covaxin from India.

The country is targeting to inoculate at least 10 million of its 16 million citizens to achieve herd immunity.

To date, a total of 276,095 people have received their first jab and 35,806 their second jab.

Mnangagwa delivered his independence speech at State House, broadcast live on state television and other online media platforms. Enditem
RTHK: US, EU warn Russia over Alexei Navalny

The United States on Sunday warned Russia of "consequences" if the hunger-striking Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny dies in prison, as the opposition politician's team called for mass protests across Russia to help save his life.

A day after Navalny's doctors said Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic could die "any minute", US President Joe Biden's national security advisor said Washington had warned the Kremlin that it would be "held accountable by the international community" if he died.

France, Germany and the European Union on Sunday joined a growing international chorus of protest at Navalny's plight, and EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday.

Concerns over Navalny's health have mounted against the background of a new spike in tensions between Moscow and the West over a litany of issues, including Russia's troop build-up on Ukraine's border, interference in US elections and other perceived hostile activities.

Navalny's team on Sunday called for massive protests across Russia on Wednesday evening, just hours after Putin is set to deliver his state of nation address.

"It's to time to act. We are talking not just about Navalny's freedom but his life," Navalny's right-hand man Leonid Volkov said on Facebook.

Volkov said Wednesday's rally could become a decisive battle against "absolute evil" or Russia's last opposition rally for years to come.

"Call on all your acquaintances and take to central squares," wrote Volkov, who heads Navalny's regional offices, adding that the protests should be massive.

There was no immediate reaction from the Kremlin but the Russian ambassador in London, Andrei Kelin, said Navalny "will not be allowed to die in prison."

"But I can say that Mr Navalny, he behaves like a hooligan," Kelin told the BBC.

Authorities have ramped up pressure on Navalny's supporters in recent months, detaining more than 10,000 protesters at opposition demonstrations in January and February.

On Friday, Russian prosecutors asked a court to label Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation and the network of his regional offices as "extremist" organisations, in a move that would outlaw them in Russia and could result in jail time for their members or even supporters.

Navalny was arrested in January on returning to Russia after recovering from a near-fatal poisoning attack he says was orchestrated by the Kremlin. The Kremlin denies the allegation.

The Putin critic is serving two and a half years on old embezzlement charges -- which he says are politically motivated -- in a penal colony in the town of Pokrov around 100 kilometres east of Moscow.

Navalny began a hunger strike on March 31 to demand proper medical treatment for back pain and numbness in his legs and hands.

On Saturday, Navalny's doctors said his health had rapidly deteriorated and demanded prison officials grant them immediate access.

"Our patient can die any minute," cardiologist Yaroslav Ashikhmin said, pointing to Navalny's high potassium levels and saying he should be moved to intensive care.

A team of doctors including Navalny's personal doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva made an new attempt on Sunday to see Navalny but were not allowed in, they said in a video. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 05:58:36|Editor: huaxia

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people on Friday night marched through downtown Oakland, U.S. state of California, to demonstrate against fatal police shootings in Minneapolis and Chicago, according to a police statement released early Saturday morning.

"The City of Oakland experienced disruptive protests in the Downtown area," the city's police department said in a tweet.

Some protestors assaulted a community member and police officer, broke windows, spray-painted buildings, set a car on fire along with multiple debris fires, the police reported.

The police put the number of demonstrators at between 250 and 300 participants. Despite the damage, police issued no citations and made no arrests. Enditem
DNA Model Kaia Gerber struck a pose poolside in designer Heron Preston's first Calvin Klein collection of essentials, which drops this Friday.

There was not an inch to pinch on the 19-year-old daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford who made her runway debut, age 16, for Raf Simons's 2017 Calvin Klein collection.

The all-American fashion house describes their sustainably-sourced SS/21 line - ranging in price from $36 to $298 - as 'a collection for real people.'

Drops this Friday! DNA Model Kaia Gerber struck a pose poolside in designer Heron Preston's first Calvin Klein collection of essentials

Muse: There was not an inch to pinch on the 19-year-old daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford who made her runway debut, age 16, for Raf Simons's 2017 Calvin Klein collection

Kaia - who boasts 7.2M social media followers - proudly posted a snap of 10 Polaroids of herself modeling the bra and panties with white socks.

On Friday, Gerber shared two more lingerie-clad pictures, but it's unclear if she was wearing Calvin Klein.

One of the LA native's backyard shots showcased her pert derriere as well as her cute Golden Retriever puppy Layla.

Speaking of CK, Kaia's boyfriend since September - Euphoria star Jacob Elordi - unveiled his own '#mycalvins' campaign shot by Mario Sorrenti back on March 3.

Ranging in price from $36 to $298! The all-American fashion house describes their sustainably-sourced SS/21 line as 'a collection for real people'

Collage: Kaia - who boasts 7.2M social media followers - proudly posted a snap of 10 Polaroids of herself modeling the bra and panties with white socks

Scantily clad: On Friday, Gerber shared two more lingerie-clad pictures, but it's unclear if she was wearing Calvin Klein

Puppy love: One of the LA native's backyard shots showcased her pert derriere as well as her cute Golden Retriever Layla

'Kaia and Jacob are enjoying being a couple right now. They're lovers and also best friends. They're always together when they don't have work commitments,' a source told Us Weekly last Friday.

'It's actually crazy how much they have in common. It was like the universe brought them together! They're both models, modeled for Calvin Klein  very into fashion, of course. They love going shopping together and even working out together.'

The Australian 23-year-old is Gerber's first public romance since ending her two-month fling with SNL star Pete Davidson in December 2019.

On March 23, six-time Emmy winner Ryan Murphy announced that the not-so-typical teenager was cast in the 10th season of FX's American Horror Story: Double Feature.

'It was like the universe brought them together!' Speaking of CK, Kaia's boyfriend since September - Euphoria star Jacob Elordi - unveiled his own '#mycalvins' campaign shot by Mario Sorrenti back on March 3

'It's actually crazy how much they have in common': The Australian 23-year-old (R, pictured last Wednesday) is Gerber's first public romance since ending her two-month fling with SNL star Pete Davidson in December 2019

'Is this really happening?' Kaia marveled on March 24. 'If I'm dreaming this don't wake me up.'

The 55-year-old showrunner has described Double Feature as 'two horrifying stories, one season. One by the sea, one by the sand.'

'It means TWO SEASONS for the fans airing in one calendar year!' Ryan wrote.

Surprise! On March 23, six-time Emmy winner Ryan Murphy announced that the not-so-typical teenager was cast in the 10th season of FX's American Horror Story: Double Feature

Kaia marveled on March 24: 'Is this really happening? If I'm dreaming this don't wake me up'

'So double the viewing pleasure. One set by the sea (this cast already announced). A second by the sand (that cast announcement coming).'

The Provincetown-set season features Leslie Grossman, Macaulay Culkin, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Finn Wittrock, Adina Porter, Lily Rabe, Angelica Ross, and Frances Conroy.

Gerber previously portrayed the 13-year-old version of Stana Katic's character Carolina Baxter in Sean Hanish's drama Sister Cities, which aired on Lifetime in 2016.
The decision to maintain the citys one-way system for the time being is a welcome one for pedestrians, who will hopefully be returning in greater numbers in the coming weeks as restrictions lift.

The system is not without its detractors, and concerns remain from some on John Street who feel that it has affected their footfall. As pointed out by the council, the system as it stands is not ultimately a traffic solution. Its primary function is to facilitate social distancing and allow people safely navigate the city in compliance with public health guidelines. It is not intended as a permanent measure, and there are alternatives in the event of agreeing a long term solution.

Meanwhile, plans have been unveiled in other urban centres to go a step further and fully pedestrianise some streets. In Cork, pedestrianisation of 17 streets is under way, while Dublin is also weighing up several options.

Here, James Street and Kieran Street already close to vehicular traffic during certain hours, giving their space back to pedestrians. Could this be an option on any other smaller streets? Could pubs and cafes avail of space  say in the evenings  to put out some easily-moveable, lightweight tables and chairs when outdoor dining resumes?

Perhaps there is an opportunity as local businesses avail of the new Outdoor Seating and Accessories Scheme, officially opened by the council for applications this week. It would be fantastic to see such areas busy and vibrant, attracting an evening trade that all too often disappears once shops and other workplaces close for the day.

There are other things to be considered. For example, the Cork plan has caused some anxiety for people with disabilities, who are concerned access will be more difficult for them in certain areas if a vehicle cannot get in. An increase in street furniture also  be it chairs, sandwich boards  on already narrow streets can cause further headaches for those with mobility restrictions. There are no easy solutions.
She's found her hands full with motherhood, recently joking that she's 'always breastfeeding' son Sylvester, six-weeks-old.

But Emily Ratajkowski enjoyed some well-deserved grown-up time while meeting up with a friend for lunch in the Soho neighborhood of NYC on Saturday.

The actress/author, 29, looked rocker-chic donning a cool leather ensemble as she lead beloved dog Colombo away from the outdoor dining area after the meal.

New mom: Emily Ratajkowski enjoyed a bit of grown-up time when the new mom met up with a friend for lunch in SoHo on Saturday

Emily put her best foot forward in a leather jacket, which was tossed on top of a monochrome silk blouse and teamed with matching trousers.

She toted a two-tone bag on her arm and popped on a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses that also fit the high-contrast theme. Chains layered around her neck added a bit of polish to the look.

Giving things a sporty touch, the London-born, San Diego-raised beauty donned blush pink Nikes.

She let her chocolate brown tresses sweep down smoothly while keeping most of her famous face hidden with her glasses and a face mask from EvolveTogether.

Leather lover: The actress/author, 29, looked rocker-chic donning a cool leather ensemble

Puppy love: The London-born, California-raised cutie lead her beloved dog Colombo away from the outdoor dining area after the meal

While Emily was out, her bundle of joy Sylvester was likely at home with dad Sebastian Bear-McClard.

She recently shared an intimate at home moment of the family, posting a candid shot of herself lifting up her tie-dye top to feed baby Sly in bed.

'If it seems like I'm always breastfeeding it's because I am,' she joked in the caption.

Cool kicks: Giving things a sporty touch, the model donned blush pink Nikes

Feeding: Emily joked she's 'always breastfeeding' in a candid Instagram snap from yesterday

Emily and her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard welcomed baby Sylvester on March 8th, and announced his arrival with a sweet snap of mom doting on the newborn.

'Sylvester Apollo Bear has joined us earth side. Sly arrived 3/8/21 on the most surreal, beautiful, and love-filled morning of my life,' she captioned the image

Emily announced her pregnancy on the cover of Vogue last autumn and wrote an essay inside about bodies and gender.

'When my husband and I tell friends that I'm pregnant, their first question after: "Congratulations" is almost always: "Do you know what you want?"' she said.

'We like to respond that we won't know the gender until our child is 18 and that they'll let us know then,' she shared, admitting: 'Everyone laughs at this.'

Nigh out: Ratajkowski celebrated 'Mom's night out' with a busty dinner selfie earlier this month

Mom and dad: The actress and producer husband Sebastian Bear-McClard welcomed a baby boy last month. Seen in February 2020

She added: 'There is a truth to our line, though, one that hints at possibilities that are much more complex than whatever genitalia our child might be born with: the truth that we ultimately have no idea who - rather than - what is growing inside my belly. Who will this person be?'

The first-time parent explained in the magazine: 'I like the idea of forcing as few gender stereotypes on my child as possible.'

She confessed: 'But no matter how progressive I may hope to be, I understand the desire to know the gender of our fetus; it feels like the first real opportunity to glimpse who they might be.

'As my body changes in bizarre and unfamiliar ways, its comforting to obtain any information that might make whats coming feel more real.'
Sen. Ted Cruz asks a question during the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on March 9, 2021. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Sen. Ted Cruz accused Rep. Maxine Waters of inciting violence at protests against police brutality.

Waters rallied against recent police killings of Black men, telling demonstrators to remain in place.

"Democrats actively encouraging riots & violence," Cruz tweeted in response to Waters' remarks.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

Sen. Ted Cruz on Sunday suggested that Rep. Maxine Waters was inciting violence by encouraging demonstrators in Minnesota to continue protesting against police brutality.

Waters, a California Democrat, attended on Sunday one of the protests against the police killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright.

The protests have been set against the backdrop of the trial against Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck. The courthouse where the trial takes place is only miles away from where an officer shot and killed Wright last week.

At the protest, Waters said she and the crowd are "looking for a guilty verdict" for Chauvin.

"We've got to stay in the streets, and we've got to demand justice," she said, according to a video posted on Twitter from the event.

"I am hopeful that we will get a verdict that says, 'guilty, guilty, guilty,' and if we don't, we cannot go away," she added. "We've got to get more confrontational."

Cruz, a Republican from Texas, blasted those remarks from Waters.

"Democrats actively encouraging riots & violence," he tweeted in response, along with a Daily Mail article reporting Waters' comments.

"They want to tear us apart," he added.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Wright was fatally shot by Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, officer Kimberly Potter, who had 26 years of experience on the force. The department's police chief said earlier this week that she intended to shoot Wright with her Taser, not her gun. Potter has since resigned and is facing a second-degree manslaughter charge.

Story continues

After Wright was killed, protests erupted in the streets of Brooklyn Center and the surrounding Minneapolis area.

Starting from day one of the protests, officials called in the National Guard and imposed a curfew. Protesters have since broken that curfew to demonstrate against police brutality.

At some of these protests, police clashed with demonstrators and fired tear gas and nonlethal rounds to disperse the crowds. Among the protesters who were tear-gassed was Wright's aunt, Kelly Bryant.

She told Insider she watched people throw garbage at the police.

"I have never seen anything like that in my life. I was tear-gassed," she said. "It was not a pretty sight. I was watching people loot and break windows, stealing stuff out of stores, burning stuff. It was bad. It was really bad."

Have a news tip? Reach this reporter at ydzhanova@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
The 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field routinely flies remote-controlled MQ-9 Reaper drones over our homes, schools, businesses, roads and lakes. When a drone crashes, its more than an embarrassment to the military. Its a matter of public concern.

Its dismaying that were only learning now about a Reaper that crashed June 25, 2020, on takeoff from Hancock Airport. Neither the 174th nor the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, which operates the airport on the publics behalf, saw fit to alert the public about the accident. Thats wrong.

Syracuse.com Washington reporter Mark Weiner found out about the accident from a recently completed Air Force crash investigation. The report blamed the crash on pilot error and a poorly designed control panel that led the pilot to pull the wrong lever.

The New York Air National Guard saw no reason to inform the public, since the crash was on airport property. Jason Terreri, who runs the airport, left it up to the Air National Guard to put out the news. He should not have been so deferential.

In fact, both organizations need to show maximum transparency if they want to keep the trust of airport neighbors and commercial passengers who share the runways with the military.

Hancock Airport is one of the only airports in the country  if not the only one  that has a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration allowing drones from the 174th to take off and land alongside commercial jets. Before the waiver, drones had to be trucked to Fort Drum for training missions. The FAA also used to require a chase plane accompany the drones, but dropped that rule in 2019, freeing the 174th to conduct more training missions.

The military enjoys the freedom and convenience of using a public airport. That comes with a responsibility to the well-populated communities their drones fly over. The airports neighbors got lucky this time. Had this aircraft gone another quarter mile before crashing, it would have landed on a busy commercial area on Taft Road.

The incident raises further questions:

Were there other drone crashes out of Hancock that we dont know about? We know the MQ-9 was accident-prone. In November 2013, one of the 174ths drones crashed into Lake Ontario. (That time, the public was told about it). A 2012 investigation by Bloomberg News found Air Force drones had a high accident rate compared to the rest of the service.

Was the design flaw in the control panel fixed? If not, its another accident waiting to happen.

The Defense Department does not have a legal duty to inform the public when an MQ-9 drone crashes. But we believe it has a moral one.

About Syracuse.com editorials

Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte, Katrina Tulloch and Marie Morelli.

To respond to this editorial: Submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines.

If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion leader, at mmorelli@syracuse.com
NEW HAVEN  Though he received several blows to the head, Rabbi Shua Rosenstein said things could have been much worse.

I survived it because Im healthy and young, relatively, but if theyd done this to an older person I dont think they could have survived that, which scares me, he said.

Last spring, Rosenstein, 38, stepped outside the Chabad House at Yale University where he works, and was assaulted by two teenagers. He said they shouted anti-Semitic slurs and epithets at him while dealing him blows to the head before stealing his car keys and driving off.

Although his attackers shouted religious abuse at him, he said he cannot know whether he was targeted on the basis of his religion. He said city police, who apprehended the alleged attackers after they crashed Rosensteins car, told him the teenagers previously had victimized non-Jews.

Five teenagers were charged, and the two assailants received hate crime charges.

I havent felt unsafe since then. I havent had any reason to, Rosenstein said. I did get a tremendous amount of support from the local and state government, both New Haven and the state of Connecticut.

Rosenstein said Mayor Justin Elicker was on the phone with him within an hour and the police have supported Chabad by providing additional security during the high holidays.

We take hate crimes very seriously, said Elicker in a statement. In the instance of a potential hate crime, our Police Department responds aggressively both to ensure that the persons involved are held accountable and to ensure that victims who may be traumatized feel a sense of safety and resolution.

Eli Sabin, the alder for Ward 1, authored a resolution condemning anti-Semitism that passed unanimously in the aftermath of the attack on Rosenstein.

We need to do much more to invest in real public safety and to address the root causes of violence as well as the racism and hate that can sometimes fuel it, he said.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
One law for all and more baloney View(s):

When the Norwegian police clamped a 20,000 kroner fine on their prime minister for breaking the law, the countrys citizenry did not light fire crackers and beat raban. They went about their business as best as they could under numerous restrictions to contain a spreading pandemic.

Prime Minister Erna Solbergs prime crime was that she decided to celebrate her birthday at a public restaurant with her family. Knowing full well that pandemic rules and regulations were in force after all she introduced them  she should have kept her family gathering even smaller unlike in Sri Lanka where the power and influence of the host is determined by the numbers around him or her.

In Norway, the regulations stipulated a maximum 10 guests. She had 13 guests which proved unlucky for her  I mean the figure 13, not the guests. Three more than the permitted number! Imagine what a heinous crime for the prime minister of the country to commit.

If she had gone through a few lessons of Sri Lankan applied mathematics  smoothly applied all over with palm oil  Prime Minister Solbergs guest list could have been easily cut down to size or doubled as we did with the Geneva vote.

Just the other day while looking for some coconut oil to fry an egg I was interrupted by something called breaking news  which was badly broken if you ask me, no not the news the English  saying the import of palm oil has been banned. Why, they did not say though unconfirmed sources had told the news channel that too many palms were calling for an oiling, what with the value of the rupee hurtling down the manhole to exit into the stratosphere.

What bothers me is what the Norwegian Police Commissioner Ole Saevcrud had said at a news conference after the police did the dirty on the prime minister. But from the standpoint of the good citizens of this Scandinavian land the police had done their duty  catching those who break the law particularly at a time when the world is combating a scourge that is still to be controlled.

What is worse is that these rules and regulations were put together by the government of which Erna Solberg is prime minister. The principle is clear enough. There is a law. If you break it and is found to have broken it, you must pay for it whether you are prince or pauper.

That is the law and it must be observed. And it must be applied equally if impartiality is to be observed and everybody treated alike if the law and its enforcers are to be respected. Whatever one might say of the United Kingdom, its history as a colonial power and the manner in which it treated its colonies and the colonial people, there are certain standards that have been established in the modernising process.

Yes, it might be said Sri Lanka by whatever name it was called in the ancient past and centuries later, enjoyed a glorious hydraulic civilisation. But why is it that we keep harping about the past and Sri Lankas advanced civilisation of the time, implying surely that we have little to offer todays generations or those to come if there is anything left to offer them.

Right now former British Prime Minister David Camerons conduct is to be scrutinised by an impartial official for lobbying current ministers on behalf of a finance company called Greensill which collapsed last month.

The former prime minister has been criticised for contacting ministers via text on behalf of the company. Downing Street has said the probe would be led by lawyer Nigel Boardman on behalf the Cabinet Office while the Labour opposition says the governments response is inadequate.

Mr Cameron has said he has not broken any codes of conduct or lobbying rules. But in a statement last Sunday weeks after reports of his lobbying emerged, the former Tory leader said that he should have contacted ministers through formal channels.

What is important is that there are strict rules of conduct that ministers, MPs and civil servants are expected to observe. There are independent committees or officials who are already in place or will be appointed to examine breaches of those codes or any suspected violations of codes of conduct and rules that have been established by parliament.

This is not to say that Sri Lanka lacks them. Sadly our civilised society and systems of governance seem to permit investigations against those on the other side of the barricades while here there is no such distinction.

Even if such codes and rules of behaviour exist they are observed more in the breach as though the elected and selected are above and beyond the law.

Lets be frank. Catch our police doing anything like fining our prime minister or even a tin pot politician from a pradeshiya sabha who decides to fell trees in a nearby forest or drain vital wetlands, is hardly likely to pay the price for his ecological sins.

Their acts would be dismissed as minor indiscretions and pardoned while a schoolchild picking a couple of fallen coconuts to cook the family meal would be hauled to the police station and possibly court for committing a major crime.

The other day somebody sent me a video clip of traffic policeman leaping into the air like a national long jumper with acrobatic skill to descend on a man lying on a macademised street covering his head to escape the boots of the uniformed flatfoot.

Then there were images of a wounded law student apparently assaulted in a police station. These are but a sampling of what could happen to a citizen who happens to run into a policeman at the wrong time in the wrong place.

When one juxtaposes these images with the deferential  actually servile  manner in which politicians, politicians lackeys and even business persons are greeted by the police and even public officials one begins to wonder whether the proud boast one law for all is in fact true or a cynical slogan that comes trippingly off the tongue and stops there.

At that news conference presumably in Oslo, referred to above, the Police Commissioner made a perceptive remark. Even if the law is equal for everyone not everyone is equal, he said. Those able to understand the significance of those words would discern the distinction the Police Chief is drawing. Some of our lawmakers might be too dumb to see any difference.

They are probably like those ragtag teams of racist sycophants who poured onto American streets in response to Donald Trumps clarion calls to white supremacists encouraged violence in US cities and towns.

Sri Lanka struggling to survive as a non-violent and peaceful Buddhist nation can do without the belligerence that is emerging from the dark side of the moon.

(Neville de Silva is a veteran Sri Lankan journalist who was Assistant Editor of the Hong Kong Standard and Gemini News Service in London. Later he was Deputy Chief-of-Mission in Bangkok and Deputy High Commissioner in London.)




Haiti - Insecurity : Employers' associations respond to the invitation of the new Prime Minister ai





48 hours after the note of April 14 from Associations & Chambers of Commerce which "[...] vehemently condemned the numerous assassinations, armed attacks and kidnappings of members of civil society [...]" in recent months, deploring that "[...] the authorities seem unable to ensure these fundamental rights which are security and life [...] alongside which no sustainable activity can coexist," Saturday, these private sector associations (*) CCIO, CCIH, AMCHAM , ADIH, CFHCI and ATH, responded to the invitation of Prime Minister ai Claude Joseph, for the presentation of the new measures adopted by the Government to curb insecurity and in particular the phenomenon of kidnapping.



During this meeting, Ministers Rockefeller Vincent (Justice and Public Security), Louis Conzague Edner Day (Acting Minister of the Interior) and Leon Charles Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH) presented the actions already taken and informed of future actions. The representatives of the Private Sector shared with the authorities represented their concerns and expressed their expectations in order to continue to contribute to the economic and social life of the country.



Following this meeting, it was agreed that the representatives of the private sector would work together with the police to strengthen their collaboration to guarantee the safety of the population, allow students to go to school by complete peace of mind and put the country back on the rails of investment and a healthy environment for economic development for a better collective being.



(*) CCIO: West Chamber of Commerce and Industry

CCIH: Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

AMCHAM: American Chamber of Commerce of Haiti

ADIH: Association of Industries of Haiti

CFHCI: Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

ATH: Tourist Association of Haiti



HL/ TB/ HaitiLibre


















Massachusetts public health officials announced 1,265 new COVID cases and seven new deaths on Sunday, which marked the sixth consecutive day of a drop in active cases across the state.

There are currently 34,553 active cases, down from Saturdays 34,682, according to the state Department of Public Health. On Friday, health officials reported 35,100 active cases of the virus.

Over the course of the pandemic, Massachusetts has seen 631,471 residents test positive for the coronavirus and 17,117 have died. Sundays new cases are based on 79,078 molecular tests, DPH said. Since last year, at least 20.4 million tests have been administered statewide.

As of Sunday, 2,037,794 residents are fully vaccinated in Massachusetts, according to DPHs daily vaccine report. At least 3,041,808 have received the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

The state on Saturday reached the milestone of more than 2 million residents now fully vaccinated just as the global death toll from the pandemic eclipsed 3 million people.

Nationally, the U.S. is now reporting about 70,000 new cases per day, with officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci concerned about increases in travel and loosening of COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines just as highly contagious variants become the dominant strain in multiple regions.

Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, predicted Sunday that the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine would be back in circulation, though perhaps with restrictions or warnings, after federal public health officials met Friday. The federal government paused distribution of the vaccine nationwide after reports of extremely rare blood clotting in six women.

As of Sunday, 701 people are hospitalized for the virus, up from 693 on Saturday. At least 162 are in intensive care and 103 who are intubated, according to DPH. The average age of hospitalized patients is currently 59.

The seven-day average rate of positive tests stands at 1.97%, down from Saturdays 2.15%.

This past week, 59 communities were designated high risk for COVID spread, down from 77 the week before.

Following returns to in-person learning, public schools this past week reported a record high of COVID cases, including 1,095 students and 184 staff members testing positive.

Here are the total COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 13,211

Berkshire County: 6,065

Bristol County: 63,209

Dukes County: 1,174

Essex County: 93,489

Franklin County: 2,379

Hampden County: 48,991

Hampshire County: 8,771

Middlesex County: 129,437

Nantucket County: 1,434

Norfolk County: 52,531

Plymouth County: 46,640

Suffolk County: 89,213

Worcester County: 73,744

Related Content:
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has embarked on a three-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the Foreign Ministryin Islamabad.

Qureshi will meet his counterpart of the Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan and other officials during the visit which started on Saturday, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

It added that he will also meet the Pakistani diaspora and interact with local and media.

Qureshi will hold consultations with the UAE's leadership on all areas of bilateral cooperation including collaboration in trade and investment, job opportunities for Pakistani workforce and the welfare of the Pakistani diaspora, according to the Ministry.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pastor Robby Gallaty said his church has baptized more than 1,000 people from 15 different states over the last four months after he went through a year of silence and solitude.

Gallaty, the senior pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, told Faithwire that his church has baptized 1,048 people since Dec. 20, after he spent time with the Lord for 10 months. The pastor started by sitting with the Lord for 20 minutes, then 40 minutes, until he worked up to spending an hour to two hours a night with the Lord.

The church also become a praying church by setting up a 24/7 prayer movement online.

Easter weekend they baptized 201 people.

Source:The Christian Post
The daughter of a Holocaust survivor saved from the Nazis by Prince Philip's mother Princess Alice has said the story of the 'courageous act' must keep being told to keep her memory alive.

During the Nazi occupation of Greece in 1943, the British princess - who was married to Prince Andrew of Greece - sheltered a Jewish family to avoid deportation to death camps.

Evy Cohen, 65, has revealed how her father Alfred Haimaki Cohen, head of a prominent family with ties to Greek royalty, sought out the royal as their only hope of refuge from the Nazis.

The royal gave shelter to widow Rachel Cohen and two of her children, Tilde and Michel, before Evy's father Alfred fled the country, knowing his family would be safe in the care of Alice.

Speaking to The Sun following the tragic death of Prince Philip last Friday, Evy insisted that her family 'would not exist without the courageous act of Princess Alice.'

The daughter of a holocaust survivor saved from Nazis by Prince Philip's mother Princess Alice has thanked the late royal for her bravery. Princess Alice is pictured in 1945

Pictured: Tilde Cohen and her mother Rachel with Evy's father Alfred and grandfather Haimaki

She added: 'Princess Alice's story of incredible courage must keep being told in her memory.'

Her father Alfred was a prominent member of the community of 8,000 Jewish people in Athens, who came across Alice's lady-in-waiting and sought help from Nazi persecution.

The royal quickly offered the family refuge on the top floor of her house, only yards from Gestapo headquarters.

Princess Alice, who was born in Windsor Castle lived in Athens during the Second World War. Her son Prince Philip moved to the UK as a boy and lived under the care of his uncle Lord Mountbatten.

Princess Alice has been formally recognised for the bravery and courage she demonstrated hiding members of the Cohen family during the Nazi persecution. She is pictured with her son, Prince Philip, at Windsor Castle

Many TV viewers were introduced to the remarkable story of the Duke of Edinburgh's mother in the third series of The Crown, where she was played by actress Jane Lapotaire.

It showed how Princess Alice moved to Buckingham Palace in 1967 and remained in the UK for the last two years of her life.

Princess Alice has been formally recognised for the bravery and courage she demonstrated hiding members of the Cohen family during the Nazi persecution.

Reading a letter written by her father in Channel 5 documentary Princess Alice: The Royals Greatest Secret, Evy revealed the extraordinary good fortune her father felt.

He wrote: 'For us it was an absolute miracle, in short that lady [in waiting] had gone to see the Princess and an hour later we were informed that the Princess Alice would be more than happy to take in my mother and sister.

Dr Anna Whitelock, royal historian and expert explained that when the German generals came around looking for Jewish people in hiding, Alice pretended couldn't understand them, because she was deaf, and they thought she was 'a silly old woman and left her in peace'.

Many TV viewers were introduced to Princess Alice in Netflix's The Crown, with actress Jane Lapotaire playing her in the third series of the hit royal drama

Alice of Battenburg is pictured with Prince Charles as young man. The royal died at Windsor Castle in 1969

'People were being executed for looking after Jewish families, but Alice had no fear,' said Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine.

The Cohen family was never discovered, and Alice kept her bravery a secret throughout her life.

Alice was born deaf and later diagnosed with schizophrenia, yet she would learn to read lips in German, English, Greek, and dedicate her life to helping others.

Sent to a mental asylum, given controversial electroshock treatment by Sigmund Freud, she would overcome the most extraordinary personal challenges to help those she saw as more in need than herself.

During the war, and separated from her children, she served as a military nurse on the frontline and founded an order of nursing nuns in Greece, before finally coming to live at Buckingham Palace, with the Queen.
Governor Atiku Bagudu says his administration has secured a $70 million World Bank Grant to strengthen Adolescent Girl-Child Education.

Mr Bagudu disclosed this at the 5th Kebbi State Women Ramadan Lecture Series held in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Theme of the lecture is: The Fundamental Role of Women in Islam.

Bagudu said with the grant, women in the state, especially adolescent girls, would be taught more skills, coupled with both formal and non-formal education.

The governor also stated that such skills would enable the girls to be more productive and self-reliant, even in their matrimonial homes.

Mr Bagudu said: The good news is that, the more we invest in women, the more prosperous our society will be.

The grant will complement the various programmes and policies aimed at making life better for the girl-child, women and other vulnerable groups in the state.

Mr Bagudu stressed the need to legislate and appropriate more money for Girl-Child Education and other related welfare schemes .

The governor noted that women must be supported to play their societal roles, just as it has been ordained by the Almighty Allah.

He observed that women play key roles in the routine running of the society, apart from their respective family responsibilities.

If we religiously heed to the various Islamic injunctions as regards our entire lives and family bonds, we will live in a more healthier, safe and peaceful society

Our various families, diligently anchored by our wives, mothers and daughters will be able to surmount all the formidable challenges and survive any economic turbulence, he added.

Mr Bagudu commended the convener of the lectures and First Lady, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, and the other active collaborators for making the event a huge success.

On her part, Ms Shinkafi-Bagudu said the successes of Ramadan period depends on women contribution not just to their homes but to the society at large.

The governors wife extolled the efforts of husbands, fathers, sons and brothers for supporting the family.

We must also appreciate the tireless efforts of our husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, especially during this month where we seek Allahs blessings and reward.

As Muslim women, we contribute a lot to not just our homes but to the society at large and a huge part of the successes of Ramadan period depends on us.

That means, we can do more to ease the month for many who may not be as blessed as some, she said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs and Social Development, Zarau Wali, commended the governors wife for organising the lecture.

She also commended Mr Bagudu for providing a favourable and enabling environment for women in Kebbi State to achieve their potentialities.

Speakers who spoke at the event included; Abubakar Giro, represented by Attahiru Ahmad-Sifawa, Ismail Mufti-Menk who joined virtually with Naima Robert and Jabir Maihula.

The topics discussed include Innovative Islamic Ways of Management in COVID-19 Era, Family Obligation of Wives in Times of Economic Hardship and Curbing Gender-Based Violence.

The lecture was attended by former Speaker House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Samaila AbdulMuminu-Kamba and other top government officials.

(NAN)
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may resume administration later this week after a brief pause, the governments top infectious diseases expert said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a series of news show interviews, said he expects a decision when advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meet Friday to discuss the pause in J&Js single-dose vaccine.

I would be very surprised if we dont have a resumption in some form by Friday, he said. "I dont really anticipate that theyre going to want it stretch it out a bit longer.

Fauci said he believed that federal regulators could bring the shots back with restrictions based on age or gender or with a blanket warning so that it is administered in a way a little bit different than we were before the pause.

The J&J vaccine has been in limbo after the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration said last week they needed more evidence to decide if a handful of unusual blood clots were linked to the shot  and, if so, how big the risk is.

The reports are rare  six cases out of more than 7 million U.S. inoculations with J&J vaccine. The clots were found in six women between the ages of 18 and 48. One person died.

Authorities stressed they have found no sign of clot problems with the most widely used COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S.  from Moderna and Pfizer.

As of April 18, South Carolina has received 3,775,870 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and has administered 2,721,712.

A total of 46,896 Aiken County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. About 26% of South Carolinians are fully vaccinated.

Aiken Regional Medical Centers will be holding two upcoming Moderna vaccine clinics at USC Aiken. The clinics will be held between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 21 and 28 at the university's Student Activities Center, 471 University Parkway. There will be 900 first-dose vaccines available to walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. There are also 1,740 second-doses scheduled between the two clinics, requiring an appointment.

The Moderna vaccine is available to anyone over the age of 18. Attendees must bring a valid photo ID and wear a mask.

To find a COVID-19 vaccine provider, visit scdhec.gov/vaxlocator or call DHEC's COVID-19 Vaccine Information Line at 866-365-8110.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed nine COVID-19 cases in Aiken County on Sunday, along with 577 cases and 14 deaths across the state. None of the deaths were in Aiken County.

The data reported Sunday is for the date of April 16.

Sunday's report brings the total confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Aiken County to 12,679, with 176 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths.

Aiken County also has reported a total of 4,201 probable COVID-19 cases and 42 probable coronavirus-related deaths.

Neighboring Barnwell County confirmed two virus cases Sunday, and Edgefield County confirmed one case.

Across the entire state, there are 508 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. There are currently seven COVID-19 beds occupied in Aiken County.

The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC statewide Sunday was 17,000, and the percent positive was 4.5%.

The total number of cases statewide is now 475,601, with 93,678 probable cases, 8,222 confirmed deaths and 1,114 probable deaths.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Irish dairy production is the most efficient in the EU  with low levels of carbon emissions thanks to our temperate climate and grass-based, family-farming system  but is still a significant contributor to agricultural emissions.



Part of the mission of new Irish software start-up company OptaHaul will be to achieve major efficiencies for the Irish dairy industry and their hauliers by addressing a significant portion of their carbon emissions  the transport of milk from farm to plant.



The planning and management of raw milk collection from farms is a critical and costly procedure, representing over 30% of the total processing costs within the dairy industry.



Farmers, hauliers and factory personnel all play a role in these complex operations, which are dependent on a wide range of constantly changing parameters  including factory capacities, weather conditions, load limitations, bulk storage capacity and variations in milk supply.

OptaHaul uses advanced mathematical algorithms that automatically calculate optimal route plans, while at the same time controlling transport costs, maximising tanker utilisation and reducing carbon emissions.



Gary Gallagher, OptaHaul

The flexible system records and tracks all relevant information about milk suppliers, lorries, tankers and processing factories in a simple interface.

Using OptaHaul technology what-if scenarios allow users to model changes to plans resulting from machine downtime, supplier issues, variations in milk supply and changes to factory requirements, said Gary Gallagher, who heads up the Mullingar-based company. The system uses embedded interactive mapping technology to provide a visual representation of both optimised and actual routes so that dairy processors can easily identify cost saving opportunities or underperforming routes.

Users can even manually add unsuitable roads based on local knowledge and include farm access restrictions in plans to deliver the best route optimisation results  a feature hotly requested by Irish dairy processors due to the access challenges some rural farms can pose for large milk lorries.

See www.optahaul.com
There are many aspects to a successful energy revolution that moves human society off of fossil fuels and onto a genuinely clean, just, and jobs-creating renewable energy path.



But theres at least one indispensable aspect: the electrification of our energy system.

We cant keep burning polluting coal, oil and/or gas to access the power which fuels our transportation vehicles, provides for heat in the winter and cooler air in the summer, and allows us to use electricity for all of our many devices, appliances and other power-using inventions. We must make a shift to getting all, or almost all, of that power from electricity generated by non-polluting energy sources like wind and solar.

Fortunately, the world is clearly on this path, if still with a ways to go on the journey. Unfortunately, as we have seen over the past four years in the USA, if people like Trump are in charge, this transition can be slowed down and gummed up.

It cant be stopped; theres too much momentum, and for not just environmental but for economic reasons. Wind and solar and possibly other clean technologies are a better deal economically than fossil fuels. But the transition can be slowed down, and that is a huge problem since were already so far behind where we need to be because of the fossil fuel industrys continuing, if decreasing, political power.

That is why the campaign to transform FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, into FREC, our Federal Renewable Energy Commission, is so timely and strategic.

This campaign was initiated last year by Beyond Extreme Energy and has been signed onto so far by 236 organizations, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and others. A 13 minute, well-received video, FERC Into FREC, was produced and released earlier this year, and this fall BXE began to circulate a nine-page Legislative Proposal to House and Senate offices with specific ideas on what a new FREC would look like and how it would function. Weve been pleased by the response were getting.

There is historic precedent for Congress taking this step. In 1935 Congress transformed the Federal Power Commission, created in the 1920s, into an independent regulatory agency. It was authorized to regulate both hydropower and interstate electricity.

In 1977 the FPC was renamed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an independent agency within the newly-created Department of Energy. Its primary mandate was to regulate the electricity grid. Since then its responsibilities have expanded, including that of making decisions about the expansion of the natural gas industry, today a primarily fracked gas industry.

Today, in 2020, its time for the former FPC, now FERC, to be transformed into the 21st century, renewables first, transparent and community-involving electricity regulatory agency we need. As part of the Green New Deal, we need a new FREC.

BXE has identified five central points that we see as essential for a new FREC to be what the times call for:

-Commissioners of FREC must be champions of renewable energy and free of conflicts of interest.

-FREC would be funded through appropriations, not industry fees which encourage corruption.

-FREC would actively seek input and involvement from environmental justice communities, Indigenous, people of color and low-income, which have historically and disproportionately suffered most from fossil fuel operations

-FREC would actively promote community involvement in decision-making as a new electrical grid is built based on renewables with storage

-There would no longer be any eminent domain for private gain, no tolling, no forcing landowners into court as standard operating policy.

There is little doubt that changes are coming for FERC. It is no longer an out-of-the-public-eye, industry-controlled agency rubber-stamping virtually every single gas industry permit for expansion the industry applies for.

Earlier this year the House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a report revealing that over the last 20 years, FERC has approved 1,021 gas industry permit applications and rejected no more than six. And the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, set up by Nancy Pelosi last year, put forward 40 pages of proposals for FERC reform in its 547 page document released this summer.

BXE believes that many of these reforms would be an improvement, but the fact is that FERCs historic connections to the fossil fuel industry are wide and deep. News stories have reported on the revolving door for FERC staff and leadership with industry. We just cannot trust it.

This is true even if, under Joe Bidens Presidency, he appoints, as is likely, the sole, current Democratic commissioner, Richard Glick, as a new Chairperson. It will be true even if, come next summer, it will be possible for there to be three Democratic and two Republican commissioners, as distinct from the Republican numerical dominance that has been the case under Trump. Over those 20 years of gas industry permit rubber stamping by FERC, there were many years when Democratic commissioners were in the majority.

But what if a Richard Glick-led Democratic majority takes a different course, makes a genuine effort to change FERC from the inside? That would be an improvement, but as long as FERCs mission in relation to renewable energy is ambiguous, as is true right now; as long as FERC leadership can be deeply immersed in fossil fuel industry connections; and as long as, come 2024, a new Republican President could be elected who can jam things up the way that Trump did, we cannot expect FERC to be what is needed.

We need a new FREC with a clear, Congressionally mandated mission to give leadership in the urgent, fossil-fuels-to-renewables transition and a FREC leadership that is actually committed to doing that. We need to dismantle FERC and replace it with a Federal Renewable Energy Commission.

Ted Glick is a volunteer organizer with Beyond Extreme Energy, He is the author of the recently-published Burglar for Peace: Lessons Learned in the Catholic Lefts Resistance to the Vietnam War.



More information can be found at https://tedglick.com, and he can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jtglick
About 70 demonstrators assembled outside Portland Police Bureaus East Precinct Saturday night.

When the group pushed two dumpsters into the street at around 10:30 p.m., police declared an unlawful assembly and officers moved in. There were no arrests and no reported injuries.

The police called the demonstrators a hostile crowd and said officers acted because they were concerned the marchers would block the precincts doors with the dumpsters and set fires in them.

Many in the group wore helmets, body armor and had heavy backpacks, which was consistent with the characteristics of those intent on criminal behavior, police said in a statement.

The confrontation outside the East Precinct, on Southeast 106th Avenue, came a day after police declared a riot on a night that saw downtown Portland hit with destructive fires, smashed windows and spray-painted storefronts following Fridays fatal police shooting of a man at Lents Park in Southeast Portland.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
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.
They've both been based in Byron Bay while they shoot Thor: Love and Thunder.

But Chris Hemsworth and pal Matt Damon enjoyed some down time on Sunday, watching a UFC bout in Chris' palatial mansion.

The Hollywood A-listers celebrated a win by Australian-New Zealand mixed martial artist Robert Whittaker.

Taking a break: Chris Hemsworth [R] and pal Matt Damon enjoyed some down time on Sunday, watching a UFC bout in Chris' palatial mansion

In a photo posted to Hemsworth's Instagram account, the jubilant actors rejoiced following Whittaker's win.

The Home and Away alum captioned the post, 'Amazing fight @robertwhittakermma the most humble, likeable dangerous man in the biz'.

Another photo showed the duo with their Thor director, Taika Waititi.

Hometown hero: In a photo posted to Hemsworth's Instagram account, the jubilant actors rejoiced following Whittaker's win

Ringmaster: Another photo showed the duo with their Thor director, Taika Waititi [R]

The trio posed with serious expressions, with Chris captioning the post, 'Album drops next week #getreadyworld'.

Yet another Instagram Story showed Chris marveling at a 'double rainbow' arcing above the star's luxurious infinity pool, which was installed at an estimated cost of $400,000.

Hemsworth's Byron Bay mega mansion - which he shares with wife Elsa Pataky and their family - is estimated to be worth a whopping $30 million in total.

Earlier this month the Blackhat actor gave fans a sneak peek at some of the home's luxury facilities - including a two-lane bowling alley.

The couple have installed $110,000 ten-pin lanes next to the enormous mural by Indigenous artist Otis Carey, who spent 140 HOURS completing the masterpiece in 2019.

Pretty: Yet another Instagram Story showed Chris marveling at a 'double rainbow' arcing above the star's luxurious infinity pool, which was installed at an estimated cost of $400,000

Chris and wife Elsa's LA-style compound in Broken Head is about 12 kilometres out of Byron Bay, and overlooks Seven Mile Beach.

They had originally purchased the property for $7million in 2014 and began the extensive renovations at the end of 2016.

The couple have been flying in and out of Sydney via private jets since January for separate film commitments.

Chris and Elsa married in 2010, and share three children: daughter India Rose, eight, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, seven.
The deadly factory fire accident in the Northern Province of Bac Ninh killed three workers, said police investigators on April 17.

Dreamtech Vietnam Company at the VSIP Industrial Park

The furious blaze broke out and spread over the second floor of the factory of Dreamtech Vietnam Company at the VSIP Industrial Park in Tien Du District at around 11:00 pm on April 16.

After receiving the report of the fire, firefighters immediately arrived at the site finding that the fire was spreading quickly due to the large amount of flammable materials such as pallet plastic and paper. These materials released toxic fumes causing difficulties for firefighters who were trying to seek three workers.

After 30 minutes, the blaze was put under control. Moreover, the three workers were found unconscious in the fire. They were rushed to the local hospital but they were pronounced dead later.

Three workers include 28-year-old woman in Bac Ninh Province, 32-year-old man from Tuyen Quang Province and 31-year-old one from Thai Binh Province.

Police forces are furthering investigation of the fire cause and calculating damage.

sggpnews
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 15:38:48|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A local Islamic State (IS) leader was killed by Afghan Special Forces in the country's eastern Nangarhar province Saturday night, National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's national intelligence agency, confirmed on Sunday.

"Acting on a confirmed tip-off, the NDS Special Operations Forces conducted an operation in Kuz Kunar district, Nangarhar province, to arrest Kamin, known as Hakimullah, one of the IS newly designated local leaders," the agency said on Twitter.

"A gunfight took place while the targeted man was planning to flee the area. As a result, Kamin, who served as IS military chief for Pachir Wa Agam and Haska Mina districts of Nangarhar was killed," the statement read.

In an unrelated development, Afghan army personnel discovered and destroyed an attack tunnel of Taliban insurgents and arrested four militants in Sharsharak village of northern Balkh province on Friday night, the army's 209 Shaheen Corps confirmed Sunday.

The arrested militants tried to assault an army operating base in the area by digging the tunnel, according to the source.

The Afghan security forces continued in mopping-up operations as spring and summer known as fighting season is drawing near in the Asian country. Enditem
She recently revealed she is expecting a baby boy with her fiance Ross Worswick.

And Danielle Fogarty covered up her baby bump in an oversized shirt dress and blazer on a date night with her fiance in Manchester on Saturday.

The fashion entrepreneur, 29, looked gorgeous as she wore the large white shirt dress under a black suit jacket and paired it with knee-high black boots.

Gorgeous: Danielle Fogarty covered up her baby bump in an oversized shirt dress and blazer on a date night with her fiance in Manchester on Saturday

Danielle showed off her petite frame and svelte pins in the mini dress as she stepped out for the evening.

The mother-to-be kept was all glammed up for the night out and added layered gold necklaces to the ensemble.



She looked radiant with her blonde locks styled in loose waves over her shoulders and she highlighted her natural beauty with a dewy make-up look and a glossy lip.

Stepping out: The fashion entrepreneur, 29, looked gorgeous as she wore the large white shirt dress under a black suit jacket and paired it with knee-high black boots

Glam: She looked radiant with her blonde locks styled in loose waves over her shoulders and she highlighted her natural beauty with a dewy make-up look and a glossy lip

She carried her essentials in a gold clutch and accessorised with a pair of black sunglasses attached to her dress.

Danielle held hands with her partner, 31, as she flashed a beaming smile to onlookers.

They couple left The Ivy restaurant in Manchester after celebrating an early birthday drinks for Ross, whose birthday is on Tuesday.

Date night: Danielle held hands with her fiance Ross Worswick, 31, as she flashed a beaming smile to onlookers

While her bump was covered up on Saturday night, earlier in she took to Instagram as she displayed her growing baby bump while posing in beige loungewear.

Danielle looked stunning as she donned an all-in-one knitted jumpsuit which she paited with a long cream cardigan for the post.

The social media star, who is in her third trimester, captioned the post: 'Comfort over anything these days'.

Mother-to-be: Danielle looked stunning as she displayed her growing baby bump while posing in loungewear on Saturday

It comes after Danielle confirmed she is having a baby boy in a sweet Valentine's Day gender reveal in February.

Ross also got the blue-theme memo as he rocked a double denim ensemble and white t-shirt while cradling his fiancee's blossoming bump.

Accompanying her post, excited star Danielle penned: 'Happy Valentines to the TWO men in my life. ITS A BOY!'

It's a BOY! Danielle looked sensational in a blue wrap dress as she announced she's having a son in a sweet gender reveal on Valentine's Day

Danielle - whose father is motorbike star Carl Fogarty - announced she was pregnant on Christmas Eve, two months after Ross proposed during a romantic trip to Dubai.

In October, Danielle revealed she was engaged to her boyfriend, Ex On The Beach star Ross, after two years of dating.

Danielle and Ross became an item back in August 2018 but have known each other for several years.

The expecting mother was previously engaged to Jake Quickenden, but their three-year relationship ended in April 2018. Jake's girlfriend Sophie Church also announced her pregnancy in December.
Litro Gas Lanka revolutionises LPG market with the new Premium Hybrid 18 Litre Cylinder View(s):

Litro Gas Lanka is introducing a unique LPG solution to meet an increasing consumer demand.

The new Premium Hybrid 18 Litre Cylinder is expected to revolutionise the LPG industry in Sri Lanka by offering an outstanding economic benefit in a size that meets global specifications. Priced at only Rs 1,395, the new Litro Premium Hybrid 18 Litre Cylinder will be sufficient for a family of four, meeting their LPG needs for a month, said Anil Koswatte Chairman and CEO of Litro Gas Lanka in a media release.

We have consistently been able to pass on a great economic benefit to our consumers by maintaining our LPG prices for over a year. We believe that our new product will add tremendous value to that promise, he said.

The new Litro Premium Hybrid 18 Litre Cylinder will now bring global standards to Sri Lanka with a unique size that allows more energy at a competitive price.

Commenting on the safety aspect of the new cylinder, Jayantha Basnayake, Director  Health, Safety and Environment at Litro Gas Lanka says that the new cylinder comes with an enhanced LPG Vapour Ullage which reduces transportation issues in changing environmental conditions, noting that the Ullage space is doubled with the new packaging.

Kamal Wickramasinghe, Director Operations at Litro Gas Lanka says that the new Premium Hybrid 18 Litre Cylinder has a greater filling efficiency capability. It has an optimized propane component in the propane butane LPG mixture, ensuring more vapour space and hence, a more efficient filling which results in a faster supply process and a consistent turn around cycle.

Litro Gas Lanka maintains a strong market presence with a network of 42 distributors, over 14,000 points-of-sale, 1,500 home delivery hubs and a seamless supply of LPG throughout

Sri Lanka.
Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's nephew Caleb has been arrested on a DUI charge over a month after his terrifying car crash also involving her husband Ladd.

Ladd, 51, and Caleb, 21, were each driving a Himmat Fire Truck on March 10 when they collided head-on after winds caused visibility to decrease, with Caleb reportedly ejected 70 feet from the truck, since neither man was wearing a seat belt.

In addition to the DUI he was charged Saturday with carrying firearms under the influence and transporting an open container of beer, TMZ reported.

Mugshot: Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's nephew Caleb (pictured) has been arrested on a DUI charge over a month after his terrifying car crash also involving her husband Ladd

The Osage County Sheriff's office have not disclosed detailed information about the arrest and it is unknown whether he remains in custody.

The Instagram page for Ree's The Pioneer Woman Magazine, featuring Ladd's kids Alex and Todd, offered an update on the accident earlier this month, with their prognosis looking good.

'Ladd and Caleb are healing up after their accident on the ranch,' the statement read, adding, 'And the Drummond family is so grateful for all of your kind words!'

They also directed fans to The Pioneer Woman website, where they featured a video segment called Ask Alex, where Ladd's daughter Alex, 23, and son Todd, 17, offered a new update on their father.

'A lot of people are asking how our dad is. He's doing a lot better. He's recovering and he's even starting to get back into ranch work,' Alex said.

Details: Ladd (pictured), 51, and Caleb, 21, were each driving a Himmat Fire Truck on March 10 when they collided head-on after winds caused visibility to decrease

Frightening: Caleb (pictured) was reportedly ejected 70 feet from the truck, since neither man was wearing a seat belt

Update: They also directed fans to The Pioneer Woman website, where they featured a video segment called Ask Alex, where Ladd's daughter Alex, 23, and son Todd, 17, offered a new update on their father

She added that his mobility is, 'a little limited' at the moment, but Ladd is, 'still able to hang.'

Todd also said that, 'Caleb is doing good. He's pretty much all healed up and back to his normal life.'

Alex said that Ladd, 'had some broken neck issues' and he just had to have surgery, 'so he's healing up from that.'

Limited: She added that his mobility is, 'a little limited' at the moment, but Ladd is, 'still able to hang'

Healed: Todd also said that, 'Caleb is doing good. He's pretty much all healed up and back to his normal life'

Issues: Alex said that Ladd, 'had some broken neck issues' and he just had to have surgery, 'so he's healing up from that'

After the accident, which took place on March 10 near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, both men were taken to the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Caleb was admitted in critical condition with head, arm, leg and internal injuries, according to the report by Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Ree revealed in a March 15 blog post that both Ladd and Caleb were responding to a fire on the ranch when the accident happened.

Ree and Ladd: Ree revealed in a March 15 blog post that both Ladd and Caleb were responding to a fire on the ranch when the accident happened

While Ladd initially refused help, he was taken to the hospital after learning his neck was broken in two different places, which was nearly catastrophic.

'Rather than wish the accident didn't happen, I'm gonna live in a state of gratitudenot just for the guys being okay, but also for the love, kindness, and prayers of so many of you,' Ree wrote on her blog.

'Thank you all so very much for reaching out to our family and for keeping us in your hearts through the past several days. I can't tell you how much it means to all of us, and I'll never, ever forget it!' she added.
The Dacia 21 Livex exercises involving approximately 15,000 Romanian, allied and partner troops and integrating joint training sequences will take place in Romania over May - June, the Ministry of National Defense said in a release.

The first troops - specifically 120 British soldiers and 55 vehicles arrived in Romania this week. The military columns accompanied by military police were slated to deploy to the 1st Mechanized Brigade in Bucharest on Saturday.

On April 20 the troops will head for the "Getica" National Joint Training Center in Cincu, where they will begin training in cooperation with structures of the Romanian Land Force.

The Dacia 21 Livex exercises are preceded by the force gathering and relocation to the training sites, due in April and May, followed by the departure phase in June.

Dacia 21 Livex confirms the capacity of the Romanian Army to engage its capabilities in defensive operations, as well as the permanent availability of allied and partner structures to quickly deploy reliable troops to Romania for defense against any potential security threat.

Dacia 21 Livex also tests the Romanian support for the military forces and equipment that transit the national territory, the Ministry of National Defense also said.
A passenger train derailed Sunday north of Cairo, killing at least 11 people and injuring scores more, the Egyptian authorities said. It was the latest of several deadly rail accidents to hit the country in recent years.

At least 60 ambulances rushed to find survivors and help those who were hurt when four train cars ran off the rails just outside Cairo, the railway authority said. At least 98 people were injured, mostly with broken bones, cuts and bruises, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Videos on social media showed train cars overturned at the city of Banha in Qalyubia Province and passengers escaping along the tracks. The train was bound for the Nile Delta city of Mansura from Cairo, the capital, the rail authority said in a statement.

Salvage teams could be seen searching for survivors and removing the derailed train cars. It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment, and prosecutors said they were investigating.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The centuries-old medium of oil paint can be incredibly expressive in the right hands. A powerful case in point is the museum-quality solo exhibition on the work of Chicago-based Mexican-American painter Herman Aguirre at Abattoir gallery in Cleveland.

Entitled Ocultos,' Spanish for hidden,' the show focuses on 14 paintings depicting impromptu memorials, mass graves, or sites of protest related to gang violence in Chicago or drug cartel killings in Mexico.

Its grim material, to be sure. But Aguirres imagery is paradoxically lush, colorful, and highly emotive in ways that engage a viewers sympathy and attention. You cant turn away.

Aguirres artistic signature is his fluent use of impasto  the technical term for thick, heavily textured applications of paint  to communicate strong feelings.

By chance, the Aguirre exhibition coincides with a reinstallation of the Cleveland Museum of Arts contemporary galleries opening Tuesday that includes artists with a similar interest in criminal violence and governmental failure.

Among the works in the museums installation is El manto negro / The black shroud, 2020, by Mexican Teresa Margolles. Its a vast wall piece that represents drug war victims in a massive grid of black clay tiles.

Aguirres work reaches an emotional register similar to the restrained outrage expressed in the Margolles piece, but in a very different manner.

In his magnificent 2017 painting, Vivos los queremos!' We want them all alive!,' Aguirre depicts a tattered banner bearing likenesses of 43 trainee teachers who disappeared in the southwestern Mexico state of Guerrero in 2014 and were likely killed by drug gangs according to news reports.

The banner hangs from a pair of gates fronted by massive heaps of rose-colored petals represented by ostentatiously thick dabs of paint. The heaviness of the paint communicates an almost unbearable intensity of feeling, a flood of emotion.

Amazingly, Aguirre, who completed bachelors and masters degrees at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2014 and 2017, sustains this high register through the crispness of his application of paint which never turns muddy. His emotional pitch, communicated by the robust tactility of his paint, is like the extended climax of an operatic aria.

Aguirre brings the same spirit to Vamos a darnos una Vuelta al cielo, Lets give heaven a visit,' 2019, which depicts heaps of childrens clothing discovered at a mass burial site in Veracruz in 2018, an atrocity apparently related to the drug cartel practice of detaining and killing busloads of innocent victims.

In addition to heavy impasto, Aguirre further thickened the surface of the painting by applying scrapings of paint from his palette that curl like flower petals or snippets of ribbons.

Speaking about the subjects of his works in a written statement made available by Abattoir, Aguirre says: Whether personal or public, these events continue to insert themselves in our conversations, plague our neighborhoods, and leave an irreversible effect on our people.

As a result, the remnants and memories are present throughout our surroundings, constantly reminding us of the lives taken and the families destroyed.

Aguirres work embodies a fresh take on history painting, interpreted by artists such as Francisco Goya and Edouard Manet from the 19th century forward as the portrayal of current events. Today, wed call it news.

In etchings and paintings, Goya documented the horrors of the early 19th century Peninsular War, in which Spain, Portugal and England fought the occupation of the Iberian Peninsula by Napoleonic France. Decades later in 1867, Manet documented the grisly execution of Maximilian I, the French-backed Austrian puppet emperor of Mexico.

Theres a resonance of Goya and Manet in Aguirres work, plus an obvious nod to the expressionistic and heavily impastoed paintings of the contemporary German-British painter Frank Auerbach.

Aguirres stark palette in Vivos los queremos!' recalls the inky, expressive blacks used by Manet and Goya. His decorative portrayal of a southwest Chicago sidewalk memorial of Mylar balloons and ribbons also brings to mind the lighter touch of Goyas early tapestry designs for elite Spanish patrons before the Napoleonic war.

Perhaps the toughest part of Aguirres show is a cluster of thickly painted portraits intended to evoke the mutilation of victims by criminals in Mexico.

The eloquence of Aguirres handling of thick mounds and scrapings of paint elevates the works above horror and disgust. But is it too much? Thats a question to which the art world and cancel culture have offered no clear answers.

Dana Schutz, the celebrated 2000 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, was excoriated over displaying her painting of the corpse of Emmett Till in his coffin in 2017 at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Till was the Black 14-year-old murdered and mutilated by white men in Mississippi in 1955 after having been falsely accused of flirting with a white woman who later recanted.

Last June, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland apologized publicly over its cancellation of an exhibit of drawings by Shaun Leonardo depicting police killings of unarmed Black men and boys, including Clevelands Tamir Rice. The museum said it wanted to avoid re-traumatizing victims families, but Leonardo said he was being censored.

Aguirre and Abattoir arent addressing such controversies directly. But Aguirres paintings and the title of his show, Ocultos, express a desire to be seen and remembered, and to bear witness. Thats an important job for art, and its one to which Aguirre brings courage, focus and a clarity of purpose that makes his masterful technique a justifiable means to an impressive artistic end.

REVIEW

Whats up: Ocultos,' paintings by Herman Aguirre

Venue: Abattoir gallery

Where: 3619 Walton Avenue, Cleveland

When: Through Sunday, May 2

Admission: Free. Visits by appointment only. Call 216-820-1260 or 646-229-0998 or go to abattoirgallery.com
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If there were an overall theme for New Mexicos current political situation it would be the ongoing attempts by Democrats to placate their environmentalist base which opposes traditional energy sources while at the same time keeping energy dollars flowing into the states coffers.

The Biden administrations moratorium on oil and gas permitting is the most notable example of this conflict. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has publicly spoken out about it, but Attorney General Hector Balderas has refused to join a lawsuit challenging the policy that was recently filed by a dozen states. None of those states have as much to lose as does New Mexico, but our elected leaders are unlikely to challenge a president of their own party.

The internal conflict was on full display in the recently-completed legislative session as well. Thankfully, the most radical bill on energy which would have banned fracking,  an oil and gas drilling process without which New Mexicos oil and gas industry would be immediately decimated  failed without gaining traction.

Making it much further in the process only to fail unexpectedly was Sen. Mimi Stewarts clean fuel standard SB 11. In 2019 Gov. Lujan Grisham made national headlines stating that New Mexico was going to increase vehicle mileage in New Mexico to 52 MPG by model year 2022.

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SB 11 would have instead forced motorists to use alternative fuels with the goal of reducing carbon emissions while passing off the hard work of actually developing the technology onto the private sector. Presumably blame for higher fuel costs would have been shifted as well. The bill faltered after passing the Senate.

Anti-energy bills that did make their way into law included SB 8 which allows local governments to enact more restrictive air quality regulations than are imposed by the federal government. It is unlikely that conservative counties where much of the industry is located  and people are far more supportive of the industry than liberal Albuquerque or Santa Fe  will enact such regulations, but this is about politics, not policy.

Speaking of politics, SB 112 which also made its way into law creates a sustainable economy task force. The task forces stated goal is diversifying New Mexicos economy while reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. Of course, New Mexico Democrats have controlled the Legislature for decades and with total Democrat control under Lujan Grisham, they have had ample time to enact the public policies necessary to diversify New Mexicos economy.

Unfortunately, Santa Fe has repeatedly failed to reform the gross receipts tax, eliminate Social Security taxes, reduce onerous regulations and expand educational choice  to improve workforce preparedness. In recent legislative sessions weve instead seen tax hikes passed at times of big budget surpluses. During both the 2019 (HB 6) and 2021 (SB 317) sessions tax hikes were adopted. Such cash grabs do nothing to diversify New Mexicos economy. At best they diversify government revenues. In addition to tax hikes, policies like minimum wage hikes, paid sick leave mandates and ongoing COVID restrictions imposed by the executive only hinder economic growth and diversification.

Finally, this session, while the Legislature continued its piecemeal attacks on energy, after a decade of attempts they passed an amendment to increase distributions from the Land Grand Permanent Fund  the fund is generated by oil and gas. HJR 1 not only increased distributions by 1% but added an additional .25% to that amount for a total increase of 1.25%.

Continued existence of the fund happens only if the oil and gas industry thrives, so Democrats plan to take more money out while less money is put in seems problematic at best.

Rather than killing off energy first, New Mexicos elected leaders should focus on diversifying the economy. When we are no longer among the very poorest states in the nation the Legislature can address ways to make New Mexico less dependent on oil and gas.

The Rio Grande Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/04/17

The controversy against against Seo Ye-ji continues unabated. What started out as a simple confirmation of a secret relationship with her "Stay With Me" co-star Kim Jung-hyun has morphed into an elaborate menagerie of accusations, from school age bullying, to gaslighting of former personal staff, to dishonesty regarding overseas studies in Spain. As commenters pore through old footage of Seo Ye-ji on variety programs to confirm incidental details of these events, advertisers have removed Seo Ye-ji from their copy.

To date Seo Ye-ji's contracts have not been suspended. The relevant companies are simply electing not use her likeness to advertise their product at this time. But this damage alone to Seo Ye-ji's image is significant. Relevant lawyers have commented that the rumors are doing tangible famage to Seo Ye-ji's image to the point that she could sue the relevant rumormongers for damages.

Despite this, Seo Ye-ji's agency has been reluctant to make such threats. Part of this is due to the possibility that at least some of the charges against Seo Ye-ji are true. She has already admitted to having a secret relationship with Kim Jung-hyun, and that she did not attend school in Spain. But while more intangible accusations of gaslighting can't be easily proven, Seo Ye-ji could prove she was at least accepted to the Spanish university in question by uploading her matriculation letter.

It is unknown to what extent the negativity toward Seo Ye-ji may persist. Her next project, "Recalled" is being released in South Korean theaters next week and already being heavily downvoted on user-driven movie sites. The production behind "Island - Drama" has also hinted that Seo Ye-ji's status as leading lady in the upcoming drama may not be as secure as had been implied in previous reporting.

Written by William Schwartz
Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has backed the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor to curb illegal mining (galamsey) that has become the bane of the economy.



The Minister, during a two-day National Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining, cautioned against illegal mining stressing sanctions and penalties imposed by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995) should be applied to all those who infringed the law, irrespective of political colour, socio-economic status or class.



In a communique, Hon. Abu Jinapor charged all political parties, stakeholder groups and individuals to join the development and execution of this national, not parochial, agenda to rid ourselves of the long-standing issue of illegal small-scale mining and the need to implement measures to eradicate it from our society.



Addressing the illegal mining during a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Mr. Pratt admired the bravery of the Minister to clamp down on illegal miners.



He urged Hon. Abu Jinapor not to give up the fight.



''He is a brave man...As I know Abu, if he doesn't succeed, it will disturb me a lot. If he doesn't succeed, who else will?'', 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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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 16:06:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China has expressed "grave concern" over Japan's decision to dump nuclear wastewater into the sea and urges the Japanese government to take a responsible attitude toward its own people and the international community, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said.

Despite opposition from its own people and doubts from the international community, the Japanese government unilaterally made the decision without fully consulting neighboring countries and the international community and without exhausting the means of safe disposal, the ministry told Xinhua.

"As a close neighbor of Japan and a stakeholder, we are seriously concerned about this decision," said a spokesperson with the ministry.

It is hoped that the Japanese government will conduct further in-depth study and deliberation of various means of safe disposal and discharge paths, release information in a comprehensive and timely manner, and make prudent decisions after full consultation with stakeholders, the spokesperson said.

The ministry also said there is a fundamental difference between the wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant after the accident and the liquid effluents from the normal operation of nuclear power plants in terms of their source, radionuclide type and difficulty of processing.

The ministry said it will closely follow the situation, carefully assess the possible impact on the marine ecology, strengthen the monitoring of marine radiation, and ensure the safety of China's marine environment. Enditem
The global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering three million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France.

The number of lives lost, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Kyiv, Ukraine; Caracas, Venezuela; or metropolitan Lisbon, Portugal. It is bigger than Chicago (2.7 million) and equivalent to Philadelphia and Dallas combined.

And the true number is believed to be significantly higher because of possible government concealment and the many cases overlooked in the early stages of the outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.

When the world back in January passed the bleak threshold of two million deaths, immunization drives had just started in Europe and the United States. Today, they are underway in more than 190 countries, though progress in bringing the virus under control varies widely.

While the campaigns in the U.S. and Britain have hit their stride and people and businesses there are beginning to contemplate life after the pandemic, other places, mostly poorer countries but some rich ones as well, are lagging behind in putting shots in arms and have imposed new lockdowns and other restrictions as virus cases soar.

Worldwide, deaths are on the rise again, running at around 12,000 per day on average, and new cases are climbing too, eclipsing 700,000 a day.

The global death toll from the coronavirus topped a staggering three million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France.. The remains of a woman who died from complications related to COVID-19 are placed into a niche by cemetery workers and relatives at the Inahuma cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 17

The number of lives lost, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Kyiv, Ukraine. Health workers treat a COVID-19 patient at the emergency unit of a field hospital set up to treat COVID patients in Ribeirao Pires, greater Sao Paulo area, Brazil April 17, 2021

April 13; the body of a person who died of COVID-19 is brought for cremation at the Vasai crematory in Palghar, near Mumbai, India

'This is not the situation we want to be in 16 months into a pandemic, where we have proven control measures,' said Maria Van Kerkhove, one of the World Health Organizations leaders on COVID-19.

In Brazil, where deaths are running at about 3,000 per day, accounting for one-quarter of the lives lost worldwide in recent weeks, the crisis has been likened to a 'raging inferno' by one WHO official. A more contagious variant of the virus has been rampaging across the country.

As cases surge, hospitals are running out of critical sedatives. As a result, there have been reports of some doctors diluting what supplies remain and even tying patients to their beds while breathing tubes are pushed down their throats.

The slow vaccine rollout has crushed Brazilians pride in their own history of carrying out huge immunization campaigns that were the envy of the developing world.

Taking cues from President Jair Bolsonaro, who has likened the virus to little more than a flu, his Health Ministry for months bet big on a single vaccine, ignoring other producers. When bottlenecks emerged, it was too late to get large quantities in time.

Watching so many patients suffer and die alone at her Rio de Janeiro hospital impelled nurse Lidiane Melo to take desperate measures.

When the world back in January passed the bleak threshold of two million deaths, immunization drives had just started in Europe and the United States. Today, they are underway in more than 190 countries, though progress in bringing the virus under control varies widely. Freeson Wong, 31, takes a selfie as he receives a dose of the Moderna vaccine at a vaccination center in the Chinatown neighborhood of Los Angeles

Messages written by loved ones and dedicated to the deceased hang from a wall at a memorial for COVID-19 victims installed outside the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City

In the early days of the pandemic, as sufferers were calling out for comfort that she was too busy to provide, Melo filled two rubber gloves with warm water, knotted them shut, and sandwiched them around a patients hand to simulate a loving touch.

Some have christened the practice the 'hand of God,' and it is now the searing image of a nation roiled by a medical emergency with no end in sight.

'Patients cant receive visitors. Sadly, theres no way. So its a way to provide psychological support, to be there together with the patient holding their hand,' Melo said. She added: 'And this year its worse, the seriousness of patients is 1,000 times greater.'

This situation is similarly dire in India, where cases spiked in February after weeks of steady decline, taking authorities by surprise. In a surge driven by variants of the virus, India saw over 180,000 new infections in one 24-hour span during the past week, bringing the total number of cases to over 13.9 million.

Problems that India had overcome last year are coming back to haunt health officials. Only 178 ventilators were free Wednesday afternoon in New Delhi, a city of 29 million, where 13,000 new infections were reported the previous day.

The challenges facing India reverberate beyond its borders since the country is the biggest supplier of shots to COVAX, the U.N.-sponsored program to distribute vaccines to poorer parts of the world. Last month, India said it would suspend vaccine exports until the viruss spread inside the country slows.

The WHO recently described the supply situation as precarious. Up to 60 countries might not receive any more shots until June, by one estimate. To date, COVAX has delivered about 40 million doses to more than 100 countries, enough to cover barely 0.25% of the worlds population.

Globally, about 87% of the 700 million doses dispensed have been given out in rich countries. While 1 in 4 people in wealthy nations have received a vaccine, in poor countries the figure is 1 in more than 500.

In recent days, the U.S. and some European countries put the use of Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine on hold while authorities investigate extremely rare but dangerous blood clots. AstraZenecas vaccine has likewise been hit with delays and restrictions because of a clotting scare.

Another concern: Poorer countries are relying on vaccines made by China and Russia, which some scientists believe provide less protection than those made by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Last week, the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged the countrys vaccines offer low protection and said officials are considering mixing them with other shots to improve their effectiveness.

In the U.S., where over 560,000 lives have been lost, accounting for more than 1 in 6 of the worlds COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped, businesses are reopening, and life is beginning to return to something approaching normalcy in several states. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits tumbled last week to 576,000, a post-COVID-19 low.

But progress has been patchy, and new hot spots - most notably Michigan - have flared up in recent weeks. Still, deaths in the U.S. are down to about 700 per day on average, plummeting from a mid-January peak of about 3,400.

In Europe, countries are feeling the brunt of a more contagious variant that first ravaged Britain and has pushed the continents COVID-19-related death toll beyond 1 million.

Close to 6,000 gravely ill patients are being treated in French critical care units, numbers not seen since the first wave a year ago.

Dr. Marc Leone, head of intensive care at the North Hospital in Marseille, said exhausted front-line staff members who were feted as heroes at the start of the pandemic now feel alone and are clinging to hope that renewed school closings and other restrictions will help curb the virus in the coming weeks.

'Theres exhaustion, more bad tempers. You have to tread carefully because there are a lot of conflicts,' he said. 'Well give everything we have to get through these 15 days as best we can.'
Hyderabad, April 18 : Covid-19 vaccine shortage has forced Telangana to stop the vaccination process while state Health Minister E. Rajender on Sunday appealed to the Centre to address the issue immediately.

Health authorities on Sunday suspended vaccinations, with the minister telling reporters that the shortage led to the decision.

He said the state has the ability to provide Covid vaccine to 10 lakh people a day but the vaccines are not available.

The state was expecting to receive 2.7 lakh doses on Sunday night.

Rajender said the state health officials were in regular touch with the Centre and stressing the need for immediate supplies to continue distribution.

He hoped that the Centre will take immediate steps to overcome the shortage of vaccines. The Centre is providing vaccines depending on the production and the requirement of the respective states.

Rajender said he had already advised Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to make the vaccine available to all those above 25 years but there was no response.

He also made it clear that there is no shortage of hospital beds for Covid patients in the state, with 60,000 beds were available in both the government and private hospitals.

He said the officials were in touch with the Centre to ensure uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen, noting that oxygen production comes under the purview of the Centre and the states cannot produce it.

Rajender said that Telangana currently required 260 tons of oxygen per day. However, the demand is likely to go up to 300 to 350 tons with the increase in the number of patients.

The Health Minister also said it was not appropriate to force doctors to provide oxygen to patients when it is not needed. He said it was the responsibility of all to ensure there is no shortage of oxygen.

Similarly, there should be no demand for remdesivir injection unless necessary, he said and advised hospitals to give the injection only when it is necessary.

Stating that production of remdesivir had come down after the drop in number of Covid cases, Rajender hoped that required number of injections will soon be available.

He said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued a clear protocol for Covid treatment. He pointed out that earlier Covid symptoms were seen in 10-12 days but during the second wave, this period has come down to 2-3 days.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Australian soldiers who served in Afghanistan won't be stripped of their medals because of war crime allegations facing some special forces soldiers, defence minister Peter Dutton has announced.

Defence Force chief Angus Campbell recommended Meritorious Unit Citations be taken from three thousand soldiers from Special Operations Task Groups that served in Afghanistan from April 2007 to December 2013.

Described as 'collective responsibility' by Mr Campbell, the move was originally recommended by Justice Paul Brereton whose report alleged 39 murders were perpetrated by Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan over eleven years.

However, Mr Dutton has announced only people convicted of war crimes or stood down for misconduct will have the service medal taken off them.

New defence minister Peter Dutton will not strip 3000 Australian soldiers of their SAS medals

3000 Australian soldiers won't automatically lose their Meritorious Unit Citations (pictured)

'99 per cent of our ADF personnel serve, and have served, our country with distinction,' Mr Dutton told the Australian.

The MUC was awarded to soldiers who served in Special Task Groups in Afghanistan from 30 April 2007 to 31 December 2013 for 'sustained and outstanding warlike operational service.'

The Breteron Inquiry has accused 25 soldiers serving in Afghanistan of committing serious war crimes from 2006 to 2015, and recommended 19 be prosecuted.

'The Inquiry has recommended the revocation of the award of the Meritorious Unit Citation, as an effective demonstration of the collective responsibility and accountability of the Special Operations Task Group as a whole for those events,' the IGADF report, which took four years to complete and was released in November last year, said.

General Campbell initially supported the suggestion, saying 'units live and fight as a team' but later retracted it after backlash from veterans.

In a letter from December 2020 to then defence minister Linda Reynolds, he said he advised 'a slower, more deliberate approach' to removing honours and awards.

Defence chief Angus Campbell said soldiers should lose citations as 'collective responsibility'

25 soldiers serving in Afghanistan were accused of serious war crimes, including murder

DISTURBING DETAILS ALLEGED IN REPORT: Blooding: There was evidence junior soldiers were required by their patrol commanders to shoot a prisoner in a practice known as 'blooding' to achieve their first kill. Throwdowns: Credible evidence suggests some soldiers carried 'throw downs', where they left weapons and military equipment on a victim to make it appear the person killed was a legitimate target. Advertisement

Justice Brereton spent four and a half years investigating the conduct of special forces soldiers between 2005 and 2016.

He found there was credible evidence of 23 incidents in which a total of 39 Afghan nationals were unlawfully killed.

Many of the alleged crimes against civilians and others were so horrific they were redacted in the official report.

'None of these are incidents of disputable decisions made under pressure in the heat of battle,' the report said.

'The cases in which it has been found that there is credible information of a war crime are ones in which it was or should have been plain that the person killed was a non-combatant.'

In one alleged incident, two 14-year-old boys were stopped by SAS before having their throats allegedly slit and bodies bagged and thrown in a nearby river.

There was evidence junior soldiers were required by their patrol commanders to shoot a prisoner in a practice known as 'blooding' to achieve their first kill.

'Typically, the patrol commander would take a person under control and the junior member... would then be directed to kill the person under control,' the report found.

'Throwdowns' - weapons, radios, or other equipment - would be placed with the body and a 'cover story' was created for the purposes of operational reporting and to deflect scrutiny.
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One of the few topics Americans agree on at this time is the need for police reform. Unfortunately, polarization begins immediately when the discussion moves on to just how to implement that reform.

Until now, the majority of dialogue has come only from two extremes. Police unions are espousing status quo, while advocates from the left are calling for defunding or other punitive measures. Neither approach offers any long-term solution, nor do they actually promise a higher quality of policing.

There is a vast middle where lay many proven programs, as well as important, fresh ideas, which react to the changing public expectations of police in the 21st century.

As a retired police officer, I suggest the starting point toward effective reform be a return to some of the many reforms of the 1990s. This was a time of realistic and positive police reform.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Of course, there were problems, as we recall tragic events of the decade. However, it was a decade calling for a determined effort nationwide to bridge the gap of police-community relations and the term police professionalism was an oft-used goal nationwide.

Many impressive programs were put in place and the result was slow, but positive, reforms in law enforcement. These improvements included: establishing domestic violence programs, real community policing and mandatory cultural awareness training, along with bilingual education and introducing officers into elementary schools through the DARE program.

Most importantly, recruiting expanded. Efforts to reach out to a wider portion of the community became a priority. Female and minority hiring was recognized as an important part of a more effective department. Minimum hiring standards were raised and a sense of professionalism was evolving.

Then came Sept. 11, 2001.

Law enforcement  after the initial shock  then began a transition from emphasizing their mission to protect and serve their communities to become first responders. Those changes came incrementally and continue today. Laws were passed to aid that transition. A gradual militarization has crept into the 21st century police culture. We have now become conditioned to seeing our street officers wearing military-type uniforms and equipment.

In fact, the post-911 militarization is even deeper than merely the gear being worn. Since 2001, police departments have extended recruiting preferences and other advantages to ex-military individuals. This continues now, with the added effect that those hired in the early days of these changes are now administrators in charge of policy.

This is not to suggest that there are not many talents the experience of military service can provide those interested in a career in law enforcement. Military discipline, training and experience result in the acquisition of many skills used in police work. However, there are many important social skills needed in the development of the well-rounded officer for 21st century society.

Equally important is also recognizing that the time for civilian review boards has come. Police departments have clearly proven they cannot perform trusted internal investigations. The effective review board should not be thought of as solely a punitive body, but also include a proactive mandate to work toward ending future tragic events.

The public, and especially lawmakers, must step away from the two extremes and open up to the many moderate ideas that can bring positive results in a simple, cost-effective and acceptable manner.

John L .Young lives in Santa Fe.
I'm really curious about these people spending habits because I can understand if you're a struggling C lister getting gigs during Covid and paying the bills, but a long time A list actor is having financial problems??? $5 million paycheck and financial problems

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robertno dinero and johnny debt seem to be absolute fools w money, smh

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It kind of baffles me how much money they spend frivolously.

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Robert's wife seems to the one that is bad with money and choses bad investments.

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The richer you are as a celebrity the more expenses you have and people on your payroll, like manager, agent, accountants, PR, agent, security, house staff, upkeep of multiple properties, subscriptions of extravagant things and services you are used to. Especially for celebrities because they never have the same income year on year. So if you dont earn as much the next year and youve overspent and I can imagine theres all these people encouraging you to spend money on this and that I can see its very easy to go bankrupt.

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It takes money to have money, if that makes sense. I mean sure, you could have 1, simple house and forego things that are excessive, but that's rarely the case with rich people. They need staff, have multiple high mortgages, pay crazy taxes, etc. His ex-wife is definitely extra, though. I can't imagine being married for 20 years and then hating someone that much that I want to rake them through the coals over and over again.

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It seems like a lot of them just immediately spend what they get, buying massive expensive houses or artwork and shit. I know its my poor brain talking, but I can't imagine not setting aside like...half of the money I earned into a savings account or investments or something versus immediately spending it all on property and a massive staff.

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I always think like a poor person bc for one, I don't understand having a big ass house (or houses for that matter) that I wouldn't be able to maintain on my own. I get hiring a cleaning person/crew every now and then but the idea of needing people to clean my own house bc it's too big for me to do it alone is baffling.



I don't get rich people's obsession with size tbh.



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Right? the interest alone is a whole other level of bank you can live on.



On a side note, I legit thought that was Wendy Williams at first.

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1.2 million on a diamond?? Guillotine pls. Rich people are scum.

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Astrid taught hA!

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Remember when he was accused of sexual misconduct by a former employee?



No one seems to.

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a nine-year-old child







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That video pops into my head way too often lmao

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I can't even imagine spending almost $400,000 a month even if I literally bought everything I wanted. These rich people spending like this are absolute morons. If you can justify thousands and thousands of dollars on purses or hundreds of thousands on cars that you never drive while knowing there are children nearby going hungry, you have to be a shit person, bottom line.

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You can spend so much if you have billions.

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There are $400 t-shirts with a band logo printed on them, and they look second hand/bought at the flea market, Chelsea Handler wore a lot of those during her Netflix show

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I can't imagine it either until I realize some celebs spend like $200 for a t-shirt. It's nuts.

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I live in an area filled with homeless people and it's put a LOT into perspective for me tbh. Every day I'm reminded that I have a roof over my head, a comfy apartment I share with people I love & food on the table, which is a fucking fortune compared to how little those people live with. I know this sounds like a humble brag or something equally annoying but I'd only want to be rich for the ability to use that money to help people in need & not worry about my future so much. And to shower my friends and their kids with gifts, obviously.

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Netflix paid $105 Million for The Irishman and De Niro only got paid $5 Million? Scorsese underpaid. (And I recognize that saying only $5 Million is ridiculous. I could live off of that for the rest of my life and still have millions left over.)



Rich people are a trip.



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At least half that budget went towards de-aging and visual effects through the production design. Does not help that the movie wasnt released in theaters wide nor international so there was no profits from audiences seeing it.

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I'm sure the rest of his money is in an offshore bank account somewhere.

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Maybe hell have to sell off a Nobu or two

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Hightower's attorney, dismissed his claims of poverty, De Niro spent $450,000 on a summer rental in 2019, $150,000 on a Thanksgiving vacation and $1 million on his adult children in 2019 and 2020, $50,000 for a private jet for the weekend.



Lol these rich people have no concept of budgeting. If hes low on funds then no wonder









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he might have to fly commercial. or stay in a normal hotel. horrifying.

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or instead of spending 150,000 on a stupid Thanksgiving vacation they might have to cook a turkey himself, wifey make a bunch of casseroles and drink mediocre wine like the rest of us do. the horror!!!

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The hell would someone even do to spend 150k for Thanksgiving?

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I just laugh because I'm over here trying like Hell to find my sunscreen that I pay ~$3 a month for vs. using this new one I had to pay $15 for. I'm so cheap that I'd never go broke having that money lol.

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If he's that broke couldn't he just get the court to lower his payments? Im guessing they had no prenuptial?





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Celebrities are so shit with money. They never seem to think that going a couple of levels down, like say a $200,000 summer rental, and putting the remaining 250k into a high-interest savings account for rainy days.



I think of Eileen on Real Housewives of BH being aghast that the other women dropped tens of thousands of dollars regularly on purses whereas she was far more money conscious and responsible.

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I still scratch my head about why Eileen went on that show. She seemed so responsible and mature compared to the others but that show will make anybody look ott spoiled and indulged.

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she probably made the same amount as a season with Y&R or Days doing half the work, is how i rationalized it. lol.

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I feel like its always the A-listers who are shit with money, where as say, CW stars or other actors in that region seem fairly minimalist and smart - or have some sort of side-hustles (like investing in a business or doing Instagram ads), so they at least have some sort of income when acting work isn't steady.

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Its so infuriating whenever I read about how these dumb dumb rich people don't know how to budget their money. And if his income tax bill is that much, he made some serious bank.



That being said, he gives me rich man but doesn't tip well vibes.

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(Fucking lj this took 3 tries) (Fucking lj this took 3 tries)

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they're both too rich so i don't care

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Over 260,000 fresh cases reported

India reported 2,61,500 fresh infections on Sunday, taking the cumulative caseload to 14.7 million, according to central health ministry data. This is the fourth straight day with over 2,00,000 fresh daily cases. The country saw 1,501 deaths due to the pandemic, taking the death toll to 177,150. The active caseload is at 1.8 million infections, while the total recoveries have surged to 12.8 million. As many as 122 million shots have been administered since the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off on January 16. Of these, 2.6 million were given on Saturday. Read more here

Fear another lockdown forces migrant workers to start the journey home again

As infections continue to soar across the country migrant workers are worried again, a report in ThePrint said. The trauma of last year's nationwide lockdown is still fresh in their minds and so deep-set that many have already begun the journey back to their hometowns even before the government has announced a lockdown. Here is a series of pictures of migrant workers at a railway station in Ahmedabad waiting to catch a train back home. See here

Maharashtra: Share of senior citizens in Covid-19 infections, deaths rises this year

The proportion of senior citizens among those contracting Covid-19 and succumbing to the disease in Maharashtra has risen from last year, a report in The Indian Express said. Last year, 15.94 per cent of total cases in Maharashtra were of people aged more than 60 years. In February this year, it was 16.4 per cent of total infections, and in March, it rose to 18 per cent of total infections. Similarly, in 2020, 57.51 per cent of total deaths were of senior citizens, their share rose to 64.5 per cent this year. Read more here

OPINION: Modi govt unaffected by Covid horror

Despite the long lines outside hospitals, vaccination centres, crematoriums and graveyards, the horror of the Covid crisis that is unfolding seems not to have affected the Modi government, writes Tavleen Singh in a column for The Indian Express. Singh asks, why are millions still being allowed to attend election rallies in the Bengal polls? Why was the Kumbh Mela allowed to take place? Why are municipal elections going ahead in UP? Pictures of rows of funeral pyres that went viral on social media last week are terrifying, Singh writes. Read more here

Over 700 doctors have died of Covid: Indian Medical Association

Data shared by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) with The Indian Express has shown that as many as 747 doctors have died of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic last year. The highest number of such deaths were from Tamil Nadu at 89 deaths and West Bengal at 80 fatalities. There were 74 doctors who died in Maharashtra while another 70 died in Andhra Pradesh. Sixty-six doctors have died in Uttar Pradesh and 68 in Karnataka, while 62 have succumbed to the infection in Gujarat. Forty doctors have died in Bihar while 22 each in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. Read more here
Police picked up a person of interest in a shooting that left at least three people dead overnight Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, at a bar popular with local college students.

Police responded to Somers House Tavern just before 1 a.m. and found multiple gunshot victims, according to the Kenosha Police Department. Three people were declared dead and two others hospitalized with serious injuries.

On Sunday evening, the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office said they had apprehended a suspect and that he would be charged with first-degree intentional homicide, with additional criminal charges likely after further investigation, The Associated Press reported. Police declined to release any other information about the suspect on Sunday.

There is no threat to the community at this time, Sgt. David Wright said in an updated statement, after earlier calling the shooting a targeted and isolated incident.

Victims identities had not been released, but police said that six shooting victims had been confirmed, with at least one possible unknown shooting victim, three of them dead and three injured and hospitalized. They were still being identified Sunday evening, including their names and ages.

Sheriff David Beth said at a news conference Sunday morning that officials have not ruled out the possibility of more than one gunman, but they later said just one person of interest appeared to be involved.

I dont know if the gunman was known to the victims, but I currently believe that the gunman knew who the victims were, he said. Whether the victims knew the gunman, I dont know that.

Beth also said that a suspect had been asked to leave the Somers House Tavern in Kenosha County but returned and opened fire, AP said.

Police said they had impounded several vehicles and that the investigation involved dozens of officials from seven law enforcement agencies and eight fire departments in a complex investigation involving several crime scenes.

Somers House Tavern is frequented by students from Carthage College, whose campus is less than half a mile down the road, according to Kenosha News.

A Facebook page for the bar advertises nightly events including beer pong and Karaoke, as well as Jolly Rancher shots and $1 Long Island iced teas.
A facility in Houston that housed girls who crossed the US border unaccompanied is being closed and the girls immediately moved, the US Department of Health and Human Services said Saturday.

The closure comes after one of the staffers at the facility died for undisclosed reasons, according to the Houston Chronicle. The death is believed to be unrelated to the transfer of the young girls.

About 450 girls housed since April 1 in an Emergency Intake Site for Unaccompanied Children operated by the National Association of Christian Churches near Bush Intercontinental Airport were being moved.

'The NACC Houston EIS and other Emergency Intake Sites are intended for use as a temporary measure,' HHS said in a statement.

Teenage migrant girls are loaded into vans to be transported out of the National Association of Christian Churches facility in Houston on Saturday

The closure comes after one of the staffers at the facility died for undisclosed reasons, according to the Houston Chronicle. The death is believed to be unrelated to the transfer of the young girls

About 450 girls housed since April 1 in an Emergency Intake Site for Unaccompanied Children operated by the National Association of Christian Churches near Bush Intercontinental Airport were being moved

Officials with FIEL, an immigrant advocacy group in Houston, praised the removal of the girls that FIEL director Cesar Espinosa said are 13-17 years old, but questioned the reason for the move.

Espinosa said there was an incident at the center Friday night and a FIEL employee saw law enforcement and ambulances outside the center, but could not determine what happened.

'There seemed to be a lot of confusion as to what was happening,' Espinosa said, translating the description of the scene provided by the employee, Alain Cisneros, in Spanish.

'The people that were there looked like they were in a sad stance, kind of with their head down and seemed like they were wiping tears away.'

The undated file image above shows the facility near Bush International Airport in Houston

Esto esta pasando ahora en el centro de detencion de ninas en el norte de Houston Posted by Fiel Houston on Friday, April 16, 2021

Houston police did not immediately return a phone call for comment Saturday and a call to the National Association of Christian Churches rang unanswered.

Espinosa, who had toured the center, said the girls were being housed in a warehouse.

'There was really no space for social distancing...they were only allowed to get up from their cot to use the restroom as well as to shower,' Espinosa said.

'Everything that was being brought in was temporary. The showers were temporary, they were bringing in temporary restrooms, so this space was not equipped to house anybody, much less children,' Espinosa said.

HHS said about 130 of the girls have plans to be unified with a sponsor, typically a parent or relative, and ORR will seek to locate a sponsor for the remaining girls.

Texas child welfare officials recently said they received three reports alleging abuse and neglect at a San Antonio facility that is holding more than 1,600 immigrant teenagers who crossed the southern border.

Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott slammed the Biden administration. He said that the situation on the southern border will get worse and the president should reinstate Donald Trumps remain in Mexico policy

The image above shows young children inside a pod at the Customs and Border Protection facility in the Rio Grande Valley town of Donna, Texas on March 30

The US government last month stopped taking immigrant teenagers to one site in Midland as it faced questions about the safety of the emergency sites.

HHS has rushed to open large sites to house migrant children across the Southwest amid a sharp increase in crossings of unaccompanied youths at the southern border.

The agency's lack of capacity as border crossings rose at the start of President Joe Biden's administration led to children sometimes waiting for weeks in overcrowded and unsuitable Border Patrol facilities.

The closure of the Houston facility comes after public officials in Texas raised allegations of possible sexual abuse of minors.

Texas child welfare officials said earlier this month that they received three reports alleging abuse and neglect at a San Antonio coliseum that is holding more than 1,600 immigrant teenagers who crossed the southern border.

It is the first time state officials announced they are investigating such allegations at one of the emergency facilities the US government has quickly set up in Texas amid a sharp increase in crossings of unaccompanied youths.

A county official who also volunteers at the San Antonio site, the Freeman Coliseum, said the nature of the allegations do not align with what she has seen in multiple visits to the facility.

Child welfare officials would not reveal details about who made the allegations, but Republican Governor Greg Abbott said his understanding was that they came from someone who had been inside the facility.

One of the allegations include sexual abuse, but no further details were provided.

Freeman Expo Center is pictured. Texas child welfare officials said earlier this month that they received three reports alleging abuse and neglect at a San Antonio coliseum that is holding more than 1,600 immigrant teenagers who crossed the southern border

Other allegations include insufficient staffing, children not eating and those who tested positive for COVID-19 not being separated, Abbott said at a news conference that he quickly arranged outside the facility Wednesday evening.

For weeks, Abbott has joined Republicans in criticizing the Biden administration for the handling of the migration challenge at the US southern border.

'This facility should shut down immediately. The children should be moved to better staffed and better secured locations,' Abbott said.

Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, who has been inside the facility as both an elected official and volunteer, said the teenagers are offered three meals and two snacks a day and anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is put in a separate area far from other children.

She toured the facility with Abbott after his press conference and said he asked staff questions that included COVID-19 testing protocols.

'I wish the governor had done his tour before the press conference when he politicized children,' said Clay-Flores, an elected Democrat.

HHS said in a statement that it could not comment on specific cases but 'has a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and inappropriate sexual behavior.'

The allegations were received by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Spokesman Patrick Crimmins said he did not immediately know if the state had received other abuse or neglect allegations at emergency sites for migrant youths in Texas.

HHS has rushed to open large sites to house migrant children across the Southwest amid a sharp increase in crossings of unaccompanied youths at the southern border.

The latest numbers show more than 21,000 unaccompanied minors are in U.S. custody

The agency's lack of capacity as border crossings were rising at the start of the Biden administration has led to children sometimes waiting for weeks in overcrowded and unsuitable Border Patrol facilities.

Just in March and April, HHS has added more than 17,000 beds at convention centers, camps for oil field workers, and military bases - more than doubling the capacity of its longstanding system of permanent facilities that took years to open.

The US government last month had stopped taking immigrant teenagers to one site in Midland as it faced questions about the safety of the emergency sites.

Midland County District Attorney Laura Nodolf said Wednesday that they have been 'faced with allegations that have resulted in an ongoing criminal investigation' but offered no further details.

She said the allegations were also reported to federal officials.

To staff its emergency sites, HHS waived regulations that normally apply to its permanent facilities, including bypassing FBI fingerprint background checks for all caregivers.

It has hired a mix of contractors and nonprofits to staff the sites, with job postings going up in several cities seeking people to start work immediately.

There is no information to suggest any staff member is accused of assaulting a child.
A man arrested in relation to the disappearance of Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka has been charged over the alleged assault of a woman last year.

Missing persons detectives are continuing to search for Ms Hamka, 36, who was last seen leaving the Albert Street Woolworths in Brunswick on April 10 at 5.30pm.

Missing persons squad detectives are investigating the disappearance of Brunswick woman Maryam Hamka. Credit:Nine News

She was wearing a black dress when she was last seen and had told family she was intending to visit a friend in Brighton, according to police.

Ms Hamka was reported missing on Thursday.
Tech giant Google has reportedly been working on a feature, called Trash Bin, for deleting files on Android 12.

According to XDA Developers, the spotted code suggests Google may surface Android`s hidden Recycle Bin/Trash feature in Storage settings.

Last year, Google rolled out Android 11 which enforced major changes to the way that apps can access a device`s storage, the report said.

These changes, which Google calls "Scoped Storage", significantly limit the amount of storage access an app can get by default, it added.

While certain apps like files managers can request broad access to a device`s storage, other apps have to use alternative APIs to add, open, edit, or delete files on the storage.

One of these APIs is called the MediaStore API and it provides access to common media files like audio, videos, and images, according to the report.

MediaStore has been around for a while now, but Google added a new feature to the API with the Android 11 release -- trashing, it added.

Apps using the MediaStore API can trash rather than delete a file to give users a chance to restore the file later.

The report mentioned that most desktop operating systems have a similar feature, but Android 11 itself doesn`t provide a system-wide "Recycle Bin" or "Trash" folder that lists all of the files that have been trashed.

Instead, apps with edit access to trashed files or that request user consent can show items from the hidden recycle bin, and we`ve spotted evidence that Googleas Files by Google app is preparing to add such a feature.

Live TV

#mute
(Photo : Flickr/Kevin Gill) Mars Ingenuity helicopter

NASA's highly-anticipated Mars helicopter flight is finally here. The team behind the project spent six years developing Ingenuity, the first aircraft to fly on the Red Planet.

Ingenuity's first flight

On Monday, Apr. 19, the ultra-lightweight robot will try taking off into Mars' sky and if it succeeds, this maneuver will be the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

According to The Verge, Ingenuity is scheduled to take off at 3:30 a.m. EDT or 7:30 GMT on Apr. 19, but its flight controllers are wary. If Ingenuity makes it off the Martian ground, NASA will broadcast a livestream of the first test flight data as it reaches Ingenuity's mission team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory or JPL in California.

That livestream starts at 6:15 a.m. EDT or 10:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, Apr. 19. The people can watch that webcast on Space.com homepage, as well as directly from NASA TV.

Also Read: NASA Announced Delay of Mars' Helicopter Flight, Ingenuity, After Test Was Deemed Unsuccessful

NASA's Ingenuity project

The $85 million Ingenuity will try lifting off from the ground around midday Mars time, when NASA says the winds in the area are expected to be at their lightest.

Ingenuity will start ascending to a height of about 10 feet. It will hover for about 20 seconds, then descend at about three feet per second until it lands back onto Jezero Crater.

NASA's Perseverance rover will act as the communications intermediary between Ingenuity, orbiting spacecraft assisting the flight, and mission control. The rover will serve as an active observer as well by taking pictures and videos of this first flight at a distance of 330 feet away from Ingenuity's airfield.

As the information is relayed from the rover through NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, or MRO, back to Earth, the download team will be watching carefully.

Tim Canham, the Ingenuity operations lead at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory or JPL, said during a press conference that the first thing that they will do is verify that they got the data correctly, and then the information is looked over for evidence that Ingenuity ascended, hovered, and landed.

They will confirm these findings with altimeter data to then know for certain whether or not the flight occurred.

The team will also get a look at black-and-white navigation photos taken by the 0.5 megapixel downward-facing camera on the bottom of the Ingenuity's fuselage, according to Canham.

Other images, like the color views coming from Perseverance, will likely be downlinked later. Ingenuity is also equipped with a one-color 13 megapixel horizon-facing terrain camera, but it is not yet clear when those will be available to the public.

Mimi Aung, Ingenuity project manager at JPL, wrote in a NASA blog on Apr. 17 that their team considers Ingenuity's attempted first flight like a rocket launch. They are doing everything that they can to make it a success, but they also know that they may have to scrub and try again.

Monday's flight will mark the second time that NASA has been poised to fly Ingenuity on the Red Planet. The Mars helicopter's first flight attempt on Apr. 11 was delayed by a timing glitch in its systems, which mission engineers have addressed.

Related Article: NASA Ingenuity Helicopter Successfully Completes First Test Spin in Mars

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
You are here: China

A bills committee of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held its first meeting Saturday to deliberate draft laws on improving the HKSAR's electoral system.

Multiple officials of the HKSAR government attended the meeting to answer questions of lawmakers.

Erick Tsang, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs of the HKSAR government, responded to inquiries on the representation of corporate electors, epidemic control measures during elections, and arrangements for voters in the mainland.

The committee will convene from next Monday to Saturday.

The government introduced the bill to the legislature on Wednesday for the first and second reading. It hopes the amendments will be passed by the end of May.
White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci listens as President Joe Biden speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Feb. 25, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Fauci Predicts Warning, Not Cancellation, for Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday predicted that a warning will be applied to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after health officials recommended pausing usage last weekrather than it being canceled altogether.

I doubt very seriously if they just cancel it. I dont think thats going to happen. I do think that there will likely be some sort of warning or restriction or risk assessment, Fauci, who is the head of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Meet the Press.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) advisory panel will again meet next week on how to handle the vaccine. Both the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended halting usage of the vaccine amid isolated reports of blood clots. The advisory panel met on April 14 but delayed a vote on whether to limit the single-shot J&J vaccine based on age or sex.

I dont think its just going to go back and say, Okay, everythings fine. Go right back. I think itll likely say, Okay, were going to use it, but be careful under these certain circumstances, Fauci added.

Fauci, in an interview with CBS News on Sunday, claimed that the FDAs and CDCs concerns about the J&J vaccine mean theyre doing a good job.

One of the things you can take away from all of this is that when the surveillance system, the CDC and the FDA say that something is safe, you can be sure that its safe, he said.

His comments came in contrast to those made by former President Donald Trump and Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who both said the pause in the J&J vaccine was terrible messaging.

Were not helped in this regard by the behavior of some of these public health people, particularly in the federal government, DeSantis said during a news conference in Lakeland, Florida, last week. How they handled the J&J, I think was a huge mistake.

The move, he said, significantly affected the publics confidence in the J&J vaccine.

If youre gonna do that, you couldve done that in a way that was not gonna cause a lot of people to lose confidence, DeSantis said.

Trump, meanwhile, issued a statement last week saying that the pause was done for possibly political reasons, while asserting that the FDA favors Pfizer, another COVID-19 vaccine producer.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus.
Vine buds and leaves damaged by the frost in southern France

French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Saturday pledged more than one billion euros in aid for farmers and winemakers reeling from the worst frost in decades.

Across France, agriculturists are counting their losses after the freeze -- which followed a period of unseasonably warm weather -- affected hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops and vines in 10 of the country's 13 regions.

"An exceptional situation, exceptional measures. I have just announced a significant effort on the part of the state of over one billion euros ($1.2 billion) as the situation justifies it," Castex told a meeting of farmers' representatives and local elected officials in southern France.

He said emergency aid would be given "in 10 or 15 days" to local officials to help the worst-affected farmers.

Arborists or tree growers qualifying for compensation under the current state of agricultural calamity regime would be paid for 40 percent of their losses.

They are usually paid up to 35 percent under European rules.

Other measures will include tax breaks.

As well as vines, growers of kiwis, apricots, apples and other fruit have been badly hit along with farmers of other crops such as beet and rapeseed.

"The government has taken stock of the seriousness of the situation," Christine Lambert, the president of the main farmers' union FNSEA told AFP, adding that it had reacted "speedily".

Agriculture minister Julien Denormandie said the government funds would be used for "rapid compensation."

Bruno Darnaud, the head of another agricultural lobby, said France could see its fruit harvest dwindle by half -- meaning losses of around 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion).

And the FNSEA says at least a third of the production in vineyards -- representing two billion euros -- will be lost due to the frost.

lpb-jk-ref/ach/dl
The Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest continuously operational document of its kind in the world, and its author was future president John Adams, whose wife, Abigail, famously asked the Founding Fathers to remember the ladies.

But they didnt  not when the pioneering Mrs. Adams made her request before the Declaration of Independence was written, nor four years later, when the states governing document was approved in 1780.

A growing number of advocates want to change that.

We are in a time where theres a lot of awareness of subtle discrimination at all levels. This is a chance to right a wrong, says Jane Nevinsmith, who was elected to her first term on the Hadley Select Board last year at the age of 78.

It used to be an all-male, all-white board, but we are now seeing more women in politics, adds Nevinsmith, who defeated three other candidates - all women - for the Select Board seat.

In recent years, two separate proposals have come forth to change the 241-year-old Massachusetts Constitution, which spoke to principles that were included nearly a decade later in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

One was advanced in 2019 by state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, who made her proposal less than two weeks after taking office. Domb is asking that constitutional references to he, a word found more than 80 times in the document, be changed to the person.

The other would change the word selectmen, which shows up 17 times, to select board. It is this proposal, brought forth earlier this month by state Sen. Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont, that has put gender-neutral language back into the news - and is shining new light on Dombs 2019 proposal.

Referring to a town council as a select board is already practiced throughout state government and by more than 100 Massachusetts municipalities that have made the change. Charter revisions were often required within those municipalities, but the state constitution remains unaltered.

Dombs amendment speaks to encouraging inclusiveness, a movement even stronger today than in 2019.

We are making such great strides to become inclusive in the commonwealth. We should make sure the Constitution reflects that, she told members of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee in 2019.

A product of its time, the state Constitution begins, All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights. The document isnt entirely male-centric; according to Domb, the word person already shows up 64 times.

The word she is used once, Domb said, in a reference to notaries public.

John Adams began writing the state constitution three years after the Declaration of Independence, which in 1776 proclaimed all men are created equal. This iconic sentence is often used as an example of how words written in one time are interpreted figuratively, not literally, as times change.

The Declaration of Independence is an opinion statement, not a governing set of laws, so altering those words is not under review. The laws governing this commonwealth are another story, and advocates say the times havent changed enough when it comes to gender equity.

Nevinsmith is familiar with the counter argument against primarily symbolic changes, which often comes with this question: if its purely cosmetic, why does it matter?

Because words hurt. Thats the argument in favor, and, as a feminist, yes, Im in favor, she says.

A headline and story from the Feb. 15, 1921 of the Springfield Daily Republican.

It has been 100 years since the first woman was elected to a select board in Massachusetts.

Helen Cook won a seat on Middlefields board at a Town Meeting on Feb. 14, 1921, according to The Republicans archives. Fifteen women voters attended the meeting and presumably assisted in placing Mrs. Cook in office, a front-page story reported.

The story continued, She has taken no unusual interest in the suffrage movement, but feels that a woman can perform the duties of a selectman successfully and is willing to try it.

Throughout the state, the term Board of Selectmen has already given way to Select Board, or in some cases, the one-word Selectboard. In Longmeadow, Select Board chair Thomas Lachiusa says he believes constitutional change should be supported by men and women alike.

Our town manager, Lyn Simmons, looks for any documents that incorrectly use the word selectman. In spite of all these efforts, it is still common for a member of a select board to say they are a selectman rather than a member of the select board, (but) over time, this will change, says Lachiusa, who adds that Simmons focuses on select board references.

Under any circumstances, amending the state constitution is no small process. Its been done 121 times, but not since 2006, when changes were made to the state health care laws.

According to the University of Massachusetts School of Law, there are two ways to amend the state constitution.

One way is an initiative amendment, which requires signatures from the citizenry plus more than 25% of the combined Legislature sitting as a constitutional convention over two successive legislative sessions. The other way is a legislative amendment, which requires a bill to be approved by more than 50% of the combined Legislature over two separate sessions.

Either way, the amendment must ultimately be placed on the ballot in a statewide election to be ratified by a majority of the popular vote. The earliest a referendum could appear on the state ballot would probably be 2024.

An amendment process is a heavier lift than regular legislation, Domb says, but its the only way to change the constitutions language. Sadly, the legislative route is not an option for changing the hes in the constitution to the person, she says.

Domb says her constituents in the 3rd Hampshire District are very positive in favor of the petition, which is supported by nine other legislators, including Rep. Lindsay N. Sabadosa, D-Northampton.

Lachiusa says men who oppose the change to select board should put themselves in the shoes of others. Can you imagine if we used the term selectwomen for 241 years? We are in a new millennium. If this change encourages more women to seek to be elected to select boards, it will be good for communities, he says.

As an example, he cites Longmeadow, which elected its last woman official in 2017 and where no women are currently seeking office.

In 2020, the Massachusetts Selectmens Association changed its name to the Massachusetts Select Board Association.

Last year, the town of Ware attempted to join those communities changing its governing bodys name from selectmen to selectboard, but according to two co-sponsors, Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, and Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, it was filed too late in the state legislative session to gain approval. A third sponsor is Rep. Donald R. Berthiaume, R-Spencer.

This proposal has been refiled, and I dont imagine it will have any difficulty passing this term, given the number of communities that have already done the same, Smola says.

Members of the Ware Board of Selectmen Tracy R. Opalinski, left, and Nancy J. Talbot, at a February 2020 meeting. Opalinski, who did not run for reelection in 2020, introduced an initiative to change the boards name.Greg Saulmon / The Republican

The Ware proposal was initiated in 2020 by Tracy R. Opalinski, a former member of the Board of Selectmen. She acknowledges feeling like an unlikely advocate.

I dont think of myself as a womens libber, Opalinski says. I like my skirts, and I like my guns. While she appreciates the historic significance and provenance of the term selectman, Opalinski believes its important for all cities and towns to send a message of inclusion.

I feel gender should not be a barrier, and I think you want to welcome everyones sisters, daughters, aunts and wives, she says. They need to understand that this seat is up there for them.

Opalinski served a single term and chose not to run for reelection. She says she began to think about the issue after she was elected. It came into focus last spring, when only one woman took out papers to run for the boards two open seats in the 2020 town election.

Opalinski also notes the long history of self governance in Massachusetts, which began with the Mayflower Compact. Of the ships 101 passengers, 41 signed  all men.

I think our local government boards need to reflect our times and our community today - not 1620, Opalinski says.

Eliza Dragon agrees.

I think being more inclusive is important. Its a way of opening doors, says Dragon, chair of the Cummington Selectboard.

Cummingtons three-member board includes two women. One is Monica Vandoloski, whose decision not to seek re-election will end a long tenure that began in 1979, when she became the first woman elected to the board.

Dragon says even casual references matter.

Sometimes I still hear myself referred to as a selectman. I do notice, she says. Its done out of habit or for whatever reason. I cant say I get offended, but it does bring me down. I try to change it to selectperson.

The irony of John Adams place as author of the Massachusetts Constitution is that he, with the brilliant Abigail as his wife and most trusted adviser, was one of the most progressive of all the Founding Fathers. In the 1770s, though, the significance of gender neutral references was almost never considered, let alone taken seriously.

More than 20 states have sought gender-neutral language, either with constitutions or current legislation. New York took action 20 years ago, and Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island are among those to join the movement.

Related content:
The UN General Assembly adopted unanimously the resolution Role of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia at its 59th meeting of the 75th session.

The resolution was initiated by Turkmenistan and co-sponsored by 72 UN member states. This initiative of Turkmenistan was put forward by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in his video address at the plenary meeting of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2020.

The resolution notes that the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia makes a significant contribution to the development of the regional dialogue, and the joint efforts of the government of Turkmenistan and the Center aim at establishing peace, stability and security in the region.

The resolution reaffirms the importance of preventive diplomacy in supporting UN efforts to assist in the peaceful settlement of disputes and acknowledges the role of the Regional Center in responding to transnational threats.

It specifically notes the focus of the Regional Centre on supporting cooperation among the regional states in the areas of counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism with a view to ensuring the integrated and balanced implementation of all pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
https://www.aish.com/tp/ss/ssw/Acharei-Mot--Kedoshim-5781-Live-with-a-Vengeance.html

GOOD MORNING! This past week, Irans Natanz nuclear facility suffered a major attack in which a large explosion destroyed a number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium, as well as the independent  and heavily protected  internal power system that supplied power to the underground centrifuges.

Iran responded with their usual bloodthirsty calls for revenge and retribution. Yawn. Whatever. Perhaps the only thing Iran has perfected over the last two decades is irrelevant and empty threats of retaliation. Still, it did cause me to reflect on the nature of revenge and what drives it.

In Judaism, we find several references to revenge and retribution. Perhaps the most common (and frequently overlooked) is when memorializing someone who was murdered in some unjust and tragic circumstance (e.g. pogroms, the Holocaust, terror attacks, etc.).

In those situations  when mentioning the dead  the reference is often followed by the letters HYD. This is the acronym for Hebrew equivalent of Hashem Yikom Damom  May God avenge their blood. This is based on the verse in Torah; He will avenge the blood of his servants (Deuteronomy 32:43).

This is very significant. In general, vengeance can seem kind of bloodthirsty. However, this is a good representation of the Jewish value and core belief that God runs the world and that vengeance is ultimately in the hands of God and not the domain of angry vigilantes.

Still, on rare occasions, there is a time and place for vengeance. This can be seen in the story of Aarons grandson Pinchas when he avenged Gods honor and restored peace between God and the Jewish people (see the full story in Numbers 25:1-15).

This actually hints to the etymological root of the Hebrew word for revenge, nekama. The root of nekama is koom, which is the word for getting up. Meaning, revenge can remedy one who has fallen (and perhaps was stepped upon) by helping them stand up once again. Revenge can sometimes provide a sense of restored equilibrium, as if the scales are back in balance.

This is what happened in the story of Pinchas when the Jews had defiantly (and publicly) acted immorally and committed idol worship. This had caused a rupture in their relationship with the Almighty. When Pinchas acted to restore Gods honor by executing a leader of the insurrection the nation reflected on their insubordination and repented. This restored the peace between the Almighty and the Jewish people.

But this is usually not the case. In general, psychologists have determined that acts of revenge dont usually resolve the issue or bring relief to the perpetrators of the revenge. The reason for this is probably that the excessive compulsion for revenge keeps one focused on his hurt and pain. Dr. Kevin Carlsmith, a social psychologist who has published some studies on the subject of revenge says, Rather than providing closure, it does the opposite: It keeps the wound open and fresh.

This also brings to mind a quote that has been attributed to Ghandi (and was a line uttered by Tevye in the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof): An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth leaves the whole world blind and toothless.

Of course, this weeks Torah portion has a relevant message on this topic, both the prohibition against taking revenge and holding a grudge appear in this weeks Torah reading: You should not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the members of your people. You should love your friend as yourself, I am Hashem (Leviticus 19:18).

We must digress to point out that this is the source for the famous teaching of Rabbi Akiva (the great sage of the first century): Loving your friend as yourself is a primary principle of the Torah. We will soon see why.

Rabbi Naftali Zvi Berlin, a towering Torah personality in the 19th century, who was primarily known by his acronym Netziv, makes a fascinating observation: Why does the Torah juxtapose the prohibitions of not taking revenge and holding a grudge together with the commandment to love your friend as yourself?

To answer this question, the Netziv quotes a passage from the Jerusalem Talmud (Nedarim 9:4), which makes an interesting observation. If a person is holding a knife in one hand while cutting a piece of meat and his hand slips and cuts the other hand, what is the proper response? Should the hand that was cut attack the first hand and cut it as well as retribution? Of course not, its an absurd notion.

The Netziv explains that this is what the Torah is teaching us here. You have to perceive your friend as yourself. Thus, taking revenge or holding a grudge against him is as pointless as taking revenge or holding a grudge against yourself, because hurting your friend is akin to hurting yourself. This is why the Torah juxtaposes these two concepts in the same verse.

This would also explain why R Akiva felt that this concept was a primary principle of the Torah. The ultimate purpose of the world is to recognize that Hashem is the source of everything and that everything is bound by His oneness. This is the deeper meaning behind the Aleinu prayer that ends with On that day He will be one and His name will be one.

(I believe this also hints to the Singularity Theory, which, in brief, is the belief that a series of events will ultimately change physics as we know it. I will, God willing, one day devote a column to this interesting concept.)

The ultimate point of this verse in the Torah is that our nation is really all one entity and that we are all in this together. We should perceive ourselves as separate arms of the same body. Unfortunately, this hasnt been the case.

COVID, which is easily the single most unique worldwide event of the last two generations, has taught us NOTHING if we havent learned how interconnected we all are to one another. Someone in a far corner of the world makes a mistake and it effects just about everyone else on the planet.

The single most visible response to this disease has been the requirement to wear face masks. This is important on two levels. First of all, regular face masks are not really for ones own protection, they are primarily worn to protect others. Secondly, masks cover the one feature that differentiates people from one another  their face. Even our phones dont recognize us when wearing a face mask.

In other words, the lesson of this disease is that we are supposed to be less self-absorbed and we should begin to consider what we can do for others  a direct message related to loving others as yourself.

Unfortunately, this message is lost on many people. I am consistently surprised at how self-unaware many, if not most, individuals behave. People who were militant in the early months of COVID, assiduously complying with all the CDC guidelines, suddenly abandoned all the protocols once they themselves became ill.

I have found that, in general, those who blatantly refused to wear face masks when everyone else was complying, werent doing so because they were conscientious objectors who based their decision on their understanding of medicine. In fact, it was more telling about what kind of people they were than an indication of their medical or scientific knowledge.

(It reminds me of a quote from Fidel Castro about Hugo Chavez, that told you more about Castro than Chavez; I have observed him over the course of seventeen years, ever since his first visit to Cuba. He is an extremely humanitarian and law abiding person; he has never taken revenge on anybody.)

Understanding that we all have a responsibility to treat one another as we would like to be treated is an area in which we can ALL improve because this perspective is difficult to maintain. Perhaps this is why Hillel, the great sage who lived at the end of the Second Temple period, felt it necessary to add a modification of this verse in the Torah by mandating, What is hateful to you, do not do to your friend.

Acharei Mot  Kedoshim, Leviticus 16:1 - 20:27

Acharei Mot includes the Yom Kippur service where the Kohen Gadol casts lots to designate two goats  one to be sacrificed, the other to be driven to a place called Azazel after the Kohen Gadol  the High Priest  confesses the sins of the people upon its head. Today it is a very popular epithet in Israel to instruct another person in the heat of an argument to go to Azazel. (I don't believe the intent, however, is to look for the goat.)

The goat sent to Azazel symbolically carried away the sins of the Jewish people. This, I surmise, is the source of the concept of using a scapegoat. One thing you can truly give credit to the Jewish people  when we use a scapegoat, at least we use a real goat!

The Torah then proceeds to set forth the sexual laws  who you are not allowed to marry or have relations with. If one appreciates that the goal of life is to be holy, to perfect oneself, and to be as much as possible like God, then he/she can appreciate that it is impossible to orgy at night and be spiritual by day.

The Torah portion of Kedoshim invokes the Jewish people to be holy! It then proceeds with the spiritual directions on how to achieve holiness, closeness to the Almighty. Within it lie the secrets and the prescription for Jewish continuity. If any group of people is to survive as an entity, it must have common values and goals  a direction and a meaning. By analyzing this portion we can learn much about our personal and national destiny.



http://www.aish.com/sh/c/ Weak people revenge, strong people forgive, intelligent people ignore.



Dedicated with Deep Appreciation to



Preston & Susan Mintz
TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japan will on Monday release March figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In February, imports were up 11.8 percent on year and exports were down an annual 4.5 percent for a trade surplus of 217.4 billion yen. Japan also will see final February figures for industrial production; the previous reading had industrial production up 4.3 percent on month and down 5.2 percent on year. New Zealand will see March results for the Performance of Service Index form BusinessNZ; in February, the index score was 49.1. 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.
Until a month ago, Brazil had nearly 14 deaths for every one death in India (14 : 1) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That gap has now narrowed to under three (2.6 : 1).

Indias rising death toll is putting it on course to become the country with the highest daily death toll, shows an analysis of international numbers collated by tracker Our World in Data. This comes even as both countries have seen a surge in the number of daily deaths recorded. The United States where vaccination is well underway, has seen a significant decline in the daily number of deaths (see chart 1).





A look at the top countries in terms of new cases recorded shows India has a high positive rate. This looks at the number of tests that are positive. While numbers for Brazil were not available, a rising share of Indias tests is seen to be positive, suggesting an increased spread of the disease, though Iran and Turkey have higher numbers still (see chart 2). Both countries have lower numbers of deaths than India.



The statewise numbers show a concentration in a few states. Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh account for six out of every ten people who died of Covid-19 (see chart 3).




The East End, Houstons oldest neighborhood, is home to one of the largest collections of outdoor murals in the city. Those striking, vivid works of public art do more than just beautify buildings and street corners. They bookmark an evolving story.

Murals are a storytelling vehicle, says Veronica Chapa Gorczynski, executive director of the East End Houston Cultural District. Its not just a form of expression but a form of identity or evolution of the neighborhood. A mural will tell you where you are in time.

Some feel the time has come for East End residents, business owners and artists to add new chapters. Ones that illustrate where the community started  with a rich history steeped in diversity  but also where its headed. And that future includes a lot more public art.

East End District, which provides services and capital improvements throughout the 16-square-mile area, recently adopted a cultural arts strategic plan that will reshape the areas creative landscape over the next 10 years. Weingarten Art Group, a local art advisory firm, designed the comprehensive 84-page plan over the course of seven months. During that time, WAG consultants interviewed dozens of East End cultural activists, historians, educators and local leaders to get the neighborhoods distinctive needs just right. A grant funded in part by the Mayors Office of Cultural Affairs through Houston Arts Alliance made the lengthy and in-depth blueprint possible.

We needed a strategic plan to take an inventory of the different types of art and how we move this forward, Chapa Gorczynski said. When the Texas Cultural Commission on the Arts designated the area a cultural district (a special zone that stimulates economic development and community revitalization) in 2014, she was presented with a unique challenge. The East End was at the time well known for public art, but how do you set yourself up for whats next?

Street of Colors

In addition to the murals, there are more than 30 arts and culture institutions, artists studios, showrooms, and design and fabrication shops sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. The plans highest recommendations include revitalizing Talento Bilingue de Houston, a bilingual English-Spanish theater in Second Ward, updating the adjacent Guadalupe Plaza with an outdoor stage and launching Calle de Colores, which translates to Street of Colors, along Navigation by transforming the milelong stretch of warehouses into empty canvases available for street art, festival programming and, of course, more murals.

Some of the feedback we kept getting is that theres no central location to have a dance rehearsal or performance, said Lea Weingarten, principal of Weingarten Art Group, to explain the thinking behind Talento Bilingue de Houstons refresh. That was among one of the top three or four requests; people were practically begging. Currently, theres not one centralized place anyone can go to or count on.

She says that a community center, or centro de artistes, is something that could be completed in the short term. Thinking long term, Weingarten would like to see a facility similar to Midtown Art and Theatre Center Houston in East End.

Its a much more ambitious goal, but people forget that one of the original locations discussed for MATCH was East End, she noted. At the time, it was thought of as too far away. Now we know thats not true. Though when some people still think of East End, they stop at Ninfas (on Navigation.) But theres so much more than that.

Adding entry points

Other feedback Weingarten received was that visitors struggled to identify when they entering and leaving East End. So her team dreamed up gateways at various entry points. She envisions some form of sculpture at the Navigation-Jensen-Runnels roundabout and up to five other locations.

This feels like a feasible opportunity to celebrate the culture of East End, she said.

Over the past eight years, WAG has developed strategic master plans for public spaces including Discovery Green, Hermann Park Conservancy and the University of Houston. Its modus operandi has been to inject beauty and value into various projects by manning the intersection of art and strategy.

To the latter point, both Weingarten and Chapa Gorczynski agree that the first step toward setting the newly approved plan in motion is hiring a cultural arts administrator. The person in that role will function as a crucial contact for commissioned artists and creatives, and oversee a cultural arts task force as well.

But hiring and the heavy lifting  improving public spaces and venues, launching art initiatives, creating programming for youth and seniors  requires the one thing Chapa Gorczynski doesnt yet have: funding.

No one gave us the money to do any of this; were putting it out there as our dream, she said. We havent restrained ourselves with a budget. Well have to fundraise annually to be able to do these activities successfully.

Getting help

East End Houston Cultural District received a $137,500 grant to apply toward activities over the next two years, though Chapa Gorczynski anticipates those funds will dry up fast. Shes prepared to get crafty  recruit volunteers to help prep walls, ask for paint donations, lower overall supply costs by soliciting sponsors and partnerships.

Weingarten adds that Buffalo Bayou Partnership and various developers have shown interest in the plan.

When you look at who has received funding in the past, Hispanic artists and arts organizations have been so underfunded compared to everyone else, she said. Equity, preserving the authenticity of culture and not letting it become gentrified is so important to this community. Thats why so many people, especially some of the older people who are second and third generation, wanted to talk to us. We had so much participation, considering the pandemic.

There were ubiquitous requests for improving and activating East End green space, particularly for the use of youth and elderly residents.

Chapa Gorczynski thinks they can do one better. She has ideas for how to wow millennials and Generation Zers, too. I want to intersect our bike ways with public art. Youll wanna stop and take selfies all along the way.

amber.elliott@chron.com
A Russell County corrections officer was arrested last Friday night for allegedly smuggling contraband into the jail for one of the inmates, Sheriff Heath Taylor said to local TV news outlets.

Arrested was 39-year-old Alicia Laury. She faces a charge of promoting prison contraband in the second degree, a Class C felony which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Taylor said that Laury, a corrections officer since January 2019, had been involved in a relationship with the inmate since November 2019, according to a report from WRBL-TV in Columbus, Georgia.

The sheriff said that Laury brought contraband into the jail on two separate occasions  once she brought in a couple of cellphones and on another occasion, she was suspected of bringing marijuana and tobacco with rolling papers, the TV station reported. Taylor said the marijuana, an illegal narcotic in Alabama, elevated the charges to a felony status, the TV station reported.

Laury was booked at the Russell County jail and then transported to the Lee County jail where is currently being held without bond, according to the TV station. The Lee County jail did not have any information about Laurys status on Saturday.
India on Sunday reported 2,61,500 new Covid-19 cases and 1,501 deaths from the disease, according to health ministry data marking the worst ever daily spike. The country has 1,47,88,109 cases in total and 1,77,150 fatalities.

India's second wave of Covid-19 infections is "spreading at a much faster rate", said the health minister on Saturday. Prime Minister asked officials on Saturday to use the pharmaceutical industry to meet the demand for medicines, especially remdesivir.

The global death toll from the topped a staggering 3 million people Saturday amid repeated setbacks in the worldwide vaccination campaign and a deepening crisis in places such as Brazil, India and France. The number of lives lost, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Kyiv, Ukraine; Caracas, Venezuela; or metropolitan Lisbon, Portugal. It is bigger than Chicago (2.7 million) and equivalent to Philadelphia and Dallas combined.

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Finding Wild Times in Israel

Its a strange and thrilling moment. Hold on tight and, if youre nervous, dont look down, my guide tells me as I settle into the harness and prepare to drop. Weve reached the edge of this cliff on mountain bikes, spotting Nubian ibex and other curious desert creatures as we rolled through the Negev, a wilderness of biblical proportions.

Now, teetering on the edge of the worlds largest erosion cirque, more than 1,600 feet deep at its bottom, I have a few second thoughts. But I wont have long to think it through.

Ready? he asks. And I am. A moment later, Im rappelling into a crater so big and wide, it swallows me whole.

A fearless Ibex towers over the Ramon Crater (Makhtesh Ramon), in Israels Negev desert, just after sunrise. (MoLarjung/Shutterstock)

Im in Israel, a tiny nation with a long, storied history and more wild country than you can imagine. Roughly the size of the state of New Jersey, Israel has shorelines on three seas (Dead, Med, and Red), desert, mountains, oases, and much more. The country has captured recent headlines with its super-fast vaccination campaign, which has reopened its economy more quickly than almost anyplace else.

While many visitors come here for a Holy Land experience, I go beyond, finding some truly wild times.

The Negev desert landscape. (Alexander Ingerman/Shutterstock)

Highlights

Of course, you cant come here and not hit the highlights. Arriving in Jerusalem, I stay at the storied King David Hotel, every evening wandering out the grand lobby, passing through a gate, into the walled Old City. Always exploring, I make my way through each of the five quarters (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Armenian, and Moroccan), putting my hand on the Western Wall. I also stop for a little hummus at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

There, I pause to people-watch, observing the fascinating mix of faiths, all drawn to this city like a magnet.

One day, I take a little hike up to the top of Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives, passing famous places from history and antiquity, including the spot where the Gospels say Jesus ascended to heaven. Later in the week, I ride a Segway, led by the two owners of the company, zooming through local parks and, unfortunately, falling headlong over the handlebars when my machine strikes a short post. Fortunately, because Im well-padded, the only thing Ive hurt is my pride.

A woman relaxes in the water of the Dead Sea. (Hrecheniuk Oleksii/Shutterstock)

The Dead Sea

And then, its time to get out of town. First, to the Dead Sea, only about an hour outside of Jerusalem. Stopping at a small eco-hotel, I change into my bathing suit and descend some steps to the beach. Famously the lowest place on Earth, I stand some 400 feet below sea level. The sea is actually a salt lake, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. And salty, it isalmost 10 times saltier than the ocean.

You dont actually swimyou cant, really. Entering the water is unlike any other aquatic experience. Once youre immersed, its like trying to do a breaststroke through cotton candy. Staying afloat takes zero effort at allin fact, fighting it, trying to stay on your feet and move around, thats the hard part. I give in, the water swooping me up. And I float, soaking up the afternoon sun, completely relaxed, arms and legs akimbo on the surface, the salt supporting all my limbs.

And from sea to sea. I head all the way south, to Eilat, a small city set on an arm of the Red Sea. Here, the Middle East comes togetherEgypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia all surround the thin tip of the Gulf of Aqaba (also known as the Gulf of Eilat), their borders all just a few miles apart. A beach town, big hotels welcome vacationers, and many who come here dont make it past the pool. I will admit that all those loungers look rather inviting.

The Dead Sea is known as the lowest point on Earth. (vvvita/Shutterstock)

Instead, I opt for a slightly surreal experience, arriving at the Coral Beach Nature Reserve, just outside of town. Affixing a mask and snorkel, I drop off a dock, into the aquamarine water, where everything feels a little like the Caribbean. As I follow a rope tied to a series of buoys, the reef bursts with life, hundreds of species of fish, swirling around my fins.

Then, the dolphins. While most dolphin-swim experiences take place in a tank, here, the dolphins remain wild, free to enter and leave at will a huge enclosure set in the sea. Back in a mask and snorkel, my guide gives me a bit of advice.

Let them come to you, she says. And dont be afraidtheyre a lot bigger when youre in the water with them.

While fear of a few friendly bottle-nosed dolphins seems almost laughabletheyre almost cartoonishly cuteshes right. Growing to a length of more than 12 feet, they can weigh more than 400 pounds. Swimming directly below me, usually in pairs, they look a lot more like whales, moving so much faster than they appear when youre spotting them from a boat, or dry land.

A coral reef in Aqaba. (Miroslav Orincak/Shutterstock)

Timna Valley

Leaving the coast and headed back north, toward Jerusalem, I spend some more time in the wilderness. In Timna Park, I ride in a safari-style jeep, venturing well off-road through some of the 15,000 preserved acres in the dramatic Timna Valley, home to one of the worlds first copper mines. The metal mined here has been found in weapons and jewelry used by the Egyptian pharaohs. Rumbling past deep red sandstone formations with evocative names (Solomons Pillars, The Mushroomwhich really looks like a mushroom), I take a short hike to view a bit of ancient graffiti, writing scratched into the wall by those ancient miners.

The Solomons Pillars in Timna Park, near Eilat. (andras_csontos/Shutterstock)

The Wadi Zin, the longest valley in Israel. (NataliaVo/Shutterstock)

Wadi Zin

And soon enough, I find myself descending that cliff. The day starts with a hike through the Wadi Zin, the longest valley in Israel. Its long served as a corridor, for both people and animals. Nabateans on the Spice Trail from Gaza to Petra once walked here, as did Roman traders. And storks and flamingos still use it as a thoroughfare on their migrations down to Africa. Ascending a series of steps carved into the sandstone, next to the Zin River, my guide explains that the caves right beside the trail were once inhabited by Byzantine monks 1,600 years ago.

A climber rappels down a cliff at the Mitzpe Ramon crater. (Antonio Rico/Shutterstock)

They considered it holy ground, he explains, noting that just being here, they felt closer to God.

After biking the lip of the Ramon Crater, I don that harness and descend. Ignoring the advice of my guide is a bad movefor a moment, I look down, and the ground feels like its a million miles away. Hanging there for a few seconds is a remarkable feeling, the breeze blowing, the desert, quiet and peaceful. Im just getting comfortable when two fighter jets, training for the Israeli Defense Forces, roar just overhead. Everything, even the atmosphere, seems to shake. Adrenaline pumping, I reach the ground, ready to do it all again.

Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling, in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, hes tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North Americas largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail.
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Conservative blogging attacks the Kansas Guv by way of worthwhile economic issues that most people don't understand.

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Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed SB 50, legislation that would have reversed state tax increases resulting from the 2017 federal tax cut. A large portion of the nearly $100 million in annual tax relief in Senate Bill 50 is returning what has been described as a 'found wallet.'
Japan-US statement slammed for sending wrong signal on Taiwan question, interfering in Chinas internal affairs

Global Times) 09:06, April 18, 2021

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on April 16, 2021 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attending a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C. in a live stream provided by FOX. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Japan escalated its interference in Chinas affairs as leaders of Japan and the US made China a focus of their meeting on Friday and for the first time in half a century mentioned Chinas Taiwan in their joint statement.

Experts said Japan should refrain from completely siding with the US to harm Chinas interests, or the regional stability and the huge benefits it enjoys from expanding economic and trade with China will surely suffer.

US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga released a joint statement after the meeting in Washington, which highlighted the US-Japan alliance for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and portrayed China as a negative influence in the region.

It was the first time Japanese and American leaders mentioned Taiwan in a joint statement since the meeting of Eisaku Sato and Richard Nixon in 1969 before China and Japan had built diplomatic relations. The joint statement made direct remarks on Chinas internal affairs including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

China lodged solemn representations with Japan and the US over their interference in Chinas internal affairs and their groundless accusations on China. China's Foreign Ministry on Saturday released a statement and vowed to take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development rights.

Preaching "freedom and openness," but in fact, the US and Japan are engaged in forming "small cliques" and inciting confrontation; It will only make the world see more and more clearly the essence of the "US-Japan alliance," that is endangering regional peace and stability, the foreign ministry said in the statement.

Chinese embassies in the US and Japan also condemned the two countries finger-pointing at China.

Observers noted that the direct mention of Taiwan is a severe interference of Chinas domestic affairs and sends a signal that Japan and the US are attempting to contain Chinas possible moves to reunify with the island of Taiwan.

Any attempt to undermine Chinas bottom line on the Taiwan question will definitely backfire, experts warned Japan, reminding it there will be consequences if Japan moves to the wrong direction.

The joint statement demonstrates the hypocrisy of the US and Japan as the mention of Taiwan will send a wrong signal and adding fuel to the Taiwan separatists. This is to further bring regional instability where Japan will suffer.

Vague expressions that actually alluded to the Taiwan Strait, such as the surrounding area and the surrounding situation had been featured in the US-Japan statements before, but not directly mentioning Taiwan.

The direct remarks have gone beyond the normal scope of bilateral relations, and undermines peace and stability in Asia-Pacific, Chinese Embassy in the US said after the release of the joint statement. It is ironic that an attempt by a small circle of the US and Japan to divide and target other countries in Asia-Pacific would be described as free and open. Such an attempt is bound to end up backfiring, especially when it started out with the purpose of harming others.

China-Japan relations had gradually improved since 2018. The escalated interference concerning Taiwan island, which is at Chinas core interest, puts in jeopardy the China-Japan relations, Da Zhigang, Director and Research Fellow of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Japan is falling into the USs trap by risking peaceful relations with China, said Lu Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.

Lu warned that as a close neighbor of China, Japan has to rethink any consequences that may result from its actions, urging Japan to make clarification to China soon.

Experts have said Japan should avoid military conflicts with China as much as possible. Japanese political elites must try their best to ensure that Japan avoids becoming a sacrifice of the US.

China is far more important to Japan than Washington is to Tokyo in terms of trade and economy. China became Japan's top export destination in 2020, leapfrogging the US and consuming more than 22 percent of Japanese goods sold overseas, according to data from Japan's Ministry of Finance.

Predictions show that Japanese economy is unlikely to resume to the level of 2019 in the second quarter of 2022. Japan needs economic stimulus, and harming ties with China will only have counterproductive impact on Japan, according to Lu.

Li Haidong, professor at the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that the US and Japans rhetoric of the maintenance of peace and stability of the island of Taiwan is in itself hypocritical.

The stability of the island was disturbed by the continuous presence of US warships in the Taiwan Straits and Japans strong ties with the Democratic Progressive Party, Li said.

Experts warned that Japan and the US are playing with fire on the Taiwan questions. Their moves will only send the wrong signal to the Taiwan separatists and allow the DPP to go further down the wrong path; thus it will further provoke regional instability, experts noted.

The mutual cooperation of the US and Japan based on the so-called democracy and an imaginary common threat can be seen as a signal of their open intervention into affairs of other countries, especially those that differ ideologically from the West, Li said.

Li pointed out that the US-Japan joint statement once again shows the fact that Japan is just a vassal of the US in terms of security and politics. It is apparent to all that the main intention of the joint statement is to create crisis, division and confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region in order to benefit the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US.

Before Sugas visit, Japan had already triggered regional outcry after its decision to dump radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. However, the joint statement did not mention this issue at all.

It is ridiculous that the two leaders ignored the question of Japans decision to dump contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, an issue many countries in the world are concerned about, Li said.

It is such a hypocrisy and double standards for them to simply put aside the well-being and health of the world and fully devote themselves to pursuing a narrow-minded issue about the so-called strategic competition with China, he said.

Countries in the region, including China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea and the Philippines have expressed their deep concerns over Japan's decision of dumping the wastewater.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Owners of high-rise buildings in Sydney will finally receive advice from the NSW government as early as Monday about what products they should use to replace flammable cladding found on their towers.

The long-awaited findings from a report by the states cladding product safety panel are set to be released, helping to end years of uncertainty in NSW about whether replacement products are safe or too risky.

The Grenfell Tower cladding catastrophe in London and NSW Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson. Credit:AP/AAP

Many owners have been under orders from Sydney councils to remove flammable cladding from buildings but have been in the dark about suitable replacements. It has left some fearing that the material they replace it with will not comply.

While the report will offer guidance, the peak body for apartment owners warns that owners now face the long, complex and costly job of replacing flammable cladding.
Now at 56, Sekibo remains a man of vision and an enigma in the field of business. People marvel at how he excelled in taking almost dead business ventures to profit-making, but to him its all in a days work once the mindset is attuned to success.

Your life can be better with just one more try. Relentlessly pursue an opportunity, and you will generate the hope that you will make it. You go to school, there is a hope you will make it. You jump into a river, there is a hope you will swim across, especially in shark-infested waters. So, hope is a potent and powerful ingredient of success when you hit a crisis block.  Ifie Sekibo

Heritage Banks success story will not be a surprise to those who have followed Ifie Sekibos life story, as times without numbers, he has shown that he possesses the Midas touch required to bring a declining business endeavour back to life.

The rebirth of the bank to what it is now, with a coterie of local and international awards, follows a trajectory of similar brands in the past that almost went under until Sekibo took over the reins, turned their fortunes on the path of sustainability, which is why he is regarded as a turnaround captain by players in the economic landscape of the country.

His strategic prowess became more prominent when his Heritage Bank, which started as a regional bank, in 2013, defied all banking tenets and was able to withstand the might of top established players like Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, Skye Bank (now Polaris), Diamond Bank and others to win the bid for the acquisition of Enterprise Bank in 2014, which also saw it inherit over 160 branches, over 177 ATMs, and 2000 POS terminals spread across major markets and commercial centres in the country.

It should be recollected that in 2009, Sekibo had led his team of professionals to nurture the re-birth of Societe Generale Bank that had been dead for 10 years and transformed it into an innovative regional bank called Heritage Banking Company Limited, where he served as pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

Sekibo, an alumnus of the renowned Harvard Business School OPM class (2006-2009) and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (2002), with over two decades of professional work experience spanning across the financial services and energy sectors, is a tenacious entrepreneur and a passionate game-changer with a proven track record in turn-around management.

He believes that the success so far achieved is as a result of the mindset that went into the execution of the task, as he posits that, Organisations do not become the best by themselves but can become the best if the individuals who drive them have the necessary mindset to make it so. This is why I say vision is nothing without the right attitude or mindset to push it to success.

This success mindset has consistently driven his vision to lead tenacious teams which mobilise strategic investments and capital injection to resuscitate and restructure moribund companies to the path of sustained profitability.

His teams are led by the mantra of hard work and understanding of their feelings, which he succinctly explains in one of his famous quotes, Ignoring your feelings is the number one reason why people never achieve optimal thinking to make the best decisions for success. Get to know that inner voice  its not always on your side. We must become the master of our mind and body. Nothing changes without a lot of hard work and determination. And nothing is so satisfying as reaching goals.

One of the cardinal points of his life is mentorship, and he is involved in mentoring the youths over the years, as despite his busy schedules, he still mentors and gives direction to the youths. He believes that by developing their emotional intelligence, his influence can outlive him in their minds. This is what a leader will be remembered, loved, and celebrated for, according to him.

This is why he seeks to grow the countrys revenue by revamping the abandoned gold reserves through Heritage banks partnership with Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Co. Limited to develop Nigerias potential reserves of 200 million ounces of gold and fast-track the 10 per cent contribution of the mining sector to GDP by 2026.

Nigerias Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, during the virtual platform launch of Dukia-Heritage Bank Gold & Precious Metals Buying Centres nationwide, said the initiative would enable Nigeria to mine reserves properly, trade responsibly, refine locally and boost the nations foreign reserves.

Now at 56, Sekibo remains a man of vision and an enigma in the field of business. People marvel at how he excelled in taking almost dead business ventures to profit-making, but to him its all in a days work once the mindset is attuned to success.

His special ability to turn around dead businesses and make them profitable became evident back in 2003 when he led a team of technocrats to acquire a moribund company named Global Assurance Company Limited as the executive vice-chairman and also steered the institution named International Energy Insurance (IEI), which later emerged as a frontline Insurance company in Nigeria after undertaking a capital raise and listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

This passion and relentless efforts of his at turning around businesses that have nose-dived also took him to the South-Eastern part of the country where Golden Breweries in Umuahia, Abia State, was resuscitated after 16 years of inactivity, following a lifeline of $10 million it obtained from Nigerian Export and Import Bank, (NEXIM) and facilitated by Heritage Bank Plc. Heritage Banks involvement in financing the revival of the Golden Guinea Breweries under the amiable leadership of Sekibo remains one of his greatest achievements of bringing back another moribund business.

Aside from being highly reputed for turning a moribund business into profitability, his next interest is to make sure that Nigerian languages do not go into extinction. This was why he joined other private citizens to support the call for local dialects to be taught in schools, as most youths, due to parental or societal influence, feel the English language is superior to their native languages.

He championed the launch of a book titled Let Us Speak Ikwerre (A KWU IWNUROHHNA), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The book, originally written in the English Language, was authored by Mrs. Oyintarela Umeri and translated to the Ikwerre language by Dr. Tony Enyia, an indigene of Rumuor-Ogbakari, Emohua Local Government of Rivers State.

One of the cardinal points of his life is mentorship, and he is involved in mentoring the youths over the years, as despite his busy schedules, he still mentors and gives direction to the youths. He believes that by developing their emotional intelligence, his influence can outlive him in their minds. This is what a leader will be remembered, loved, and celebrated for, according to him.

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Mr. Sekibo is a valued member and Fellow of several professional institutes, including the Institute of Directors; Institute of Petroleum, London; Nigerian Institute of Management; Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Dele Akinsemoyin writes from Lagos.
As the foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan are likely to be in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the behind-the-scenes role the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been playing to bring the two South Asian neighbours back on the table of negotiation has once again come under spotlight.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to leave New Delhi for Abu Dhabi early on Sunday. His counterpart in Pakistan Government, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, already reached the capital of the UAE on Saturday.

Both Jaishankar and Qureshi are visiting Abu Dhabi on invitation from Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister of the UAE.

The visit of the Foreign Ministers of both India and Pakistan to UAE around the same time fuelled speculation about a meeting between the two. Neither New Delhi, nor Islamabad, however, confirmed or ruled out the possibility of such a meeting.

Jaishankar is likely to focus on India-UAE economic cooperation during his meeting with Emirati Foreign Minister. They will also discuss welfare of the people of India living in the UAE, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in New Delhi.

Qureshi will discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest during his meeting with Sheikh Abdullah, according to a tweet by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pakistan Government.
India on Sunday reported a net increase of 121,576 in active cases, the most ever in a day, to take its count to 1,801,316. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 9.86 per cent (one in 11). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Sunday, it added 261,500 cases, the most in a day yet, to take its total caseload to 14,788,109. And, with 1,501 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 177,150, or 1.20 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 2,684,956 more people getting Covid-19 vaccine shots on Saturday, Indias total count of those inoculated reached 122,622,590. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 12,809,643  or 86.64 per cent of total caseload  with 138,423 new cured cases being reported on Sunday.
Chinese radio system for police By Damith Wickremasekara Another grant from Beijing; experts express concern over security and privacy issues View(s): View(s):

The Chinese Government is to provide a grant to Sri Lanka to improve the communication facilities for the Police.

As part of the Chinese grant, a widely used communication facility known as TETRA  Terrestrial Trunked Radio  will be provided to the Police to improve communication between senior officers and police stations. It also provides for tabs to support the body cameras which will be initially available for police stations in the Western Province where a base station will be set up.

The grant will be officially provided when the Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe visits Sri Lanka later this month.

The TETRA Communication system will also be initially available in the Western Province where the Inspector General will be able to address separate groups such as Deputy Inspectors General and officers in charge of police stations.

However, it was not clear how the Police would expand the use of the particular network to the rest of the country.

The Chinese capital widely uses this network and it is the biggest city-wide TETRA network in the world that serves 110,000 authority users in Beijing.

The Beijing Government Shared Radio Network, also called the Beijing JustTop TETRA Network, is the largest digital trunked network in Asia and the biggest city-wide TETRA network in the world.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity professionals have expressed concerns over the system. This is because of the lack of a dedicated institutional cybersecurity agency in the country to validate these types of devices for their security vulnerabilities before using them in critical sectors such as the Police.

The Sunday Times learns there are no such institutions in the country as of now to verify whether these types of devices carry any pre-patched data for transmission or consist of privacy issues that would make the process vulnerable.

These moves come as a Government-appointed Committee is looking into the modernisation and digitalisation of activities of the Police. Five Deputy Inspectors General, representatives of the Finance Ministry and the Legal Draftsman are members of the committee.

The committee is due to submit its recommendations in 45 days.

The plan will include establishing a traffic control system and an upgraded CCTV system among others.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Sunday Times that the visiting Chinese Defence Minister would meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during a two-day visit.

This is the second-highest level visit to be undertaken by a Chinese official to Sri Lanka following senior Chinese diplomat, Yang Jiechis visit in October last year, after the change of government in 2019.

This week the Sri Lankan government entered into an agreement with the China Development Bank for a financing facility of USD 500 million.
Kolkata, April 18 : With the return of peace in insurgency-affected Assam, the army has started pulling out of areas where normalcy has returned.

"Assam has been a hotbed of insurgency over the last few decades. Various parts of the state have been under the strict vigilance of the Indian Army. However, with continued efforts over time, many of the insurgency affected districts are gradually returning to normal," army press office said in a statement.

With incidents of violence at their lowest in nearly three decades, deployed troops of the Red Horns Division are being withdrawn from active insurgency (CI) operations from some districts of western Assam.

The Army has vacated the large Hatsingimari camp in South Salmara.

Camps in Mankachar has also been vacated.

"The camp has been successfully handed over and will now be administered by the local civil administration and the security forces," an army officer in Western Assam said.

The camp's area of responsibility has seen no incidents in the recent past, the officer said.

"Local populace and Ex-servicemen were also present at the time of troops moving out of Company Operating Base. The moving out of the troops was welcomed by the local populace and they thanked the Army for their contribution towards achieving peace and restoring normalcy in the district," they added.

This area has witnessed high pitch insurgency by the ULFA and the Bodo rebel groups in the past.

"When Bangladesh sheltered northeast Indian rebels, these districts were the favourite ingress-egress route of the rebels. But after Hasina government cracked down against them, the area became less volatile," said retired IN official Benu Ghosh who has served in the area.
Some elements of our society have enjoyed covid. Many liberals like shutting down other peoples businesses, expanding government powers and generally bossing the rest of us around. Mask mandates have been especially popular on the left because they are a cheap form of virtue signaling and a visible sign of liberals power over the rest of us. There are, I think, many on the left who really dont want to see covid hysteria end. Ever, or at least until it can be replaced by something else.

Thus, deep-blue Oregon is contemplating a permanent mask-wearing requirement.

A top health official is considering indefinitely extending rules requiring masks and social distancing in all businesses in the state. The proposal would keep the rules in place until they are no longer necessary to address the effects of the pandemic in the workplace. Michael Wood, administrator of the states department of Occupational Safety and Health, said the move is necessary to address a technicality in state law that requires a permanent rule to keep current restrictions from expiring.

Oregon Democrats assure residents that even though the rule is permanent, it will be repealed someday. But when? Like Dr. Fauci, Oregons officials cant tell us when that day will ever come:

Officials said they have every intent to repeal the rule, and that decision will be made based on a complex mix of factors, including case counts, vaccination rates, case severity and advice from the Oregon Health Authority. It will be a complicated assessment when we do it, and I would say it is impossibly complicated to do in advance, Wood said.

I will hazard a prediction: if it is implemented, the permanent rule will be repealed only when Oregonians engage in mass civil disobedience, refusing to obey it. But it might not come to that. Record numbers of public comments have flowed in, opposing the proposed rule, and 60,000 have signed a petition against it.

The point goes broadly for all of America. Liberals love covid restrictions and the arbitrary power they give to governments. They wont stop bullying the rest of us until we make them stop.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S



Yediyurappa who is undergoing treatment for at a private hospital is now stable and recovering, his office said on Sunday.

"The Chief Minister who was admitted in a hospital on Friday for COVID treatment is being monitored by a team of expert doctors. The health of the Chief Minister is stable and he is recovering," the office of the Chief Minister tweeted on Sunday.

Yediyurappa is spending his time in the hospital reading his favourite books and is in touch with officials to give them necessary directions, the tweet further said.

The Chief Minister had fever on Friday and when he got himself tested, the report came positive for

Accordingly, he got admitted to the hospital.

This is the second time Yediyurappa contracted

This was despite the fact that the Chief Minister took the first dose of COVID vaccine.

He was supposed to chair an all-party meeting on Sunday to take a stringent measure in view of rising coronavirus cases in Bengaluru.

However, the meeting has been postponed to Monday and Revenue Minister R Ashoka will now preside over the meeting.

(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 Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has grounded a private chopper belonging to Pastor Enoch Adeboye of t...

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has grounded a private chopper belonging to Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Lagos Airport.

The PUNCH reports that the aircraft, AgustaWestland AW139 chopper, with registration number 5N-EAA, was suspended from flying over two weeks ago, following the expiration of some of its papers and spare parts.





The suspension, officials said, would also allow the regulator to conduct vital safety checks on its safety-critical components, especially some spare parts that are due for replacement.

Adeboye had, last Saturday during a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the mission at the RCCG, Region 21, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, called for drastic action against corrupt practices in all facets of Nigeria.

The RCCG leader, who flew a chopper to the venue, said he arrived late for the meeting because someone had requested a bribe from him to fly his chopper.

He said he had decided to embark on the trip via his chopper to avoid a possible gridlock on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The 79-year-old mathematician-turned-preacher said, I dont give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses. But you must pray for Nigeria.

Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I am this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you are expecting a bribe from me, you have to wait forever.

But the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. I decided to come by helicopter so that there wont be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the expressway because I know what the devil could do.

Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we are here.

Although, it was not possible to ascertain who requested the alleged bribe from the revered servant of God, investigations by the paper revealed that the clerics chopper was suspended from flying by the regulatory authority over safety issues.

Multiple aviation sources confirmed that Adeboye could not fly his chopper with registration number 5N-EAA to the Ibadan programme but had to fly another aircraft reportedly belonging to Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel).

A top official of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, who is close to the operations of the two choppers belonging to the servants of God, said, The team relating directly with Daddy G.O. should have told the man of God otyn time that his chopper had not been cleared by the NCAA and, as such, it couldnt go on the Ibadan trip. They shouldnt have waited till the last minute. The NCAA (aviation regulatory agency) that we have now is different from what it used to be. There is a new man in charge who always insists that things must be done properly as far as the safety of lives is concerned. The churchs protocol team should have told him that the NCAA has not cleared the aircraft and it may not clear it within a short time because certain procedure must be followed. As such, an alternative arrangement should have been made.

The NAMA official, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, further said, On that last Saturday morning, when it later became obvious that the jet was not cleared to fly, they had to make an alternative arrangement with Bishop Oyedepos chopper. They had to quickly begin that process by filing the flight plan, etc. It was Bishops aircraft that Pastor Adeboye later flew to the event. He could not use his own.

A top official of Omni-Blu Aviation, the airline operating the chopper for Adeboye, confirmed the development.

The official, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, said a letter from Italy-based Leonardo, the manufacturer of Adeboyes AW 139 helicopter, requesting the NCAA to grant a time extension on some spare parts that are due for replacement came late.

The spare parts due for replacement have been ordered from the manufacturer but they have yet to be shipped into Nigeria because they are usually produced on demand, according to Omni-Blu Aviation.





As such, the NCAA could not immediately grant the requested extension. Instead, the regulatory agency requested that comprehensive safety checks be conducted on the aircraft in line with standard aviation safety practice.

He said, The NCAA that we have now is different from what it used to be. It always insists on standard. We dont want any disappointing situation for anybody, especially for a globally reputed servant of God like Daddy G.O. It appears the man of God was not properly briefed. But we thank God an alternative arrangement was made to rescue the situation. Safety is first and paramount. No life is worth toying with, how much more that of a servant of God like Daddy G.O. As an airline, we wont compromise safety no matter the pressure.

The Omni-Blu official denied knowledge of any bribe request, either by the airline or aviation officials.

He, however, said it was not impossible that some people might have cashed in on the situation to demand a bribe.

You know some people dont fear God no matter what. They can even go to the extent of asking a servant of God for a bribe. So, it is not impossible. But on our part, I am not aware of such.

As it stands, it is uncertain when Adeboyes chopper will be allowed to fly.

However, findings revealed that NCAA had directed maintenance and safety checks to be conducted on the aircraft.

As such, the operator has secured a date for this at Aeros maintenance hangar.

When contacted for comments, the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, confirmed that the regulatory agency had suspended flights on the aircraft for safety reasons.

According to him, the NCAA does not often deal directly with individuals or owners of aircraft but the operator.

In this case, he said the NCAA only had business with the operator of the aircraft, Omni-Blu Aviation.

Nuhu said, There are safety-related issues that must be resolved before the aircraft will be approved for resumption of flights. Safety is the paramount consideration in all approvals given by the NCAA. No matter what, we must not sacrifice safety for flights; that is the whole idea.

When contacted, the spokesperson for RCCG, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the matter was being resolved already.

On the bribery allegation, he said the church would not want to take issue with the aviation authorities on the matter.

Olubiyi said, We will not want to take issue with the aviation authorities but I can assure you that an amicable solution is being found to the issue.
Cases have been filed against four for failing to check the RTPCR test reports of passengers arriving from Maharashtra, Delhi government sources said on Sunday.

These cases have been filed under the Disaster Management Act, they said.

Delhi government had last week announced that it will be mandatory for anyone travelling to Delhi from Maharashtra to carry a negative RT-PCR report dated 72 hours prior to arrival. Travellers without a negative report will be placed in quarantine for a period of 14 days, it had said.

"The cases have been registered against four for not checking RTPCR test reports of passengers coming to Delhi from Maharshtra," said a Delhi government source.

The decision was take following exponential rise in COVID-19 cases in the city.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said over 25,000 people have tested COVID-19 positive in the last 24 hours in Delhi. On Saturday, the national capital had recorded 24,375 fresh cases.

The government has also registered FIRs against two private hospitals in the city for providing "false" information about availability of beds there on an official app, sources said.

Kejriwal had on Saturday warned hospitals of strict action if they are found giving wrong information or turning away patients despite showing availability of beds on a Delhi government app.

(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.)
Led by the Dean of Windsor, a coffin processes slowly through St George's Chapel with a grieving son and daughter walking immediately behind; a small congregation, led by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family, watch from their seats in the Quire.

That was the scene at Windsor Castle more than half a century back. And the dutiful son that day was Prince Philip.

Much has been made of the fact the Duke of Edinburgh planned every last detail of Saturday's funeral  as he most certainly did. But he had been there before. On December 10, 1969, he came to say farewell to his mother, Princess Andrew of Greece, with his elder sister, Princess Margarita, at his side.

The death of an historic figure two months shy of his 100th birthday might be considered by many as a moment to celebrate a great life lived to the full

Yet there were, on so many levels, a poignancy and gravitas to this magnificent event that made it almost heroically sad

This weekend, it was the Duke's children, led by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, who followed their father's coffin to the same catafalque, and thence to the same Royal Vault. The principal difference was that while Princess Andrew's departure was an entirely private affair, Saturday's funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was screened around the world. And as millions, if not billions, of viewers soon discovered, this was surely the most intimate royal ceremony we have ever seen.

The death of an historic figure two months shy of his 100th birthday might be considered by many as a moment to celebrate a great life lived to the full. Yet there were, on so many levels, a poignancy and gravitas to this magnificent event that made it almost heroically sad.

Every few minutes came yet another moment which will have moved people much more than they were expecting. For some, it might have been the representatives of all the Duke's ships, regiments and air stations, heads bowed, as the tri-service band played I Vow To Thee My Country and the ducal Land Rover rumbled into the Quadrangle; for others, it will have been the sight of the Duke's two Fell ponies, standing as good as gold, in front of his carriage  with just his gloves, cap and little pot of sugar lumps on his empty seat.

For most, surely, it will have been the sight of the Sovereign in her stall in the Quire all alone  well almost. At her side was her trusty handbag. And where did she place it? In the seat alongside her. That was where the Duke would have sat.

The couple, pictured together on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in November 2007

It has long been a rather smug cliche to say that 'no one does these things quite like Britain', though Saturday did nothing to disabuse the world of that notion.

It might be fairer to say that no one does these things quite like the Armed Forces, the Lord Chamberlain's Office at Buckingham Palace (the royal ceremonial department) and the Events unit of the BBC.

The fact that Windsor was glowing in the spring sunshine, just as it was the last time the eyes of the world were on this place  for the Sussexes' wedding  merely reinforced the sense of a great occasion. As in 2018, so on Saturday, the Round Tower was flying the State Standard  the 24ft by 12ft whopper used only on special occasions.

Not that it had much of an audience. Windsor had done its best to deter all visitors, even flashing up unwelcoming messages to M4 motorway traffic. A couple of thousand onlookers, perhaps, were scattered around the surrounding streets, all being interviewed by a similar number of international camera crews and reporters. In recent days, editors around the world had woken up to the fact that so many strangers somehow felt invested in these proceedings.

People with no connection to Britain or its Royal Family or the Commonwealth had been deeply touched in recent days by the fact that the most dependable, constant public figure in global public life  the most famous woman in the world, for that matter  was now a widow. On top of that, for so many families who have had to lose a loved one in the age of Covid, here was a conduit for every sort of emotion.

Above all, this also felt like a farewell to the greatest generation of them all  the wartime generation. Certainly, Forces families will have had no problem recognising the music the Duke had chosen as the prelude to his funeral procession. Isle of Beauty and Elgar's Nimrod are the same pieces played immediately before the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, a ceremony the Duke attended more times than anyone in history with the exception of the Queen herself.

The Royal Family stand at the bottom of the steps of St George's Chapel as the coffin is carried up into the church

Suddenly, as Nimrod was reaching its aching crescendo, came another of those moments that caught the back of the throat. Out of a side entrance, there appeared all the castle housekeeping staff in their liveries, followed by all the chefs in their whites. They formed a rank of their own, heads bowed. This would have looked like a strange sight from another age (or even a period drama) in any other setting. But not in this one.

From the Stewards' Door came the Duke's core team, his private secretary, detective and valets. All the staff had wanted to say farewell to an immensely popular boss. At Buckingham Palace, the Duke's office was always regarded as one of the 'fun' postings  a dynamic place with a small, younger-than-average team who used Christian names instead of titles. Life was never dull. The Duke installed some of Britain's first computers, for example (a few years ago, he took all his staff to try Heston Blumenthal's famously whacky cuisine as a Christmas treat).

At 2.41pm, the music ended. With no crowds and no Heathrow air traffic overhead (Covid has its minor mercies), we could actually hear the reassuring crunch of British Army boot on gravel as the first Bearer Party, from the Grenadier Guards, carried the coffin from the State Entrance to the Land Rover. It was followed by the Duke's children, his elder grandsons, his son-in-law, Sir Tim Laurence, and nephew, Lord Snowdon. All the other mourners had gone on ahead with one obvious exception.

Bringing up the rear came the State Bentley with the Queen and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey. With electrifying synchronicity, the bass drum of the Band of the Grenadier Guards, the first 13-pounder of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the castle clock all managed to hit 2.45pm on the dot. And the Duke set sail on his last (temporal) voyage. Once again, it was the very same music as we hear at the Cenotaph  Beethoven's Funeral March No 1  which led the way.

The Queen's Bentley followed the coffin from the castle to the church, behind the Land Rover and her family marching together

There had been a lot of talk in the build-up to the funeral about who could wear which uniforms and who was supposed to stand where. How footling it all seemed now (like so many of those dramas in the run-up to big royal events, they always tend to evaporate on the day). The procession curved its way around the foot of the Round Tower and down towards the chapel, passing the Galilee Porch. There, the other royal mourners who had gone on ahead re-emerged to line the route and bow to the passing hearse. Here, the Queen alighted from her State Bentley, our first full sight of the chief mourner. After being greeted by the Dean, she started to move inside before turning round to check that the rest of the family were keeping up. Still very much in charge.

The Land Rover continued its stately chug down through the Lower Ward. So often at state occasions, it is the Household Division who take centre stage, This time, the honour fell to the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers who had helped build this thing. Four REME drivers had been trained up. Corporal Louis Murray had won the honour with the toss of a coin.

The procession passed the floral tributes on the lawn next to the chapel. All those royal houses who could not attend had sent huge wreaths. The most striking was that of Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Known as 'Daisy' to family and subjects alike, she had sent a wreath made up entirely of her favourite flower alongside a sash emblazoned with one word: 'Daisy'.

At the foot of the West Steps, the second Bearer Party from the Royal Marines had the toughest job of the day, namely to remove the coffin from the Land Rover, swivel it 90 degrees, and then carry it up three flights of steps  pausing for a minute's silence  without dislodging the Duke's cap, sword and standard plus the Queen's wreath from the lid of the coffin. Should military drill ever become an Olympic discipline, these men would win gold.

Once inside, it fell to four castle residents  three lay clerks and soprano Miriam Allan  to sing everything. The current Covid rules ordain that ordinary worshippers may not sing a note at these events  not even God Save The Queen in front of the Queen at a moment when people have seldom been keener to save this black, masked figure, quite alone, dwarfed by Edward III's exuberant Gothic architecture.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence prepare to set off from the castle behind the coffin

She, though, is made of sterner stuff. All the signals in the run-up to this event  her recent telephone calls to Commonwealth leaders, her focus on all the granular details, her green light for the Princess Royal to side-step the conventions of Court mourning to attend a maritime engagement on the Solent last week  are an indication that life goes on. I have been assured, for example, that next month's State Opening of Parliament is still firmly in the diary. She is, emphatically, not about to disappear like Queen Victoria.

For much of the service, she had her head bowed, as did everyone else. It was not a moment to catch a tearful eye across the aisle. The Queen sat opposite the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall as well as the only family 'bubble' at the funeral, the Earl and Countess of Wessex with their two teenage children, Lady Louise and James (Viscount Severn). What bricks they have been in the past few days. Jutting out above them all were the banners of the current crop of Knights of the Garter (the one immediately above the Queen was that of Lord King, former Governor of the Bank of England).

The one hymn the Duke was always going to have at his funeral was William Whiting's seafaring plea 'for those in peril on the sea'  unaccompanied at first but with the organ swirling in to action in the last verse: 'rock and tempest, fire and foe'. Less familiar was his choice of anthem, the Russian Kontakion, a tribute to the departed in both the Greek and Russian Orthodox traditions. Here was a homage to his Greek origins and to one of his ancestral heroines, Great Aunt Ella, the Russian Grand Duchess who became a nun and was killed by the Bolsheviks, hurled down a mineshaft, still singing defiantly to the end.

As THE winding gear, imperceptibly slowly, began lowering the coffin to the Royal Vault, the Garter King of Arms (the national custodian of all things heraldic), stepped forward in his tabard to recite the Duke's full 'styles and titles', from Earl of Merioneth to Field Marshal and Lord High Admiral. Somewhere in the middle came the one title by which he was known best, of course, 'Husband of Her Most Excellent Majesty'.

Buglers and trumpeters then sounded the Last Post, Reveille and, finally, 'Action Stations'. It could almost have been his motto, after all.

Outside in the sunshine, the Queen thanked the Dean and climbed in to the State Bentley as the other state cars queued up to pick up the mourners in order of precedence. From my perch a few yards away, I saw that the Prince of Wales had other ideas.

Pulling an enormous white handkerchief from his pocket, he dabbed his eyes and proceeded to walk back up the hill with the Duchess of Cornwall. It was the cue for everyone else to do the same. All of a sudden this rigidly choreographed event morphed  delightfully  into a family occasion just like any other.

Of course, the Duke's funeral was never supposed to be quite like this. But he would surely never have expected a reaction quite like this either.

It often used to be said that the late Queen Mother was 'the nation's grandmother'.

In recent days  much as he would have grimaced at the very suggestion  the nation has come to realise that it had a grandfather, too.
Ghana received a total of 279 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects valued at US$2.7 billion in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.



The projects will go into areas such as manufacturing, services, building and construction, agriculture, mining, petroleum and export trading and expected to generate 27,110 jobs nationwide.



According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) that facilitated the investment drive, a total value of US$2.65 billion of those projects were foreign investments while US$145 million were domestic.



Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced this during the Minister's media briefing in Accra on Sunday.



The Minister noted that last year's FDI saw about 140 percent increase in investment over 2019 because of sound monetary and fiscal policies and expansion of the country's economic space.



He said 184 of the projects will go into services, 57 to the manufacturing sector, 15 to export trading, and 10 to general trading.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah said, for instance, the manufacturing sector will receive US$1.2 billion, US$650 million for the services, US$120 million will go into the mining sector, and US$122 million into the petroleum sector.



Some of the foreign countries that made various investments into the local economy include China, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia and South Africa.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah indicated that the GIPC had been tasked to ensure the equity and logistical components were realised.



The projects are expected to be implemented in eight regions including the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Volta, Oti, Western, Eastern and Northern.



Two hundred and thirty-one(231) of the projects will go to the Greater Accra, 31 to Western, seven to Ashanti, three to Volta, three to Eastern and Upper East and Central Regions will have one each.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah further explained that the GIPC had been tasked to provide quarterly updates on the progress of work of those investment opportunities, adding that database on the first-quarter update on work done so far was ready and would be published very soon.



The United Nations Conference on Trade and Investment's (UNCTAD) Global Investment Trends Monitor said global investment collapsed in 2020, falling by 42 per cent to an established US$859 billion, from US$1.5 trillion in 2019.



The decline was concentrated in developed countries when FDI flows fell by 69 per cent to an estimated US$229 billion.



Despite the grim economic outlook caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall FDI in developing countries appeared relatively resilient.

Source: GNA









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The increasing role of technology in farming is evident, according to an annual Farm Report conducted by ifac, Irelands farming, food and agribusiness professional services firm.

Over 70% of farmers say they want online buying and selling in the marts to continue post-pandemic.

With 1,700 farmers across the country participating in the survey, it has revealed the true impact of Covid-19 on the farming community, from the accelerated adoption of technology on the farm to the rise in social isolation and loss of community engagement.

Seven out of eight (86%) farmers say broadband is now essential, making the rollout of rural broadband an urgent requirement across the country for business tasks including banking. One in two (52%) farmers use herd and breeding software on their farms.

When it comes to farmer wellbeing, three in four (75%) say they will take the Covid-19 vaccine (with 19% unsure and 6% not planning to take a vaccine) and almost a third (31%) of farmers risk burnout by not taking a holiday (for at least a week) in the last three years or more.

Also, three in four (75%) say Covid-19 has negatively impacted their social life, and two out of five (42%) say they dont know who to call for support.

The survey also highlights the opportunities for farmers in relation to their preparation for the future. For example, for the third year in a row the survey results indicate that farmers of all ages are continuing to put off succession planning. Less than a quarter (24%) have identified a future successor, with almost one in three (31%) saying their farm business is not viable enough.

Additionally, three out of five (58%) dont complete any budgets or cash flows. Of those who employ non-family farm labour, only 21% have written contracts of employment in place and only 17% have an employee handbook. Less than a quarter (24%) know how much they need to have in their pension to provide a 200 per week income from the age of 65.

Other key takeaways include:

Two out of five (40%) dont have a Will in place

81% say they will still be farming in five years (12% dont know)

As an employer, over 20% say its hard to find people with the right skills

Three in four dairy farmers have a positive outlook for their sector. However, only two out of five farmers have a positive outlook in other farming sectors

Only one in four dairy farmers believe that their farm is not providing sufficient income to support their family

Nine out of 10 beef farmers believe their farm isnt providing sufficient income to support their family

84% will maintain or increase herd numbers over the next three years

Only one in five (21%) say Covid-19 has negatively impacted their farm income

Only 5% of farmers feel that Brexit will have no impact on the farming sector.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD said the report is "very timely and comprehensive", highlighting some of the key issues facing Irish farmers.

"As part of the countrys essential services, the whole farming and agri sector has played a key role throughout Covid-19. Despite farmers coping with many issues in 2020 from Brexit, ongoing CAP reform, the global pandemic and climate change, it is heartening to see almost three out of five farmers have a positive outlook on the sector and how technology is playing an increasing role on Irish farms, something that is supported in the Governments ongoing plans for a balanced rural development," the Minister said.

On climate change and land use, our farmers have already shown great leadership in this area and are actively contributing to the national effort to address our shared climate challenge. I am confident they will continue to do this.

"On agri-environment funding, it has been the Governments key priority to ensure the transition to the next CAP runs smoothly and that farmers can continue to access current schemes this year without interruption.

This past year has shown us that our mental health is important - we have all had to dig deep to find resilience and hope throughout Covid. I would strongly advise farmers to reach out to friends, neighbours or supporting agencies," he added.
New Jersey launched a groundbreaking website this month detailing every time officers recently hit, restrained or shot somebody, and the data provides the most up-to-date snapshot ever available of how local police use physical force.

Officials are still fixing small glitches and hope to eventually update the database monthly.

But the numbers, which cover October through February, already point to a few trends.

Most cops didnt use any force. A few used a lot.

A small number of officers reported using more force than the vast majority of their colleagues.

Just 289 cops used force at least three times in five months, a higher rate than others. Some said they used far more.

Less than 4,000 reported using force at all, out of nearly 38,100 active law enforcement officers statewide as of 2019, the most recent year available, according to an attorney general spokesman.

Said another way, less than 1% of New Jersey officers accounted for 18% of all reported force.

Experts said it was normal for some officers to use more force than others.

Not all police officers are in a position to almost ever make arrests, said Wayne Fisher, a former Newark cop and a senior policy adviser with Rutgers Universitys Center on Policing. Cops have desk jobs, theyre not having calls for service, theyre not on the front line.

Officers may also have a more dangerous patrol than their colleagues, and there is not enough information in the database to know if any incidents were excessive.

But the numbers could help police chiefs flag whether someone is overly aggressive. Starting at the end of the year, new rules will require at least two supervisors review every incident.

The data should be pretty significant to the early warning systems, said Dennis Kenney, a former Florida officer and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. Supervisor review will also help guard against officers falsifying reports, Kenney said.

Furthermore, the amount of force reported during these five months seemed low overall, said Maria Haberfeld, another professor at John Jay who also served in the Israel Defense Forces. The pandemic lockdown may have decreased interactions, meaning numbers could increase, she said.

Hundreds of people were hospitalized, including cops.

Violent encounters can be dangerous for everyone.

More than 600 people who had force used on them were injured in some way, according to the data, including more than 300 who were later hospitalized. Thats about a tenth of the total.

Its possible the true number is higher.

The data notes that some people were already injured when cops arrived. Since its not clear if those subjects were injured further by officers, theyre not counted here.

Cops were also hurt.

Just under 500 officers reported an injury. Nearly 150 reported going to the hospital.

Hospitalization numbers will be especially helpful to watch.

NJ Advance Media largely did not include that information in The Force Report, a police force database that covered 2012 through 2016, because departments didnt consistently report hospitalizations at that time.

All cops now use the same online form to report incidents.

In addition, when multiple officers used force on the same person, their reports sometimes differed. This analysis used the most conservative hospitalization numbers, which is one reason why some information here may be slightly different from how the attorney generals office calculates the data online.

Black suspects were more likely to run away than whites, who were more likely to fight back.

More than 32% of Black subjects who had force used on them fled, compared to almost 25% of white subjects.

At the same time, less than 32% of Black subjects were reported to show aggressive resistance, while almost 38% of whites did.

This is similar to data from a recent five-year period, when police also reported that white suspects were more likely to threaten or attack officers, while Black suspects were more likely to flee.

Im not terribly surprised that they would be more inclined to run considering the attention given to the numbers of people shot, said Kenney, one of the John Jay professors. I would be.

Black people are over-represented in the new data. Officers reported using force on Black people more than 2,430 times in recent months, amounting to more than 44% of all force, despite Black residents making up less than 20% of the total population.

Its not yet known how these numbers compare to arrests, because arrest data has not yet been published. That comparison will be a better barometer to test if officers are disproportionately using force on Black suspects, said Fisher, at Rutgers.

With more data, it will also be possible to take a closer look at how racial groups are affected town by town. Haberfeld added that the racial disparities were probably driven by just a few cities.

Experts agreed having every officer use the same use-of-force form in the same database could unquestionably help catch problems, although they cautioned that training and oversight will be just as important.

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Blake Nelson may be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

Nick Devlin may be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickdevlin.

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Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Hearst Foundations have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to community organizations in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

Executive Director Paul Dinovitz announced the grants after the foundations' quarterly board meeting last month, according to a Saturday release.
New Delhi, April 18 : Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, putting forward five suggestions to the government including ramping up the vaccination program and giving approval to the vaccines cleared by European agencies or USFDA.

Manmohan Singh in the letter said, "I have some suggestions in this regard. In making them I want to emphasise that I am putting them forward for your kind consideration in a spirit of constructive cooperation in which I have always believed and acted upon." In his suggestions, the former Prime Minister said that the government should publicise what are the firm orders for doses placed on different vaccine producers and accepted for delivery over the next six months and the government should indicate how this expected supply will be distributed across states based on a transparent formula.

"The central government could retain 10 per cent for distribution based on emergency needs, but other than that, states should have a clear signal of likely availability so that they can plan their roll out," he said.

In the vaccination, states should be given some flexibility to define categories of frontline workers who can be vaccinated even if they are below 45 years of age. India has emerged as the largest vaccine producer in the world, thanks to policies adopted by the government and robust intellectual property protection. The capacity is largely in the private sector. At this moment of a public health emergency, the Government of India must proactively support vaccine producers to expand their manufacturing facilities quickly by providing funds and other concessions.

He also said that this is the time to invoke the compulsory licensing provisions in the law, so that a number of companies are able to produce the vaccines under a licence. Since domestic supplies are limited, any vaccine that has been cleared for use by credible authorities such as the European Medical Agency or the USFDA, should be allowed to be imported without insisting on domestic bridging trials.

"We are facing an unprecedented emergency and, I understand, experts are of the view that this relaxation is justified in an emergency. The relaxation could be for a limited period during which the bridging trials could be completed in India. All consumers of such vaccines could be duly cautioned that these vaccines are being allowed for use based on the approval granted by the relevant authority abroad." He said.

Manmohan Singh said that its over a year that people have been grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, and with the second surge that we are currently witnessing, people are beginning to wonder when their lives will get back to normal.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
Sustainably Yours: Science and Conspiracy Theories

Jewish space lasers, the lizard oligarchy, QAnon, 5G causes COVID-19, the global pandemic is a hoax, Bill Gates is trying to microchip the world, the moon landing was faked, the Earth is flat. Conspiracy theories have always been with us, but mostly they remained on the fringe, with your weird uncle who claimed aliens abducted him. However, today thanks to the Internet and social media theyve gone mainstream, but like theoretical physicist Lawrence Krause likes to say, Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out.

Sustainably-Yours

By Palmer Owyoung

Sunday 18 April 2021, 11:00AM

Photo: Mika Baumeister / Unsplash

Websters dictionary defines a conspiracy theory as, A theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators.

It would be easy to write them off as a harmless distraction, but during a global pandemic people are making life-changing decisions based on conjecture and falsehoods. So why do people believe in things that dont have evidence behind them?

The Three Blind Men

Theres an Indian story about a group of blind men who wanted to know what an elephant looked like. So, they inspected it by touch, each of them taking a different part of the animal. The first blind man grabbed the trunk and said, An elephant is like a gigantic snake. The second grabbed its tusk and proclaimed, The elephant is like a sharp spear. The third blind man placed his hand on its side and said, The elephant is like an enormous wall.

We are all a bit like those blind men grasping for our own personal truths, but not understanding the bigger picture.

Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

Real conspiracies exist. The United States National Security Agency spied on its citizens and allies. Big tobacco lied about cigarettes being harmless. Big pharma lied about how addictive their opiates were. However, the truth didnt come out because of Internet keyboard warriors jumping to conclusions based on circumstantial evidence. They were discovered because of government investigations, whistleblowers or investigative journalists who had substantial amounts of solid evidence in the form of organisation documents and peer-reviewed science to support them.

Our brains are wired to look for explanations even when one isnt readily available and are heavily influenced by cognitive biases and heuristics.

A cognitive bias is an error in how you interpret information. Behavioural economist Daniel Kahneman has identified dozens of these. For example, confirmation bias occurs when you only look for information that supports what you already believe. The Dunning Kruger effect is when you think you are more knowledgeable in a subject than you actually are. This bias can lead to poor decisions.

A cognitive heuristic is when our brains use shortcuts in thinking to draw conclusions. For example, the stereotype that someone who wears glasses is smarter than someone who doesnt.

Our brains use these strategies because for most of human history weve needed to make quick life or death decisions that didnt allow for a lot of analysis. However, today there is less of a threat of being eaten by a wild animal, but the choices we need to make are infinitely more complex.

Although we have science to address these complex questions, sometimes the answers are complicated and even contradictory because there isnt enough data available to draw a definitive conclusion. People often want a sense of certainty and need simple solutions that will not take much time to understand, so they resort to conspiracies.

Its also easier to spread lies. In a 2018 MIT study published in Science Magazine researchers concluded that false information spreads on average six times faster on social media platforms than the truth does. The primary reasons were that they were novel ideas, designed to evoke powerful emotions like surprise or disgust, so people shared them more often.

How To Spot Fake Conspiracies

If you want to spot fake conspiracies, it is important to understand the scientific process and to be skeptical about outlandish claims. Behavioural economist Daniel Kahneman recommends thinking systematically to overcome cognitive biases and heuristics. You can begin by asking yourself a series of questions. Who is the source of the information and what are their credentials? Is there empirical evidence, facts or peer reviewed science to support the claim? Is there historical precedence for it? Is the information consistent with your experiences and those around you? Does the source have an agenda and what is it?

Getting to the truth can be a long and complex process, but it is important for making good decisions. To paraphrase philosopher Ayn Rand, You can deny reality, but you cannot deny the consequences of denying reality.

Palmer Owyoung is an environmental activist working with the Kamala Green Club and the Global Sustainability Hub.
Building owners and developers are looking at converting hotel and commercial properties into affordable housing, but it could be an expensive proposition. The process seems so daunting that an investor interested in converting a struggling 60-room hotel on the Lower East Side is getting cold feet. [The New York Times]

More on the latest legal maneuvers by the activists trying to stop the citys resiliency plan for the East River. [Gothamist]

A Lower East Side man walked into police headquarters, holding a knife, and according to cops, admitted to murdering his own brother. [New York Post]

Coping with the pandemic and being a target for hate crimes and harassment  Danny Liang, a waieter at Wo Hop in Chinatown, tells his story. [Grub Street]

You may have noticed that Essex Street Shambles, the wonderful butcher in the Essex Market, hasnt been open in awhile. Unfortunately, the business appears to be another pandemic casualty. On the Facebook page of the uptown original, Harlem Shambles, the owners announced April 6, Thank you for all of your support over the last ten years, its been a wonderful ride. We have made the difficult decision to suspend operations, given the current environment. We hope to see you all in the future. [Facebook]

Critic Ryan Sutton joins the chorus, saying Dhamaka, the new Indian restaurant in the Essex Market, is one of the most exciting new restaurants in New York. [Eater]

An unfussy menu and a generous hand; Pete Wells reviews Ernestos, the Basque restaurant on East Broadway that was probably the busiest new restaurant in town before the pandemic. [The New York Times]
President Joe Bidens first 100 days have been tested by tens of thousands of people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Its a situation weve seen play out many times before, but a variety of conditions have exacerbated the problem. A combination of COVID-19, climate change and the perceived open door policy of the Biden administration have contributed to create yet another border crisis.

Its not a surprise. Border and immigration policies are difficult challenges to address, and there are no quick fixes. But there is one often-overlooked response where swift action could make a significant and immediate difference: expanding and targeting guest worker visas.

In March of this year, U.S. authorities encountered an estimated 170,000 migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. These individuals left their communities for multiple reasons, including various forms of violence, political instability and few economic opportunities in Central America. The pandemic-worsened economic crisis and Novembers back-to-back hurricanes Eta and Iota also exacerbated tensions and food insecurity.

For those fleeing political persecution, there are asylum pathways. However, for those seeking to escape dire straits and looking simply to survive, it will take time for Bidens $4 billion plan for Central America to have an impact in their rural communities. These individuals are left with two main migration options: Either try to pass as asylum seekers or attempt to enter the United States undetected.

Yet, there could be a third option. Many of these individuals could come to the U.S. on guest worker visas. They could travel to the United States legally, drying up funds for human smugglers and avoiding perilous interactions with criminal organizations. They would then fill jobs in critical sectors that continue to struggle to find U.S. workers, even in the pandemic. Itd be a win for the border, for the U.S. economy, and for families looking for a hopeful future.

Currently, there are two types of temporary guest worker visas: H-2A and H-2B. The H-2A visas are for agricultural workers, and there are unlimited numbers for employers who are unable to recruit enough U.S. farm workers. H-2B visas are for temporary non-agriculture jobs, and they are capped at 66,000. Employers face increasing competition for these coveted slots. In 2019, the high volume of H-2B requests crashed the Department of Labors application site.

The H-2A and H-2B guest worker visas go almost uniformly to Mexicans and only a handful are extended to Central Americans. In 2019, over 264,000 seasonal work visas were issued to Mexicans, while less than 8,000 visas were granted to Hondurans, Salvadorians and Guatemalans combined. Amid the pandemic, this number for Central Americans went down to less than 5,000 visas in 2020.

However, the Biden administration  and, in particular, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas  has the ability to both raise the cap on H-2B visas by 64,000 and to allocate all or a significant number of these visas to Central Americans.

This wouldnt be new. In early 2020, the Trump administration raised the H-2B cap and set aside 10,000 for Central Americans, but later reversed the move before it went into effect. During the pandemic, members of Congress from both the Republican and Democratic parties encouraged the Department of Homeland Security to lift this limit in order to meet employers demand for workers.

These visas would aid the U.S. economic recovery and could be targeted to have a direct effect on the numbers of Central Americans arriving at the border. Not only would they immediately reroute tens of thousands of people in the region into guest worker programs, but the economic effect would extend further to these individuals family members and communities, as additional remittances find their way back to Central America.

There is ample research to show that guest worker visas redirect people into legal pathways. Studies have suggested that the increase in seasonal work visas for Mexicans over the last decade contributed to the decline in the apprehensions of Mexicans at the border. And there is no reason this wouldnt be the case for Central Americans.

Undoubtedly, the H-2B program is not without its flaws. It needs adjustments so that it works better for U.S. employers, domestic labor groups and guest workers themselves. This includes streamlining the Department of Labors certification process to shorten the approval time for employers and providing stronger labor protections for guest workers who fear retaliation if they report workplace abuses or wage theft. However, these are not insurmountable obstacles.

As with all things related to immigration, there are few straightforward policy solutions. Yet, guest worker visas come pretty close. With tens of thousands more Central Americans likely to travel to the border in the coming months, it is urgent that Biden act immediately.

Garza is currently counsel to the law firm of White & Case in Mexico City and served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2002 through 2009.
Thirteen Eritrean Christians remain imprisoned after authorities raided two separate prayer meetings last month where 35 people were taken into custody, including several women.

Twenty-two of the 23 Christians who were arrested at a prayer meeting in the capital of Asmara last month, most of whom were women, were released from the Mai Sarawa prison last Sunday, while of all the 12 Christians who were arrested in the city of Assab, 660 miles southeast from Asmara, remain in Assab prison, where conditions are known to be harsh, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported.

The ICC, which released its report based on information received from Release International and Barnabas Fund, said the arrests were carried out by members of the Eritrean Army late last month.

It's not yet clear why only one of the 23 arrested in Asmara hasn't been released, the groups said, adding that they're also working to find out if those who were freed are in good health.

Source:The Christian Post
China urges U.S., Japan to stop meddling in China's domestic affairs

Xinhua) 09:17, April 18, 2021

A screenshot of the statement on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday urged the United States and Japan to immediately stop meddling in China's domestic affairs and harming Chinese interests.

"We urge the U.S. and Japan to take China's concern seriously, abide by the one-China principle, and immediately stop meddling in China's domestic affairs and harming Chinese interests," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. "China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."

The spokesperson made the remarks when asked to comment on a U.S.-Japan joint leaders' statement, which was released after their meeting, expressing concern over issues relating to Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the South China Sea.

The spokesperson said that Taiwan and the Diaoyu Islands are both Chinese territory, adding that issues relating to Hong Kong and Xinjiang are purely China's internal affairs, and China has indisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and waters around them.

The spokesperson stressed that the U.S.-Japan joint leaders' statement has grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs and severely violated basic norms governing international relations.

"China deplores and rejects it. We have stated our solemn position to the U.S. and Japan through the diplomatic channel," said the spokesperson.

The U.S. and Japan are actually ganging up to form cliques and fanning bloc confrontation while talking about "free and open," the spokesperson said. "This anachronistic move runs counter to the aspiration for peace, development and cooperation shared by the overwhelming majority of countries in the region and beyond."

It will only enable the world to see with increasing clarity the detrimental nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which attempts to undermine regional peace and stability, the spokesperson said.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
As the second wave of Covid sweeps across India, it has become increasingly obvious that we are playing a dangerous global game. As we cut deeper into the worlds last remaining forests, and take over grasslands, wetlands and other rare ecosystems, we are blasting away the buffer between nature and people  creating the facilitating conditions for new pandemics to emerge. A new global study, led by researchers from the Key Biodiversity Areas Secretariat at Cambridge, shows that only 2.8% of the worlds habitats are ecologically intact, functioning the way they are intended to. The global map of intact ecosystems prepared by these scientists shows major gaps in India. Apart from some pockets in Ladakh and the North-East, at least according to this study, there seem to be no ecologically intact habitats left in the rest of the country.

Read | Scientists find only 3% of land areas unblemished by humans

But who wants to listen to Doomsday talk at a time when we are obsessed with ensuring economic growth? In Goa, one of the states most beautiful forest stretches, in Mollem National Park, is set to lose at least 60,000 trees for a national highway, a rail track and a power line. Cutting a line through a forest may seem to be a small intervention, worth it because of the impetus to development that better transport networks provide. But having a road or railway cut through a forest is disastrous for wildlife. Animals are killed in vast numbers by road traffic and collisions with trains. The railway line that cuts through Mollem National Park will also enter Karnataka, impacting the Kali Tiger Reserve. The railway line will take coal, brought in all the way from ships coming from Australia to Goas Mormugao Port, to steel plants, running on coal power, in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Very close to this railway line is the proposed Hubbali-Ankola railway line (now in hiatus because of a High Court order), which aims to take iron and manganese ore from Bellary to west coast ports in Karnataka and Goa. This proposal, which was opposed by many conservation groups, will fragment the corridor between Bedthi Conservation Reserve and Kali Tiger Reserve. It will also impact the adjacent Dandeli Hornbill Conservation Reserve. A new railway line is also being proposed between Talaguppa, Sirsi, Siddapura and Hubballi, an area covered by dense forests rich with biodiversity.

Meanwhile, in Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary, thousands of Jenu Kurubas, an Adivasi tribe of honey collectors, are protesting against attempts to evict them from the sanctuary. The Jenu Kurubas are indigenous groups who have made the forests of the Nilgiris their home for generations. Ecotourism, with roads, safaris and other economically beneficial activities are being encouraged in the sanctuary, but traditional communities are seen as enemies of conservation.

Ironically, the global study on ecologically intact habitats finds that a large number of the worlds remaining ecologically intact habitats are in areas inhabited by indigenous communities. Indigenous communities like the Jenu Kurubas, with their relatively low-impact ways of living in forests, play an important role in maintaining the ecological integrity of these areas in ways that eco tourists, mining companies, and railway lines certainly do not.

It is untrue to say, as most proponents of these railway lines, roads and industrial expansion do, that issues like biodiversity and forest rights are sacrifices that are essential for development and progress. We have eroded the protective buffer of ecology to such an extent that any further impact can rapidly lead to unexpected tipping points, where development, economy and livelihoods can collapse along with biodiversity. And such a collapse can happen very quickly, as the past year has shown us.

New science collated by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, an international science body established by more than 100 different national governments across the globe, shows a clear connection between habitat loss and the likelihood of new pandemics and emerging diseases. Controlling deforestation and maintaining habitat integrity is an essential part of maintaining public health  just as essential as it is to develop vaccines and diagnostic kits.

We seem to be doing just the opposite.
Govt tightens flight ban to fight mutant strain

The Health Secretary, Sophia Chan, said the man might have caught the mutant strain in Dubai, or he might have been infected at the airport, the quarantine hotel or in the community.Photo: RTHK

The government said on Sunday that it's banning flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines for two weeks from Tuesday, after the SAR found its first case in the community infected with the N501Y mutant coronavirus strain.



The 29-year-old man, who had returned from Dubai tested positive for coronavirus after completing 21 days of quarantine. His case was uncovered when he was staying in the Parkes Building in Jordan.



A government spokesperson said the government is suspending the flights because there had been multiple imported cases carrying the N501Y mutation from India, Pakistan and the Philippines in the past two weeks.



Earlier on Sunday, the Health Secretary, Sophia Chan, said the man might have caught the virus in Dubai, but could have had a long incubation period. Or, she said, he might have been infected at the airport, the hotel, or in the community.



Speaking on a radio show, Chan also said authorities have so far found nothing unusual with the ventilation and pipes at the hotel where the man was quarantined.



The flight ban comes after health officials reported one new local coronavirus case: a 31-year-old who also lives in the Parkes Building in Jordan where the man who returned from Dubai stayed following his mandatory quarantine.



Health officials recorded 29 imported coronavirus infections on Sunday, mostly involving people who had returned to Hong Kong from India.



The new ban means people who've been to India, Pakistan and the Philippines in the past three weeks are also barred from entering Hong Kong.



Macau said earlier that it was lengthening the quarantine period for people who've been to India, Pakistan and the Philippines from midnight on Sunday. Arrivals will now be quarantined for 28 days.



On Sunday, India reported over 275,000 coronavirus cases - a ninth straight day of record numbers.
Ministers today batted away calls for a major climate change summit to be held over Zoom rather than face to face in the UK.

Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted the Cop26 conference - due to happen in Glasgow in November - will be 'much more effective' if people physically attend.

The event had been postponed from November last year due to the pandemic. But there has been growing pressure for it to take place virtually.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has said she does not plan to attend the Glasgow event and suggested it be put off again because of coronavirus.

Mr Eustice told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'Well, we think it should be done in person, physically.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg (left) has said she does not plan to attend the Glasgow event being overseen by Alok Sharma (right) and suggested it be put off again because of the pandemic

'There is a Cop secretariat or a Cop bureau that ultimately makes these final decisions but they do so in very close co-operation with the host country.

'We delayed it obviously last year because we wanted it to happen in person. I think it's much more effective if it does happen in person and that's absolutely our intention.

'There may be components of it that are part-virtual that some people attend virtually but we think for the main leader summit that it happens in person and that's our intention.'

His comments echo those made by Cop President Alok Sharma, who said last week the Government is 'working very hard' to ensure the conference can go ahead in person.

The summit is expected to bring together the largest gathering of heads of state ever hosted in the UK, alongside climate experts and campaigners, to agree a co-ordinated global action plan to tackle the climate emergency.

No 10 has said the UK is 'using all international avenues' to ask every nation to set ambitious emission-reducing targets in order to reach net zero carbon output by the middle of the century.

It comes as global leaders are to take part in a virtual two-day summit on climate change from April 22 headed by US president Joe Biden.

Mr Sharma, the Prime Minister's climate change tsar, will travel to Japan this week to bolster support ahead of the environment conference.

He is set to meet Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga to advocate for strong climate policies and call on him to follow the UK's lead in phasing out coal power.
With Covid cases rising alarmingly, are attempting to reach out to employees for the support they may need in the hour of crisis. Naveen Tewari, founder and CEO, Group which consists of & Glance, urged employees to remain indoors and reach to him for any kind of support.

In an audio message to the leadership team, he said: For the last 14 months or so of the Covid breakout, this probably is the worst that I have seen. The number of cases and deaths of people whom I have known have been 7-8 in the last 24 hours. Some of them I couldnt save, and equal numbers are still searching for hospital beds. We do not have any systemic solution for this. The only way to deal with this is for you and your team members and family to stay in. Nothing is more important than saving yourselves. Our system cannot take cases, there is no capacity.

He added that the (country's) health infrastructure is in dire state. Despite thousands of new beds being set up, there is a chronic shortage. Medicines and oxygen are not available.

Tewari also reached out to anyone who might need any help of any kind. I am more than happy to help anybody at any point of time in the company, or in their extended family or friends if they need help. Please reach out, do not hesitate, you will not be able to activate things by yourselves, he said.

The firm had plans to continue work-from-home till July, but with now Covid cases surging, it may extend the facility, said a company source.





ALSO READ: Delhi weekend curfew brings back memories of last year's lockdown

According to media reports, is all set for its public market debut in the US. The company has been valued at $16 billion.

Last December, as the world was getting ready to bid adieu to 2020, Bengaluru-headquartered technology major InMobi Group announced what it called Gratitude Week as a mark of gratitude to the services rendered by its employees amid all the challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a part of that, the company offered an entire week-off to each and every employee in the last week of December encouraging them to have some fun time with their families. The company also gave them a special year-end bonus, above their regular bonus, encouraging them to spend whichever way they may want to.

Starting April last year, InMobi Group engaged with globally renowned psychotherapists and psychologists who organized a series of curated webinars and corporate programs for its employees in India as well as abroad.



ALSO READ: Covid-19 LIVE: Over 68,500 new cases in Maharashtra, another record spike

Additionally, the company launched something called InMobi Confidant Program as a part of which employees were encouraged to reach out to some of the selected folks in the company to speak to them and confide their professional, personal or any other challenges, and receive advice/guidance.

Besides this, senior leaders have upped the communication with the employees, through blogposts and internal communication channels, sharing their experiences of coping with the situations that have arisen from the pandemic and also encouraging the employees to take time off from their busy schedules for personal requirements and well-being.

India on Sunday reported a net increase of 121,576 in active cases, the most ever in a day, to take its count to 1,801,316. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 9.86 per cent (one in 11). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Sunday, it added 261,500 cases, the most in a day yet, to take its total caseload to 14,788,109. And, with 1,501 new fatalities, its Covid-19 death toll reached 177,150, or 1.20 per cent of total confirmed infections.
The Mumbai police detained and questioned the director, whose identity has not been revealed, of Daman-based Bruck Pharmaceuticals, after it got information that thousands of vials of Remdesivir used in Covid-19s teatment were to be flown out of the country. (Twitter)

Mumbai: The conflict between the Maharashtra government and the BJP over the supply of the Remdesivir drug reached a flashpoint after the Mumbai police, in a late Saturday night drama, detained a director of the Daman-based pharma company for allegedly storing a huge quantity of the drug. Furious BJP leaders have accused the state government of harassing the Remdesivir suppliers in the state.

The Mumbai police detained and questioned the director, whose identity has not been revealed, of Daman-based Bruck Pharmaceuticals, after it got information that thousands of vials of Remdesivir used in Covid-19s teatment were to be flown out of the country.

Denying allegations levelled by the BJP leaders, the police said it only questioned the pharma company executive because of rampant black marketing of the drug. The director was questioned for about 45 minutes at the Vile Parle police station.

DCP Manjunath Shinge clarified in a statement: We had received information from our network that a huge quantity of Remdesivir made in Daman is being stored in Mumbai and will be transported out of the country by air cargo.

He added: We all know how important the Remdesivir medicine is for treating Covid patients and its a matter of life and death. There is a shortage of this medicine and its export has been stopped by the government. Hence, we acted swiftly and called the owner of the pharma company just to question him about where the medicine has been stored in the city. We acted in good faith for the larger interest of the public.

DCP Shinge also said the supplier was called for enquiry, that it wasnt an arrest and he was allowed to go after questioning.

However, the incident turned out to be a high-voltage drama due to the intervention of BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar, who rushed to the Vile Parle police station late Saturday night and objected to the police action. Mr Fadnavis said: We have been trying to get Ramdesivir for Maharashtra by reaching out to pharma companies. Four days ago we requested Bruck Pharma to supply us Remdesivir but they couldn't until permission was given. I spoke to Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya and also got the FDAs permission.

However, the police claimed the communication from the FDA to the pharma company was not shared with the police station.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole demanded action against Mr Fadnavis for intervening in the police action against the hoarders of Ramsedivir. How did Fadnavis as an individual get permission for the storage of the drug? Has the Centre allowed him and the BJP to do the blackmarketing of Ramdesivir? he asked.

Bruck Pharma is one of 16 manufacturers of Remdesivir in India that has permission to export, but it does not have a marketing license. In order to sell Remdesivir, it has to approach one of seven pharma companies that have a marketing license for Remdesivir in India.

On the other hand, a state FDA official said they were planning to give emergency approval to a few manufacturers for direct sale. The officer said: Right now its in the talks stage. Bruck has not got any marketing approval yet.
Acall has been made for Vietnam to revise the regulations on the management and use of state capital in enterprises to create state-owned groups that can operate more effectively and contribute more to national economic development

in line with the direction of the 13th National Party Congress.

The plan to reshape SOEs like Saigon Newport Corporation into future leaders of their respective sectors will include 17 such corporations. Photo: Le Toan

With the new government cabinet taking shape last week, the Ministry of Finances Corporate Finance Department (CFD) is making a new plan to offer a helping hand to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in 2021 and beyond, before submitting it to the government for approval.

The plan will cover many new points to boost reform which the departments director Dang Quyet Tien said remain under discussion with aims to create a level playing field for all enterprises in the economy, as well as develop a team of huge SOEs playing a key role in driving the economy forward.

One of the most important tasks is to first revise the current Law on the Management and Use of State Capital Invested in Productive and Commercial Activities of Enterprises, which took effect in 2015.

According to the CFD, while the government has been trying to develop strong SOEs which play in a fairer environment and with more room created for private enterprises in that time, the law contains many vague points when it comes to implementation, making it hard to successfully reform many SOEs.

For example, one of the most controversial points in the current law is the loose definition of state capital in enterprises  meaning after the state invests capital into enterprises, the capital is understood to be either state capital or corporate capital. In another case, after investing capital into enterprises, the state focuses on managing both the capital and the enterprises governance activities.

Also, the current law also has regulations on fixing cap salaries and bonuses for positions at SOEs, not subject to the performance effectiveness of the enterprises.

For instance, if a leader of an SOE creates a huge profit for the enterprise, his salary and bonus cannot be raised. This is unfair as it discourages the firms leader from becoming more creative, while he has to bear all responsibilities to how the business performs, Tien said at last weeks workshop in Hanoi on reviewing five years of implementing the law. Thus, these obstructions in the law are making it difficult for enterprises to use the capital for investment activities and enhance the creativity of enterprises. The law needs to be revised.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is planning to include seven key SOEs with a combined total asset value of over VND20 trillion ($870 million) for a pilot project on developing them to fuel the development of the economy and of other enterprises in their respective sectors.

These seven picked (Viettel, VNPT, MobiFone, Electricity of Vietnam, PetroVietnam, Saigon Newport Corporation, and Vietcombank) fit the bill in terms of having registered capital of over VND1.8 trillion ($78.3 million); having at least 30 per cent share of their prospective markets with the potential to expand this to a controlling stake; having an efficient corporate governance model; and applying high technology throughout their operations. Moreover, they operate in sectors with high spillover effects.

The initiative is also aimed to include a total of 17 groups and corporations in the future.

According to the Political Report - the most important document adopted by the Central Party Committee at the recent 13th National Party Congress, from now until 2025 all SOEs will continue being reshuffled, with them investing in only key fields of the economy and in geographical areas important in security and defence, and in the fields not invested by other economic sectors.

Reshuffle of SOEs must be open and transparent, especially in equitisation and divestment. By 2025, the reshuffle must be completed, with loss-making groups and corporations to be addressed fully, the report said.

The state will exclusively invest in only four fields  provision of indispensable products and services for society; service of defence and security; natural monopolies; and large-scale high-tech application, with major investment creating momentum for rapid development of the economys other fields.

Money collected from equitisation and divestment is to be managed in a concentrated fashion and used only for national key infrastructure projects and for supplementing charter capital for a number of SOEs operating in these four fields.

According to the CFD, in the 2011-2019 period only 679 SOEs were equitised and divested, with total money collected being $13.1 billion. Almost no SOEs saw such activities in 2020. In the first quarter of 2020, nearly $87 million was collected from equitisation and divestment.

VIR
Michigan colleges and universities are announcing plans for in-person classes in the fall, and many are discussing whether or not students should have to get a COVID-19 vaccination before they arrive.

So far, only one of Michigans 15 public universities  Oakland University  has a COVID-19 vaccination requirement, according to Dan Hurley, president of the Michigan Association of State Universities.

As of April 15, nine others have said they will not require students to be vaccinated and five are still undecided, Hurley said.

OU students living in on-campus residence halls, apartments and cottages must be vaccinated prior to fall move-in on Aug. 27, according to university officials. Vaccinations are widely available on campus, and the goal is for every member of the OU community to be vaccinated before the end of the spring semester, President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz said.

Michigan is a hot spot for the virus, and we are the biggest hot spot for surge for the variants, Its a race right now between the virus and vaccination, Pescovitz said. Its a question of whether the rate of vaccination is going to win out over the rate of infection.

Students can seek a medical or religious exemption, Pescovitz said.

About 3,500 students are on OUs campus in a normal year, Pescovitz said. Leaders considered mandating everyone be vaccinated, regardless of whether they live on campus, off campus or commute, but they ultimately decided the requirement would be more manageable if it applied to students living on campus, Pescovitz said.

Within hours of OU announcing its plans, there was an enormously positive response from students, faculty and staff, Pescovitz said. OU is strongly encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, and there are a number of clinics near or on OUs campus available to students, faculty, staff and community members, Pescovitz said.

We just want everyone vaccinated, Pescovitz said. Weve told people they could bring family members and friends. We just want as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Other Michigan public universities are ramping up COVID-19 vaccination efforts for students, including Grand Valley State University, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Those schools, including OU, had to pivot quickly April 13 after the recommended pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to health concerns, with many switching to the Pfizer vaccine to keep appointments for students.

University of Michigan, Michigan State University switching to Pfizer vaccine for students

MSU currently is not requiring students to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to be on campus in the fall, but its something university leaders are discussing and evaluating, according to MSU spokesman Dan Olsen. A survey conducted by MSUs National Social Norms Center found that more than 80% of MSU students plan to get the vaccine, Olsen said.

In an interview with MLive on April 14, MSU President Samuel Stanley said the universitys goal is to vaccinate as many students as possible before they leave campus this spring.

The university will also offer vaccines for students during the summer and before they come back for the fall semester. Incentives, such as students not having to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVIVD-19 or being exempt from the universitys COVID-19 testing policy, could encourage students to get vaccinated, but Stanley said he would prefer to give students the option.

I think we want to make it as easy as we can for everybody who wants to get a vaccine, Stanley said. So we will explore every opportunity to help people get a vaccine because its so important for us.

Michigan State University president talks fall plans, COVID-19 vaccination efforts on campus

At this point, Grand Valley State University students are not required to get a COVID-19 vaccination, according to Greg Sanial, director of GVSUs virus action team. But the school is still having conversations about the requirement, Sanial said, adding GVSU would follow any recommendations from the state or local health departments.

Western Michigan University President Edward Montgomery said hes confident that all students will be given the opportunity to be vaccinated by the fall semester, and the university does not plan to mandate the vaccination for students, faculty or staff.

Western Michigan president says hope for vaccine allows for return to campus this fall

Central Michigan University also is not requiring vaccinations for the fall semester, but the demand for vaccine outweighs the universitys supply, according to John Veilleux, CMU vice president for university communications.

We have invested a lot of time in educating our community and communicating the importance of vaccines, while also discussing their efficacy and safety, Veilleux said. As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will continue to follow CDC guidelines as they relates to testing, symptom tracking and mask wearing.

Ultimately, what universities decide to do is dependent on their specific local health requirements, Sanial said.

OUs decision wont necessarily create a domino effect with other universities, Hurley said, but there has been strong promotion of the COVID-19 vaccine among campuses.

Universities, I think, are hoping that over the course of the next weeks and months that a very large majority of the student population will have been vaccinated voluntarily, on their own, making a mandate not necessary, Hurley said.

READ MORE:

Michigan universities pivot student vaccination plans amid Johnson & Johnson pause

Another 718 students lose University of Michigan building access for not completing COVID-19 tests

Henry Ford Allegiance Health, Jackson County partner to vaccinate students amid COVID-19 surge
Oil and gas operators can expect to see more environmental regulations, fueled largely by a public and investor community concerned about the industrys environmental footprint.

Its coming, and everyone has to understand how theyll have to meet those regulations, said Joe Etheridge, founder and chief technical officer at Encino Environmental Services.

My sense is important things are happening in the environmental arena, said Grant Swartzwelder, president of OTA Environmental Services.

One, theres a new sheriff in town, he said, referring to the new Biden administration. The new president is bringing the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Interior back into the mentality the agencies had during the Obama Administration, he said.

Etheridge said regulations that could be coming under President Biden actually have their roots in the Obama administration.

The Obama administration used 10 years of emissions reports to stablish a baseline for greenhouse gas and methane emissions, he explained.

Swartzwelder said he is seeing regulations that began in the Rocky Mountains making their way into other producing regions. He cited New Mexico, where new regulations limiting venting and flaring are about to take effect.

That foreshadows what will happen in Texas, Swartzwelder said.

Third, he said his company is seeing more and more need to have data available to certify what companies are doing to mitigate or eliminate emissions.

Beyond proving their actions to regulators and environmental groups, Swartzwelder said capital markets, bankers and investor relations are all becoming more sensitive to the energy industrys environmental impact and how companies handle their operations. Even smaller operators are feeling pressure to eliminate or mitigate emissions and flaring and show how theyre doing so, he said.

Luis Vasquez, environmental manager at OTA, said technology currently being utilized  especially airplanes flying over the region with emissions-detecting sensors can pinpoint areas that operators need to inspect more closely.

Its boots on the ground, he said. Look for leaks, repair them and make sure repairs are done right.

Etheridge, visiting Midland recently to participate in The Energy Think Tanks Emissions Monitoring and Reporting Roundtable, said he likes technology like Honeywell Rebellions Gas Cloud Imaging systems and technology. Such technology can help operators understand emissions at a granular level and determine what is being emitted and in what concentration.

In the face of looming regulations and the scramble to understand what exactly is being emitted, this technology is a step in the right direction, Etheridge said.

Robert Kester, president of Honeywell Rebellion, said during that same roundtable that continuous data monitoring not only lets the customers using his companys system detect leaks but offers an added layer of protection, providing alerts to potentially dangerous leaks.

Companies are setting ambitious emissions targets to satisfy stakeholders, he said. They cant just say theyre going to net zero, they have to be able to certify emissions reductions.

Environmental groups, regulators, investors and the public are counting on the increased pressure to address emissions to force you to come up with something to address the situation, Vasquez said.

While flaring and emissions may be the most visible issue, Swartzwelder said operators should also expect action on the industrys use of water as well. Just as data is vital to addressing emissions, he said data will also be needed to document how operators are increasing their use of recycled produced water and decreasing the use of fresh water.

You dont know how youre performing without data, observed Vasquez. If you capture that data, it may be good to see how youre performing.

The silver lining in the new administrations pro-environment focus may be that operators have a better idea of how theyre performing and can take a proactive approach.

Agreed Swartzwelder, You have to actually show how your flaring intensity has dropped, how your use of recycled produced water has gone up and your use of fresh water has gone down. Then youll have people paying attention.
Antifa Panicking About Police Informant Inside Network: Andy Ngo

Members of the infamous Antifa cell in Portland are anxious after an informant in their midst gave information to police, leading to arson charges, Antifa expert Andy Ngo says.

Theyre panicking because this may possibly mean that somebody has infiltrated high  and theres a lot at risk, because this is a criminal cartel, Ngo said Saturday on NTDs The Nation Speaks.

And if theres somebody in there and they dont know who it is whos informing on them, it could bring down the entire cell, Ngo added. Im hopeful that that will happen, although Im not sure if theres the political will for the investigators to actually go through and fully investigate all the links and ties that this individual suspect has. But this is at least a little bit of good news in regards to months and months of really terrible things happening in Portland with no changes happening.

Portland has seen repeated rioting since the spring of 2020. At least some of the violence has been linked to members of Antifa, a far-left, anarcho-communist network that has carried out violent acts in cities across the country.

Last week, prosecutors announced they were charging Alma Raven-Guido, a 19-year-old who has attended multiple riots, with arson, criminal mischief, and riotingall felonies.

Raven-Guido is accused of pouring flammable liquid onto a fire that had been started at the building housing the Portland Police Association, a police union, during a riot on April 13. That liquid resulted in the fire growing, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said.

A witness saw one of the bottles Raven-Guido use catch fire and start melting and also told police that they saw her place the three bottles into a backpack. In a court document, a police officer described the witness as the informant.

Portland police officers found an accelerant and lighters when they arrested Raven-Guido shortly after the fire was set. They also found her to be in possession of a crow bar, spray paint, and heavy marker.

In this image from video, a fire is seen at the Portland Police Association building in Portland, Ore., on April 13, 2021. (KPTV)

The fire caused an estimated $25,000-plus damage to the police union building. Daryl Turner, executive director of the union, said in a statement that no one was inside the building when it was set on fire and that neighboring homes were not damaged.

The arsonists were a splinter group of rioters who broke off from a peaceful march, Turner said.

Slogans favored by Antifa were scrawled on the side of the building, including ACAB, an anti-police acronym.

A court-appointed attorney for the defendant, who was released after being arraigned last week, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Antifa network in Portland does not have a public-facing brand, such as a spokesperson.

After publications started reporting on the informants information helping lead to Raven-Guido being charged, a lot of Antifa members on social media were trying [to] accuse one another, saying, who was it?' Ngo, the journalist who has tracked the network for years, was beaten by alleged members in 2019, and later left the United States because of threats, told NTD.

And theyre really scared, so theyre locking down their social media accounts so that you cant see what theyre saying anymore, he added.

Screenshots shared by Ngo on Twitter, and other posts that are still publicly available, show people wondering about who informed on Raven-Guido.

Somebody sold us out. Somebody sold every single one of us out. Theres somebody out there that would rather send a 19 year old indigenous person to prison than protect a single one of us. [expletive] you. Absolutely [expletive] you. I hope we find out who the [expletive] you are, one wrote.

So where did this happen and whats that snitches address? another posted.

Another user shared a meme that stated, snitches get stitches.

Ngo said hes hopeful that the anxiety that has set in among Antifa members will lead to a decrease in the violence in Portland.

I think that the group of people who are organizing, carrying out the violence is relatively small. So they stand a lot to lose actually if theres going to be a high level of distrust within the ranks and Portland Police and even federal authorities have not been effective at clamping down on the violence in Portland, which is still ongoing to this day, he said. But hopefully, thisAntifas own paranoiacan be their undoing. One can hope.
Damascus:

Three suicide bombers blew themselves up near the main police headquarters in Syrias capital Damascus on Wednesday, killing at least two people, the interior ministry said.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released via the Telegram messaging app.

The assault was the second time in a month that suicide attackers have targeted the capital, which has been insulated from the worst of the violence in the war-torn country.

State news agency SANA quoted Interior Minister Mohammad Shaar saying both of those killed were police officers.

Two of the suicide bombers detonated their explosives in front of the police HQ on Khaled Bin al-Walid street in central Damascus, his ministry said in a statement carried by state media.

The terrorist suicide attackers tried to storm the police command headquarters... The guards opened fire on them, forcing them to blow themselves up before they entered the building and achieved their goals, it added.

Police surrounded a third attacker behind the building who also blew himself up, the statement said.

The interior ministry said two people had been killed and six wounded in the attack, among them two children.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported five dead, not including the three attackers.

IS in its statement on Telegram said two attackers entered the headquarters building and fought with those inside... then detonated their explosive vests.

Damascus police chief Mohammed Khairu Ismail told reporters at the scene in the central neighbourhood of Qanawat that one of the dead was a policeman who tried to stop the bombers.

One of our forces grabbed one of the suicide bombers and prevented him from entering the building, so he blew himself up, killing the sergeant, Ismail said.

It was the second time this month that suicide attackers have targeted police in the capital. At least 17 people were killed in an October 2 attack on a police station in the southern district of Midan.

That attack was also claimed by IS, which said three fighters armed with guns, grenades and explosives had targeted the station.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the countrys conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

Damascus has been shaken by several bomb attacks, despite being largely spared from the worst of the violence in the six-year war.

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More than ten ships are waiting to enter Tauranga Harbour to unload and pick up cargo.

The Port of Tauranga, NZs largest port and international freight gateway, is experiencing congestion as ships wait anchored outside Tauranga Harbour's entrance today.

Some of the ships at anchor at the moment have arrived late to Tauranga due to ongoing delays in Auckland, says Port of Tauranga Communications Manager Rochelle Lockley.

We have been operating at close to capacity since September last year due to problems and severe congestion at Ports of Auckland. We are managing large volumes of import and export cargo diverted from Auckland.

Rochelle says that at the moment the Port of Tauranga container terminal is operating at more than 100 per cent of capacity, with more than 5,300 imported TEUs - twenty foot equivalent containers - waiting for rail transfer to Auckland.

We are working closely with KiwiRail to try to secure additional trains and were hopeful they will be able to increase capacity to clear the backlog.

On February 26, the Port of Tauranga reported increased profitability for the first six months of the 2021 financial year, despite volatile cargo volumes and congestion issues being experienced at Ports of Auckland.

It is also peak export season for dairy products and kiwifruit  containerised and bulk, and there is high international demand for export logs.

So at the moment we have container, bulk kiwifruit and log vessels waiting to berth, says Rochelle.

We are processing them as they arrive but we will not compromise safety in order to rush them through.

Port of Tauranga Limited Chair, David Pilkington, says the mid-year financial results were very pleasing considering the volatility in cargo volumes over the period and reflected the stability offered by the diverse companies in the group.

We have managed to maintain income throughout a challenging six months, says David. Port of Tauranga handled near record volumes of containers in the months of October and December.

However, lower-than-previous demand from June to August, and vessel delays in November, dragged down the year-to-date container volumes.

Its a similar story when we look at overall cargo tonnes. Volumes decreased 1.3 per cent for the six month period, yet volumes in December 2020 were 15.1 per cent higher than the same month in 2019.

David says severe vessel delays out of Auckland since September had significant flow-on impacts on Port of Tauranga.

We have done our best to accommodate diverted import and export cargoes from Auckland. However, we have had to limit our assistance as we have been constrained by the lack of availability of additional rolling stock and train drivers for the rail link between Tauranga and Auckland, says David.

In February Port of Taurangas Chief Executive, Mark Cairns, who is due to retire in June 2021, said the January 1 introduction of penalties for shippers rolling cargo or leaving their containers on the wharf for excessive time had provided some relief from yard congestion, and the peak export season was now in full swing.

We need all parts of the supply chain to do their bit and we are very grateful for the cooperation of importers and exporters in improving terminal productivity. Unfortunately, the threat of congestion remains and is unlikely to dissipate until Ports of Auckland sorts out its operational problems, says Mark.

We accommodated a container vessel at our Mount Maunganui bulk cargo wharves in December to try and alleviate the pre-Christmas stress for retailers. New Zealands ability to absorb the worldwide disruption caused by Covid-19 has been severely constrained.

Port of Tauranga has applied for the Covid-19 recovery fast-track resource consenting process for its proposed berth extension at the Tauranga Container Terminal. The fourth berth will be created by converting 220 metres of cargo storage land to the south of the existing wharves.

The $68.5 million project will create an estimated 368 jobs through the construction phase and more than 81 permanent jobs after completion. No Government funding is sought for the project and it is frustrating that the consent process takes so long.

Mark says the project could help ease congestion in the Upper North Island supply chain, especially with the prospect of the Ruakura Super-hub and inland port at Hamilton coming on stream. The inland port, being developed in partnership by Port of Tauranga and Tainui Group Holdings, is due to open in 2022.

Our team members and our service providers are doing an amazing job in processing these huge volumes of cargo in very challenging circumstances and we thank our customers for their patience, says Rochelle.
Isla Fisher has settled into life in Sydney, Australia after moving Down Under with her husband Sacha Baron Cohen and their children late last year.

Earlier this week, the A-List couple and their three children were spotted making the most of the local school holiday break with a trip to Perth.

Isla, who was raised in Perth, was pictured enjoying uninterrupted views of the city skyline at Crown Towers' exclusive Crystal Club with her family.

Gone West! Hollywood power couple Isla Fisher, 45, and Sacha Baron Cohen, 49, have been spotted holidaying in Perth with their three children during the school holidays

The couple are understood to be visiting Isla's family before the NSW school term starts up again on Monday.

Photos obtained by PerthNow, show the 45-year-old Wedding Crashers star in a peach-coloured blazer and a printed skirt.

Meanwhile, her Borat star husband attempted to go incognito in a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses as their children followed.

Returning to her roots: The couple are understood to be visiting Isla's family before the NSW school holidays start up again on Monday

Isla is said to be very close with her family, recently describing her upbringing in Perth, Australia as 'great'.

The Godmothered actress recently discussed making the move across the Pacific from Los Angeles with her family to Stellar magazine.

'I just feel so safe, I suppose the word is cosy, when I'm in Australia. It's where I grew up,' she said.

'I'm the happiest when I'm home. I miss it when I'm not here. I don't feel any pressure when I'm in Australia. I don't have to say or do or be anything. I mean, I don't even have to wear shoes,' the Godmothered star added.

Family ties: Isla is said to be very close with her family, describing her upbringing in Perth, Australia as 'great'

Isla shares three children with her comedian husband Sacha Baron Cohen, 49.

Isla and Sacha first met at a party in Sydney back in 2002. They tied the knot in Paris in 2010 after she converted to the Jewish faith.

The couple initially relocated Down Under temporarily to escape 'Trump's America' at the end of last year.
O God,

whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples

in the breaking of bread:

Open the eyes of our faith,

that we may behold him in all his redeeming work;

who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God,

now and for ever.

Amen.
A former employee of Starling Bank has filed a discrimination claim that will be heard in court this week.

Gulnaz Raja, who was the banks deputy company secretary until last year, has also accused the start-up of trying to intimidate her into not bringing her claim, according to Employment Tribunal documents.

Starling is one of the UKs fast-growing banks, founded by Welsh banker Anne Boden in 2014. It is backed by Harald McPike, a mysterious Bahamas-based billionaire. UK-based investors include Jupiter Asset Management.

Discrimination claim: Gulnaz Raja was the banks deputy company secretary until last year

Boden has championed diversity as one of the few women in Britain to run a bank alongside NatWests Alison Rose and TSBs Debbie Crosbie. She has said in the past that women make better bankers because they are not arrogant.

Raja has lodged a complaint of victimisation, while Starlings defence is that Raja was going to be dismissed because her performance was not good enough, according to the preliminary hearing.

Starling was one of the banks accredited last year to hand out taxpayer-backed cash under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, giving small businesses up to 50,000 each. It also won taxpayer money totalling 100 million based on its growth plans aimed at giving firms more choice in banking.

Raja and Starling declined to comment.
For a second-straight week, Ana Afreet N bested Colossal Stride A after a scintillating stretch drive to take the Preferred for pacers at The Meadowlands Saturday night (April 18), one of two co-features on the card that went for $30,000.

With the three scratches and the way it worked out, said winning driver Tim Tetrick. I drew inside of Dexter [Dunn, driving Colossal Stride A] and had to make sure he would have to chase me again.

Using the same script from a week ago, Tetrick and his horse were good enough to get the same result.

Only six were behind the starting gate. Tetrick asked Ana Afreet N for an early burst of speed from post 4 and got it, getting around Vettel N out of the first turn and hitting the quarter in :27.2.

Up the backstretch, 4-5 favourite Colossal Stride A vacated the five-hole at the half and cut into the leaders edge onto and around the far turn. When they turned for home, Colossal Stride A had momentum and a head advantage, but Ana Afreet N would not be denied.

The duo went toe-to-tie like a pair of heavyweights in the 15th round for the final three-sixteenths, and at the wire, it was Ana Afreet N prevailing by a nose for a second straight week, at odds of 3-1 for a second straight week, over an odds-on Colossal Stride A for a second straight week. Vettel N was third.

It was a real nail-biter all the way to the wire, said Tetrick. That horse got a head in front of me but my horse fought back.

Ana Afreet N returned $8.20 to his backers in taking his third straight at The Big M. The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Anna Livia, who is trained by Meadowlands leader Jeff Cullipher and owned by Pollack Racing and Cullipher, now has 25 wins from just 51 starts and earnings of $213,272.

Despite facing six tough opponents and not having raced since Nov. 21, Lindy The Great and driver Andy Miller worked a perfect trip to take the marquee trotting eventa Preferred Handicapin 1:52.3.

The seven-year-old son of Crazed-Highscore Kemp was racing in the three-hole sixth along the rail on the far turn as even-money favorite Scirocco Rob, who was seeking his third straight score, was on the lead.

Thats when Lindy The Great caught a big break, as Morairtime went off stride while third over, so Miller quickly swerved his horse into that spot, which meant he would have clearance for the stretch drive.

I just wanted to give him a nice, easy trip, said Miller, whose wife Julie trains the lifetime earner of $1,054,199. The race shook out well for us and he was full of trot finishing.

Three-quarters was timed in 1:24 as Lovedbythemasses applied pressure to the leader while first over as Its Academic swung off that live tow three wide and took Lindy The Great with him into the stretch. Lindy The Great then exploded through the lane to record an easy one-and-a-quarter-length score to equal his win output from all of 2020. Scirocco Rob held second with Its Academic third.

I just wanted to see what he would do, said Andy Miller of his horse who raced with trotting hopples removed. I thought Id try it last week [in his qualifier] and he was super solid. Hopefully, he can go all year without them. We are really excited about this year.

Lindy The Great paid $5.80 as the 9-5 second choice in winning for the 16th time from 64 career starts. He is owned by Andy Miller Stable and Team Lindy The Great.

A LITTLE MORE: All-source wagering totaled $3,625,679 to wrap a weekend that saw total betting of over $6.8 million.

The 10th race 50-cent Pick-4 pool of $136,807 was a 2021 best. Todd McCarthy and Tetrick each won twice during the sequence, and those who hit cashed in for $128.30 after two favorites and two 3-1 shots scored. 10 of the 13 races on the program were won by horses who went off at 3-1 or less.

McCarthy led the drivers with three winners on the card.

Racing resumes Friday (April 23) at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).

(The Meadowlands)
Standardbred Canada (SC) and Equine Guelphs (EG) educational partnership was officially launched with SCs sponsorship of the Racehorse Respiratory Health Course, made available free to SC members from March 22  April 2.

More than 125 SC Members took part in the course which delved into reducing risk of respiratory issues in racehorses with daily management routines and improving the horses performance on the track.

The course featured respected industry experts as the course instructors - Dr. Melissa McKee from Ontario, and guest expert, Dr. Patty Hogan from New Jersey.

In the 2016 Ontario Horse Racing Industry Survey conducted by Equine Guelph, respiratory issues was ranked the number one health issue. Racehorses are elite athletes and best performance can only be achieved with optimal health. Given the demanding life of the equine athlete, a high number of racehorses are at risk of several different respiratory concerns.

"I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this course. Having been around Standardbred racehorses most of my life I thought I knew a great deal about this subject but I was surprised there was so much more to learn. I highly recommend taking this course," commented Frank Reid, Standardbred owner.

We were extremely pleased with not only the high numbers of SC members registering into the Respiratory Course, but with the level of enthusiasm and engagement, said Gayle Ecker, Director of Equine Guelph.

If you took part in the free Racehorse Respiratory Course, the course will remain open and you will have access to the material until Sunday, May 2. Equine Guelph encourages students to complete the course exit survey before May 2. Survey feedback will assist Equine Guelph with future course planning and changes.

The Standardbred Canada-Equine Guelph partnership also provides a discount on all future courses for its members to receive online industry training on The Horse Portal. The discount offers all SC members including trainers, grooms, owners and drivers, 15% off short online courses that aim to give their racehorses a competitive edge.

Here is a roster of the upcoming short courses available at TheHorsePortal.ca/SC to members at the discounted rate:

Equine First Aid  Spring 21

May 3  May 10

Fire & Emergency Preparedness  Spring 21

May 17  May 25

Horse Care & Welfare  Fall 21

Sep 20  Oct 1

Sickness Prevention in Horses  Fall 21

Oct 18  Oct 29

Horse Behaviour & Safety  Fall 21

Nov 15  Nov 26

Equine Guelph has been a pioneer and global leader in online education for equine professionals since its inception in 2003. The Horse Portal was launched in 2017 and became a national success, partnering with 10 English-speaking provincial equestrian federations across Canada. It is a partnership platform for the equine community, available to everyone in the equine industry. The Horse Portal has quickly grown to include youth organizations, international safety associations, and horse racing partners including Standardbred Canada, Ontario Racing, Horse Racing Alberta and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
New Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews will make cyber security and safely reopening Australias borders her top priorities, while stressing there will be no softening of Australias hardline stance on border protection as a change of minister does not mean a change of policy.

In her first major interview since taking over the role, Ms Andrews also revealed she will urge national security agencies in her portfolio to increase their female representation and vowed to continue to advocate for more women to be elected in safe seats in the Liberal Party.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews says she wants to bring her economic credentials to the Home Affairs portfolio. Credit:Paul Harris

While her predecessor Peter Dutton was renowned for his focus on border security, terrorism and pursuing child sex offenders, Ms Andrews said she saw the Home Affairs portfolio as an opportunity to capitalise on Australias success in containing COVID-19 by making economic gains.

She said there would be no relaxing of Australias border protection policies, including mandatory offshore detention. A change of minister does not mean a change of policy, she said.
Ghana has been asked to make a law on campaign expenditure and finance to enhance the overall transparency and accountability of political finance, the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission to Ghana (EU EOM) has suggested.



It said the law should establish disclosure requirements of incomes and expenses for parties and candidates and limits on expenditure and donations, including for in-kind donations.



The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Mr. Javier Nart, made the call when the team presented its observations and recommendation on Ghanas 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections at a press conference.



The Mission returned to Ghana to present its final report on its observation of the elections and to discuss with stakeholders the proposed reforms contained in it.



Justification



It said such legislation established effective oversight, sanctions and enforcement mechanisms that included a timely publication of all campaign finance reports, including online.





The EU EOM also asked Ghana to introduce an effective sanctioning mechanism against the misuse of state resources, including administrative and security apparatus, during the election period.



It also asked the government to provide the National Media Commission (NMC) with sufficient resources to conduct media monitoring and properly oversee the work of the media.



Collation



Mr. Nart further called for improved procedures for counting and collation and for the publication of detailed results.



He stated that the recommendations were proposals for consideration by Ghanaians, adding that they aimed at improving future electoral processes and strengthening Ghanas democracy.





He said the return visit was the EU EOMs final activity and explained that afterwards the EU Delegation was going to support Ghanaian authorities and civil society in efforts to implement the recommendations.



Mandate



The teams mandate was to assess the electoral process against international obligations and commitments for democratic elections as well as the laws of Ghana.













Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Despite publicly recanting his previous comments that supported terror groups, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy...

Despite publicly recanting his previous comments that supported terror groups, Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, is still facing calls for resignation.

While speaking at a Ramadan lecture on Saturday, Pantami said he made comments in support of the terrorists at a time he had little knowledge of the issues involved.

Some of the comments I made some years ago that are generating controversies now were based on my understanding of religious issues at the time, and I have changed several positions taken in the past based on new evidence and maturity, he said.

I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager. I started preaching when I was 13, many scholars and individuals did not understand some of the international events and therefore took some positions based on their understanding, some have come to change their positions later.

However, many Nigerians would not be pacified and are asking for his to quit, as captured in these reactions.

Apology is not enough. If we are a serious Nation, Pantami should be sacked and then charged to court. Take a look at number (5) of the terrorism prevention act.

#PantamiResignNow pic.twitter.com/hY8lVNgrM9  Emma ik Umeh (Tcee ) (@emmaikumeh) April 18, 2021

Now that Isa Pantami has renounced his extremist ideology, he should do the right thing and resign from office.



If he truly wants to make up for his past, he should continue the work of engaging and de-radicalising young jihadis, not handle national affairs. #PantamiResignNow  Ayo Sogunro (@ayosogunro) April 18, 2021

Kemi Adeosun resigned over forgery.



Stella Oduah resigned over corruption allegations.



Everyone condemned them and non asked for forgiveness to continue as a minister.



Pantami s case wont be different.



A supporter of Taliban and al-quaeda. #PantamiResignNow  ONYEDIKACHUKWU ANAMBRA (@OnyedikaAnambra) April 18, 2021

Today is 18th of April, 2021 and Isa Pantami, Al-Qaeda sympathizer and Osama Bin Laden's supporter is still the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.#PantamiResignNow  Ayemojubar (@ayemojubar) April 18, 2021

If @DrIsaPantami can renounce his views and still keep his job , we definitely shld make Evans the kidnapper chief of defense staff since he regrets his action then. A Govt of insurgents apologists fighting insurgency. How cool is that ? #PantamiResignNow  OSHOMAh (@JohnNetworQ) April 17, 2021

"I was young when I made some of the comments; I was in university, some of the comments were made when I was a teenager." - Isa Pantami



This is not about age. I was once a teenager too - and I never supported killing people of different religions or beliefs. #PantamiResignNow  Ayo Sogunro (@ayosogunro) April 18, 2021

Today is another day to remind us that an Al-Qaeda sympathizer and Osama Bin Laden's supporter should never be our comm Minister.

He can never be trusted with personal contact details of 'Enemies of Allah'

#PantamiResignNow  Richard (@chocozhere) April 18, 2021

Age has everything to do with radicalism. We've seen old & young turn suicide bombers.



Pantami saying he was young when he held those terroristic ideologies isn't no excuse at all#PantamiResignNow, begin an evangelism of deradicalization. He has no biz handling public affairs  FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) April 18, 2021

D hypocrisy of Northern Nigeria where I come from is legendary.



I remember how we campaigned vigorously for d resignation of Kemi Adeosun over some forged NYSC certificate but now see hw 'we' are defending Pantami who has confessed to loving global Terrorists.#PantamiResignNow  Comr. Steven Kefas  (@SKefason) April 18, 2021

I was on the Governing Council of ATBU, Bauchi. Pantami was the initiator of several fatal religious flare ups @ Bauchi. He was even kicked out of ATBU Mosque for his inciting sermons. His staying on further divides Nigeria! #PantamiResignNow#PantamiWillStay  Class_Master (@RayMorphy) April 17, 2021

Just imagine that the data of a country is in the hands of a terrorist sympathiser. Chai! #PantamiResignNow  Nimrod (@GhenhisKhan) April 18, 2021

Pantami has now renounced his extremist views? Logically, that is an admission of guilt  that he's an extremist.



The honourable thing to do now is for him to resign. Failure, we'll force him out of office by mass action. It is the patriotic thing to do. #PantamiResignNow  FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) April 17, 2021

Those who starts the trend of #PantamiWillStay says we're hating isa pantami because he's a Muslim. He just admitted that he was not mature when he supports Taliban & al-Qaeda. In a sane country he would have been sacked & jail by now instead of saying #PantamiResignNow.  IFA FUNSHO (@funshographix) April 17, 2021

My only problem with Pantami is how he deceived us by showing his fake concern over Boko Haram killings during Good-Luck Jonathan's tenure, but today B/Haram, Banditry and kidnapping is a normal thing in Arewa and Pantami is no longer crying. #PantamiResignNow  Abdul-Aziz Na'ibi Abubakar (@jrnaib2) April 17, 2021

Nobody is talking about the enhanced Broadband penetration over of 10% achieved within a year all thanks to Dr Pantami leadership.#PantamiMustStay and complete the good work.  Yusuf Abubakar (@ribaduabubakar2) April 18, 2021

Since Isa Pantami has admitted to these allegations against him, I wonder why he hasn't been fired?



Isa Pantami is a serious THREAT to our National security.



I don't know why it us hard for presidency to fire him. #PantamiResignNow  Mister Jonah (@MisterJonahh) April 18, 2021

The revelations we have seen lately of Pantami are very weighty to be considered lightly, as a southern, i am worried, especially by the posture & body languages of not only Pantami but PMB & his govt.



The govt must wake up and purge itself of these baggages.#PantamiResignNow pic.twitter.com/U2GKR7b3T6  Oga Pharmacist  (@gospel_Rx) April 18, 2021

Days after so many revealing videos images and documents have dropped, not a comment from the Presidency on Isa Pantami. Pin drop silence. Never have we had it this bad. #PantamiResignNow  Oscar I. (@OInnocxnt) April 18, 2021

In a very sane country, governed by people who have shame and know the right thing, @DrIsaPantami would have honourably resigned by now but this is Nigeria!



You just can't shame the shameless.#PantamiResignNow  The Professor (@doctorniyi) April 18, 2021

WHO IS DR ISA ALI IBRAHIM PANTAMI.



Attack on persons with high repute in Nigeria is not a new trend,it has been happening and it will Continue to happen as long as we practice democracy.#PantamiMustStay #PantamiWillStay #PantamiStays #PantamiWillNotResign pic.twitter.com/HQw5nq1RwN  Iliyasu Aliyu (@Iliyasu23577391) April 18, 2021

They said he was on a watchlist it's turned up to be a lie, they said he was expelled from the University, it turned up to be a lie.



His crime is performing his duty with sincerity of purpose. #PantamiMustStay and complete his good work.  Yusuf Abubakar (@ribaduabubakar2) April 18, 2021

#PantamiMustStay, You don't need a marabout to tell you, the gangup against Pantami was well calculated. They started with fake news and then used influencers to amplify it. Pantami has never been queried for his beliefs even when he was leaving a country like Saudi Arabia.  Yusuf Abubakar (@ribaduabubakar2) April 18, 2021
I dont know what desperation causes a parent to send a minor child across our southern border in hopes that their unaccompanied child will be admitted into our country and be allowed to stay.

Maybe its like the desperation Jews in Europe felt when they sent their children, while they still could, anywhere to escape extermination by the Nazis.

Maybe its what Vietnamese parents felt when they tossed their children over the U.S. Embassy wall while Saigon fell, hoping their children would be on those helicopters that ferried away our evacuating government personnel.

Maybe its what Europeans felt when they put their teenagers on boats to cross the Atlantic, hoping they could make a life in America.

All of those parents anticipated they would never see their children again, but their children would be alive, something that was not guaranteed if theyd stayed put. I dont know that desperation.

There are over 19,000 unaccompanied children, mostly Central American, currently being held at our southern border, fleeing violence, death and more. Its not a good situation. But, theyre alive.

I dont judge their parents. I dont criticize President Joe Biden for allowing them into the United States. We cant call ourselves a pro-life nation if we turn these children away.

Ann M. Pompelio, Sparta

Murphys aid for immigrant taxpayers a smart choice

There is general agreement by Friendly Fire commentators Mike DuHaime and Julie Roginsky (Govs bid to aid immigrants may backfire) over Gov. Phil Murphys political interest  or peril  in his plans to allocate $40 million in federal relief funds to New Jerseys taxpaying, working undocumented immigrants.

What goes unsaid is the core economics and social interests involved.

Unlike many middle-class taxpayers who have received stimulus checks which go into savings accounts, relief for lower-earning residents supports the local economies where they reside  that is, small landlords, local and mom-and-pop businesses.

Maybe that should also factor into the general calculus before we eligible voters get on our high horses about supposed respect for the law.

Steve Eisenberg, Bainbridge, Wash.

New N.J. gun controls are election-year posturing

Gov. Phil Murphy, in another election-year dog-and-pony show, has proposed enacting more than a dozen new gun-control laws or executive actions.

None of these will reduce the use of illegal firearms. The laws will only be observed by gun owners who abide by current firearms laws, and totally ignored by the felons causing gun violence.

Murphy said half of the states gun violence occurs in just five cities. I wonder if these five cities are controlled by Democrats.

Just as Murphys 2022 budget proposal makes a full state payment into the public workers pension fund, and just as he signed legislation granting drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants, this is another election-year ploy to garner votes the expense of taxpayers.

Walter Goldeski, East Brunswick

Does one fake-news scandal deserve another?

No offense to Robert Faulkner, writer of the recent letter, Wheres Capitol tour evidence from (U.S. Rep. Mikie) Sherrill?, but Im glad that Faulkners job isnt running criminal investigations.

Sherrill, D-11, has stated she witnessed Republican members of Congress give Capitol tours on Jan. 5 in an apparent effort to help potential pro-Donald Trump rioters scope out the building for the Jan. 6 insurrection, but has not publicly named any lawmakers.

Crimes are not openly investigated in the media, but rather, in order to be of any legal value, according to standard procedure and the rules of evidence.

But Faulkners concern sounds genuine. Perhaps his next letter will demand to see evidence of claims that Joe and Hunter Biden colluded in Ukraines interference in the 2020 election, made by almost the whole Trump administration, its legal proxies, media collaborators and many GOP members of Congress.

Meanwhile, we await their public apologies for unsupported claims of wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton in the Benghazi attack, and for Pizzagate, the debunked conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were running a pedophile ring from the basement of a Washington pizza restaurant.

Lisa Trimboli, Long Branch

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Lucknow, April 18 : The Uttar Pradesh government is setting up temporary jails for keeping criminals, who are arrested or have surrendered, in quarantine till they test negative for Covid.

This is being done to ensure that there is no spread of Covid among convicts and undertrials lodged in jails.

DG, prisons, Anand Kumar, said that all the jail superintendents have been instructed to contact their respective district administrations and start setting up temporary prisons.

"Instructions have been given to jail superintendents to resume manufacturing of masks, sanitiser and to conduct regular yoga exercises for prisoners and staff to increase their immunity and protect them from Covid," he said.

At present, there are 48 temporary jails in the state in which around 3,500 prisoners are lodged.

The prisons department has also requested courts for hearing of cases of prisoners via video conferencing only.

Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Avanish Awasthi has also directed all the district magistrates to write to district judges, requesting them to allow hearing of convicts and undertrials via video conferencing.
Last week, the Western mainstream media seized upon comments made by director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, twisting them out of context saying that China's vaccines had "low efficacy." The media reports were intended to hammer home the longstanding effort to discredit China's global vaccination rollout which has persistently been opposed by the West. In reality, Gao said that China simply ought to improve their vaccines as a natural progression, not that there was anything fundamentally "wrong" with the numerous and growing total Beijing has been offering at home or around the world.



Western mainstream media coverage of China's vaccines has been unfairly skeptical, fueled by ideological and political prejudice, as well as crude cultural stereotypes about products manufactured in the country. Due to a longstanding bias that Chinese products are "poor quality," it has been a natural response for anti-China voices in the West to claim China's vaccines are not up to standard. This stigma has been reinforced by a zero-sum rendering of the global vaccination rollout which views such actions through the lens of "geopolitical competition," and erroneously sees China's longstanding support for developing countries as a "push for influence" against the West.

Not surprisingly, Western media have deliberately sought to spread skepticism and discredit China's vaccines where possible, even though Western countries have largely hoarded vaccine procurements for themselves and pushed developing nations to the back of the queue. Facing the daunting COVID-19 challenges, which calls for joint international efforts more than ever, Western media have continued to prioritize misinformation regarding China's vaccines, and attack countries that have used them in their rollouts.

What these distorted narratives fail to reveal is that China's vaccines have been a fundamental lifeline for the developing world when other countries have been able to do little.

In 2021, China has become the world's largest producer of vaccines. It is the only country which has been able to completely contain COVID-19 outbreaks at home, vaccinate its own population rapidly and also export vaccines all at once. Nobody else has achieved all three together. In line with this, China has established a stable supply chain which has allowed vaccines to be procured and exported to most of the developing world. Almost every nation in Latin America and most of the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia have used China's vaccines in some capacity, and the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines have earned recognition.

China has so far issued conditional approval to four domestically made vaccines and granted emergency use approval to one domestic candidate. However, the Western mainstream media typically seeks to place all of China's vaccines under the umbrella of a "Chinese vaccine" and misrepresent them as one product.

Given this, attempting to dismiss and attack China's vaccines is simply misleading and wrong. China's vaccine support to countries all around the world has made a crucial difference when other countries have failed to do so, or countries earmarked to try and counter that have fallen back into severe crisis. For Africa, Latin America and anywhere else outside of the West, China has undoubtedly proven the most reliable, the most affordable and the fastest route possible to finding a way out of the pandemic. This should be ultimately praised rather than attacked.

Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
THIMPHU, Bhutan  The Lunana area of Bhutan is remote even by the standards of an isolated Himalayan kingdom: It covers an area about twice the size of New York City, borders far western China, includes glacial lakes and some of the worlds highest peaks, and is inaccessible by car.

Still, most people living there have already received a coronavirus vaccine.

Vials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrived last month by helicopter and were distributed by health workers, who walked from village to village through snow and ice. Vaccinations proceeded in the areas 13 settlements even after yaks damaged some of the field tents that volunteers had set up for patients.

I got vaccinated first to prove to my fellow villagers that the vaccine does not cause death and is safe to take, Pema, a village leader in Lunana who is in his 50s and goes by one name, said by telephone. After that, everyone here took the jab.
It may surprise those who regard New Jersey as a progressive state, but our public schools are more harshly segregated by race than those in Mississippi, Alabama, or any state of the former Confederacy.

That hurts Black and brown kids, as a million studies have found. And it hurts white kids, too, by creating a racially homogenous cocoon that leaves them unprepared for life in America.

So, three years ago, a group of progressive activists and parents filed suit, joined by former Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein. They figured a governor like Phil Murphy presented the best chance in a generation to do something about it.

The surprise is that Murphy has fought the suit like a wildcat, using every trick to delay the case, and refusing to even concede that our schools are segregated.

These are Southern segregationist tactics that our progressive governor is using to kick the can down the road, says the Rev. Charles Boyer, a leading voice in the Black community. Thats literally whats happening and its immensely disappointing, a major failure of this administration.

At a hearing Thursday in Mercer County Superior Court, lawyers for the governor asked for more delay, another 210 days to depose parents, superintendents, and experts. As it happens, that would push the discovery process just past the November election. In the end, Judge Mary Jacobsen granted them about half that time.

I would love to describe Murphys thinking, but he is taking advantage of the lawsuit to claim that he cant talk about the issue at all. I asked in writing if he feels the schools are segregated, and if he has any plans to address that problem, independent of the lawsuit. No comment, his office said, due to the pending litigation.

Keep in mind, its been pending for three years, and could go on a lot longer. So, the governor has basically exempted himself from this discussion for his entire first term, and a chunk of his second, should he win re-election as expected. If his goal is cynical, to sidestep an issue that sparks volcanic emotion on all sides, then it may just work out, for him. Not so much for the students, though.

Whats so discouraging about this governor, who was on the national board of the NAACP, is that hes ducked this issue, and delayed and obfuscated, says Elise Boddie, a law professor at Rutgers and leading civil rights attorney who is advising the plaintiffs.

If were thinking about what we can do to address the deep divisions in this country, it has to start in the system of public education. Thats where kids learn to play together. Thats where kids learn to listen to another. Thats where they learn not to fear differences.

Heres a look at the facts on the ground, using state data cited by plaintiffs in this case: 25 percent of Black students in New Jersey attend schools where white students make up less than 1 percent of the student body. Another 25 percent attend schools where white students make up less than 10 percent.

For Latino students, the numbers are less severe, but still striking. Nearly 60 percent attend schools that are at least 80 percent non-white.

The plaintiffs hoped that the first stage would be easy, that the Murphy administration would admit segregation exists, in violation of the Constitution. The meat of the exercise, they thought, would come in a second phase when they discuss remedies. That two-stage process would follow the pattern on inequity in school finances  the Supreme Court struck down the status quo as unconstitutional and asked the governor and Legislature to devise solutions.

Ive been surprised at the administrations reaction to this, says Larry Lustberg, a lead attorney in this case and other ground-breaking civil rights cases in the past, including gay marriage. Weve told them, Were not blaming you. But seize this opportunity. Be great, be historic. And far from doing that, theyve fought this like its a slip and-and-fall case. Their response to this case is just tragic.

No one is proposing forced busing, as in Boston during the 1970s. The hope is for the more modest measures that have been successful in other states and cities, like allowing more urban kids to attend suburban schools, or building magnet schools near borders that would draw students from neighboring districts, or merging contiguous districts to mix races. New Jersey has dabbled with each of those solutions, but it would take a more vigorous and sustained effort to make a real dent in the problem. During failed settlement talks in 2019, the Murphy administration declined to spell out solutions.

Its a discussion this state needs to have, but one that Murphy is blocking for now.

Ive been so frustrated with this governor, Boddie says. This is an opportunity to get ahead of this.

Boyer says the governor, on balance, has been a good friend to the Black community. He cited criminal justice reform, a higher minimum wage, limits on solitary confinement, legalization of marijuana, and college scholarships. But on this core issue, he says, the governor is tarnishing that legacy.

Everyone knows there is no getting around the fact that this is wrong and unconscionable, Boyer said, referring to the segregation. And now hes stalling it, knowingly and actively. The Murphy administration is not complicit when it comes to how we got here. But they are certainly complicit now in the fact that we are staying here.

In a lecture last year at University of California at Berkeley, Boddie, who is Black, contrasted the attitudes of whites in the North and South by quoting an old saying: In the South, theyll let you get close but not too high, she said. And in the North, theyll let you get high but not too close.

We can do better, and this moment in our history demands it. The irony is that our progressive governor is holding us back.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 23:58:35|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL -- Three Taliban militants were killed by their own bomb in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province on Saturday, according to a local independent war monitoring group on Sunday.

"Three Taliban rebels belonging to the Khodaidad group were killed and another wounded when their own bomb prematurely exploded in Ahmadzai village of Logar's Mohammad Agha district on Saturday," the Reduction in Violence (RiV) reported on its website.

The incident took place when the militants were planting an improvised explosive device (IED) along a district road, the group quoted provincial security sources as saying. (Afghanistan-Taliban-Explosion)

- - - -

JAKARTA -- A batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine raw materials arrived here on Sunday at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said it was part of the agreed plan for this year.

Indonesia's state-owned pharmaceutical company Bio Farma has been producing vaccine doses using the Sinovac raw materials.(Indonesia-COVID-19)

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's daily tally of COVID-19 cases surged to a new record high of 618 in the last 24 hours, pushing the national case total to 6,389 since the pandemic began, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement on Sunday.

The figure surpassed the previous highest daily record of 576 cases on April 8.

The MoH also logged four new deaths, bringing the official death toll to 43 so far. Currently, there are 3,865 active cases in the kingdom, the MoH said.(Cambodia-COVID-19)

- - - -

KABUL -- A local Islamic State (IS) group leader was killed by Afghan Special Forces in the country's eastern Nangarhar province Saturday night, National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's national intelligence agency, confirmed on Sunday.

"Acting on a confirmed tip-off, the NDS Special Operations Forces conducted an operation in Kuz Kunar district, Nangarhar province, to arrest Kamin, known as Hakimullah, one of the IS newly designated local leaders," the agency said on Twitter.

"A gunfight took place while the targeted man was planning to flee the area. As a result, Kamin, who served as IS military chief for Pachir Wa Agam and Haska Mina districts of Nangarhar was killed," the statement read.(Afghanistan-IS-Taliban)

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- A total of 261,500 new COVID-19 cases were reported in India in the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 14,788,109, said the data released by the health ministry on Sunday.

This is the first time when the single-day spike crossed the 260,000-mark in India.

Besides, 1,501 deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 177,150.(India-COVID-19)

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- At least four COVID-19 patients were killed in a fire that broke out at a hospital in India's central state of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, confirmed a local cop over phone.

The fire broke out at the Rajdhani Hospital in the state capital Raipur.

The cause of the fire was said to be a short circuit, after which the fire spread across the hospital quickly. Around 40 patients were rescued from the ill-fated hospital. There were around 45 COVID-19 patients admitted at the hospital when the fire broke out.(India-Hospital Fire) Enditem
(Natural News) For years, many of the worlds most powerful three-letter agencies  think CIA, FBI, and NSA  have gone woke as a cover for their devious activities and crimes against humanity. Now, large corporations are doing the same in an attempt to look virtuous, even as they rape and pillage the masses.

It is no longer a secret that the United States has become a tyrannical police state controlled by a system of corporate-government fascism. Many of the biggest and most powerful corporations in the world are based here, and they use their money and influence to buy off politicians and even judges, effectively steering policy in their favor.

By controlling the narrative in this way, large corporations effectively control the nation with an iron fist. To maintain the illusion of benevolence, though, these companies often pretend to support causes that would seem to prop up the marginalized and disenfranchised.

Among the most common woke causes that corporations support are the Cult of LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter (BLM), two far-left movements embraced by Democrats that serve as a convenient cover for corporations, government spy agencies, Hollywood celebrities and others to virtue signal outwardly while committing heinous crimes inwardly.

By draping itself in the finery of political activism, the corporatist class consolidates political power, corrupts democracy and distracts from its real functions, explains Glenn Greenwald on his blog.

Coinbase says no to social justice activism

It has long been the case that corporations simply influenced the political process with money. Most of the time they did not even bother to virtue signal, save for the occasional nominal donation to a charity organization.

These days, corporate wokeness has reached deafening levels as the corporate elite clamor to don themselves in rainbow flags or hire more black and brown people to appear diverse. Whatever will score the most points with the woke police is how todays corporations seem to operate.

In the wake of the George Floyd killing last summer, it became virtually obligatory for every large corporation to proclaim support for the #BlackLivesMatter agenda even though many, if not most, had never previously evinced the slightest interest in questions of racial justice or policing, Greenwald notes.

One of the few companies that does not operate this way is Coinbase, a Silicon Valley-based cryptocurrency exchange that announced it would not be participating in any social justice causes or partisan debates that are unrelated to its core business mission.

Company co-founder Brian Armstrong stated that while some of these movements might be well intentioned, they have the potential to destroy a lot of value at most companies, both by being a distraction, and by creating internal division.

Almost immediately, Coinbase incurred major backlash from the woke crowd which sought to destroy the company. The New York Times, for instance, published a lengthy indictment of the company for committing the unforgivable sin of neutrality.

False accusations about racism and toxic bigotry have also been levied at Coinbase by savage journalists and other far-left activists who believe that silence is violence.

This woke culture war is destroying not just businesses, but peoples lives. Left-wing fascists oppose not just their political opponents but also those who choose to remain neutral on political matters.

Part of the motive may be self-serving strategy, Greenwald speculates. With Democrats controlling both houses of Congress as well as the Executive Branch  all of the instruments that can legislate and regulate their businesses  they may be calculating that using their massive weight to serve the Democratic Partys political agenda is wise.

Doing so could curry favor with powerful lawmakers and regulators and result in rewards or, conversely, allow them to avoid punishment and recrimination for the crime of refusing to engage in activism.

More related news about left-wing fascism can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Greenwald.Substack.com

NaturalNews.com
Tesla is once again facing questions about Autopilot following a crash. KHOU, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters report that two men have died after a 2019 Model S collided with a tree north of Houston with no one in the driver's seat. One was in the front passenger seat, Constable Mark Herman told the media, while the other was in the back.

It's not yet certain if Autopilot was active during the crash. The men haven't been identified, but one was 59 years old while the other was aged 69.

We've asked Tesla and the NHTSA for comment. The NHTSA responded on Monday morning, saying:

NHTSA is aware of the tragic crash involving a Tesla vehicle outside of Houston, Texas. NHTSA has immediately launched a Special Crash Investigation team to investigate the crash. We are actively engaged with local law enforcement and Tesla to learn more about the details of the crash and will take appropriate steps when we have more information.

If the Model S was truly driverless, the incident suggests the occupants misunderstood Autopilot, Full Self-Driving, or both. There have long been concerns that customers overestimate the technology and assume they can take their hands off the steering wheel or even leave the driver's seat entirely. However, even the FSD beta doesn't offer complete autonomy, and you have to be ready to take control at any given moment  the car will ask you to grab the wheel if you leave it alone for long enough.

The crash is also a reminder that emergency crews have yet to fully adapt to electric cars and their large lithium batteries. Constable Herman said it took first responders about four hours to put out the Model S fire, and the team even contacted Tesla for help. That doesn't make EVs more dangerous by design, but it does hint it could be a while before firefighters can deal with these cars as quickly as their gas-powered counterparts.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - On Saturday, at about 10:34 p.m., Yuma Police officers responded to a report of a vehicle collision with injuries at Avenue C and W. 24th Street.

The initial investigation revealed a 50-year-old male motorcyclist was riding north on Avenue C approaching 24th Street. A 17-year-old female driving a passenger car was turning left from southbound Avenue C to eastbound 24th Street. The motorcyclist collided with the passenger car in the intersection. The passenger car then struck an SUV that was westbound on 24th Street. The motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries and died on scene. The 17-year-old driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to YRMC. The occupants of the SUV were uninjured. The collision is still under investigation.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor.

This case is still under investigation.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.
Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday described the recent spate of mass shootings as horrifying and acknowledged that increased gun violence is a matter of public health.

In an interview with CNNs State of the Union, Fauci said as a public health official, I think you cant run away from the fact that the country has seen nearly 50 mass shootings over just the last month.

Dr. Anthony Fauci on whether he considers gun violence a public health emergency: When you see people getting killed, I mean, in this last month, its just been horrifying whats happened. How can you say thats not a public health issue? #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/9lEhV3aZqL  State of the Union (@CNNSotu) April 18, 2021

When you see people getting killed, I mean, in this last month, its just been horrifying whats happened, Fauci, President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, told host Dana Bash. How can you say thats not a public health issue?

CNN reported that the U.S. has seen at least 45 mass shootings, in which four or more people excluding the gunmen are wounded or killed, since the March 16 killing of eight at three Georgia spas.

The Gun Violence Archive has tracked at least 150 mass shootings throughout 2021.

Last week, eight people were killed in a shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis.

Biden, whose top priority has been addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, has issued executive orders targeting homemade ghost guns and handgun braces that let them be fired from a shoulder, according to the Associated Press. He has supported Democrats legislation to bolster federal background checks but has not proposed any related laws from the White House, AP reported.

More than 5,500 people this year have died or been injured in gun violence, whether homicides or accidents, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Meanwhile, more than 7,100 of this years 12,000-plus gun violence deaths have been due to suicide.

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As I contended here, when it came to Russia, Donald Trump spoke softly but carried a stick. He didnt attack Vladimir Putin personally, but he punished Russian misconduct to some extent and took meaningful measures to thwart Russian expansionism.

So far, Joe Biden has adopted the opposite approach. He calls Putin a killer, but does not meaningfully punish Russia, even as it amasses large forces on the border of Ukraine. Instead, Biden is returning, in large measure, to the failed Russia reset policy of Barack Obama.

Picking up on the stick analogy, the Republican National Committee finds that, on Russia, Biden speaks loudly and carries a twig. Thats about right.

In a memo, the RNC points out:

Yesterday, the Biden administration announced a sanctions package on Russia in response to the Solar Winds attack. It falls well short of imposing real costs on Russia. President Biden even invited Putin to a summit to de-escalate tensions while Putin conducted the largest military build-up on the border of Ukraine since 2014. Biden has exhibited clear weaknesses and Putin will seek to exploit them.

The memo goes on to cite chapter and verse on the weakness of Bidens approach to Russia. The entire document is well worth reading. Here are a few key excerpts (footnotes omitted):

* President Biden began his administration by caving to Russian demands to renew the New START treaty for 5 years, giving up the leverage built by the Trump administration to limit Russias entire nuclear force, and compel Russia to limit other weapons, including hypersonics. As former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, under New START [o]nly 45 percent of Russias nuclear arsenal is subject to numerical limits[while] that agreement restricts 92 percent of Americas arsenal. * President Biden has refused to impose any sanctions on any new entities over Nordstream 2, circumventing the intent of Congress in recent bipartisan mandatory sanctions legislation, the Protecting Europes Energy Security Act, enacted as part of the NDAA. President Bidens refusal to impose such sanctions before the pipeline is set to be completed this summer will isolate Ukraine and give Putin a new economic lifeline in Europe, which Putin could use to fund even more destabilizing activities. * The Biden administration has sat idly by as Russia has mobilized thousands of troops on the border of Ukrainemore than there were ahead of Russias invasion and eventual annexation of Crimea in 2014. Even worse, just yesterday the Biden administration canceled the deployment of two warships to the Black Sea with Turkey amid concerns over a Russian military build-up on Ukraines borders. During the Trump administration, the U.S. provided anti-tank weapons to Ukraine and tripled the size of the European Deterrence Initiative to counter Russia, and Putin never attempted such a buildup.

(Emphasis added)

What about the sanctions Biden has just imposed on Russia?

* The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has advocated for imposing sanctions on Russian sovereign debt since June 2020 when it released it National Security Strategy: Strengthening America & Countering Global Threats. However, the sanctions imposed today by the Department of the Treasury on Russian sovereign debt include a number of exceptions that lack real teeth. OFAC has announced that such sanctions will continue to apply only to those participating in the primary market and will not restrict the buying of Russian Eurobonds on the secondary market. * Furthermore, President Bidens decision to again forego sanctions on new entities involved in the Nordstream 2 project, illustrates that while talking tough the Biden administration intends to return to

the risk-averse approach that characterized President Obamas Russia reset policy., Biden claimed Nordstream 2 is a complicated issue affecting our allies in Europe. Its not complicated, Biden simply does not want to stand up to Russia.

(Emphasis added)

The memo also documents the Trumps administrations consistently tough approach to Russia, even as Democrats and their media allies were trying to paint Trump as beholden to, and conspiring with, Putin. Democrats wasted millions in taxpayer dollars promoting that narrative for no reason other than to undermine the president.

The Russia collusion canard might be the biggest lie in American political history. Its falsity was always apparent to anyone paying attention. The weakness of Bidens Russia policy as compared to Trumps only confirms the blatant dishonesty of Democrats and the media.
Ricky Gervais has confirmed filming for the third series of his hit Netflix show After Life will begin on Monday.

The comedian and actor, creator of shows including The Office and Extras, announced the dark comedy would get a third outing last year when he signed an overall deal with the streaming giant.
Photograph: Jeff Dean/AFP/Getty Images

A gunman who murdered eight people at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis legally purchased the two semi-automatic rifles he used in the attack, months after a shotgun he owned was confiscated by police over concerns around his mental health.

Brandon Hole, 19, who killed himself at the conclusion of the massacre, bought the two assault weapons in July and September 2020, according to Indianapolis metropolitan police chief Randal Taylor, after the shotgun was taken from him in March following a call from his mother concerned at his mental state.

The department said in a tweet that agents from the federal bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives (ATF) had traced the weapons purchase.

Hole, a former FedEx employee, was able to legally purchase a much more powerful weapon than a shotgun, Taylor said in a statement released Saturday, adding his belief that a red flag law determination had not been made.

In Indiana, authorities have two weeks after seizing a weapon to persuade a judge that person is unstable and should not be permitted to have a gun.

Hole was believed to be suicidal, and was questioned by FBI agents last year after his mother reported her son might commit a suicide by cop, leading to the seizure of a pump-action shotgun. But Taylor said he was unsure if a red flag hearing ever took place.

I dont know how we held onto it, Taylor told the New York Times, referring to the shotgun. But its good that we did.

Hole began firing randomly at people in the parking lot of the FedEx facility late Thursday, killing four, before entering the building, fatally shooting four more people and then turning the gun on himself, Craig McCartt, the deputy police chief, said.

Investigators looking into a motive have established that Hole worked for FedEx as recently as last year. In their own statement on Saturday, Holes family apologized for his actions. We tried to get him the help he needed, it said.

Officials are trying to determine if hate or racial bias played a role. Four members of the Sikh community were among the victims, and the FedEx facility employs a significant number of workers of the religion, Chief Taylor said.

Story continues

The Marion county coroners office identified the dead as Matthew R Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jaswinder Kaur, 64; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Karli Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.

Related: Indianapolis shooting: what we know about the eight people who were killed

The shooting is the deadliest incident of violence collectively in the Sikh community in the US since 2012, when a white supremacist burst into a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and shot 10 people, killing seven.

Members of Indianapoliss tight-knit Sikh community joined with city officials to call for gun reforms at a vigil attended by more than 200 people at a park on Saturday evening. Aasees Kaur, who represented the Sikh Coalition, spoke out alongside the citys mayor and other elected officials to demand action that would prevent such attacks from happening again.

We must support one another, not just in grief, but in calling our policymakers and elected officials to make meaningful change, Kaur said. The time to act is not later, but now. We are far too many tragedies, too late, in doing so.

The Indianapolis killings came amid a wave of mass shootings that have plagued the US in recent weeks, at least 45 since the Atlanta spa shootings on 16 March, according to CNN.

President Joe Biden last week announced a half-dozen executive actions to try to address the issue, but said much more was needed.

Gun violence in this country is an epidemic and its an international embarrassment, Biden said, calling on Washington politicians to pass tighter gun legislation.

Theyve offered plenty of thoughts and prayers, members of Congress, but theyve passed not a single new federal law to reduce gun violence. Enough prayers. Time for some action.

Recent efforts to pass gun control legislation have ended in failure. In 2013, former president Barack Obama denounced as a shameful day the Senates blocking of reforms in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting, and the chambers Republican former majority leader Mitch McConnell repeatedly refused to give gun law proposals a hearing.

Two gun bills that cleared the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last month are unlikely to gain the 60 votes needed to pass in the equally divided Senate.
Actor Damian Lewis has paid tribute to his wife Helen McCrory, describing her as a meteor in our life, following her death at the age of 52.

The actress was best known for playing powerful women such as Shelby family matriarch Aunt Polly in the BBC gang drama Peaky Blinders, Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films and the home secretary in James Bond film Skyfall.

Lewis said his wife had lived by the principle of kindness and generosity and always took an interest in others and made them feel special.

Writing in the Sunday Times, he said: Ive never known anyone so consciously spread happiness.

Even when dying in her last few days, when talking to our wonderful carers, she repeatedly said, thank you so much in her half-delirious state.

She always asked people how they were, always took an interest, made each person she met feel special, as though they were the only person in the room.

Gave them her full attention.

Made them laugh, always. There were few funnier people  she was funny as hell.

Lewis said that in the weeks before her death his wife had joked about his future relationships with women, saying that love isnt possessive.

She said to us from her bed, I want Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them, you must all love again, love isnt possessive, but you know, Damian, try at least to get though the funeral without snogging someone, he said.

He said that McCrory was not interested in navel-gazing (or) self-reflection, and passed her positivity on to others.

Helen believed you choose happiness, he said.

Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory (Ian West/PA)

Ive never known anyone able to enjoy life as much.

Her ability to be in the present and enjoy the moment was inspirational.

Nor was she interested in navel-gazing. No real interest in self-reflection; she believed in looking out, not in.

Which is why she was able to turn her light so brightly on others.

McCrory was born in Paddington, London, to a Welsh mother and Scottish father, and was the eldest of three children.

She attended school in Hertfordshire, then spent a year living in Italy, before returning to London to study acting at the Drama Centre.

She has been a regular figure in prestige TV dramas, including the ITV hit Quiz, the BBC political series Roadkill, psychological thriller MotherFatherSon and the adaptation of Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials.

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She was made an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to drama.

Lewis said that his wife was fiercely proud of her career as an actress and approached it with a rigour, an honesty and an intelligence that made others rise to meet her.

He said she was seen as royalty within the industry and was nicknamed Dame Helen by many.

Although well never know now whether that would have become a reality, I think secretly, we do know, he said.

McCrory and Lewis married in 2007 and share a daughter Manon, born in 2006, and son Gulliver, born in 2007.

Lewis said his wife had been utterly heroic in her illness and told her children repeatedly she had lived the life I wanted to.

She has exhorted us to be courageous and not afraid, he said.

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She has been utterly heroic in her illness. Funny, of course  generous, brave, uncomplaining, constantly reminding us all of how lucky weve been, how blessed we are.

He added that McCrorys most exquisite act of bravery and generosity had been to normalise her death.

Shes shown no fear, no bitterness, no self-pity, only armed us with the courage to go on and insisted that no one be sad, because she is happy, he said.

Im staggered by her. Shes been a meteor in our life.
Paterson firefighters rescued a man from the Great Falls just after midnight Sunday morning.

The 32-year-old man was stranded at a rocky island near the base of the falls when authorities located him around 12:30 a.m., officials said. Firefighters used specialty water rescue equipment, including a rescue boat and pulley system, to rescue the man, officials said. The water levels were high following this weeks rainstorms.

Our Technical Rescue expertise was on display and Im proud of the professionalism and bravery we demonstrated in this life-saving team effort, Fire Chief Brian McDermott said in a statement.

Firefighters set up a ladder and rope system to lower a boat into the water so firefighters could find the man. After a medical assessment, the man was placed in a life jacket and harness, and lifted out of the water using a rope pulley system.

The man was taken to St. Josephs Hospital, where he was in stable condition.

The men and women of Paterson Fire are a talented and caring group of individuals truly dedicated to the welfare of our residents, Paterson Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said.

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.
Revisiting History at Kings Mountain National Military Park

Up a windy road lined with trees in Blacksburg, South Carolina, stands Kings Mountain National Military Park. My children, ages 2 and 4, had begged us to stay at the nearby (and equally beautiful) Kings Mountain State Park, which had, among other amenities, an impressive playground. Luckily, my husband is as enthusiastic a lover of history as I am, and we soon found ourselves strolling the trail at the national park, our children lost at play as they ran circles around us.

A paved trail through the woods at Kings Mountain National Military Park. (NPS/Victoria Stauffenberg)

Due to COVID-19, the visitors center is currently closed, but a park ranger met us outside with some details about the park. As we approached, a small crowd gathered around the ranger. I heard one man explain that a relative of his fought here at Kings Mountain, and this was his first visit to the park. I was surprised at first to note the emotion in his voice as he spoke, and then remembered that I shouldnt have been.

Parks and memorials exist to remind us of our past, and this facet of our nations collective past was very personal to him. The national park at Kings Mountain pays tribute to ordinary men who fought bravely for the seed of a nation in its very beginnings.

The obelisk memorial at Kings Mountain National Military Park. (NPS/Victoria Stauffenberg)

The Battle

As President Herbert Hoover said during his visit to the battlefield on its 150th anniversary in 1930: Here less than a thousand men, inspired by the urge of freedom, defeated a superior force  it was a little army and a little battle, but it was of mighty portent. History has done scant justice to its significance, which rightly should place it beside Lexington, Bunker Hill, Trenton, and Yorktown.

A plaque commemorates the battle that took place on Oct. 7, 1780. (JNix/Shutterstock)

The battle of Kings Mountain is considered by many historians the turning point of the Revolutionary War in the South. In October 1780, the loyalties of the South were fiercely divided, sometimes even among households. Skirmishes between loyalists and patriots erupted even as the war drew to a close. Kings Mountain is unique in that it is one of the few battles of the war fought entirely by Americans on both sides.

In August 1780, British Gen. Charles Lord Cornwallis moved his troops into North Carolina. To protect his flank, he sent Maj. Patrick Ferguson and 1,000 men westward to stand guard. By early October, Ferguson received word that American militiamen from the Carolinas and parts of Tennessee were gaining on his men. Ferguson and his men assumed fighting positions in the highest, most strategic place on Kings Mountain.

Kings Mountain State Park, which borders Kings Mountain National Military Park. Many of the parks trails are connected. (NPS/Victoria Stauffenberg)

Despite the downhill disadvantage of the Over Mountain Men, the patriot fighters surrounded and eventually overwhelmed Fergusons men, whooping and hollering as they gained ground. In the course of battle, Ferguson was shot down from his horse and died. The Loyalists surrendered shortly thereafter, marking a significant blow for the British forces.

What is fascinating about the Battle of Kings Mountain is that no one general or leader secured the victory. Historian Jack Kelly wrote that the crude, spirited, hardy determined volunteers who crossed the mountains served, Washington said, as proof of the spirit and resources of the country. These Over Mountain Men had a stake in the land and were willing to fight for it.

The gravesite of Patrick Ferguson on Battlefield Trail. (JNix/Shutterstock)

Visiting Kings Mountain

Today, Kings Mountain is a tranquil, scenic setting, open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 1 1/2-mile paved path up to the Kings Mountain Monument was an easy one for our children to make, and the 83-foot monument at the end is well worth the walk. The park has other more strenuous trails available for hiking as well.

As we walked, I wondered what it felt like for the man I met earlier to retrace the footsteps of his distant relative; to stand on the shoulders of the man he called kin but had never known face to face. It was a reminder to me that heroes, before they get their label, are ordinary men and women. This mans relative might have fought for his family and his property, but in doing so, he gave a gift to many of us, years later. The men who fought at Kings Mountain held on to an idea that was bigger than any one individual, and in doing so, they gave us a significant part of our heritage.

Rachael Dymski is an author, florist, and mom to two little girls. She is currently writing a novel about the German occupation of the Channel Islands and blogs on her website, RachaelDymski.com.
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No fewer than twelve persons have died in the tanker explosion which occurred at Oshigbudu village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Earlier on Sunday, a petrol tanker fell at the Oshigbudu-Obagaji junction and spilled its contents.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Benue State, Yakubu Mohammed, said the tanker lost control.

He said eight males, three females and a little boy have died as a result of the traffic crash.

Mr Mohammed, who confirmed that a fire incident erupted after the crash, said the twelve people died instantly.

He, however, could not state the number of those affected by the fire which gutted houses and shops.

Everything is calm now but you know the tanker lost control and crashed. Immediately it crashed the fuel spilled and affected shops and houses.

He added that FRSC operatives and other sister agencies are working together to evacuate the casualties and control the situation.
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The low, moaning sound of a cello catches my ear as the doors to First Baptist Church of Tulsas Race Massacre Prayer Room open. On the walls hang historical memorabilia black-and-white photographs, newspaper editorials, quotations from survivors, Red Cross buttons faded from time and wear. All date back to May and June one hundred years ago when the worst civil rights disaster since the Civil War took place.

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Massacre is the word we use today to describe the events that unfolded when white men took up arms and marched down Black Wall Street, a prominent stretch of affluent black-owned businesses and establishments in downtown Tulsa. They rushed forward in mobs under the guise of avenging an unproven young white womans claim of assault. The rumblings of racial animosity, vehemence, even economic jealousy, however, had long been the driving force behind what took place on that warm night of May 31st. A single spark was all it took. One proverbial match. And the entire Greenwood District  thirty-five square blocks in all  was set ablaze.

I stand and stare at the photographs that hang on these cream-colored walls. They depict a destruction rarely mentioned in high school textbooks. One photo shows smoke billowing up from atop three-story buildings. Another shows Mt. Zion Baptist Church (or what was left of it) as despairing faces sift through its smoldering rubble. Twelve churches were burned that day. So were five hotels, four drug stores, eight doctors offices, thirty-one restaurants, and one public library.

Even worse, no one really knows the number of black people who died. Best guess? Probably three hundred, according to information provided by the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. What we do know is several hundred men, women, and children limped or were carried into makeshift Red Cross tents. Gunshot wounds, burns, even miscarriages brought them in. The cello plays again its lonely dirge.

Have we learned anything yet?

Out of my periphery, I see an editorial hanging on the opposite wall from me. The graininess of its oversized reproduction makes its words appear distorted, inflammatory yet still legible. The title reads, It Must Not Be Again. Here is the start of a worthy prayer, I think. But quickly I realize this editorial is not fodder for spiritual petitioning. These words printed in the Tulsa Tribune (a mere four days after that blood-spattered May night) spew hate, blame, shameful unholy ignorance. Would mothers have read these words to their children? Would they have prayed? Would we now?

Have we learned anything yet?

Nearby, sermon quotations about the massacre taken from white ministers of various denominations strike a similar blow as this editorial. One plaque hanging offers no quote at all. It simply reads, archives are mysteriously silent. Mysteriously silent? I hear the cello play again.

Next comes excerpts from a 1921 Red Cross report pinned to the wall. In spite of archival silence, this church  my church  did serve by opening its doors to house black refugees. Those with no homes, no livelihood, nowhere else to go took up residence for a time behind the walls of this 120-year-old building, a structure that stood not more than a few blocks from the laid-bare Greenwood District. But was it enough? Is it enough? A piano plays underneath the cellos melancholy refrain. A weak song of hope?

Have we learned anything yet?

I move to the final station of this Prayer Room. Sample prayers hang by the exit sign, offering parting words for the speechless and dumbstruck. I pray these words, for I too am wordless. But before I leave, I turn once again to that blasphemous editorial. God, it must not be again. These words I speak out loud in utter defiance. I confess them. I declare them. I proclaim them because perhaps if Christians here in Tulsa, all over this nation, and all over the world would hear the truths displayed on these walls, a massacre of this proportion or even a singular proportion  one precious life lost  would never happen again.

Perhaps a holy indignation might rise up. Not one that seeks violence but volition. Not one that evokes fear but ushers in fearless humility, the Christlike meekness and courage we need to learn and change and grow.

Have we learned anything since the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre? Im not sure. But as I close these doors behind me, I earnestly pray we dont let another hundred years go by before we do.

The Tulsa Race Massacre Prayer Room is open for visitation now through June 1st during regular business hours Monday-Friday and from 8:30-1:00 p.m. on Sundays. Donations can also be made to the Greenwood Rising History Center, a center honoring the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre, through their website or through First Baptist Church of Tulsas website. The church will match total contributions up to $5,000 for this important work in our community.
Two men died after a Tesla 'on autopilot with no one driving' crashed into a tree in Houston before starting a huge fire that took 32,000 gallons of water to extinguish.

The fully-electric 2019 Tesla Model S slammed into the tree in Carlton Woods at around 11.25pm on Saturday night before bursting into flames with the passengers still inside.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said an investigation had found that 'no one was driving' when the accident happened, with one man sitting in the passenger seat at the front and the second sitting in the back.

Officials told KPRC 2 that the $80,000 vehicle was moving at high speed when it failed to negotiate a cul-de-sac turn, ran off the road and crashed.

The fully-electric 2019 Tesla Model S slammed into the tree in Carlton Woods at around 11.25pm on Saturday night before bursting into flames with the passengers still inside

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said an investigation had found that 'no one was driving' when the accident happened

Fire fighters used 32,000 gallons of water over four hours to try to put out the flames because the car's batteries kept reigniting.

At one point, deputies had to call Tesla to ask them how to put out a fire in the battery.

Dailymail.com has contacted Tesla for comment, as officials prepare to carry out autopsies on both men.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now investigating 23 crashes involving Tesla cars believed to be on Autopilot, the New York Times reported.

The mode uses sensors and cameras to detect lane markets, obstacles or other vehicles.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Saturday to say that vehicles with Autopilot engaged were 'now approaching a 10 times lower chance of accident' than the average vehicle.

Fire fighters used 32,000 gallons of water over four hours to try to put out the flames because the car's batteries kept reigniting

At one point, deputies had to call Tesla to ask them how to put out a fire in the battery

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now investigating 23 crashes involving Tesla cars believed to be on Autopilot, the New York Times reported

Fire fighters used 32,000 gallons of water over four hours to try and put out the flames because the car's batteries kept reigniting

Officials told KPRC 2 that the $80,000 vehicle was moving at high speed when it failed to negotiate a cul-de-sac turn, ran off the road and crashed

The charred wreckage of the car after it crashes into a tree was visible at the side of the road

A file photo of a new Tesla 2019 Model S - the model that was involved in the crash

But last month, the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) suggested Tesla was using customers as 'guinea pigs' to test its autonomous driving technology before it is officially approved.

In a letter to its sister agency, the NHTSA, NTSB called for stricter requirements for design and use automated driving systems on public roads, CNBC reported.

Tesla was named 16 times in the document, mainly due to the fact it released its 'Full Self-Driving' FSD) beta version to the public 'with limited oversight or reporting requirements.'

Although NTSB criticized the firm for its lack of safeguarding, the agency also slammed the NHTSA for its 'hands-off approach' to monitor such testing on public roads.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Saturday to say that vehicles with Autopilot engaged were 'now approaching a 10 times lower chance of accident' than the average vehicle

Tesla first launched its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta program in October to a limited number of customers who were deemed 'expert and careful drivers.'

The firm now has more than 1,000 paying customers testing the beta version that is currently Level 2 autonomy  drivers are required to remain aware and in control of all driving activity.

However, NTSB is not happy that thousands of customers are cruising around with the unapproved system, and is pushing for stricter requirements on autonomous technology.

Musk has been banging the drum for Tesla's with 'Full Self-Driving' (FSD) for more than five years, but a number of leaked emails revealed last month reveal the technology is far off from providing hands-free capabilities.

Elon Musk has been banging the drum for Tesla's with 'Full Self-Driving' (FSD) for more than five years, but a number of leaked emails reveal the technology is far from providing hands-free capabilities

Documents between Tesla attorneys and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) say vehicles using the firm's latest beta version, known as 'Autosteer on City Streets' will not surpass Level 2 autonomy.

This level of autonomy requires drivers to remain aware and control the brake, accelerator and steering - despite Musk promising 'full self driving' by 2021.

Attorneys for the carmaker said the FSD beta upgrade 'does not make it autonomous under the DMV's definition,' along with stating the Level 2 of will 'remain largely unchanged' in a full customer rollout.

'City Streets continues to firmly root the vehicle in SAE Level 2 capability and does not make it autonomous under the DMV's definition, wrote Eric Williams, Tesla associate general counsel, in a statement attached to an email with the California DMV that has been published to PlainSite.

'City Streets' capabilities with respect to the object and event detection and response (OEDR) sub-task are limited, as there are circumstances and events to which the system is not capable of recognizing or responding.'

Documents between Tesla attorneys and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) say vehicles using the firm's latest beta version will not surpass Level 2 autonomy

Level 0 through Level 2 states humans must drive cars with hands on the wheel and supervise partially automated functions.

The Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, has developed five levels to describe autonomous vehicles.

In Level 3 through Level 5, vehicles are capable of taking over more responsibility, with Level 5 describes as fully autonomous under all traffic and weather conditions.

California has the highest number of Teslas in the US45 percent of all sold in the country.
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.
The hand-over ceremony between Vietnam and the U.S. at the 3rd Regional Coast Guard on April 9, 2021. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.

The U.S. has handed over a training center, maintenance workshop and port infrastructure to the Vietnam Coast Guard, signifying closer defense ties.

A ceremony marking the handover to the 3rd Regional Coast Guard was held April 9 in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

Attending the ceremony were Vietnam Coast Guard commander Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Son, U.S. Consul General Marie Damour and other officials, the U.S. embassy said in a Facebook post Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Son said that Vietnam highly appreciated the U.S. gesture and considered the event "an important milestone of the Vietnam-U.S. partnership," helping Vietnam improve its law enforcement capacity at sea.

The cooperation between the coast guards of both countries has strengthened in recent years.

In 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard handed over the Hamilton-class (the second-largest class of vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard) USCGC Morgenthau cutter to the Vietnam Coast Guard under their Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. The ship was then commissioned for the Vietnam Coast Guard and renamed CSB 8020.

The U.S. has also sold a total of 24 Metal Shark high-speed patrol boats and is overhauling the USCGC John Midgett, another Hamilton-class vessel, to hand it over to Vietnam.

At a press conference in Hanoi, outgoing U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink had remarked that security cooperation was developing strongly between the two countries, especially between the two militaries.

He said that Vietnam and the U.S. have worked together to implement a United Nations resolution on North Korea and to promote a common stance on the East Sea. The U.S. has assisted Vietnam in building its defense capacity, especially maritime capabilities, and supported Vietnam in sending peacekeeping personnel to South Sudan.

Referring to East Sea disputes, Kritenbrink had stressed that the U.S. always stood by its partners and allies in building an international order based on rules, and opposed " the provocative actions of China with the other countries in the region."
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This is the touching moment a trio of second world war aircraft performed a missing man tribute to Prince Philip on the day of his funeral.

Stunning images show a squadron of de Havilland Tiger Moths pass over York Minster amid clear blue skies as the nation mourned the death of its longest serving royal consort.

Philip, the Queen's husband of 73 years, died in his private apartment in Windsor Castle last Friday aged 99.

Thousands of tributes from organisations and charities with which he had patronages or had supported began to flood in, many of them with links to aviation.

And on Saturday as he was laid to rest in St George's Chapel, Tiger Moth Squadron were able to honour the Duke of Edinburgh in the 'best way we know how'.

The fixed-wing planes are managed by the Tiger Moth Experience in collaboration with the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, which provides flight experiences themed around the second world war.

Stunning images show a squadron of de Havilland Tiger Moths pass over York Minster amid clear blue skies as the nation mourned the death of its longest serving royal consort

The fixed-wing planes are managed by the Tiger Moth Experience in collaboration with the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, which provides flight experiences themed around the second world war

Prince Philip, a second world war veteran with the Royal Navy and an avid pilot, died in his private apartment in Windsor Castle last Friday aged 99

Alan Fish who helps run the Tiger Moth Experience said he had the idea to organise a flyover following the Duke's death to remember his service 'not only to the country but to aviation as well'.

He told MailOnline: 'It was just an idea, I thought we needed to honour the man with the only way we can and the best way we can which was to do the missing man formation which is quite often done when someone's died.

'We're quite close to York and so we thought what would be better than a missing man tribute to him over York Minster on the day of his funeral.

'It's fair to say we're royalists, given what we do, and we wanted to pay tribute to him for his service not only to the country but to aviation as well. I know he was in the Navy (during military service) but he was also a skilled pilot in his own right.

'He had a sense of humour which we hope we bring to our organisation in the same way that he brought it to his life.

Alan Fish who helps run the Tiger Moth Experience said he had the idea to organise a flyover following the Duke's death to remember his service 'not only to the country but to aviation as well'

A veteran of the Royal Navy himself, the Armed Forces formed an important part of the Duke's life and the charities that he supported

Philip had his first airborne flying lesson back in 1952, and was presented with Royal Air Force wings in 1953, helicopter wings from the Royal Navy in 1956, and attained his private pilot's license in 1959

'It just sprung to mind as something we thought we should do, we've got our flat at half mast and we just felt we should do our part I suppose. It will be gone shortly, that opportunity, so we decided to take it while it was there.

'Quite a few of our guys are ex-RAF or fly for the air cadets so we're all that sort of age and ilk where we do support the monarchy, and we have a lot of respect for them.'

Around the same time as the squadron performed their flyover, dozens of racing pigeons across the country were also being released into the air.

The Royal Pigeon Racing Association, which has the Queen as its patron, organised a simultaneous release of the birds from the royal lofts at Sandringham and Windsor  which the Duke always took a keen interest in - as well as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and cathedral towns and cities across Britain.

A veteran of the Royal Navy himself, the Armed Forces formed an important part of the Duke's life and the charities that he supported. Pictured: The modified Land Rover Defender carries Prince Philip's coffin as members of the Royal Family and military regiments follow behind during the ceremonial funeral procession

Philip's coffin was adorned with his own standard, his naval cap and a sword given to him by the Queen's father when they married 73 years ago

The British Gliding Association, of which Prince Philip was patron, also asked its members to mark the minute's silence on the first weekend that its 80 gliding clubs have been able to open since December.

At Heathrow Airport, flights were grounded for six minutes, while bus companies encouraged their drivers to pull over to mark the silence.

A veteran of the Royal Navy himself, the Armed Forces formed an important part of the Duke's life and the charities that he supported.

In 1961, Prince Philip became the President of the Guinea Pig Club  a group of mainly allied airmen treated by the pioneering surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe for their burns and other disfiguring injuries.

Philip had his first airborne flying lesson back in 1952, and was presented with Royal Air Force wings in 1953, helicopter wings from the Royal Navy in 1956, and attained his private pilot's license in 1959.

After 44 years as a pilot, he retired in August 1997 with 5,986 hours spent in 59 different aircraft.
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WIND SYMPHONY CONCERT

Calvin Hofer will direct CMUs Wind Symphony in a performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, at Robinson Theatre in the universitys Moss Performing Arts Center.

This will be last concert Hofer will direct as a fulltime professor at CMU. There will be a free retirement reception before the concert at 6 p.m. in the academic quad outside Moss.

Over his years of teaching, when Hofer considered the kind of final concert he would want to direct, his ideas were grand. I had a full concert planned in my head, he said.

Then COVID-19 came along. His plan had to be adjusted, and Im OK with that, he said.

What is still on the program for the concert are some of the 16 pieces that were commissioned for the Wind Symphony during his tenure at CMU, among them "La Fiesta Mexicana" by H. Owen Reed and "BREATHE" by Alex Shapiro.

Tickets for this concert cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors or $5 for youth and can be purchased at coloradomesa.edu/tickets or by calling 800-410-MAVS.
The maskless Black Lives Matter protester and Air Force veteran who was filmed claiming that he was 'sick' and 'dying' of COVID-19 while protesting outside the home of disgraced Army Drill Sergeant Jonathan Pentland says he was exaggerating.

Shea Harley was seen on Wednesday taking off his mask as he shouted that Pentland had violated the oath he took when joining the armed forces to 'have excellence in all that you do' during a protest at Barony Place in the Summit neighborhood of Richland County in South Carolina on Wednesday.

In the footage shared on social media by The State photojournalist Joshua Boucher Wednesday, Harley then said he has COVID-19 and was dying, prompting others to back away.

Shea Harley, a US Air Force veteran and Richland County, South Carolina-based media personality, admitted on Sunday that he was exaggerating when he said he was 'dying' of COVID-19 while protesting near the home of US Army Drill Sergeant Jonathan Pentland on Wednesday

Harley was seen while maskless saying he was 'sick' and 'dying' from COVID-19 at a rally outside the home of disgraced Army Drill Sergeant Jonathan Pentland

Shea Harley, an Air Force veteran, speaks at the protest in the Summit neighborhood today. pic.twitter.com/43nYfAN2IZ  Joshua Boucher  (@JAABPhoto) April 14, 2021

Demonstrations have been held outside Pentland's home this week after video (still above) surfaced online showing the 42-year-old father of two shoving a young black man walking past his house and telling him: 'You came to the wrong neighborhood motherf****r'

Shea Harley (pictured) took off his mask as he shouted that Pentland had violated the oath he took when joining the armed forces to 'have excellence in all that you do'

Harley, a self-described local media personality who has run for office in Richland County, told DailyMail.com on Sunday that 'it wasn't a good idea' to take part in the demonstration after he claimed to have tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.

He said that despite feeling ill, he was compelled to take part in the protest because: 'It was just me feeling frustrated with what's going on with our country.'

Harley said that when he claimed he was 'dying,' he didn't mean it literally. Instead, he was describing an overall feeling of not being well after he contracted the illness a second time.

'I said at the time that I felt like I was dying,' he told DailyMail.com.

'COVID is nothing to play with. I was faint, I was out of breath, my energy was leaving me.

'I thought I was dizzy when I got in the car. It was a bad idea to go because I was not feeling well.

'But when you have adrenaline go through you you can do something. When that adrenaline dies off that's the worst decision you can make in your life.'

Demonstrations have been held outside Pentland's home this week after video surfaced online showing Pentalnd, the 42-year-old father of two, shoving a young black man walking past his house and telling him: 'You came to the wrong neighborhood motherf****r.'

Pentland was charged with third degree assault and battery Wednesday and has also been suspended from his duties as an instructor at nearby Fort Jackson.

The victim - identified only as Deandre on social media - has been committed to a facility for mental illness in the wake of the incident, Dailymail.com learned Friday.

Harley is seen standing at the end of Pentland's driveway, dressed in a Black Lives Matter t-shirt and a black face mask, as he begins his speech slamming the Army Drill Sergeant.

'You don't deserve to serve another second in the United States Army,' Harley shouts. 'You took [an] oath.'

At this point, Harley then pulls off his mask, as he continues: 'to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America of enemies, foreign and domestic.'

'You took an oath. You are supposed to have service before self. You are supposed to defend this country,' he says, as other protesters nearby cheer.

'You are supposed to have excellence in all that you do.'

Harley then makes the shock announcement that he is 'sick' with COVID-19.

'And I am here today to let you know I came from my home. I am dying. I have COVID. And I'm sick,' he says.

There is some distance between Harley and the other protesters but his announcement prompts a woman nearby to instantly back away from him as the video ends.

Harley later addressed the incident on his Twitter page apologizing for breaking quarantine to go to the protest.

'I am apologizing in advance....I wasn't supposed to be out there because I was recovering from COVID-19, but I had to let Johnathan Eugene Pentland KNOW!!!' he tweeted in a post sharing the footage.

Harley (pictured) said in the footage 'I am dying. I have COVID. And I'm sick'. Harley later addressed the incident on his Twitter page apologizing for breaking quarantine

Black Lives Matter protesters were seen rallying outside the South Carolina home Wednesday

In an interview with DailyMail.com, Harley said he was careful to let the people around him know that he was ill. He even refused to use a bullhorn so as not to spray his germs on it.

'It wasn't the brightest thing to do,' he said of his decision to demonstrate while ill.

But recent headlines about black men being shot by police left him with no choice, he said.

'I'm so frustrated,' he said. 'I've had enough with what's going on with black and white people

'I ask the million-dollar question: Why do white people hate black people? Why do white people have so much anger and disdain toward black people?'

A crowd of around 150 Black Lives Matter protestors rallied outside Pentland's home Wednesday night, holding signs and chanting.

Pentland was spotted fleeing his home with his wife Cassie under the cover of darkness in footage posted to social media Thursday morning following the backlash over his alleged assault of the black man.

A spokesperson for the Richland County Sheriff's Department told DailyMail.com Pentland was not relocated, though 'we do not know his whereabouts.'

In the three-minute viral video, filmed on Monday, Pentland is seen aggressively accusing the young man of 'hanging around' the neighborhood for '15 minutes', and tells him the police have been called.

The soldier asks where Deandre lives and claims he is 'harassing the neighborhood'.

Deandre appears confused and responds that he lives in the area and 'was walking to my house'.

The three-minute clip shows Pentland repeatedly scream at the man - identified only as Deandre - to 'go away now' and telling him he must not live there because it is a 'tight-knit community'

Pentland insists Deandre must not live in the area because it is a 'tight knit community'.

The Staff Sergeant repeatedly yells at him and gets in his face, saying: 'You're in the wrong neighborhood. I ain't playing with you. I'm about to show you what I can do.'

He adds: 'Check it out, you can either walk away or I'm going to carry your a*s out.'

At one point Pentland pushes Deandre, causing him to almost fall to the ground.

Pentland (in mug) was charged with third degree assault and battery Wednesday

Cassie Pentland, the sergeant's wife, can also be heard shouting at the black man in the video and telling him police have already been called when he tells them to alert authorities.

In fact, Deandre does appear to have a close relative who lives just a 10-minute walk from the scene of the confrontation.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced Wednesday Pentland had been charged with third-degree assault.

'The first time I saw the video it was terrible. It was unnecessary,' he said.

Pentland faces 30 days in jail and a $500 fine if found guilty.

He was detained at the Richland County Jail and issued a personal recognizance bond, according to online jail records.

He was originally handed a citation for malicious injury to property for slapping Deandre's phone out of his hand and cracking it, according to reports.

The victim has not named the victim and is not facing charges, Lott said.

Pentland was seen fleeing his home in the early hours of Thursday, after BLM protest outside

He added the man had been involved in other incidents in the neighborhood leading up to the video, but 'none of them justified the assault that occurred'.

A law enforcement source told Dailymail.com revealed Friday that Deandre was facing charges of trespass and animal cruelty from separate incidents but has now been determined mentally incapable of standing trial.

The source said the young man is mentally unwell and has entered a facility in the days following the alleged assault.

Meanwhile, army officials have also condemned Pentland's racially-charged behavior.

Brigadier General Milford Beagle Jnr, commander of Fort Jackson, said: 'Soldier conduct on and off duty must be exemplary to retain the trust of our communities and our nation.'

Pentland has been suspended from his drill instructor role pending the outcome of the Department of Justice assault charge.

Pentland pictured in uniform. He is a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

Cassie Pentland, his wife, can also be heard shouting at the black man and telling him police have already been called when he tells them to alert authorities
Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxleitner were married from 1995 to 2011. Two years and one child into their marriage, Gilbert began to shut down. There was a distance between her and Boxleitner that, in retrospect, the actor realizes she orchestrated herself. During that time, she got inappropriately close to a co-star. When Boxleitner found out, they nearly divorced.

Bruce Boxleitner and Melissa Gilbert | Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Seduction in a Small Town

In the summer of 1997, Gilbert was cast in the TV movie Seduction in a Small Town. In her words: The story of a woman who moves to a small town with her family and fights to regain her two kids from foster care after being falsely accused of child abuse.

When Gilbert left to film in Calgary, Canada, she and Boxleitner were getting along, but not close.

My inability to express my feelings or needs was at a peak, she wrote in her 2009 memoir, Prairie Tale. I was overly self-sufficient and full of resentment at everyone and everything.

RELATED: How Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxleitner Fooled the Paparazzi the Day Of Their Wedding

Gilbert writes that the cast spent a lot of time together outside of filming.

We were together constantly on set and off, barbecuing, singing, and drinkinga lot, she wrote. I became especially close to my leading man. Inappropriately so. Id always developed crushes on my leading men, but this was different and it was fueled by alcohol, which allowed me to pour my heart out. The problem was, I was pouring my heart out to the wrong person. I shouldve been sharing all of this with my husband, but I was too afraid.

Gilbert and her leading man (she doesnt specify who the person is in her memoir, but Dennis Weaver starred opposite her in the film) proceeded to have an emotional affair, which Gilbert writes is just as wrong and dangerous as a sexual affairmaybe more so.

How Bruce Boxleitner found out about Melissa Gilberts emotional affair

Several months after Gilbert wrapped Seduction in a Small Town, Boxleitner called Gilbert on her cell phone and began screaming.

You did this to me! he yelled, according to Gilbert. I should have seen it coming! I cant believe you did this to me! I hate you. I trusted you, and you abused that trust.

His voice couldnt have been louder or more full of rage and pain, she wrote. At the same time, he sobbed in giant, wounded gulps. Panicked, I tried to get him to stop, take a breath, and tell me what had upset him. I started to cry, too. I could feel a giant seismic upheaval beneath my feet, and I didnt know why. Finally, he said there was a tape.

The tape in Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxleitners mailbox

Someone had left a tape in the couples mailbox. On the tape were various recordings of Gilbert talking on the phone with friends.

I know you had an affair with that guy in Calgary, said Boxleitner.

Once home, Gilbert listened to the tape.

Sure enough, the tape had me on the phone with various friends of minefemale friends and male friendscomplaining about Bruce, complaining about our marriage, talking about how great I thought Calgary guy was, and asking why Bruce couldnt be more like my movies leading man, she wrote.

Melissa Gilberts apology

RELATED: Bruce Boxleitner Accused Melissa Gilbert of Getting Pregnant to Trap Him After They Were Married

I went upstairs to the bedroom and got on my knees in front of Bruce, she wrote. Trembling as tears rolled down my face, I said emphatically that I did not have an affair with Calgary guy. There had been nothing physical between us, ever. On the other hand, I admitted the relationship I did have with him, as he had heard on the tape, was an emotional one and inappropriately intimate. It was, I said, because of things going on between us that we werent addressing, which after a while Bruce understood.

Please, lets you and I figure out how we can get through this and move on together, she told him. Im admitting this and willing to work on whatever I have to.

Boxleitner came around. The couple started going to therapy and resolved to make their marriage a priority.
President Joe Biden's planned withdrawal from Afghanistan includes an intense unraveling of the extensive intelligence and covert action network that the US has built there over the two decades since 9/11 as part of the global war on terror.

The current plan includes the removal of the hundreds of special operations forces not publicly acknowledged by the US government but known to be there, according to two defense officials and a senior US official with direct knowledge of the situation.

Most, if not all, CIA operators working in Afghanistan are almost certain to leave as well, current and former officials told CNN. Without the support of a conventional military presence, on-the-ground intelligence gathering becomes significantly more difficult -- and more dangerous.

Neither the removal of special operations forces nor the likely removal of intelligence operators has been previously reported.

A final decision has not yet been made as to the status of CIA paramilitary officers, one military official told CNN, but the thinking at the moment is that they likely will have to leave. Even if some personnel do remain after Biden's self-imposed September 11 withdrawal deadline, it will be far more challenging to pull off the kind of covert operations the CIA has become famous for since 9/11.

CIA Director Bill Burns admitted as much in a Senate Intelligence Committee public hearing last week.

'When the time comes for the US military to withdraw, the US government's ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. That's simply a fact,' Burns said before noting the CIA will retain 'a suite of capabilities, some of them remaining in place, some of them that we'll generate that can help us to anticipate and contest any rebuilding effort [by al Qaeda or ISIS].'

National security adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged Sunday that US intelligence gathering capability in Afghanistan would be diminished when troops withdraw from Afghanistan, but said there would be enough capability to know whether al Qaeda is resurging months before it's too late.

'It is true as the CIA director said we won't have the same level of presence on the ground that we did when we had 3,000 troops or 30,000 troops or 100,000 troops,' Sullivan told CNN's Dana Bash on 'State of the Union.'

'But the CIA director also said we will retain sufficient capability so that we will have months of warning before al Qaeda is able to gather again external plotting capability to threaten the homeland,' he continued.

Asked whether special operation forces would stay behind, Sullivan said the US would 'not have a military presence in Afghanistan other than to protect the embassy.'

Douglas London, a 34-year veteran of the CIA, said intelligence operations in Afghanistan are dependent on the large military presence the US has kept in the country.

'The US intelligence presence and ability to collect information depends on the military's infrastructure across the country,' said London.

'As the US presence diminishes, and with it collectors who need to physically acquire intelligence on the ground, so does our visibility,' he added. 'That human intelligence comes from sources on the ground who can be regularly met. How many can travel to Kabul, let alone outside the country?'

The fate of the special operations forces  who often work with the CIA on counterterrorism missions  is more clear cut.

'It's unequivocal, all troops out,' the senior US official told CNN, asked specifically about special operations forces.

Counterterrorism is about to get harder in Afghanistan

Intelligence gathered by operatives working on the ground is often critical to covert CIA missions, including drone strikes, multiple sources said.

'With the right information, [you] can launch an operation to kill someone a thousand miles away within two hours. But if you don't have any information, if you don't have any intelligence, how on earth can you predictably do that?' a source with direct knowledge of internal discussions about the US counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan going forward.

It's unclear how or if the Biden administration will replace the intelligence and counterterrorism tools that senior officials publicly acknowledge they are giving up.

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have been clamoring for details, but two sources familiar with the administration's outreach to lawmakers in recent days tell CNN that officials have only gone as far as to say that the US will continue to fight terrorist groups there in the same way it does in other places around the world.

That response has been interpreted by some as continued drone strikes and, in some cases, use of special operations forces, according to one of those sources. The exact details of the plan remain unclear, leaving many lawmakers unsatisfied.

Administration officials are briefing the Senate on Tuesday, according to a Senate aide. House lawmakers expect a similar briefing next week also.

Regional options

Multiple sources told CNN that officials are still exploring ways to mitigate the inevitable intelligence void that comes from withdrawing American troops.

Specifically, US officials are examining the possibility of staging American forces in the region so they will be able to dip into Afghanistan for counterterrorism missions. But current and former officials say there is no way to do that as effectively as when you are in the country.

Maintaining any 'over the horizon' counterterrorism capability will be very difficult without nearby basing, the US military official added, noting the withdrawal makes those missions 'a very different problem' than in years past.

The current sense is that the nearby countries of Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan are unlikely to agree to host US forces, meaning the most likely possibilities are friendly Gulf countries, like the United Arab Emirates, where the US already maintains a military presence, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning.

Multiple current and former officials acknowledged that staging assets in a country like the UAE would require CIA paramilitary officers, special operations forces or drones to travel an extremely long distance for any operation in Afghanistan, adding to the risk and complexity of the mission.

'The prospects for direct kinetic counterterrorism pressure from the Gulf, they're not impossible, particularly for strike, but they're just not good,' a source with direct knowledge of internal deliberations told CNN.

Any attempt by agency paramilitary or intelligence officers to operate outside of Kabul  whether to meet with sources or conduct a counterterrorism raid  would also be dramatically riskier, according to multiple sources.

A more dangerous mission

Because agency personnel won't be able to operate out of a local military base and will instead have to travel from Kabul, or even outside of Afghanistan, they would be forced to travel longer distances to more exposed places that might be in Taliban-controlled areas.

That not only gives potential targets the chance to hear of the impending raid and get away, it also provides adversaries the opportunity to launch a counterattack of their own, with agency personnel far outside of the so-called golden hour from the nearest hospital.

'You have a longer time to get there, so [adversaries] will tell people you're coming,' said one former intelligence official. 'So even if you have the right place, the chances of the guy not being there go up. And then once you get there, you have to land if you want to catch people, and they're going to rally toward that area. When you fly out it's going to be like the OK Corral.'

'You increase the risk to the force and you increase the risk for the mission to fail,' this person said.

Further complicating the picture is the risk that the Taliban could overrun the country once the US military leaves, potentially forcing the US to shutter its embassy to avoid another incident like the 2012 attack on the US embassy in Benghazi, which killed four Americans.

That would mean that any remaining agency personnel, who likely would be working out of the US embassy, would have to leave too  thrusting human-source intelligence gathering in Afghanistan back into a pre-9/11 darkness.

'A full US and NATO withdrawal speeds the eventual collapse of the Afghan government and the unviability of the US embassy in Kabul, which then leads us to a pre-9/11 collection posture where we have nothing in the country,' said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA operations officer.

Biden owns the risk

What those capabilities look like, however, remains unclear and sources tell CNN that previous administrations have wrestled with the same set of bad choices but were unable to identify a viable solution.

This was the case for Pentagon officials during the Trump administration, according to a source familiar with the situation who noted that the inevitable risks of bringing the number of US forces in Afghanistan to zero are why military and intelligence officials have long pushed for some kind of residual force.

That unavoidable counterterrorism trade-off also comes with a political risk of holding the bag if there's another 9/11-style attack against the US, which current and former officials agree has long been a driving force behind deliberations of this kind in the past.

Biden has 'agreed to take on that risk,' one source familiar with internal Pentagon discussions about the same issue during the Trump administration told CNN.

This story has been updated with comments from national security adviser Jake Sullivan on 'State of the Union.'
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The trustees of the Cleveland Museum of Art took a dim view of modern and contemporary art half a century ago. Today, after decades in which the museum revved up its interest in new art, its a different story.

With more than 750 works in its growing collection of contemporary art, the museum has enough bandwidth to periodically refresh the roomy contemporary galleries in its East Wing with new arrangements of strong works by leading figures from around the world. And it can tell dramatically different stories about art history and contemporary life, depending on whos doing the installing.

Thats especially the case with the latest reinstallation of the galleries, scheduled to open Tuesday. Led by Emily Liebert, the curator of contemporary art, and Nadiah Rivera Fellah, the departments associate curator, the new installation is the fourth major re-do since the museums East Wing opened in 2009, and its a good one. It feels powerful, relevant, and up-to-the-minute.

In the moment

In a museum with a modern and contemporary collection long dominated until recently by white male artists and Euro-American perspectives, the new installation leans toward women, artists of color, and broader global viewpoints, with artists from Africa, Latin America, and India who are newly represented in the collection.

On view are 38 works by artists ranging from Pop artist Andy Warhol to American surrealist Louise Bourgeois; Alvin Loving, a leading Black abstractionist from Detroit; American textile artist Sheila Hicks; and Zilia Sanchez, a native of Cuba and a leading Latin-American modernist.

The installation explores classic art historical issues including new directions in abstraction, or how artists represent the human figure.

But the installation can be read in multiple ways. In particular, it deals thoughtfully, if subtly, with topics including genocide, Mexican drug cartels, immigration, gender, and race.

For example, a room full of works that explore how artists use unusual materials or commonplace found objects, is anchored by El manto negro / The black shroud, 2020, a newly acquired wall piece by Mexican artist Teresa Margolles.

El manto negro / The black shroud, 2020. Teresa Margolles (Mexican, b. 1963). 1,600 burnished ceramic pieces. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchased with funds donated by Scott Mueller. The Cleveland Museum of Art's new contemporary art exhibit, emphasizes works by women artists and artists of color. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.comJoshua Gunter, cleveland.com

The artist collaborated with artisans in Mata Ortiz, a village less than 100 miles south of the U.S. border, to produce hundreds of black square clay tiles mounted on the wall in a vast, minimalist grid. The piece is intended to represent victims of drug wars that have devasted the Mexican State of Chihuahua, where Mata Ortiz is located.

On one level, the work is an exercise in serial components that present subtle variations of tone and shape. On another, its a cry of grief and rage against injustice.

Visions of Black identity

The gallery dealing with the human figure offers Wadsworth Jarrells 1973 painting Heritage,' an upbeat portrayal of Black jazz musicians that embodies the identity-affirming mission of the AfriCOBRA collective, which Jarrell, now a Clevelander, co-founded in Chicago in the late 1960s.

Next to Jarrells painting is New York artist Rashid Johnsons Color Men,' a 2015 multimedia work in black soap and wax on ceramic tile that brims with anxiety over violent policing and mass incarceration. The sharply differing moods of the two works seem to indicate that the country is moving backward, not forward, on racial justice and equality.

Detail of Color Men, 2015. Rashid Johnson (American, b. 1977). Ceramic, tile, spray enamel, black soap, wax. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Loan from the Collection of Richard and Michelle Jeschelni. The Cleveland Museum of Art's new contemporary art exhibit, emphasizes works by women artists and artists of color. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.comJoshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Such juxtapositions make the installation a snapshot of a museum responding to social upheavals of the past year, including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the reckoning sparked by continuing police violence against unarmed Black men, and the surge of immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

I would hope its a moment for reflection and for people affected by those issues to feel seen, and that theres space for conversations about those issues that are heavy in all of our lives,' Fellah said.

The museums contemporary collection isnt big enough to track multiple movements such as minimalism, conceptual art, or aspects of postmodernism in a room-by-room chronological sequence. Nor are the contemporary galleries big enough to hold such a display.

Thematic approach

Of necessity, then, Liebert and Fellah had to take a thematic approach to the reinstallation  the biggest redo of the contemporary galleries since one undertaken in 2017 by former contemporary art curator Reto Thuring.

The curators said they started with big pieces that constitute anchors in the collection, including Andy Warhols big 1962 screen-printed painting of Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn x 100,' and Anselm Kiefers 1989 masterpiece, Lots Wife,' which uses oil paint on charred canvas and splashes of salt on a lead panel to evoke railway lines that spirited Jews to Nazi death camps during World War II.

We wanted to get the Warhol out, and we knew we wanted to get the Kiefer out,' Liebert said. Those two cant go in the same room, so in a sense your sort of thinking about what are the stories we can create that encompass the works we know we want to include? "

Working around constraints, the curators skillfully created combinations of objects that toggle between layers of meaning.

The gallery entitled Found and Made,' dealing with materials and found objects, contrasts the soft sheen and warm tactility of Alien Huddle,' 1993-95, a cluster of veneered wood globes created by American sculptor Martin Puryear, with the clanging, metallic textures of Cady Nolands Metal Fence,' a 1991 piece made of chain link that resembles a gateway leaning against a wall.

These and other works in the gallery demonstrate the ways in which artists can exploit materials to appeal to the eye and the sense of touch. But they also create an alchemy that points to other, equally powerful associations.

The big Kiefer hangs kitty-corner to the Margolles tile installation and faces across the room to Scroll,' a restrained and somber 1978 painting by American painter Philip Guston that depicts a Hebrew Torah abandoned on a hilltop under a turbulent black sky.

The three works highlight different qualities of materiality, but they also raise questions collectively about the tendency of governments throughout history to treat certain groups of people as aliens to be excluded, or worse.

Building on this theme, Liebert said its possible today to read Nolands Metal Fence,' which resembles a narrow gateway between two panels of chain link, as part of a dark American story' of borders and barriers.

Aside from shifts in politics, race and culture, the installation shows how the museum and collectors connected to it have enthusiastically embraced contemporary art thats tough-minded, provocative, and demanding.

Dealer Tire CEO Scott Mueller, chairman of the museums board of trustees, loaned four and donated funds to buy two works in the contemporary installation, including the Margolles.

As the governance leader of the museum, Mueller is setting a tone toward contemporary art thats miles apart from the resistance faced by former museum Director Sherman Lee from 1958 to 1983 when he had to prod trustees to allow him to collect contemporary art.

Trustee Michelle Jeschelnig and her husband, Richard Jeschelnig loaned Color Men,' the big Rashid Johnson wall piece. And museum trustee Agnes Gund, a daughter of Cleveland brewer and banker George Gund II and a former president of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, donated three and loaned one of the works in the new installation.

The loaned work, Trough,' 2012, by Los Angeles-based conceptual artist Analia Saban, holds 110 pounds of oil paint  echoing the artists own body weight  in a loose trough of heavily gessoed canvas draped from a traditional rectangular stretcher thats as wide as the artist is tall.

The work is a proxy for the artists physical presence, but its also a vivid comment on how paintings can function simultaneously as windows into visionary worlds and as sculptural objects that hang on walls.

Pick any interpretation you like. Or come up with a new one. That in a nutshell is the invitation posed by the museums new contemporary art installation. Its a compelling one, and its well worth accepting.

REVIEW

Whats up: New contemporary art installation at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Where: 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland

When: Opening Tuesday, April 20; on view indefinitely.

Admission: Free. Call 216-421-7350 or go to Clevelandart.org.
Patnam April 18 : Amid the worsening Covid situation, the Bihar government has decided to impose night curfew from Sunday (April 18) across the state to break the chain of infection.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took the decision after meeting officials of the crisis management group. He had earlier participated in an all-party meeting under the chairmanship of Governor Phagu Chauhan on Saturday.

"As per the decision of the crisis management group, we have imposed night curfew in the state. Besides, all educational institutions will remain closed till May 15. We have directed top officials of the district to implement the restrictions and take strongest possible action against the violators," he said.

Nitish Kumar, however, said that competitive examinations such as the BPSC, the SSC and technical selection commission examination will be completed on scheduled time.

The night curfew starts from 9 p.m. and ends at 5 a.m. Marriages, cremation, burial and travelling are exempted, but for cremation/burial, only 25 persons are allowed and for marriages, 100 persons.

The Chief Minister also announced that cinema halls, theatres, malls, gyms, swimming pool, parks, restaurant and eateries will stay closed till May 15. Restaurants and eateries can only provide home delivery.

Further both private and government officers will be operational till 5 pm on working days, and organising private or government events in common places would be punishable.

Nitish Kumar also said that Section 144 has been imposed in urban areas and some rural areas falls, but emergency services such as medicine shops, hospitals services, fire, police, ambulance, post, banking, and transportation services will function.

"We have directed the authority to ensure liquid oxygen in medical colleges and hospitals in the state. Doctors will also provide treatment to Covid patients in sub-divisional hospitals and primary health centres. The authority should closely monitor people coming from other states," he said.

Noting that corona cases were steadily rising with 8,690 new cases on Sunday, he said authorities have been asked to ensure RT-PCR test reports in minimum time.

"We have also asked authorities for daily monitoring for patients staying in home isolation," he said.

The Chief Minister also said that they had have appealed migrants to come to Bihar "as soon as possible so that we could make arrangement for them accordingly in quarantine centres".
It was Tracey Grimshaw who made one of the most memorable statements when interviewing Scott Morrison last month over the escalating concerns about alleged mistreatment of women in Parliament and across the country.

The Prime Minister told the host of A Current Affair that for many Australians the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins by a colleague in Parliament had been a big wake-up call. It hasnt been a wake-up call to 52 per cent of Australians, Grimshaw fired back.

Reintroducing a gender lens for the budget is overdue.

[I] may or may not have always got it as well as people would like me to, but I assure you, Im doing everything I can to understand it, Morrison said on the program.

Understanding the issues facing women in Australia is an ongoing challenge. Looking back six months ago, when the 2020 federal budget was unveiled, commentators were upbeat about the improvements in the economy and the big nation-building infrastructure programs. But there were also concerns the budget hadnt done enough to help women.
I missed an opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Audi e-Tron GT last week thanks to the pesky pandemic.

For those who missed it, the GT is Audis first fully electric sports tourer - a stunning piece of kit that manages to capture the beauty and excitement of an everyday supercar, without all that environmentally damaging stuff.

As statements go, it was Audi shouting from the rooftops move over Tesla, theres a new electric kid on the block.

From what Ive read, the e-Tron GT drives even better than it looks - but hopefully more of that sometime over the summer.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with the Audi Q8 - the companys first venture into the fully electric luxury SUV market - and a clear signal that it was moving away from diesel and petrol models.

Both cars have a lot in common - elegance, style, mind-boggling technology and the reassurance that going green doesnt mean you have to sacrifice anything in terms of performance and looks - and at the same time, reducing your carbon footprint. Then again, both cars are also eye-wateringly expensive, putting them out of reach of the vast majority of most of us.

Cue the Q4 e-tron, an SUV that combines all that fancy technical stuff, ticks the green boxes and falls within the reach of those looking for luxury without losing an arm and a leg in terms of price.

So green in fact, that Audi boasts that by the time you get behind the wheel of its fourth dedicated electric offering, it will be completely carbon neutral thanks to the use of recycled materials in 27 components, including the carpet.

For Audi, the Q4 e-Tron is its first real chance to grab a slice of the compact crossover SUV market so far dominated by Tesla.

Its among up to a dozen models, including VWs ID.4 and an electric version of the Porsche Macan, that will allow the company not only match the scale of production by Tesla by 2023, but surpass it.

From what Ive read, the e-Tron GT drives even better than it looks - but hopefully more of that sometime over the summer.

According to Bloomberg, Audis parent company VW has ambitions of selling 600,000 purely battery-powered cars this year.

Speaking at the launch this week, Hildegard Wortmann, Audis sales chief said the Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportsback e-Tron play a central role in the brands electrification strategy by launching in a particularly popular market segment, representing the entry point of Audis electric offerings and showcase how our brand and our design are moving forward.

Audi says the Q4 e-Tron offers more interior space, with additional emphasis on the driver.

The futuristic dash is divided into separate areas and integrates two displays. A separate horizontal operating panel houses the shifter for selecting the gears. Also totally new is the steering wheel with its seamless touch surfaces, which the driver uses to control the digital instrument cluster.

It is also the first Audi model to feature an augmented-reality head-up display, with information, including moving navigation commands, projected onto the windscreen in two separate fields and with varying depth of field.

In terms of battery life, Audi claims on a full charge, the Q4 e-Tron will deliver from between 330  511kms with the highest performance battery delivering up to 220 kW of power and capable of sprinting from 0  100 km/h in under 6.3 seconds.

There are two battery options - the Q4 35 e-tron with a 52kWh battery that delivers 340km of range in the SUV and 350km in the Sportback. Both come with a 170hp electric motor.

You can also get a beefier Q4 40 e-tron with a 77kWh battery and a 204hp electric motor.

At the top end is the Q4 50 e-tron with dual motors and four-wheel drive. This version comes with the same 77kWh battery as the Q4 40 e-tron, but SUV models have 485km of range and Sportback versions promising just over 500km.

Due to arrive in Ireland in June, prices will start from 41,465, including grants, VRT relief and delivery.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Seguin, Texas (78155)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to considerable cloudiness and fog after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to considerable cloudiness and fog after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with the killings of two transgender women in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dontarius Long, 21, and Joel Brewer, 33, were charged in the deaths of Jaida Peterson, 29, and Remy Fennell, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a news conference on Friday.

Peterson, 29, was found dead by police in a hotel room in West Charlotte on Easter Sunday. On Thursday morning, Fennell was found dead in a hotel room in another part of the city, Lt. Brian Crum said. Both women were sex workers, police said.

Crum said each suspect is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of firearm by felon, one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

CNN has not been able to determine if Long or Brewer have legal representation.

Long and Brewer committed both crimes together, Crum said. Police said they do not believe anyone else is responsible in the deaths of the two women, and added that they were still investigating the motive behind the killings.

Crum said that authorities did not believe there was any further risk to the public. The similarities between the two killings had initially prompted them to urge the city's LGBTQ community, particularly those who engage in sex work, to be extra cautious and vigilant.

"They have to know that there is arguably never a more vulnerable time for them than tonight," police spokesperson Rob Tufano said on Thursday. "If they see anything suspicious, if they hear anything suspicious, they've got to immediately call 911. This is a very critical time right now."

Charlotte Pride, a local LGBTQ advocacy group, said it was working with others in the community to respond to the situation.

"CMPD announced this afternoon that two individuals have been arrested, who they believe are responsible for the April 4 and April 15 murders," the group wrote in a Facebook post. "However, we know that our trans community  and Black trans women in particular  continue to face hostile and dangerous situations."

A funeral for Peterson was held this week, CNN affiliate WSOC reported.

"Like I told her before I put her in the ground, I don't care if it takes every breath in my body," her mother Mary Peterson said, according to the station. "I said, 'I'm getting justice.'"

At least 14 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been violently killed so far in 2021, according to the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign.

CNN has reached out to the police department and prosecutor for more information on attorney, court appearance, as well as copies of the criminal complaints and police reports.
Coronavirus vaccines were just rolling out in December when more than 1,000 staffers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles volunteered for a sweeping study. The goal: pinpoint how immune reactions to the jab might vary.

By last month, a clear pattern in the data popped out at us, said research leader Susan Cheng. Those who had recovered from Covid-19 responded to their first shot so robustly that the results rivaled never-infected colleagues who had received both shots. The implication was clear. If youve had Covid, you may only need one of the two doses recommended by Pfizer and Moderna.

We did not expect that this was going to jump out like a smoking gun, said Cheng, who co-authored the Nature Medicine write-up. In fact, if you already had the virus, your immune response after one vaccine is likely to be even better than a never-infected persons after two, according to Italian research just out in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Also read: Why the Covid-19 vaccine safety numbers are still fuzzy

The issue of giving only a single dose to people who have had Covid has become all the more urgent since safety concerns have been raised about Johnson & Johnsons and AstraZenecas vaccines. The implications at a time of strained global supply are striking: giving previously infected people just one mRNA vaccine shot could free up more than 110 million doses worldwide, according to a calculation by University of Maryland School of Medicine immunologist Mohammad Sajadi and colleagues.

Remembering Covid

Sajadi co-authored one of the recent studies that fit into a recent flurry of findings all pointing in the same direction: The immune system in people whove had Covid remembers the virus, so a first vaccine acts as a powerful booster for existing defenses. The data is very clear, Sajadi said. Every study has shown you get a very clear and strong memory response.

Since February, several European countries -- including France, Spain, Italy and Germany -- have adopted policies giving Covid survivors just one dose of the two-dose vaccines.

In Israel, a world leader on coronavirus vaccinations, health authorities initially withheld vaccines altogether from recovered Covid patients, but in February recommended they receive one shot. New research there suggests that the booster vaccine adds protection against newer variants that originated in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil.

Also read: Covid vaccines don't stop one from getting infected, but help in reducing severity: Health economist

We think that our study supports the recommendation to administer one vaccine dose to recovered individuals to protect against the original and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, Michal Mandelboim, head of Israels National Center for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, said in an email. A study in Science found that in Covid survivors, vaccinations massively boosted immunity against variants.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends two vaccine doses for people who have had Covid, but the mounting evidence that one vaccine could be enough is under discussion. The US has administered enough doses for 31% of its population, while Israel has given enough for 57%, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker.

Data Needed

In a blog post, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins raised the possibility that giving survivors a single dose could help to extend vaccine supply and get more people vaccinated sooner.

But any serious consideration of this option will require more data, he cautioned in February.

Since then, one study after another has reinforced the single-vaccine-for-survivors idea, though some skeptics have pointed out that it is logistically simpler to just give everyone two doses than to figure out who needs only one.

In the US, vaccine supplies are relatively copious, Sajadi said. But for other countries, especially places that are having a hard time getting vaccine, this is really still an important question. And its also an important question in general because you dont want to just give someone a medical intervention they dont need.

Also read: Ten states form nearly 80% of India's new Covid-19 cases

If a patient whod had Covid asked Sajadi at this point whether they needed a second vaccine, he said, hed say it would make sense to skip it if nothing in their medical history indicated issues with immune responses.

Cheng at Cedars-Sinai said she would still default to the CDC guidance calling for two vaccines, even for people whove had Covid. The data does suggest, however, that one dose could be enough, she said -- and that could be true for other types of people as well: I think were just at the tip of the iceberg of figuring out who they are.
However, the person identified as 43-year-old Reza K had already left the country before the attack took place, dpa news agency quoted the intelligence service as saying in a statement.

Tehran, April 18 (IANS) Iran's intelligence service is said to have identified one of the suspects behind an "act of sabotage" at the Natanz nuclear facility a week ago, according to state media on Sunday.

The search for the man is reportedly already underway.

No further details have been released, including how the man was able to get into the country's main nuclear facility.

The leadership in Tehran blames Israel for the April 11 attack and calls it an act of terrorism.

At the same time, it accuses Israel of trying to sabotage the ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna.

Israel has not commented on the incident.

New Iranian centrifuges for uranium enrichment are produced in Natanz.

Since Friday, uranium can be enriched to a purity of 60 per cent, according to nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi.

The facility has been the site of several incidents or attacks attributed to Israel.

The Vienna nuclear talks are aimed at the US and Iran returning to the 2015 agreement that aimed to limit Tehran's nuclear weapons programme, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

--IANS

ksk/
LG has announced that it is out of the Android smartphone game; on the other hand, the cutting-edge Rollable mobile device is apparently being readied for launch. The latest step in this process is having it certified to use NFC, as the leaker Mukul Sharma has discovered.

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LG has been hinting that it might actually release its Explorer project - also known as the literal Rollable phone - into production since the launch of the Wing. However, the OEM subsequently turned around and declared that Android smartphones were not for it earlier in April, thereby possibly dashing all hopes of this state-of-the-art device making it to a launch.

In a confusing twist, the rumor mill then started to crank out signs that the V70 ThinQ would make it onto the market, as a possible swansong for LG's mobile division - as would the Rollable. A model number that might belong to the phone, LM-R910, has recently shown up on South Korea's NRRA regulatory database.

Now, the same device has been approved by the NFC Forum. It is registered as the LM-R910VM this time, which is a hopeful sign that there may be more region-specific variants besides its ostensible Korean sibling (LM-R910N). Therefore, it just might be that LG intends to launch the Rollable after all, and possibly internationally, too.

This might indeed be a strange move on the part of a company that is apparently done with mobile devices. On the other hand, it may make sense for LG to cash in on this new and innovative form-factor it has spent years developing - or at least grab the headlines and posterity associated with doing so.

Choosing otherwise leaves the "first to rollable tech" crown up for others (most likely OPPO, Samsung or TCL) to grab after all. If you were LG, would you really want that?

Buy an LG Velvet on Amazon
The Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute (AMI) for Civic Education and Public Policy Advocacy, Mr Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has commended the Beninois authorities for a successful organisation of its April 11 presidential election.

He said the collation centres were not inundated with human traffic as well as "macho men or vigilante groups".



One unique thing is how after the open counting and declaration of results, the returning officers send their duly signed Declaration Forms to the collation centres and leave, he stated.



Observation



Mr Anyidoho said this in an interview after observing the election as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Benin last week.



It was the second international election monitoring assignment by the AMI after an earlier one it undertook in October 2020 as part of an ECOWAS Observer Team to observe the presidential and provincial elections in Guinea Conakry.



Processes



Mr Anyidoho described the voting processes as smooth as what pertained in Ghana.



Honestly, the ECOWAS Team did not report an incident of violence. Tactile ballots were also available to help those with impaired vision, he added.



He said there were also no queues even though the voting ended at 4 p.m. unlike Ghana where voting ends at 5 p.m.



Ghana Mission

Mr Anyidoho also praised the Ghana Mission in Cotonou for its support, especially the Interim Head of Mission, Madam Louisa Hanson.



Background



Incumbent President Patrice Talon won 86.37 per cent of the votes or 1,984,832 votes in the April 11 polls.



He was followed by rivals Alassane Soumano with 11.29 per cent and Corentin Kohoue with 2.35 per cent.



The turnout was 50.17 per cent or 2,298,401 voters out of a possible 4,802,303.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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I cant stand any more cant -- the hypocritical, sanctimonious blather so common to our public and private educational institutions, the media, politicians, interest groups and corporations. Neither can more and more people -- and this week, across a variety of fields, they are hitting back at it. Its as if the giant fog beclouding minds is beginning to disperse.

Hero of the Week: Andrew Gutmann

I like private schools. I think that for those who can afford them, they can provide an 'out' from the poor educations available at too many government-sponsored schools. I have, however, been horrified to read letters from heads of otherwise very good ones, endorsing -- if not openly, then subtly -- critical race theory, Black Lives Matter, and the very notion of systemic racism. So I was delighted to read the letter by Andrew Gutmann, father of a student at Brearley, a very high-priced New York school, who attacks the school leadership for their cowardly and appalling lack of leadership by appeasing an anti-intellectual, illiberal mob, and then allowing the school to be captured by that same mob. I can only give you a summary of its highlights, but please read it all. (What he says is equally applicable to the same hypocrisy evident in far too many colleges and universities around the country.)

He says he cannot tolerate a school that not only judges my daughter by the color of her skin, but encourages and instructs her to prejudge others by theirs, something he correctly argues desecrates the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders. As for systemic racism, Gutmann denies there is any such thing, and that there has not been any in the U.S. for more than 50 years. To state otherwise is a flat-out misrepresentation of our countrys history and adds no understanding to any of todays societal issues. Differences in outcome are not evidence of systemic racism, he notes. Facile and unsupported beliefs such as these are the polar opposite to the intellectual and scientific truth for which Brearley claims to stand. As for the often-heard calls for conversations about race, he is just as blunt. They do not want an honest conversation about race, they want only to propagandize the false notion that blacks are helpless victims who, no matter their skills, talent or hard work, cannot succeed. In fact, he correctly tags such beliefs racism.

Best of all, he calls out the schools vacuous, inappropriate and fanatical use of words such as equity and diversity as utter hypocrisy, pointing out if that really were its aims, it would scratch policies like preferences for legacies, siblings, and the children of the wealthy. And if it cared really about inclusiveness it would stop teaching the extraordinarily divisive idea that there are only, and always, two groups in the country: victims and oppressors.

As for the assertion by the school that its greatest concern should be education, not its stated goal as safety, something he says (with good reason) damages the mental health and resiliency of the students.

As if to prove this point, heres the schools response, a piece of fluffy faddish words strung together (inclusive, antiracist, diverse), contending that the dears were frightened and intimidated by Gutmanns critical comments.

Gutmann also correctly characterized BLM as a Marxist, anti-family, heterophobic, anti-Asian and anti-Semitic organization that neither speaks for the majority of the Black community in this country, nor in any way, shape or form, represents their best interests.

Right on cue, Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of BLM proves his point, as Larry Elder reports:

The first thing, I think, is that we actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia [Garza, BLM co-founder] in particular are trained organizers. Cullors also said: We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories. And I think that what we really tried to do is build a movement that could be utilized by many, many black folk.

Shes doing well for herself, not so well for the intended beneficiaries. Shes been buying up real estate, three homes in Los Angeles, her latest a $1.4-million dollar home in tony Topanga Canyon, California. BLM Global Network received $90 million last year. Only $500 of that went to the family of Michael Brown, whose death in Ferguson, Missoouri set off a series of BLM demonstrations and riots.

In fact, the head of BLM Greater New York, not affiliated with the Global Network, has asked for an independent investigation of Cullors outfit, asking If you go around calling yourself a socialist, you have to ask how much of her own personal money is going to charitable causes.

Cullors reponded, I do understand why people expect [grants] from us, she said. But I think its important that people recognize there are other places they can also get grants. There are other places they can also get resources. And, most importantly, our target should be the United States government. Our target should be calling on Congress to pass reparations. And she justifies her pelf and real estate investments with this: I see my money as not my own. I see it as my familys money as well.

Political Cant

And then theres political cant of which President Biden is a master. As the border crisis explodes and public disagreement with open borders grows, Biden flails about and offers up immediately discredited solutions.

First, he said the border portfolio was being handled by Vice President Kamala Harris, who, not an utter fool, denied that instantly. Then a White House official claimed that the president had secured agreements with Central American countries to address the border crisis.

Almost immediately thereafter, a State department spokeswoman said that no such agreements exist. Also contradicting the White House claim are northern triangle Special Envoy Ricardo Zuniga and Honduras Foreign Affairs Minister Lisandro Rosales.

Suspected terrorists and gang members have been apprehended, and border crossings in March hit a 15-year high, as an understaffed border patrol struggles to address the varied humanitarian and security problems that come with a massive influx of illegal immigration.

The Biden plan is to have no one in charge as the humanitarian crisis explodes and simply to lie about it .

Environmentalist Cant

Two items this week establish beyond doubt that those opposing fossil fuels are utterly ignorant or lying virtue signalers.

Heres a short video in which we learn that solar panels are made of quartz which rips up the land in the quarrying of it and requires lots of coal to heat it and turn it into silicon. And that the energy they provide is intermittent and unreliable and conventional fossil fuel and nuclear-powered generation is necessary to supplement it.

Watch it to see how the promoters of solar panels ignore or lie about the production process.

Its of a piece with a contretemps between Innovex, an oil and gas services company, and North Face, a producer of trendy outdoor fashions. Innovex wanted to present employees with North Face jackets with Innovex insignia, North Face refused the sale because it abhors fossil fuel production. The CEO points out how much depends on fossil fuel production and how it has reduced CO2 emissions, and such, and noted to the idiots at North Face everything North Face produces depends on oil and gas.

Social Media Cant

Last but not least is Facebook cant. A month ago, it bruited how ethical it is, something so many people who express opinions and cite facts in disagreement with the Zuckerberg-established preferences would dispute.

Our goal is for Facebook, as a business and a platform, to be a place for equality, safety, dignity and free speech -- the core principles of human rights -- and to build systems that respect human rights and guidance of the UNGPs [UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights].

Nevertheless, it obtains revenue from ads by companies in China selling hair it admits are cut from Uyghurs, against whom the CCP is committing genocide and other crimes against humanity. When confronted about the gap between their stated support for human rights and the continued running of these ads, Facebook declined comment.

It would be naive to believe the flood of cant can be stemmed, but lets work to cut it to a much smaller trickle.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.


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Hyundai All-New KONA N Performance SUV Reveal

The all-new KONA N, a performance SUV, makes its world premiere at the Hyundai N Day digital event on April 27, 2021

Hyundai Motor will share the brands philosophy, new brand claim and future e-performance direction



SEOUL, April 15, 2021  Hyundai Motor Company will unveil the all-new KONA N at its first-ever Hyundai N Day, a digital showcase for its high-performance N Brand, on April 27, 2021.

KONA N is not only the latest addition to Hyundais growing high-performance N lineup but is also the first N model with an SUV body type. With a powerful combination of versatility, spirited acceleration, agility and racetrack capability, KONA N stands to change what people expect from an SUV. The all-new KONA N will be presented by Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division at Hyundai Motor Group.

The company will use N Day as a platform for sharing the N brand high-performance philosophy, introduce the new brand claim, make news about upcoming N models, and talk about its future e-performance direction. This part will be presented by Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Division.

We are very excited to unveil the KONA N, a true Hot SUV with all the driving fun N offers, Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand Management & Motorsport Sub-Division at Hyundai Motor Company said. With our first ever N Day, we aim to continue the story of N and share our vision with this digital format to further engage with our enthusiasts.

Watch the N Day trailer at https://www.youtube.com/hyundainworldwide.

###

About Hyundai Motor Company

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe.

Based on the brand vision Progress for Humanity,' Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider.

The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions, while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services.

In pursuit of sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero emission vehicles equipped with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Police took six people into custody following a high-speed pursuit that ended in an eastern Ottawa County field and may be linked to a break-in at a Holland area hardware.

The pursuit happened about 3 a.m. Saturday, April 17 along eastbound Adams Street from I-196.

Some 30 minutes earlier, Allegan County sheriffs deputies were investigating a break-in at Graafschap Hardware, 4578 60th St., where the front door was smashed out. It wasnt clear if anything was taken.

Allegan County sheriffs deputies initially began pursuing a car that eventually ended up in Ottawa County.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies assisted in the pursuit, which ended up in a field north of Adams Street and between 24th and 28th avenues.

People fled the car when it became disabled, but police set up a perimeter. They took six people, believed to be all of the occupants, into custody.

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US climate envoy John Kerry was the first official from the Biden administration to visit China

The United States and China are "committed to cooperating" on the pressing issue of climate change, the two sides said Saturday, issuing the pledge days ahead of a key summit hosted by President Joe Biden.

The joint statement came after a trip to Shanghai by US climate envoy John Kerry, the first official from Biden's administration to visit China, signaling hopes the two sides could work together on the global challenge despite sky-high tensions on multiple other fronts.

But to achieve the global climate goal, Kerry said words must be put into action and urged China to reduce its use of coal.

"The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands," said the statement from Kerry and China's special envoy for climate change Xie Zhenhua.

It listed multiple avenues of climate cooperation between the world's top two economies which together account for nearly half of the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

It stressed "enhancing their respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement."

Both countries also "look forward" to a virtual climate summit of world leaders that Biden will host next week, though the statement did not say if Chinese President Xi Jinping would attend.

"We very much hope he will take part," Kerry, who is now in South Korea, told reporters on Sunday.

"Of course, every country will make its own decisions," he said, adding: "We're not seeking to force anybody. We're seeking cooperation."

- 'Biggest coal user' -

China currently has about half of the world's coal power, Kerry said, adding that he "talked a lot" about it with officials in Shanghai.

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"I am not pointing fingers," said Kerry.

"We've had too much coal, other countries have too much coal, but China is the biggest, biggest coal user in the world," he added.

"And because it's such a big and powerful economy and country, it needs to move."

Biden has made climate a top priority, turning the page from his predecessor Donald Trump, who was closely aligned with the fossil fuel industry.

The US president has rejoined the 2015 Paris accord, which Kerry negotiated when he was secretary of state, and committed nations to taking action to keep the temperature from rising no more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

With the world badly off track to meeting the goal, Biden hopes his summit will result in stronger pledges in advance of UN-led climate talks in Glasgow at the end of the year.

- 'Unequivocal commitment' -

According to their statement, both Washington and Beijing "intend to develop" their respective long-term strategies to achieve carbon neutrality by the Glasgow meeting.

Other moves in the near term include boosting "international investment and finance" to support the transition to green energy in developing countries, as well as phasing out production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons, gases used in refrigeration, air conditioners and aerosols.

Longer-term actions that need to be taken to keep the temperature goals of the Paris accord "within reach" include reducing emissions from industry and power generation while stepping up renewable energy, clean transportation and climate-resistant agriculture.

The United States and China's pledge to cooperate on climate follows recent acrimony over accusations about China's policies in Hong Kong and its treatment of Uyghurs in its northwestern Xinjiang region -- criticisms Beijing rejects as interference in its domestic affairs.

If the United States refuses to work with China on climate because of other disagreements, "you're just killing yourself," Kerry told CNN before his trip to Shanghai.

Li Shuo, a policy advisor at Greenpeace East Asia, said the joint statement showed the "unequivocal commitment" of the United States and China in tackling climate change and should "put global climate momentum back on high gear."

"The difficult meetings in Shanghai bore fruit. Let that move the politics closer to where science requires us to be," he said.

China -- the world's biggest polluter -- has announced an ambitious target to be carbon-neutral by 2060, but analysts have warned high reliance on coal and modest short-term targets could scupper the ambition.

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(Newser)  For decades, a deadly type of childhood cancer has eluded sciences best tools. Now doctors have made progress with an unusual treatment: Dripping millions of copies of a virus directly into kids brains to infect their tumors and spur an immune system attack, per the AP. A dozen children treated this way lived more than twice as long as similar patients have in the past, doctors report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Although most of them eventually died of their disease, four are alive and well several years after treatmentsomething virtually unheard of in this situation. "This is the first step, a critical step," said lead author Dr. Gregory Friedman, a childhood cancer specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "Our goal is to improve on this," possibly by trying it when patients are first diagnosed or by combining it with other therapies.

story continues below

The study involved gliomas, which account for 8% to 10% of childhood brain tumors. They're usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation but they often recur. Once they do, survival averages just under six months. In such cases, the immune system has lost the ability to recognize and attack the cancer, so scientists have been seeking ways to make the tumor a fresh target. They turned to the herpes virus, which spurs a strong immune system response. A Philadelphia company called Treovir developed a treatment by modifying the virus so it would infect only cancer cells, and through tiny tubes inserted in the tumors, doctors gave the virus to 12 patients ages 7 to 18. Eleven showed evidence in imaging tests or tissue samples that the treatment was working. Median survival was just over a year, more than double whats been seen in the past. As of Junethe cutoff for analyzing resultsfour were still alive at least 18 months after treatment.

(Read more medical study stories.)
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The City Council plans to vote on a resolution next month mandating the Albuquerque Police Department to develop policies that allow victims of domestic violence to report incidents without the threat of being arrested on unrelated misdemeanor charges or warrants.

Councilor Pat Davis, the bills sponsor, said that the policies are necessary so that the victims wont be afraid to ask for help getting out of a bad situation.

Were not saying were not enforcing the warrant, Davis said. What were saying is were going to deal with it in another way. The first priority is to get out of the situation and get you help and then well contact the court or public defender and work out a time for you to appear in court to deal with that issue.

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The issue was brought to the forefront at the March City Council meeting as Harold Medina was confirmed as chief of police. Rumors had been swirling on social media that Medina had helped his son avoid getting arrested for a misdemeanor warrant. He had failed to comply with conditions of probation after being charged with driving while under the influence in 2017, according to court documents.

The Civilian Police Oversight Agency has received two complaints about Medina and his son  one from a self-described freelance journalist and another filed anonymously  and is investigating, said executive director Ed Harness. An APD spokesman said that there is no internal investigation into the matter.

In response to questions from Councilor Brook Bassan at the council meeting, Medina explained that his son had been in an abusive relationship, and in September 2019 he asked for a police escort to get his belongings from his ex-boyfriends apartment.

Medinas son had a misdemeanor warrant at the time, but officers did not arrest him. Medina said he has never spoken to the officers, was not present during the encounter and did not get involved in any way.

Videos of the encounter provided to the Journal show Medinas son and Medinas wife at a police station. Medinas son tells officers about a physical fight the couple had the night before and shows them bruises and scratches on his ribs.

The officers then go to the apartment and talk to the ex-boyfriend at length. Medinas son does not mention that he has a warrant, but his ex-boyfriend does tell officers about it. No charges were filed, and a police officer wrote in a report that the altercation had taken place 10 hours earlier, and he was unable to determine a predominant aggressor, therefore I was unable to issue a summons or effect an arrest.

Medinas son ended up getting his warrants cleared by surrendering to the court and paying a fee three days later, according to online court records.

In an interview, Bassan said she was satisfied with Medinas explanation about why his son was not arrested on his warrant.

It does make sense to me, she said. I want to be able to share, but then I recognize this is a family situation so its not my story to share. Even though I feel that there is some of that obligation to make sure that the public is aware, especially with such a high-profile position.

In an interview last week, Medina said the experience his son went through helped shape his thinking about how officers should handle domestic violence victims.

I hate to make this about me, but I think that its one of those things that sometimes leadership being exposed to certain situations really gives them a better understanding of how they could improve processes for everyone, he said.

Davis said after the City Council meeting Medina and his wife approached him about working on the safe harbor bill.

The chief and his wife reached out to me to ask if we can help create a process to ensure other families dont go through that, Davis said. After speaking with the chief and his wife, we started doing research, and we couldnt find any model legislation around the country that specifically addresses this type of issue. So we decided to create some.

Davis  who was a police officer in Washington, D.C., in the early 2000s  said he remembers a time when officers were trained to arrest both parties if they were both involved in a domestic violence incident and let the judge sort it out later.

Since then, he said, procedures have evolved, and while officers will not always arrest victims if they have warrants or drugs on them, they might.

Domestic Violence folks that I spoke with say yes we hear that particularly sex trafficking victims and drug users that they dont want to call the police because they might get arrested for those things,  Davis said. I think the warrant thing was sort of a unique situation that I hadnt heard about yet, but given the number of outstanding misdemeanor warrants in Bernalillo County alone, its something that could happen.

Davis resolution requires APD to work with criminal justice partners on a safe harbor policy  one that would allow victims to call for help without fear of being arrested on unrelated misdemeanor warrants or charges or felony warrants if there is a reasonable alternative. APD policies have to be reviewed by the Department of Justice and other stakeholders before they can be enacted.

What its saying is we want APD to work with community partners to figure this out, Davis said. I dont think that part is controversial. I expect to hear from some more conservative old-minded cops that we should be arresting everyone on warrants, but thats just not where we are in the world.

Medina said as an officer he never arrested a victim of domestic violence, for obvious reasons. He said victim advocates and supervisors working on domestic violence cases discourage arresting victims, and its an informal rule in the department.

However, it apparently does still happen.

Jessie Fierro, director of the victim advocacy unit at the Domestic Violence Resource Center, said they get about 500 calls a week, and about twice a week they hear from people who say they were arrested by APD officers or Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies after calling for help in a domestic violence situation.

Fierro said she supports the safe harbor bill and hopes that it will do some good.

I think it is a wonderful thing, and if they put it into policy that would be great, Fierro said. Then we can assure victims that are calling in that are saying, I need to call the police but I dont want to, Im afraid, I have a warrant.  I wish I could tell them for sure youre not going to get arrested because theres this law.

Councilor Bassan, on the other hand, said while she does not believe any victim should be afraid to seek help, and the city should do what it can to protect people, it is also important to uphold the law and the criminal justice system.

To begin making decisions that may alter how warrants, both misdemeanor and felony, may be negotiated will take considerable compromise among many criminal justice groups in order to be effective without significant, unintended consequences, Bassan said. To begin removing any level of law enforcement could risk increasing levels of crime in Albuquerque that we most definitely cannot endure.
It works by artificial intelligence sensors analysing a persons breath. Test results for GeNose can be delivered in three minutes. Credit:Getty However, the introduction of GeNose in Indonesia has not been without critics. Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, disputes the claim by the developers that the breathalyser can detect COVID-19 only two days after viral exposure while the other tests cant pick it up until four days after infection. He queries its accuracy and said it was dangerous for it to be rushed out despite Indonesias desperation to contain a virus that has infected nearly 1.6 million people and claimed more than 43,000 lives.

It is impossible [to detect the virus two days after transmission], Riono said. What is problematic is that the claim has never been validated. And what makes me even more confused is that the COVID-19 Task Force allowed it. The expansion of the rapid breath test for the virus comes as Indonesia bans internal travel for Eid al-Fitr next month when millions in the worlds most populous Muslim majority nation would usually return home to mark the end of Ramadan. Indonesian Health Ministry spokeswoman Widyawati said the breath test was approved but only for screening purposes. In accordance to the WHO [World Health Organisation], only PCR tests and rapid antigen tests can be used for diagnosis, Widyawati said. The GeNose tests have been carried out on about 700,000 people in the past two months, according to Indonesian Transportation Ministry spokeswoman Adita Irawati.

She said some results may have been affected by people not fasting for 30 minutes before the test, as they are instructed to do. Indonesian Muslims wear protective masks during the holy month of Ramadan. Credit:Getty If there is any information from the ground that it is not accurate, well, I think there is no test method that provides a 100 per cent effectiveness, Irawati said. There is a condition in taking the GeNose tests ... you cannot eat and drink for 30 minutes prior to taking the test. The reports we received from operators, some people were not honest about this. They said they did not eat and drink prior to taking the test but when the result was positive, they admitted that they ate or drank less than 30 minutes before taking the GeNose test. The developers reported the test had an accuracy of 93 to 94 per cent following a clinical trial involving 1999 people in Yogyakarta last year.

Dian Kesumapramudy, one of the two researchers who devised the COVID-19 breathalyser in Indonesia, is taken aback by questions about GeNoses effectiveness and the process by which it was released. I am confused why some people say that our research was not open. I have given speeches everywhere including in front of PDUI [the Association of Indonesian General Practitioners], he said. Since December I have spoken about our research everywhere. In normal times, the procedures are to publicise your research first [in scientific journals] and after obtaining a patent you can start production. But we are not in a normal condition. Loading I have said repeatedly that we started with a validated clinical testing. Evaluation has started at the time when we submitted our proposal. The team that tested our proposal and clinical testing came from various universities. They were not a team from the Health Ministry. They were competent experts in their fields.
In this photo provided by U.S. Embassy Seoul, U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry speaks during a round table meeting with the media in Seoul, April 18. AP



Japan's coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is key to ensuring safety in the country's planned release of contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said Sunday.



In a press meeting here, Kerry also said that it is not appropriate for the United States to step into the process, amid Seoul's calls for Washington's cooperation in ensuring Tokyo share related information in a transparent, swift manner.



"The U.S. is confident that the government of Japan has had full consultation with IAEA, that IAEA has set up a very rigorous process," Kerry said. "What is key is Japan's continued coordination with IAEA as it monitors the process."



The U.S. envoy stressed Washington's confidence that "Japan has worked very closely with IAEA, and will continue to."



Asked if the U.S. is willing to play a role related to the issue, Kerry said that Washington is not planning anything right now. A day earlier, Seoul's Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong called for Washington's cooperation on the issue.






Australian Commodore Guy Holthouse has described his coveted invite to represent his nation at Prince Phillip's funeral as 'humbling' - and claimed the royal would have been a senior military man had he not met the Queen.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who died peacefully in his sleep aged 99 on April 9, was farewelled at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday in an intimate 30-person ceremony.

Mr Holthouse, Australia's Defence Advisor in the UK, was positioned in front of the chapel as part of Prince Philip's final homage to Australia, watching as his coffin arrived on the back of a LandRover before being carried inside.

The invite was issued to fulfil the Duke's wish to recognise the country he first visited as a teenager in the Royal Navy.

Australian Commodore Guy Holthouse (pictured) said he was 'honoured and humbled' to represent his nation at Prince Phillip's funeral service at St George chapel on Saturday

Mr Holthouse said he was 'honoured' to take part in the ceremony, which he described as 'an amazing military send-off for an amazing man'.

'[I felt] both honoured and humbled to participate in a moment in history in a very small way, and to honour a man and be part of his wishes for the Australian Defence Force, and indeed for Australia, to attend his funeral,' he said, appearing on Weekend Today on Sunday.

'For me it will be a moment in time I will never forget.'

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers with a handwritten note from his wife.

Representatives of other Commonwealth nations including Canada, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago also stood guard alongside Mr Holthouse.

Numerous military rituals, including a naval hymn and readings of the Duke's military acknowledgements, were performed at the ceremony - all at the request of the Prince.

Prince Phillip's children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, and his grandchildren Prince William and Prince Harry march behind his coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle

The Queen was forced to mourn alone due to UK's Britain's Covid-19 restrictions as she farewelled her husband of 73 years

'It all suggests he was first and foremost a military officer and that never left him,' Mr Holthouse told The Age.

'Prince Philip's engagement with the Australian Defence Force actually began in 1940, when he came out to Australia as a midshipman on board battleship HMS Ramillies and began escorting Australian and New Zealand convoys through the Suez Canal.

'He was an exceptional officer and I'm sure that if he hadn't met Her Majesty he would have gone on, no question, to become a very senior member of the Royal Navy.'

Prince Philip, who was due to turn 100 on June 10 this year, visited Australia on more than 20 occasions during his life.

He was 18-years-old when he first sailed into Sydney Harbour on the British battleship HMS Ramillies on March 14, 1940.

Prince Philip first sailed into Sydney Harbour on March 14, 1940, as an 18-year-old on the British battleship HMS Ramillies. He is in the front row, second from the left.

Prince Philip visited Australia on more than 20 occasions during his life. He is pictured greeting the public during the Great Aussie Barbecue in Perth in 2011

The midshipman, then known as the Prince of Greece, spent a couple of weeks in Sydney enjoying dances and parties with the city's elite.

The ship then travelled on to Melbourne and Prince Philip spent a week at a sheep station, before spending four months protecting the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean.

Prince Philip returned to Australia in late 1945 and stayed at Admiralty House in Kirribilli.

He visited the home of the Greek Consul-General and a Greek Orthodox Church and was seen surfing at Palm Beach, in Sydney's north, and at Bondi Beach, to the city's east.

A shot of him laughing as he fell out of the revolving barrel at Luna Park made the front page of The Daily Telegraph.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on board HMAS Australia at sea off Townsville, Queensland, during a royal tour of Australia in March 1954

A clipping from the Daily Telegraph on December 5, 1945 shows Prince Philip "taking a tumble" at Luna Park after a farewell party aboard hit the HMS Whelp earlier in the night

Prince Philip's next visit to Australia was in 1954, when he accompanied the newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II for an epic eight-week tour.

They were embarking on a six-month tour of the British Empire only eight months after the Queen's Coronation, as Prince Charles and Princess Anne stayed in London with a nanny.

In 58 days, the duke visited every state capital, except Darwin, and toured regional centres from Burnie in northern Tasmania to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and Broken Hill, a mining town in the far-west of New South Wales, with up to three-quarters of Australians catching a glimpse of the Queen and Prince Philip.

Two years after his first official visit down under, he returned to Australia without the Queen to officially open the Melbourne Olympic Games, the first ever summer Olympics to be held in the southern hemisphere.

Prince Philip's last trip to Australia was in 2011 with the Queen.

The Queen and Prince Philip wave to the hundreds of people who came to farewell them at Perth International Airport in 2011

The Queen wiped away tears as she was forced to mourn her husband of 73 years alone away from her family amid Covid-19 protocols in St George's Chapel on Saturday.

Her Majesty bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved husband's coffin on its final journey, with the royal procession following behind, led by Philip's children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, followed but the feuding brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, viewed as a 'peacemaker' between the two.

After the eight minute procession and the 50 minute service, his coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault.

A lament was played by a lone piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Last Post was then sounded by buglers of Philip's beloved Royal Marines who then played Action Stations at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh.

An Australian memorial for Prince Phillip will be held at St Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide on Sunday evening officiated by the head of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop of Adelaide Geoff Smith.
Russell Montoya has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Shane Nelson (Adams County Sheriff's Office )

A Colorado man has been convicted of first-degree murder after he shot and killed his childhood friend and then hid the body in a makeshift concrete tomb.

Russell Montoya Jr, 39, was also found guilty on Thursday of tampering with a deceased human body.

Montoya killed Shane Nelson at his home in Adams County on 8 November, 2019. According to prosecutors, during a verbal altercation in the kitchen, Montoya fired four shots from a handgun.

Two shots hit Mr Nelson in the chest, and a third bullet struck him in the head. He fell to the floor and died, the district attorneys office said.

In the days following the incident, Montoya purchased materials from a local hardware store, and then created a makeshift tomb under the stairs of his unfinished basement.

He fully encased Mr Nelsons body in concrete and attempted to mask the odor that emanated from the area using epoxy resin, industrial foam, and baking soda.

Montoya confessed to his daughter days later that he had killed Mr Nelson after she became suspicious of his behaviour and conditions at his home.

CBS4 reports that she told investigators of being met with an overpowering, horrible and indescribable odor in the basement. A concrete wall in the laundry room appeared freshly poured, she said.

The daughter subsequently saw a social media post reporting Mr Nelsons disappearance and confronted her father.

She notified Adams County Sheriffs Office and on 14 November, a SWAT team executed a search warrant on the property, discovering the tomb and the body.

The gruesome nature of this crime is beyond words, said District Attorney Brian Mason. Im grateful to the jury for enduring through the presentation of the evidence and for returning a just verdict.

Montoya was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and a further 12 years for tampering with Mr Nelsons body.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 19:08:35|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran marked its National Army Day on Sunday with motorcades parade inside army barracks in numerous cities, as the country struggles to control a surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Amir Abdolrahim Mousavi and other high-ranking army commanders attended a ceremony in Tehran, where messages from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani were read, state TV reported.

In his message, first published on Saturday on the official website of Iran's top leader, Khamenei called on the Iranian military to "increase this preparedness as much as necessary."

Meanwhile, Rouhani in his message stressed the importance of the relationship between the Iranian people and the Iranian army.

On the occasion, the Air Force of Iran's Army unveiled three new domestically-developped missile systems, including the "Damavand," described as a strategic long-range system capable of targetting different types of aircraft, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, Tasnim news agency reported.

A low-altitude surface-to-air system labeled "Zolfaqar" and another missile system termed "Majid" were also unveiled, as well as an artillery fire-control system called "Khatam," presented as capable of simultaneously operating against various aerial targets at low altitude.

Due to the surge in the COVID-19 epidemic in the country, no infantry parade was held, but instead the Army's capabilities in the fields of domestic unmanned air vehicle and bio-defense were showcased, along with mobile units designed to attend emergencies in full compliance with health protocols. Enditem
NEW HAVEN  When the city opened its high schools earlier this month, it came with a promise from school district leadership that there would be enough nurses for every school.

However, on the day high schools opened, teachers reported that some schools did not have nurses stationed there.

Its a significant concern, said Nijija-Ife Waters, president of the City Wide Parent Team. Who is responsible for medical care for these students? I do not understand why the district (and Board of Education) has not made this a priority.

City Health Director Maritza Bond said many of the challenges faced by the city are the same as they have been since elementary school teachers raised concerns that buildings did not have nurses. The health department  which employs the nurses who work in the school district  currently is seeking to fill some nursing position vacancies. On top of that, Bond said nurses  like all other workers  require sick days.

We work with a temp agency when theres a shortage, she said.

However, sometimes even a temp agency is unable to provide nurses to the district. In those cases, the city will designate a nurse working at a school near a school with a vacancy in the nurses office as being on-call.

Despite that policy, some say that entire sections of the city have been without a school nurse on some days. New Haven Federation of Teachers President Dave Cicarella said three schools in or near the Long Wharf neighborhood  Metropolitan Business Academy, High School in the Community and Conte West Hills  did not have nurses on April 5.

Its kind of like whack-a-mole, he said. It has been a problem, no question.

Tamiko Jackson-McArthur, a member of the Board of Education and a pediatrician, said Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey has assured the board that there is a contingency plan for when schools dont have nurses. Jackson-McArthur said she still has concerns.

We are in a pandemic, and as a community physician, I have reports of positive cases all the time, she said. Now is not the time to be without medical support within our buildings.

Despite those concerns, officials with the state Department of Education say it is not uncommon for school nurses to cover more than the one school where they are assigned.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

The pandemic has brought challenges that have required local school districts to implement strategies to ensure safe educational environments for their students and staff. School nurses have been instrumental in supporting student, staff and families throughout the pandemic, said Peter Yazbak, a spokesman for the state State Department of Education.

Local districts determine staffing patterns, including the roles and responsibilities of nursing staff, based on the needs at each school, Yazbak said. Therefore, if there are higher needs or higher numbers of students with special health care needs, they would assign a school nurse to that school but be able to cover additional schools when situations arise or change at those schools.

Cynthia Harris-Jackson, president of the local nurses union, said there are various reasons why nurses might leave New Haven  or the public health nursing profession entirely.

Burnout has been a major issue as a result of responding to this public health crisis literally every day for over a year, she said.

Although Harris-Jackson said higher wages might attract more nurses to the city, she said it has been greatly appreciated by city nurses that they are receiving a pandemic stipend.

Harris-Jackson said the pandemic has brought on several challenges for nurses, especially around communication.

It is a different experience for us because we have become the COVID-19 liaisons between the health department, the Board of Education and the parents; we were never a liaison in this capacity before, she said. There is a lot more public communication involved. A lot of parents will generally call the school nurse to find out when it is OK to send their child back to school. They really count on the school nurses for this information rather than seek information from the city website or the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Nevertheless, Harris-Jackson said the job is rewarding and the citys nurses work especially hard.

We have really adapted and adjusted to meet the students needs. It has not always been pleasant, she said. To say we are not tired would be a lie. But time and time again we rise to the occasion.

Overall, Cicarella believes it is not the nurses who need to improve their communication, but city and district leaders.

You have to make sure you communicate with the principal, he said. Many schools are less than a mile away. In the worst-case scenario if you dont have a nurse at the school or next door, within 10 minutes a nurse can be in a car and be standing in the nurses office, but they need to tighten up the communication in the process.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) A key member of a syndicate supplying fake Indian currency note (FICN) has been arrested from the Anand Vihar railway station here, police said on Sunday.

They said 29-year-old Abdul Rahim, a resident of West Bengal's Malda, has been smuggling fake notes from Bangladesh for a long time.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said for the last few months, they have been receiving inputs about the Malda-based syndicate involved in smuggling FICNs through the Indo-Bangladesh border into Delhi and adjoining states.

"Based on a specific input, a trap was laid and our team nabbed Rahim from Anand Vihar railway station on April 16. He was waiting near the station to deliver a huge consignment of FICNs to his Delhi-based contact.

"FICNs with a face value of Rs 8 lakhs in the denomination of Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 was recovered from his possession," the officer said.

Interrogation revealed that in 2018, while working as a mason at the house of a man named Nasruddin, Rahim was asked to deliver fake Indian currency notes to make easy money. He initially earned Rs 3,000 per delivery, the officer said.

"Nasruddin used to collect FICNs from suppliers based near the Indo-Bangladesh border, who smuggled them from Bangladesh. After sometime, Rahim started accompanying Nasruddin for collecting FICN from the Indo-Bangladesh border.

"They both collected several consignments of FICN from there and further supplied to their associates based in different parts of India during past three years. For the last few months, Rahim was getting Rs one lakh of FICN as his share on delivery of Rs eight lakhs or more to their different contacts," Yadav said.

During his visit to Bangladesh, Rahim also came in contact with a man named Tiku and started smuggling FICNs from him, he said.

During the lockdown period, Nasruddin, Rahim and other members of their network could not smuggle FICNs. However after the lockdown was over, both of them collected huge amount of FICN and supplied them with the help of their contacts in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India, the officer said. PTI AMP TDS TDS

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Government back-tracks on palm oil import ban View(s):

The Government has taken two steps back after the first step of banning the import of palm oil, the most popular cooking oil, which followed the Prime Ministers directive of lifting the restriction on certain refined palm oil based products within 24 hours of the Presidents prohibition order.

According to the sequence of events, the Controller General of Department of Imports and Exports Control was advised by the Presidential Secretariat on April 5 to issue the relevant gazette notification banning palm oil imports totally with immediate effect. She issued a notification that the import of palm oil has been suspended immediately. Further, Director-General of Customs was informed of this decision and directed to desist from clearing imported palm oil containers at the Colombo Port.

This move was made following the detection of aflatoxin in crude coconut oil imported recently and the practice of mixing palm oil and coconut oil in producing cooking oil, official sources said.

Local environmentalists have been protesting against palm oil plantations in which they have claimed led to widespread deforestation and damage to ecosystems.

Sri Lanka imports around 200,000-250,000 tonnes of palm oil every year, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, official data showed.

After the ban was announced, leading local importers, cooking oil producers, bakery owners and confectionery manufacturers exerted pressure on the Government to reverse its decision as palm oil was required for their production.

Under these circumstances, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Finance Minister issued a special gazette notification on April 1 allowing the importation of refined palm oil, easing the total restriction of palm oil imports.

Under these new regulations, the importation of palm oil and its fractions which are chemically modified, palm oil in 210 litre cans, and palm crude oil except palm olein, the liquid fraction obtained during fractionation of palm oil, has been banned.

Palm oil and its fractions which are not chemically modified have been allowed to import subject to special license regulations, the Finance Ministry indicated in its gazette notification.

However these regulations are not applicable for BOI companies engaged in the production of cooking oil and palm oil-based products for the export market, official sources said.

These companies are allowed to import palm oil without any restrictions; sources said adding that the companies engaged in producing palm oil based products, bakery fat and vanaspathi ghee for the Indian market are allowed to import crude palm oil without any restrictions. (BS)
Buzzing: Romi Savova had the idea to set up PensionBee in 2014

Romi Savova is fond of telling a story of how she had the idea to set up PensionBee in 2014 because of her frustration at trying to transfer an old company pension when she changed job.

Her pot of savings was small, so no-one was terribly interested. This is not a problem the 35-year-old is likely to have in future, given that PensionBee is floating on the stock market later this month, with a value of between 346m and 384m, making her stake worth around 140m on paper.

PensionBee is making its stock market debut as part of a wave of tech floats. London is keen to secure its status as a financial centre post-Brexit and a review by Lord Hill aims to increase the City's attractions to tech companies. Savova has ticked some of the right boxes. Unlike Deliveroo's founder Will Shu, whose beefed up voting rights upset some investors, she is a believer in one share, one vote, though with a 36pc stake she will still have plenty of clout. In common with Deliveroo, the company is offering customers the chance to sign up for shares. But will PensionBee prove to be a honeypot?

As of January the company, which styles itself as a leading online pensions provider, had nearly 120,000 active customers and 1.4billion of assets under management.

Its core service is as a 'consolidator', allowing customers with a number of small pension pots from different employers to bring them together in one place, potentially saving on fees and charges and improving investment performance. Money is managed by US giants BlackRock and State Street, in passive funds, so the fees are reasonable and there are no Neil Woodford-style worries about a fund manager losing his or her Midas touch.

PensionBee doesn't plan to pay dividends, and is making a loss, though neither of these are necessarily deterrents in a tech stock. Savova has attracted heavyweights to her board, including Mary Francis, a former director of the Association of British Insurers and a non-executive at the Bank of England, Aviva and Swiss Re. The chairman is Mark Wood, a pensions industry veteran who ran the Prudential's UK business.

Although consolidating can be a sensible move, it is not a universal panacea. PensionBee does not offer advice and whilst it tries to ensure customers don't give up valuable benefits when they move, it is essentially caveat emptor.

I have a waft of deja vu. The pensions market has, since the liberalisation of the 1980s, been a happy hunting ground for entrepreneurial souls who think they have found a solution for savers' problems that co-incidentally will be a money maker for them.

Indeed, Wood was a big player in the last wave of activity through his former firm, Paternoster, which was set up in 2005 to buy up the risks on final salary pensions, and was sold off to Goldman Sachs.

At the time, this business created excitement but deals proved hard to do. There is certainly a potential market for PensionBee's kind of service as the average person is expected to change jobs 11 times over a career. Auto-enrolment also means many more people are acquiring small pots.

Whether consolidation activity will take off at the scale required to send the shares shooting upwards is a different question.

Many people take an ostrich-view of their pension and adopt a position of inertia.
GRASS VALLEY, Nevada County  Its been a long time since Californias Gold Country has churned out any big mining fortunes.

The rush of prospectors and the blasting of ore have given way to small towns comfortable in the quiet of the foothills. The glory of the Mother Lode today lives largely in history museums, local tourism ads and an occasional bar named the Mine Shaft or Golden Era.

But that doesnt mean theres no gold.

For the past four years, a Canadian mining company has been in Nevada County, about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, collecting samples of what it suspects is one of the worlds highest-grade underground gold deposits, potentially worth billions.

Now that company, Rise Gold Corp., is drafting plans to get at the bounty by reopening the more than 150-year-old Idaho-Maryland Mine.

Theres some really good targets that they left behind, President and CEO Ben Mossman said, as he stood in his office in Grass Valley recently, looking at a map of the long-shuttered mine and its 73 miles of underground tunnels. The fact that they planned to double production here before they closed says to us that they thought there would be a lot more gold.

As Mossman turns to the task of getting approvals to unseal and activate the abandoned mine just east of Grass Valleys city limits, however, the idea of reviving the regions signature industry is beginning to meet resistance.

The legacy of gold, while widely celebrated, is not something that many in this area, now home to more retirees and Bay Area transplants than men in hard hats and overalls, want to revisit. Mining may have given rise to this community, and more notably, lifted the entire state from frontier to financial powerhouse, but the scars it left on the landscape remain visible, and unwanted.

Creeks still get mucked up with iron and sulfuric acid from old mines. Soils contain arsenic left over from drilling. The occasional driveway or hillside falls into an uncovered  and previously unknown  mine vent.

Nevada County Historical Society

Why does anyone in the world think its OK to bring back this toxic business? said Christy Hubbard, 63, whose yard backs up to the Idaho-Maryland Mine and is part of the growing opposition. We have an established residential community here now, and were talking about putting a gold mine right in the middle of it? ... They could be mining 200 feet under my house.

Representatives of Rise Gold assure neighbors that todays mining is not the trade of dusty caves, loud explosives and heavy-metal runoff. Most of the work would be hundreds, if not thousands, of feet below ground, they say, and undetectable.

A consulting firm is working with the county to prepare an environmental impact report on the project. Its designed to detail what modern mining would look like for the community and help the county Board of Supervisors decide whether to let Rise Gold push forward with an evocative piece of the past.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Earlier this month, Mossman made the five-minute drive from his office to the main grounds of the Idaho-Maryland Mine.

Its one of several parcels in the county that his company has spent $3.9 million acquiring since 2017. Rise Gold, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, also has secured 2,585 acres of mineral rights, which cover the sprawling tunnels beneath the land as well as additional underground terrain extending below part of Grass Valley.

From the road, what little remains on the mines surface is hardly noticeable. The exception is a concrete silo that soars above the wooded property and covers a shaft that plunges more than 3,000 feet into the earth.

Were pretty enclosed by all these trees, said Mossman, 43, a friendly, soft-spoken engineer from British Columbia, after driving through a locked gate to the deserted mining yard.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

When the site was operational, as many as 1,000 workers came and went, helping make the Idaho-Maryland one of the most productive underground mines in California history. Its named after two of several mines that merged to form it.

The complex launched at end of the Gold Rush, in the 1860s. But the underground quartz veins that carry the gold and distinguish the regions high-value geology had a lot to offer here. The facility ran on and off through 1956, yielding a cumulative 2.4 million ounces of gold, worth more than $4 billion by todays prices.

While the discovery of gold in California, and the boom that followed, remains a well-known chapter of state history, the industrys decline is a less-told story.

Big mines like the Idaho-Maryland prospered into the 20th century but only until World War II. At that time, the federal government shut the gold mines to free up workers for military service. Most struggled to bounce back in the post-war economy, facing greater costs and increasing regulation.

Nevada County Historical Society

The world changed, said John Clinkenbeard, a geologist formerly with the California Geological Survey and a leading expert on mining. It was costing more to produce an ounce of gold than you got back. Most mines closed in the mid-50s.

The gold industry moved to other states and continued abroad. Today, Nevada leads the United States in production, and like the handful of mines still operating in California, most gold is extracted from surface pits, not from costlier underground tunnels.

If youre going to mine underground like the old-timers did it, you need high-grade gold to justify it, Clinkenbeard said.

While efforts have been made to restart some of the old tunnel mines in California, including prior attempts to open the Idaho-Maryland Mine, they didnt get far.

Theres a reason all of the mines here closed, said Mark Selverston, an archeologist with Sonoma State University who lives in Nevada County and lectures on mining history. Its hard to turn a profit. Theres still gold hidden here. But that it doesnt mean its worth getting.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

As Mossman walked across his mostly empty mining grounds, surrounded by pine trees and draped in mountain sun, he explained that the existing mine shaft and tunnels mean that much of the work getting the gold is already done.

To build all this from scratch would cost a lot of money, he said. Its a pretty ideal place to start, really.

Still, theres a lot to do before any mining commences, as much as $100 million worth of work, Rise Gold estimates.

A water treatment and dewatering facility needs to be built to empty the tunnels of groundwater and keep them dry. The underground workings must be equipped with hoists, electric transport vehicles, a ventilation system and an additional shaft to move people and equipment up and down. At the surface, a processing plant will have to be constructed to pry the gold from the mined rock.

Even with these investments, Mossman believes market forces have aligned to make Nevada County a viable place to run a gold business.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Before targeting the area, the engineer and his mining colleagues set out across the continent to find opportunities to mine gold. With the worlds surface supplies dwindling, environmental regulations around the globe catching up with Californias strict policies and gold prices rising, the team identified the Sierra foothills as uniquely competitive.

Theyve since figured, through their core sampling, that the rock in the Idaho-Maryland Mine has gold concentrations that any prospector would envy: likely a third of an ounce of gold per ton of ore  or higher. The existing tunnels run to rock with these concentrations, going to about 3,400 feet below the surface even as past mining occurred to only about 1,600 feet, according to Rise Gold. Old mining records show the last operator was planning to tap the deeper reserves and ramp up production.

Digging could eventually go to at least 5,000 feet.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Its really making more and more sense to come back to the states and places like this to mine, Mossman said.

The Idaho-Maryland, if opened, would be the first mine in Rise Golds portfolio. Mossman, though, has worked at several underground mines between the Yukon and British Columbia before joining the publicly traded company. His advisory team is staffed with other industry vets. Theyre operating locally as a subsidiary, Rise Grass Valley Inc.

The companys earning reports show the venture is well short of the capital needed to get the mine started, meaning it still has to come up with funding.

The way Mossman sees it is, if he can mine 1,000 tons of ore per day with concentrations of gold on par with what was sampled, the operation would pay off the start-up costs and realize a profit.

Nevada County Historical Society 1893

In downtown Grass Valley, 2 miles from the Rise Gold property, most mention of mining still dwells on the past, whether its reference to a Gold Rush-era shop or saloon or a nearby state park honoring the historical Empire Mine or Malakoff Diggins.

Some merchants, however, have begun to speak optimistically about a mine in the future. The nostalgia, promise of an economic anchor for the town of 13,000 and an estimated 300 new jobs, they say, holds appeal.

It seems like a lot of the older residents like that kind of stuff, said Dave Williams, 70, who owns Williams Stationery and whose family has been selling newspapers, gifts and office supplies at the shop since 1949.

Williams remembers growing up in Grass Valley, hearing the whir of the mines and the whistle at shift change. Like many in the area, he traces his ancestry to Cornish miners who immigrated to California in search of new fortunes.

Mining has always been part of our heritage, Williams said.

On the eastern edge of town, closer to the main mine grounds, the mood is different. Lawn signs dot the rural neighborhoods signaling the opposition: No Mine: Protect Our Air, Water, Quality of Life.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

One of those signs sits in front of the home of Heidi Zimmerman, 58, who says when Rise Gold was drilling to get rock samples, she had to sleep in her living room because of the leaf-blower-like buzz spilling into her bedroom.

Shes among many near the mine who worry about vibration, noise and traffic. Underground blasting and surface rock crushing could take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week and trucks could roll in and out 16 hours every day if the site reopens. Theres also concern about the dewatering of the mine lowering the water table and causing those with wells to lose supplies.

When you mention to a friend on Facebook or someone on the East Coast that they want to open a gold mine in your town, people are like, What!, Zimmerman said. It just doesnt compute.

Local environmentalists have been looking more broadly at the possibility of dust choking the areas blue skies and the dewatering washing harmful minerals into creeks. Some question the wisdom of clawing into the earth simply for a vanity metal.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

A handful of state and federal agencies that regulate waterways, air quality and wildlife must sign off on the project before it moves ahead, in addition to the requisite county approval.

Nevada County Supervisor Dan Miller, who represents the Grass Valley area, says hes waiting to see what the outside consultants say about the mine before weighing in. He doesnt want the community disrupted but, at the same time, thinks there could be benefits.

After the region lost much of its timber industry, Miller recalls, the county pinned its financial hopes on tourism, then tech, then marijuana. Nothing provided the year-round sustenance that residents were yearning.

Weve just kept looking for that pot of gold that was going to reinvigorate our economy, Miller said Were still looking for something to help us out. Were certainly going to take a hard look at this project.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Algiers, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2021 ) :Twenty years ago, an Algerian teenager's death in police custody in the heartland of the North African country's Berber minority sparked an uprising that helped blaze the trail for future protests.

Massinissa Guermah, a high school student, was hit by a hail of bullets on April 18, 2001, at a gendarmerie post in Beni-Douala, near Tizi Ouzou, the capital of Kabylie.

He had been arrested following an altercation between youths and gendarmes, and died from his wounds two days later.

"Nobody could imagine that a gendarme at his post could kill a young man in cold blood," recalled Said Sadi, an emblematic figure in the Berber culture and identity movement.

The Berbers are descendants of pre-Arab North African populations, whose homelands stretch from the extreme west of Egypt to Morocco.

"The people's reaction was one of anger," Sadi told AFP.

Kabylie had been preparing to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the April 1980 uprising, known as the "Berber Spring", demanding recognition of the community's culture and language.

Instead, the boy's death sparked the "Black Spring" riots, as people took to the streets of villages and towns to demand the closure of all gendarmerie posts in the region.

An estimated 126 people, many of them youths shot in clashes with riot police, died in two months of unrest, and more than 5,000 people were hurt.

Almost two decades later, in an echo of boiling anger against the authorities, then-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term in office sparked the birth of the Hirak pro-democracy protest movement in February 2019.
I am beyond disgusted. Charlie Spiering reports for the AP:

Former President George W. Bush urged Americans Friday to join him in supporting widespread amnesty for illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children and those living in the country illegally. Americans who favor a path to citizenship for those brought here as children, known as dreamers, are not advocating open borders, Bush wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. Bush pointed to former President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) amnesty program and called for a permanent amnesty for recipients.

My friend Lauri Regan writes:

Whatever Kool-Aid Chief Justice Roberts drank that made him obsessed about his legacy, it seems that Bush 43 did as well. No mention of securing the border first and addressing the masses flowing into the country unabated. Why is it that when Dems get into power they go berserk exerting it and when Republicans do, they turn all squishy -- like the SCOTUS justices who were appointed by Republicans (Souter, Kennedy, Roberts et al). Say what you will about Trumps personality, at least he governed as a conservative and didnt give a crap about his legacy or what people thought of him.

My answer to my friends question is that Democrats control of the major institutions  especially the media and academe  give them the power to deeply influence if not control the perceptions of issues and people in the publics mind. They have already won such thorough institutional dominance that we are left with the task of undermining those institutions themselves. The irony is gigantic because conservatives normally are all about conserving the power of institutions, rituals, and the like.

We need to face the fact that we have swapped places with the left. They are all about exercising dominance through the existing institutions that they have completely subverted to their revolutionary goals. We have to fight to regain control  I call it restoration  of as many institutions as we can  returning them to their original principles, and subvert, undermine and replace those that have already been wrecked beyond recognition.

My colleague Monica Showalter points out the irony that Latinos supported President Trump in greater numbers than they did pandering to George W. Bush.

Photo credit: White House photo by Eric Draper (cropped)

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Scranton supports a Philadelphia lawsuit challenging the states restrictions on municipalities enacting gun-control measures, Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti announced Saturday.

Philadelphia and CeaseFirePA, a coalition of people and communities taking a stand against gun violence, filed a lawsuit last year against Pennsylvania claiming it has failed to enact statewide gun safety laws, while at the same time prohibiting local governments from implementing their own firearms regulations.

Earlier this month, Scranton joined with the city of Lancaster and Delaware and Montgomery counties in filing whats known as an amicus, or friend of the court, brief that backs the Philadelphia/CeaseFirePA lawsuit.

Our inability to enact gun violence prevention measures at the local level inhibits our ability to protect our residents, Cognetti said. Filing this brief alongside other cities and counties is a way for us to advocate for the safety of our community.

Some Philadelphia residents who lost family members to gun violence also are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state Commonwealth Court.

Scranton also cites a different case, District of Columbia v. Heller, in which the U.S. Supreme Court held the following: The Second Amendment protects an individuals right to possess firearms for lawful use, such as self-defense; and governmental entities are entitled to make reasonable regulations concerning commercial sales and straw purchases of firearms, possession of dangerous and unusual weapons, possession of firearms in public buildings, firearms storage and other matters.

Pennsylvanias restriction on local governments is based on the idea that the state would enact uniform statewide laws, but it has not done so, Cognetti said.

Municipalities throughout the state, ranging from cities to rural areas, also would not necessarily want or need the same kinds of local firearms laws, she said. The lawsuit seeks to create a legal framework entitling local governments to adopt reasonable gun safety regulations best suited for them.

Such regulatory flexibility is consistent with the Heller decision and the principles of federalism; and the lawsuit should not be construed as an attack on the Heller decision or the Second Amendment, which we support, city solicitor Joseph OBrien said.

City council President Bill Gaughan also backs the citys stance .

Gun violence is out of control across our country. We have to do everything in our power to protect our citizens, and I believe this is an important step, Gaughan said in the statement.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
NEW YORK, April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Big Idea Ventures , the global leader in early-stage alternative protein investing, recently announced the launch of the Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) fund with NC State as the inaugural collaborator. GFRP is a $125 million target fund that will fuel economic development in rural communities through the commercialization of university-developed intellectual property. Today, BIV is announcing nine additional university collaborators to the fund:



Louisiana State University  Louisiana State University AgCenters research and extension efforts help power the states $12 billion agricultural industry. AgCenter faculty continue to bring scientific discoveries to the world marketplace through Intellectual Property. Since 2000, 12 new companies have been started based on licensing from the AgCenter. Royalties from these companies and from other licensing agreements have generated more than $70 million since 1999. Louisiana State University serves as Louisianas flagship university and has the unique distinction of being a land-, sea-, and space-grant university.





 research and extension efforts help power the states $12 billion agricultural industry. AgCenter faculty continue to bring scientific discoveries to the world marketplace through Intellectual Property. Since 2000, 12 new companies have been started based on licensing from the AgCenter. Royalties from these companies and from other licensing agreements have generated more than $70 million since 1999. Louisiana State University serves as Louisianas flagship university and has the unique distinction of being a land-, sea-, and space-grant university. Oregon State University  Research funding at Oregon State University reached $449 million for fiscal year 2020, setting a university record. OSUs College of Agricultural Sciences accounted for $62.6 million of that total and will use the funding to aid industries, create new jobs and improve agricultural production to feed more people  while reducing the impact on climate and the environment.





 Research funding at Oregon State University reached $449 million for fiscal year 2020, setting a university record. accounted for $62.6 million of that total and will use the funding to aid industries, create new jobs and improve agricultural production to feed more people  while reducing the impact on climate and the environment. Penn State University  Penn State is a top-ranked research university with more than 18 research areas with annual research expenditures exceeding $1 billion . Penn States university-level interdisciplinary institutes have been notably successful at breaking down traditional research silos to tackle the toughest challenges for broader societal impact. As Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution, Penn State has an extensive history of translating agricultural and human health discoveries through the Penn State Agricultural Extension, pilot facilities, and clinics. These efforts are supported by the Invent Penn State initiative , a university-wide program that advances tech transfer, industry partnerships, and startup companies.





 Penn State is a top-ranked research university with more than 18 research areas with . Penn States university-level interdisciplinary institutes have been at breaking down traditional research silos to tackle the toughest challenges for broader societal impact. As Pennsylvania's sole land-grant institution, Penn State has an extensive history of translating agricultural and human health discoveries through the Penn State Agricultural Extension, pilot facilities, and clinics. These efforts are supported by the , a university-wide program that advances tech transfer, industry partnerships, and startup companies. Purdue University  Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. 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.





 Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Tufts University - Tufts University is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States and enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence. The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts generates trusted science, educates future leaders, and produces real world impact in nutrition science and policy. The Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging is the largest research institution in the world devoted to investigating the relationship between nutrition and aging. The only school of veterinary medicine in New England is located at Tufts. Tufts is engaged in impactful research in the cellular agriculture space in its School of Engineering.





- Tufts University is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States and enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence. at Tufts generates trusted science, educates future leaders, and produces real world impact in nutrition science and policy. The Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging is the largest research institution in the world devoted to investigating the relationship between nutrition and aging. The only school of veterinary medicine in New England is located at Tufts. Tufts is engaged in impactful research in the cellular agriculture space in its School of Engineering. University of Hawaii  The University of Hawaii (UH), the states major research university, plays a prominent role in Hawaiis economic growth and development through its diverse and world-renowned research programs -- receiving a total of $456.6 million in extramural funding in FY2020. The University of Hawaii at Manoa , the flagship campus of UHs ten campus system, is one of an elite handful of land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant universities in the nation. As a Carnegie R1 institution, it is known for its pioneering research and innovation in tropical agriculture, sustainable energy, astronomy, ocean and earth sciences, cancer, engineering, data visualization, microbiomes and more.





 The University of Hawaii (UH), the states major research university, plays a prominent role in Hawaiis economic growth and development through its diverse and world-renowned research programs -- receiving a total of $456.6 million in extramural funding in FY2020. , the flagship campus of UHs ten campus system, is one of an elite handful of land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant universities in the nation. As a Carnegie R1 institution, it is known for its pioneering research and innovation in tropical agriculture, sustainable energy, astronomy, ocean and earth sciences, cancer, engineering, data visualization, microbiomes and more. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign  As one of the nations leading research universities, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been shaping the future since 1867. Illinois consistently leads the nation in NSF-funded research, and the Universitys total annual research funding exceeds $680 million. That research drives student experiences and community engagement, powering innovation and driving positive change locally, nationally, and globally. The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois provides solutions to the worlds most critical challenges to create abundant food and energy, a healthy environment, and successful families and communities. Although proudly ranked among the top 30 agricultural schools worldwide, ACES is a diverse college with top-rated programs in engineering, finance and economics, nutritional science, and so much more. While our faculty and students choose a host of specialties and areas of interest, we all work toward the common goal of improving daily life for people close to home and around the world. Learn more at aces.illinois.edu .



 As one of the nations leading research universities, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been shaping the future since 1867. Illinois consistently leads the nation in NSF-funded research, and the Universitys total annual research funding exceeds $680 million. That research drives student experiences and community engagement, powering innovation and driving positive change locally, nationally, and globally. The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois provides solutions to the worlds most critical challenges to create abundant food and energy, a healthy environment, and successful families and communities. Although proudly ranked among the top 30 agricultural schools worldwide, ACES is a diverse college with top-rated programs in engineering, finance and economics, nutritional science, and so much more. While our faculty and students choose a host of specialties and areas of interest, we all work toward the common goal of improving daily life for people close to home and around the world. Learn more at . University of Massachusetts Amherst  UMass Amherst is among the nations top universities for research as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations and research funding. The campus spends more than $200 million on research each year and is home to more than 60 campus-based research centers. Established in 2014 with a $150 million investment, the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) translates fundamental research into innovative product candidates, technologies and services that deliver benefits to human health and well-being. IALS draws on the interdisciplinary expertise of more than 200 faculty-led research groups from 29 departments, including food science. UMass Amherst has the oldest academic food science program in the country, ranked #1 in the U.S. for the past three years, according to the 2020 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects .





 is among the nations top universities for research as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations and research funding. The campus spends more than $200 million on research each year and is home to more than 60 campus-based research centers. Established in 2014 with a $150 million investment, the (IALS) translates fundamental research into innovative product candidates, technologies and services that deliver benefits to human health and well-being. IALS draws on the interdisciplinary expertise of more than 200 faculty-led research groups from 29 departments, including food science. UMass Amherst has the oldest academic food science program in the country, ranked #1 in the U.S. for the past three years, according to the . Worcester Polytechnic Institute  Worcester Polytechnic Institute has a long history of intellectual property creation across a number of cutting-edge technologies. Innovations span biotechnology, tissue engineering, bioreactor design, sensing technologies, advanced materials, machine learning, and scale-up manufacturing processes. Recognizing WPIs strong interdisciplinary approach connecting life sciences and manufacturing engineering, WPIs NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Research in Drying (CARD), a research center focused in part on the industrial drying of food products, is leading to the development of technologies that support companies in the food industry worldwide.

Were honored to welcome these universities to the GFRP consortium, said Tom Mastrobuoni, chief investment officer for Big Idea Ventures. The research being conducted at each of these institutions spans our three areas of focus: breakthroughs in food, protein and agriculture innovation. Our team is excited to start building new companies based on technology being developed by some of the worlds best and brightest.

The GFRP fund will establish venture centers to facilitate collaboration with multiple leading U.S. universities. BIV will staff the venture centers with team members experienced in evaluating intellectual property to work with the universities to identify and evaluate new developments with the strongest commercialization potential and the fund will then invest in new companies formed around the groundbreaking research. These new companies will be headquartered in rural communities near the collaborating universities. The GRRP team expects the first of these to open in conjunction with the initial closing of capital commitments.

We believe GFRP will drive additional research and encourage entrepreneurs to establish their companies near our venture centers in rural America, added Andrew D. Ive, founder and managing general partner of BIV. Our rural communities have always been the center of our countrys food production and this is one way to help those communities continue to grow economically into the future.

About Big Idea Ventures



Big Idea Ventures (BIV) is solving the world's greatest challenges by supporting the worlds best entrepreneurs. Big Idea Ventures develops the most globally strategic funds delivering significant investor returns while addressing real world challenges. BIV is focused on alternative protein with its New Protein Fund, innovations in the food industry to solve challenges in waste, water use, plastic use and CO2 with its Generation Food Fund and commercialization of university intellectual property with its Generation Food Rural Partners fund. www.bigideaventures.com
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April 18, 2021 De Lima praises deaf-mute 'lolo' for hard work, perseverance amid pandemic Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has heaped praises on a 73-year-old deaf and mute grandfather whose photo recently made the rounds online after inspiring Filipinos for his continued hard work amid the pandemic. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, lauded the 73-year-old Alejandro "Lolo Alejandro" Lebuna for serving as an inspiration not only to persons with disabilities but also to every Filipino to persevere despite challenges of the global health crisis. "Lolo Alejandro's motivation, perseverance and hard work amid these trying times are truly admirable, but what's more remarkable is how he did not let his disability stop him from earning a living," she said. "Saludo po tayo at humahanga sa ipinapakitang pagsisikap ni Tatay Alejandro. Hindi naging hadlang sa kanya ang edad at kapansanan upang magsumikap at itaguyod ang kabuhayan lalo pa't limitado pa rin hanggang ngayon ang mga oportunidad na ipinagkakaloob sa mga tulad niya sa lipunan," she added. Reportedly, Lebuna bikes around Iloilo City to offer hair cut services. His photo that went viral shows him riding his bicycle with a box attached at the front portion seemingly containing his equipment. On his 73rd birthday last April 10, it was also reported that Lebuna not only received a new bike but also assistance from different organizations who were inspired by his act of perseverance. The lady Senator from Bicol said she hopes that Lebuna, along with other persons with disabilities and vulnerable members of the society, will get enough support from the government. "Ikinalulugod po nating malaman na maraming organisasyon ang nagpaabot ng tulong kay Tatay Alejandro. Pero hangad pa rin natin na sana ay magkaroon ng malinaw na plano para sa kanila ang gobyerno at maipatupad na ang ating mga panukalang batas para mapatibay ang mga programang tunay na magbibigay ng suporta at kalinga sa mga kababayan nating may kapansanan upang maitaguyod nila ang marangal na pamumuhay," she said. As such, De Lima said she hopes that her Senate colleagues would help push for the passage of her measures that can help improve the plight of people with disabilities, particularly Senate Bill (SB) No. 188. SB No. 188 underscores the role of the National Commission for Disability Affairs as the primary agency responsible for the implementation of policies aimed at fulfilling the rights of the PWD sector. "It will ensure that PWDs, including the deaf community, have access to their basic needs, including healthcare, education, employment, and other necessary interventions," said De Lima. Aside from SB No. 188, De Lima also introduced this 18th Congress SB No. 855 or "Integrating Persons with Autism and other Development Disabilities Act," which pushes for the creation of an inter-agency and multi-sectoral agency that would develop and implement a National Development Disability Program.
Byron Bay locals arent ready to welcome Netflix cameras to town to film docu-soap Byron Baes.

According to a recent press release, the Eureka Productions series plans to follow a feed of hot Instagrammers creating drama content.

This is our love letter to Byron Bay. Its not just Chris and Zacs backyard, its the playground of more celebrity-adjacent-adjacent influencers than you can poke a selfie-stick at.

But Plot Twist: dont write these Baes off too quickly. Therell be fights, flings and heartbreak; but beneath every perfect post is a very real desire not just for likes but to be liked, dammit, for who you are (so relatable). Can the Baes survive summer without a collab going wrong? Byrons the kind of paradise that makes it all feel possible. We cant wait for you to meet our Baes!

But despite bringing work to the NSW coastal town not everybody is happy.

A petition Boycott Byron Baes Netflix Series by Refusing to Grant Filming Permits has over 5600 signatures.

Despite no further evidence of the shows tone, the petition claims the community dont want to be depicted as a reality show punch line.

We, the community of Byron, Ballina, Tweed, and Lismore Shires are not the perfect backdrop for this series. We are a community experiencing significant challenges driven by influencer culture and rapidly shifting demographics of residents. We do not want to be cast as the perfect backdrop and magnet for social media influencers. We do not want to appear in Byron Baes.

Its a multinational company trying to exploit the towns name when the community doesnt want it and think they can just come in and use us as a commodity, Ben Gordon, who owns cafe The Byron Bay General Store, tells The Age. They dont realise theyve got a big fight on their hands.

Mayor Simon Richardson told ABC a Truman Show-type portrayal of the town overlooked a community that is in real stress.

weve got a community that has real life issues dealing with housing, work, affordability, he noted.

While we are here trying to deal with this as best we can, to have this pamphlet of an idea of who we are without any input by us.

But he also said NSW filming protocols required councils to facilitate filming in their areas unless there were exceptional circumstances, such as traffic management or crowd control issues.

Que Minh Luu, Netflixs Director of Originals in Australia, recently told ABC, people love to judge Influencers, but the show would show another side.

What I would love our audiences to take away from is a sense of dont we all kind of fake it online? Dont we all curate what photos we put online? Were actually a lot more connected to this group of people than we thought its acknowledging that everyone has depth, everyone has some kind of story. Its embracing that rather than judging it, she said.

Byron Bay recently featured in Nines Travel Guides, while nearby Brunswick Heads was the setting for SeaChange in 2019.

Eureka Productions declined to comment.

Related
Donohues condition worsened, and she eventually was fired along with several of her factory colleagues who also were showing signs of radiation sickness. Following in the footsteps of a group of employees at another plant that used radium, they filed suit against Radium Dial Co. in a case that was significant in the development of workplace safety standards, according to a compilation of contemporary news coverage compiled by the Library of Congress.
RTHK: Japan PM asks Pfizer for additional vaccine supply

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has asked the US drug maker Pfizer for additional supplies of the Covid-19 vaccine to speed up the inoculation drive that lags behind many other countries.

Suga, after holding talks with President Joe Biden at the White House, wrapped up his Washington visit on Saturday with a phone call to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

Taro Kono, a Cabinet minister tasked with vaccinations, told a Japanese television talk show on Sunday that the two sides have practically reached an agreement over the vaccines.

Suga requested Bourla for additional supplies that would cover all eligible recipients by September, as well as to ensure the stable and prompt delivery of the ongoing vaccine shipments, Japanese officials said on Sunday. No details were released.

According to the officials, Bourla told Suga that Pfizer planned to closely coordinate with the Japanese government to discuss the requests.

Japan, with its domestic vaccine development still in early stages, has to rely on imports and has signed agreements with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one Japan has approved so far.

Japans government says it has secured 314 million doses, enough to cover its entire population by the end of this year. That includes 144 million doses from Pfizer.

Inoculations started in mid-February and have covered less than 1 percent of the population. The slow process is hampered by the shortage of vaccines amid export controls by the European Union.

Kono has said the pace of the vaccine shipments is expected to pick up beginning in May. Addressing concerns about the shortage of medical workers administering the jabs, the government recently revised a law to recruit nurses who have retired or are on leave to temporarily help with the vaccinations.

The rise in cases led the government to issue an alert status for Tokyo and nine other urban prefectures. It has also fuelled doubts about whether or how the July 23 to August 8 Tokyo Olympics can go ahead.

Japan added 4,532 cases on Saturday for a total of 525,218 since the pandemic began, with 9,584 deaths. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Last week, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das, with two deputy governors in tow, held two separate e-meetings with the CEOs of all public sector banks and select private banks.

The meetings were held to take stock of the financial year gone by in which the industrys deposit portfolio grew by 11.4 per cent, higher than 7.9 per cent in the previous year, but the credit growth dropped to 5.6 per cent from 6.1 per cent. All proceedings against loan defaulters under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code were suspended last year to ward off the impact of the Covid ...
Singapore gets a taste of Kotuwa View(s):

Already making a name for himself with two popular restaurants, Cheek Bistro and Cloudstreet, Lankan Michelin star chef Rishi Naleendra introduces Lankan fare to Singapores culinary melting pot

The next time you visit the Lion City (of course, once the COVID cloud has lifted) and you are, maybe in the mood for a good kottu feed, just head to Kotuwa.

Launching a Sri Lankan restaurant in Singapore was never in Rishi Naleendras grand plan. The soft-spoken Sri Lankan chef had the distinction of a Michelin star for his Cheek Bistro and also helmed the hugely popular restaurant Cloudstreet. It was only occasional forays to a hawker stall to satisfy his curry cravings that prompted him to lay on a Sri Lankan feast for private dinners, this too for charity efforts back home. That guests loved the food there was no question. Before he knew it, the idea was taking shape in others minds if not his own. Property tycoon Ashish Manchharam, who incidentally is married to a Sri Lankan Parsi, having a boutique hotel venue in mind broached it over coffee and Rishis Singaporean investor LohLik Pengs spontaneous enthusiasm had Rishi persuaded.

The concept was all Rishis and as he mulled over names, dismissing the too cliched (so many restaurants in the world with Colombo) he thought of Fort, Colombos commercial hub, a place everyone was familiar with. Writing it in Sinhala and Tamil, Peng it was who suggested he should go with Kotuwa.

Still it was a challenge. Sri Lankan food had never really figured in Singapores culinary melting pot, nor was it a Rishi speciality  in fact he had successfully avoided being typecast as a chef who could only excel in his own home cuisine. The prestigious Michelin star, the ultimate accolade for chefs, was first earned in 2017 for his distinctive take on contemporary Australian food at his restaurant Cheek by Jowl and then in its new iteration as Cheek Bistro in 2019.Yet there was no denying the food from home has always been close to his heart.

As always he started out by drawing up a comprehensive business plan, mapping it all out in his mind. Then came a food exploration trip with his then sous chef at Cheek, Alan Chan and friends, savouring fine dining restaurants, also kades and eating places for ordinary folk in Pettah, Aluthkade, and down south. So Kotuwas menu is a celebration of all that is so traditionally loved by Lankans from the hoppers to the pol/seenisambols, to pickles and achcharus, lamprais, black pork curry, devilled chicken, hot butter cuttlefish and even that childhood special  chocolate biscuit pudding, if given a fancier twist!

Wanderlust, a finely renovated heritage building in Singapores Little India was the perfect home for Kotuwa and they were right on course for a well planned April 2020 launch. Then COVID happened. Facing a very imminent lockdown in four days, Rishi and his team a little shattered went into crisis mode. Cloudstreets menu they knew would not translate to takeaway but could they do Lankan? Thus was Kotuwa launched as a takeaway platform from Cloudstreets kitchen.

Always one for the fine detail, Rishi realised branding was vital. That was delivered through the distinctive packaging, labels, stickers and bags and to their delight and relief, the food and the name were a hit. They had orders rolling in faster than the crashing surf at Arugam Bay.

Kotuwa opened as a full service restaurant in December once Singapores strict COVID curbs had eased and Rishi is well pleased with the response. Theyve been booked right through and if he initially felt it was the novelty of a new entrant, four months after he reflects that there are customers who have come back more than a dozen times. The Lankan chef couldnt come over but Alan Chan has filled the void amazingly and its all about quality, he feels; true you can get a curry from a hawker centre for S$4-5 while here you are paying in the range of 20. Its the ingredients, the quality produce that make the difference. And yet, he accepts those who grouse that a particular dish is not as good as their mums with good grace.

Youll never get food like your mums, he agrees and hes talking from experience for his mother Sepali was always cooking for her three boys  Sashi, Rishi and Sachitra who he says ate a lot. In fact, he turned to her for some of her cherished recipes for Kotuwa. His parents Ravi and Sepali had run a catering business from their home in Dehiwala but growing up Rishi had no thoughts whatsoever of taking the same path. Adventurous when it came to his food choices, he could never stomach chilli and Mum had to wash the piece of chicken, before he could eat it. His Australian wife Manuela, though eats like a Sri Lankan, he laughs.

As a youngster, he was a little geeky, he says, absorbed in books and movies. School was Mahanama College and coming from a Sinhala speaking home, he was resolved to learn English. His mother would let him buy any book he wanted and that love for books, has stayed with him -there are boxes and boxes full he has left with Manuelas parents in Australia. He would enjoy browsing at the British Council library, also at the Barefoot bookshop and Paradise Road, fascinated by the books on architecture, Bawa in particular. Not surprisingly he chose architecture for his higher studies in Melbourne.

But as fate would have it, he opted to switch to the hospitality industry, while working a part-time job in a restaurant, drawn by the vibrant energy of the kitchen, and the reality that it was a much faster pathway to a permanent residency in Australia. Once started he was hooked and stints at sought after restaurants like Tetsuyas run by Japanese wiz Tetsuya Wakuda, Brent Savages Sydney restaurant Yellow and Melbournes Taxi Kitchen wouldunleash his creativity and hone his skills.

Now happily established in Singapore, he has a close-knit team of like-minded professionals running his three restaurants. Manuela is a full partner in Rishis ventures. If Rishi is the creative genius, she is the structural one and thankfully also a workaholic, he says, talking of the early days at Cheek by Jowl when they would be at the restaurant till 3 a.m. and then return by 8 in the morning. But it all paid off when the restaurant was awarded a coveted Michelin star, a significant accolade for a newcomer in Singapores competitive food scene.

He is proud too of Cloudstreet, for him a totally creative space. Here just 26 guests can linger over a fine-dining experience of a seven-course dinner, with maybe 26 different dishes all carefully paired with curated wines and other beverages.

He says candidly that he is very ambitious. It took courage and commitment to make it to where he is today, girded by sheer hard work. The harder you work the luckier you get. But hes always one to dream big. I live thinking I dont have much to lose  its a very fine balance of taking something really really serious and not taking it serious. I get very excited about things but I also know how to balance it. Having the vision is important, he says, but you need to understand how much hard work goes into it while being mindful of the complexities of the bigger elements. Earlier on, at Maca (his first Singapore project) the Restaurant Manager would have to drag him out to talk to guests but now Rishi makes it a point to stop by every single table.

COVID has paused his regular visits to Sri Lanka. He laughs that he always flies SriLankan because he loves the kiribath and fish curry they serve and knows when he sees the fridges and washing machines coming through Customs, that hes home! But there is a deep desire to share his success. Long before he started Kotuwa, he donated S$11,000 to flood victims (from his private dinners) and two years ago, he gave some 1,400 cookbooks to the Dilmah cooking school so student chefs would have enough resources to draw from. Learning English is imperative for any young person so there would be no bounds to their voyage of discovery, he believes. This is a little known side of Rishi  his constant quest to learn not just about his field but the wider world  art, music and film, anything creative. For now hes probing to see if there are connections between Lankan food and Singapores Peranakan cuisine.

In his book, its the passion you bring to your work that matters. Its mainly Singaporeans at Kotuwa (cooking Sri Lankan food) but at the end of the day, it doesnt matter where you are from  you cook with your heart and it turns out well.

While there seem no boundaries to his passion and where he will take it, long term, he muses that he would still want to live in Sri Lanka at some point- and hopefully have a restaurant, something akin to the level of Cloudstreet.
Guwahati: Former Chief Minister of Assam Bhumidhar Barman passed away at a hospital in Guwahati on Sunday evening. The senior Congress leader passed away at the age of 91.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed grief over Barman`s demise.

"Anguished by the passing away of former Assam CM and senior politician, Shri Bhumidhar Barman. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief," Prime Minister Office (PMO) tweeted quoting PM Modi as saying.

"Saddened to learn about the demise of former Chief Minister of Assam Dr Bhumidhar Barman. My sincere condolences to his bereaved family members and well-wishers. Om shanti," Sonowal tweeted.

Assam Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma said Barman leaves behind a rich legacy of good politics and work.

"Today we lost a stalwart of Assam politics - former CM and 7-time MLA Late Bhumidhar Barman. I have fond memories of his guidance and affection, starting with my early political career. He leaves behind a rich legacy of good politics and work. We shall miss him. My condolences," Assam Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot conveyed condolences to Barman`s family members.

"Saddened to learn about the passing away of senior Congress leader and former CM of Assam Bhumidhar Barman ji. My heartfelt condolences to his family members... may God give them strength in this most difficult time. May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted.

Barman was the Chief Minister of Assam for a brief period from April 1996 to May 1996.
Our Watch, the federally funded national agency for prevention of violence against women, distanced itself from the The Good Society package on Friday, after a reference to the body having been consulted was made in a government media release. Our Watch was consulted between late 2017 and early 2019 when the materials were being developed and provided advice. We have not been asked to use or endorse the materials subsequently, the Our Watch statement said. If were talking about bodily autonomy and boundaries Year 10 is far too late for that. Thats the first thing you start with, at three or four. Churchill Fellow and relationships education researcher Katrina Marson Our Watch advocates for a whole-of-school approach to violence prevention education that addresses the gendered drivers of violence. Our Watch has piloted a whole-of-school respectful relationships education approach in Victoria (primary and secondary schools) and Queensland (primary schools). This approach works to create sustainable change across the whole school and has significant international and national evidence supporting it. 

President of the Australian Association for Adolescent Health, Dr Melissa Kang, Credit:Louise Kennerley Churchill fellow Katrina Marson, who researches the use of relationships and sex education to safeguard sexual wellbeing, said the consent education included in The Good Society was 10 years too late. If were talking about things like bodily autonomy and boundaries [which are a basis for later sexual consent education], year 10 is far too late for that. Thats the first thing you start with, at three or four years old, said Ms Marson. University of Technology Sydney associate professor and president of the Australian Association for Adolescent Health Melissa Kang said materials aimed at foundation or prep to year 9 students were generic and gender norms and stereotypes are dealt with superficially. Definitions and descriptions of self-identity and social identity (year 7-9) are very motherhood and completely avoid gender and sexual identity. The content about group dynamics does not give any sexuality examples, she said.

Then, the content goes suddenly from nothing about consent and sex to a whole section/s on these in year 10. By year 10, a quarter of students have had intercourse. The median age for first viewing pornography in Australia (2017) is 13 years for boys and 16 years for girls. So half have seen pornography at ages younger than these. Bodily autonomy is a pillar of consent education and I did not see the expression or anything that approaches the concept discussed anywhere. Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge said on Saturday the resources were developed in consultation with experts, including the eSafety Commissioner, Foundation for Young Australians, and parent, teacher and community groups. Content is aligned with the national curriculum, which was agreed with all states and territories. Ultimately states and territories and individual schools will decide what materials are best suited for their students, he said. Parents can also use the materials to help discuss these issues with their kids at any age, noting they are the most important people in teaching about respectful relationships.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority is consulting relationship experts and teachers as it prepares to release proposed content changes and has acknowledged the status quo may not be sufficient. Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly agreed with Mr Schwarz that respectful themes and information about bodily autonomy should be introduced to children as young as possible, and research backed starting these at a very young age. The push is definitely on [for earlier introduction of respectful relationships material], generally we understand we need to get in earlier. She believes the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority review will find conversations around consent need to be earlier, we would say consent conversations need to be age appropriate and being right back [in early childhood]. Were not talking about sex; were talking about a persons right to bodily autonomy, and what to do with your body, we model things like I dont kiss people I dont want to kiss. Right from the start were talking about a mutual understanding of consent.

Playgroup Victoria already runs one music playgroup program that includes positive messages about gender equality, inclusion and respect, which was piloted with funding from the Office for Women and is now supported by Gandel Philanthropy. Loading Evaluation revealed that more than 80 per cent of parents who participated said they would consider changing the way they parented, to present a less gender stereotypical view of the world. The organisation applied for federal government funding to pilot a music-based program including age-appropriate messages about consent  known at the early years as protective behaviours  but was rejected. Mother Brea Kunstler, who attended Playgroup Victorias online groups with her 18-month-old daughter Abby during the pandemic, said introducing ideas about respectful relationships to very young children was important.
French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian commented Sunday on the new restrictions imposed for travellers coming to France from some countries and the health conditions of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

On Saturday, France introduced a mandatory ten-day quarantine for travellers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa over concerns of coronavirus variants in the regions.

The new measures will be fully enforced on April 24.

While France suspended all flights from Brazil last week over concerns of a more violent virus variant until next week, Le Drian added that when flights resume only French citizens or those with ''imperative'' reasons will be allowed to enter France and then undergo the mandatory self-isolation.

France did not suspend flights coming from Argentina, Chile and South Africa.

Speaking to French broadcaster France 3, Le Drian said he considers Alexei Navalny's health conditions in jail ''extremely worrying.''

Navalny is Russian President Vladimir Putins most visible and adamant opponent.

He started a hunger strike more than three weeks ago to protest prison authorities refusal to allow him to be seen by a private doctor for diagnosis of severe back pain and loss of feeling in his legs.

A doctor has said his health is deteriorating rapidly and the 44-year-old Kremlin critic could be on the verge of death.

The French Foreign Minister said he sees a ''authoritarian drift'' in Russia, and Navalny's case ''is the most significant, the most symbolic, the most striking for the minds.''

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)


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(@FahadShabbir)

Berlin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2021 ) :Germany held a national memorial service on Sunday for its nearly 80,000 victims of the coronavirus pandemic, with the president urging the country to put aside deep divisions over Covid restrictions to share the pain of grieving families.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier joined an ecumenical service in the morning at Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a memorial against war and destruction, before attending a ceremony later at the capital's Konzerthaus concert hall.

"Today, as a society, we want to remember those who died a lonely and often agonising death during this dark time," Steinmeier said.

"I have the impression that we as a society do not make ourselves aware that behind all the numbers there are human fates, people. Their suffering and their deaths have often remained invisible to the public," he said.

With pandemic curbs still in force restricting the number of people who can attend, the ceremonies were being broadcast live on public television.

As debate raged in Germany over measures put in place by Merkel's government, including limits on social contact to halt contagion, Steinmeier said it was a "bitter truth" that such restrictions had "also brought about suffering".

Besides the pain of losing a loved one, relatives are often unable to even hold their family members' hands as they lie dying.

Others have been left grieving on their own, as funerals or memorials are curtailed.

"We have restricted our lives to save lives. That is a conflict where there can be no way out without contradiction," Steinmeier said.

But he also defended the actions, saying that "politicians must make difficult, sometimes tragic decisions to prevent an even greater catastrophe." "My request today is this: let us speak about pain and suffering and anger. But let us not lose ourselves in recriminations, in looking back, but let us once again gather strength for the way forward." - Candles of hope - Anita Schedel, the widow of a 59-year-old doctor who died from the virus, spoke of the ordeal of watching her husband first be hospitalised and then succumb to the disease.

"After he arrived in hospital, my husband phoned me to say 'Don't worry, I'm in good hands. We'll see each other again'. Those were his last words," she said at the ceremony.

"Until today, my memory is haunted by those long hospital corridors, the beeping machines and my husband marked by the illness," she said.

Regional leaders had urged citizens to join in the remembrance including by lighting candles by their windows from Friday to Sunday.

- 'Language of resolve' - Sunday's ceremony came as health authorities warned that many more will succumb to the virus.

Europe's biggest economy came out of the first wave relatively unscathed but has struggled to take decisive action to end the current one fuelled mainly by the more contagious British variant.

Resistance was also growing among part of the population against ongoing curbs, with protests breaking out in several cities over the weekend despite bans against gatherings.

Another 19,185 new infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the disease control agency RKI, with the numbers of deaths also rising by 67 to 79,914.

Merkel's government is seeking greater powers to impose tougher measures such as night-time curfews in a bid to circumvent Germany's powerful regional authorities, some of whom have resisted implementing tough restrictions.

But the amendment must still be approved by parliament, where opposition parties like the pro-business FDP have vowed to vote against it.

Even junior coalition partner SPD is still seeking modifications, including for people to be allowed to take walks during curfew hours.

Merkel urged swift and decisive action.

"The virus doesn't let you negotiate with it -- it only understands one language, the language of resolve," she told the Bundestag lower house on Friday.
Germany held a national memorial service on Sunday for its nearly 80,000 victims of the coronavirus pandemic, with the president urging the country to put aside deep divisions over Covid restrictions to share the pain of grieving families.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier joined an ecumenical service in the morning at Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a memorial against war and destruction, before attending a ceremony later at the capital's Konzerthaus concert hall.

"Today, as a society, we want to remember those who died a lonely and often agonising death during this dark time," Steinmeier said.

"I have the impression that we as a society do not make ourselves aware that behind all the numbers there are human fates, people. Their suffering and their deaths have often remained invisible to the public," he said.

With pandemic curbs still in force restricting the number of people who can attend, the ceremonies were being broadcast live on public television.

As debate raged in Germany over measures put in place by Merkel's government, including limits on social contact to halt contagion, Steinmeier said it was a "bitter truth" that such restrictions had "also brought about suffering".

Besides the pain of losing a loved one, relatives are often unable to even hold their family members' hands as they lie dying.

Others have been left grieving on their own, as funerals or memorials are curtailed.

"We have restricted our lives to save lives. That is a conflict where there can be no way out without contradiction," Steinmeier said.

But he also defended the actions, saying that "politicians must make difficult, sometimes tragic decisions to prevent an even greater catastrophe."

"My request today is this: let us speak about pain and suffering and anger. But let us not lose ourselves in recriminations, in looking back, but let us once again gather strength for the way forward."

Story continues

- Candles of hope -

Anita Schedel, the widow of a 59-year-old doctor who died from the virus, spoke of the ordeal of watching her husband first be hospitalised and then succumb to the disease.

"After he arrived in hospital, my husband phoned me to say 'Don't worry, I'm in good hands. We'll see each other again'. Those were his last words," she said at the ceremony.

"Until today, my memory is haunted by those long hospital corridors, the beeping machines and my husband marked by the illness," she said.

Regional leaders had urged citizens to join in the remembrance including by lighting candles by their windows from Friday to Sunday.

- 'Language of resolve' -

Sunday's ceremony came as health authorities warned that many more will succumb to the virus.

Europe's biggest economy came out of the first wave relatively unscathed but has struggled to take decisive action to end the current one fuelled mainly by the more contagious British variant.

Resistance was also growing among part of the population against ongoing curbs, with protests breaking out in several cities over the weekend despite bans against gatherings.

Another 19,185 new infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the disease control agency RKI, with the numbers of deaths also rising by 67 to 79,914.

Merkel's government is seeking greater powers to impose tougher measures such as night-time curfews in a bid to circumvent Germany's powerful regional authorities, some of whom have resisted implementing tough restrictions.

But the amendment must still be approved by parliament, where opposition parties like the pro-business FDP have vowed to vote against it.

Even junior coalition partner SPD is still seeking modifications, including for people to be allowed to take walks during curfew hours.

Merkel urged swift and decisive action.

"The virus doesn't let you negotiate with it -- it only understands one language, the language of resolve," she told the Bundestag lower house on Friday.

hmn/gd
Hyderabad, April 18 : Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's daughter Sharmila, who undertook a 72-hour hunger strike in solidarity with the unemployed youths of Telangana, ended her fast on Sunday.

On concluding her fast, Sharmila said, "No job notifications have been issued for the last seven years in the state. Forty lakh people are waiting for government jobs. Disappointed youth are committing suicide. Our party functionaries will continue the struggle in the Assembly constituencies till jobs are announced. Our party will come to power in two years in Telangana and we'll eliminate unemployment." Sharmila, who plans to launch a new political party in Telangana in July this year, had launched the fast at Indira Park on Thursday, demanding that 1.91 lakh government vacancies be filled.

Sharmila, is the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and has embarked upon a solo political journey in the neighbouring state of Telangana.

She had taken up the fast a week after addressing a public meeting at Khammam, where she announced that she will launch the political party on July 8, the birth anniversary of her father.
By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Police in Pakistan said a hardline Islamist group had taken six security personnel hostage at its headquarters in Lahore on Sunday after a week of violent clashes following the arrest of the group's leader.

The Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) group had given the government an April 20 deadline to expel the French ambassador over the publication of cartoons in France depicting the Prophet Mohammad. The authorities responded by arresting its leader, prompting supporters to hold protests and sit-ins across Pakistan. At least four people were killed, hundreds injured, and thousands arrested. Pakistan banned the group after the violence.

A senior police officer and two paramilitary were among the six being held by supporters of (TLP), Lahore police spokesman Arif Rana told Reuters.

"The TLP activists have two fuel tankers containing thousands of liters of petrol. They are throwing petrol bombs and stones at security officials, and also shooting bullets as the result of which 11 officials are injured," Rana said, adding the operation was ongoing.

TLP spokesman Shafiq Amini told Reuters four supporters had been killed on Sunday by police and several others were wounded.

Pakistani news channels have been barred from providing coverage of the group since it was banned last week, and on Sunday mobile and internet services were down in the area where clashes were taking place.

Roads leading to the headquarters of the group, in Lahore's Chowk Yateemkahan, have been blocked.

Still, supporters of TLP have been sharing videos on social media of what they said were clashes on Sunday with police, and hashtags supporting the group were trending in Pakistan on Sunday.

The videos, which Reuters could not independently verify, showed thousands of protesters clashing with police in riot-gear, as clouds of tear gas hung in the air and the crackle of gunfire could be heard. Other videos showed injured protesters being carried away.

Story continues

On Saturday Prime Minister Imran Khan said the group had

been banned because it "challenged the writ of the state and used street violence & attacking the public & law enforcers."

Last week France advised its citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan for their safety..

(Additional reporting by Umar Farooq in Islamabad; Writing by Umar Farooq; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Their mission began on October 14th, 2020, when their spacecraft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Now, after half a year, the three space travelers are ready to head back to their homes on Earth.On March 19th, the trio boarded the Soyuz MS-17 "for a port relocation maneuver, moving the spacecraft from the Rassvet module to the space-facing port of the Poisk module. The relocation allowed the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft and its crew to dock to the Rassvet module upon their arrival on April 9th."This weekend, the capsule landed in the southeast part of the Dzhezkazgan city in Kazakhstan. It was Kate Rubins' and Sergey Ryzhikov's second spaceflight and the first flight for Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.Kate Rubins was selected in 2009 as one of nine members of the 20th NASA astronaut class. She received a thorough training in "scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiology, T 38 flight and water and wilderness survival".In the past six months, the astronaut has spent her time working on the ISS conducting experiments, researching, and studying the space station's microbiome. She continued her research on DNA sequencing based on experiments she conducted during her first mission in 2016. Her work represents a crucial step in identifying potential risks for astronauts that adventure in space travel.On Wednesday, April 21st, a meeting will take place in which Kate Rubins will talk in detail about her mission on ISS. The news conference will be broadcasted on NASA Television , the NASA app, and the agency's social accounts.
It is at least the second time Cupich has had to take such action this year. In January, the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church was accused of sexually molesting two brothers decades ago. He also agreed to step aside and has not been reinstated.
Extraordinary images have showed travellers packed into Sydney's International Airport in scenes not seen for more than a year as the trans-Tasman bubble between Australia and New Zealand officially began overnight.

Australian travellers can fly to New Zealand without the need to quarantine for a fortnight from Monday.

The relaxed rules mean Australians are allowed to go overseas quarantine-free for the first time since the federal government banned international travel 395 days ago.

Passengers flying on the first flight from Sydney to Auckland on Jetstar though were forced to wait for up to an hour after some passengers failed to fill out their travel documents on time.

A spokesman for the airline said a small number of passengers did not present their Health Travel Declaration at check-in and staff had to help them complete the form.

The Jetstar flight JQ201 took off at 7.16am rather its scheduled 6.15am departure time.

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Extraordinary images have showed travellers on Monday packed into check-in queues at Sydney International Airport for the first time in 395 days as the trans-Tasman bubble between Australia and New Zealand officially opened

Passengers prepare at Sydney Airport on prepare to catch a flight to New Zealand as the complete travel ban on overseas travel out of Australia was finally relaxed

Travellers must fill out the declaration form online before arriving at the airport to say they don't have symptoms of Covid-19 or have had a positive coronavirus test result.

Thirty flights on Monday will operate between Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth, Sydney, and Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Air New Zealand has opened its Sydney lounge to all of its trans-Tasman travellers at no extra cost and has set aside 24,000 bottles of champagne to celebrate the occasion.

Qantas has reopened its first class international lounge to business class, Qantas Club members and Gold status frequent flyers.

Kiwi traveller Sarah-Jayne Montgomery said the start of quarantine-free travel finally meant she and her other half Matt could be together in New Zealand.

'It's definitely been a long journey that's finally coming to an end,' she told the Today show.

'I made the decision to come over four weeks ago and thankfully got to miss quarantine (as part of the one-way travel bubble). Now he gets to come home with me.'

NEW ZEALAND'S CHEEKY DIG AT AUSTRALIA AS QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL BEGINS A welcome party featuring live music will greet travellers on the first Air New Zealand flight when it lands in Wellington at 1pm local time. But jet-setters will also see a banner making a light-hearted reference to one of the most infamous moments in Australia's sporting rivalry with New Zealand. The banner showed two men bowling balls underarm against a yellow and black background - the colours of the Australian and Kiwi cricket team - either side of a heart symbol. In 1981, Australian bowler Trevor Chappell bowled underarm to New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie to stop him from hitting the six runs required to tie the match off the last ball. A banner at Wellington Airport shows cricketers bowling balls underarm against a yellow and black background McKechnie memorably blocked the ball away and threw his bat away in frustration as Australia claimed a six-run victory. While not banned under the laws of the game at the time, the tactic is highly frowned upon. A year later, Australian captain Greg Chappell - who had told his younger brother to bowl the controversial delivery - was mocked by fans at Auckland's Eden Park who rolled a bowls ball onto the outfield as he came out to bat. Then-New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon called the delivery 'the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket'. The banner is a reference to Australian bowler Trevor Chappell bowling underarm to New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie to stop him from hitting a six to win a match between the two countries in 1981 Advertisement

Kiwi traveller Sarah-Jayne Montgomery was separated from her other half Matt for 13 months during the border closure between Australia and New Zealand during the height of the pandemic

Drag queens were on hand at arrivals at Sydney Airport meanwhile to welcome arrivals from New Zealand on Monday morning

Passengers check-in for Air New Zealand flight number 246 to Wellington. The Australia-New Zealand trans-Tasman bubble opened at midnight on Monday morning

Before she arrived in Australia a month ago, the couple had spent 13 months apart.

A welcome party including a large banner and live music will greet the first Air New Zealand flight when it lands in Wellington at 1pm local time.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's relaxation of border rules comes six months after Australia started opening up to Kiwi travellers - a move started by NSW and the Northern Territory which now extends to all states and mainland territories.

In a joint statement, Ms Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the wider Pacific region was the next goal for quarantine-free travel.

'Australia and New Zealand are also exploring opportunities to extend quarantine-free travel to other countries in the Pacific, when it is safe to do so, reflecting our close ties to the Pacific and our commitment to supporting their recovery,' the statement read.

Ms Montgomery enjoys a glass of sparkling wine as she prepares to fly across the ditch. Air New Zealand has opened its Sydney lounge to all of its trans-Tasman travellers at no extra cost and has set aside 24,000 bottles of champagne to celebrate

A woman is embraced after arriving from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on Monday

A queue forms at check-in counters for flights bound for New Zealand from Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport

New Zealand travellers arrive in front of a digital screen showing the iconic Kiwi silver fern at Sydney International Airport on Monday

Passengers Cini Tuwairua and Sam Boyajian prepare to take Air New Zealand flight number 246 bound for Wellington

Drag queens hold up 'We've missed you New Zealand!' signs at Sydney International Airport as they welcome travellers into Australia from across the ditch

A woman is embraced by children after arriving from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on Monday

Passengers check-in for Air New Zealand flight number 246 to Wellington - scheduled to leave Sydney at 7.45am on Monday. The first quarantine-free flight from Australia took off from Sydney but is understood only to have had crew on board

Passengers check-in for Air New Zealand flight number 246 at Sydney Airport. The Australian and Kiwi government said they were looking at expanding quarantine-free travel to the wider Pacific region 'when it is safe to do so'

A Qantas flight touched down in New Zealand just 41 minutes after the trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia opened at 11.59pm on Sunday

A Qantas flight earlier touched down in New Zealand just 41 minutes after the trans-Tasman travel bubble opened at 11.59pm on Sunday.

The first quarantine-free flight from Australia took off from Sydney on Sunday night and was initially due to land at 12.05am in Auckland.

The Qantas flight is understood to have been repositioned in New Zealand and only had crew on board.

Flight Radar 24 listed a Qantas A330 arriving at 12.05am - six minutes after the border opened. However the flight wasn't displayed on Auckland Airport's arrivals, and arrived 35 minutes after schedule.

A different plane, a Qantas 737, was seen leaving Sydney Airport for New Zealand's North Island late on Sunday evening, but Flight Radar 24 didn't have a destination listed.

Meanwhile, airlines across Australia and New Zealand are preparing for chaos when the first passenger flights take off across the ditch on what's been dubbed 'Massive Monday'.

National cabinet is now faced with the task of plotting how international borders can ease further in the coming months.

But Scott Morrison is in no rush to lift international restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world.

The global death toll from coronavirus has now topped three million people and the prime minister said issues around borders and how they are managed will be handled very carefully.

'But the idea on one day that everything just opens, that is not how this will happen,' Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday.

'It will be happening cautiously and carefully, working very hard on the medical and health protections in place because I'm not going to put at risk the way that Australians are living today.'

The national cabinet will meet on Monday, the first of twice-weekly gatherings following the vaccine rollout being thrown into disarray after health authorities recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to people over the age of 50 after blood-clotting was linked to younger people.

From April 19, Kiwis and Aussies can travel freely between the two nations without being required to quarantine

Included in discussions will be changes to Australia's vaccination policy, including state vaccination implementation plans, in the wake of the new advice around the AstraZeneca vaccine and additional supplies of Pfizer doses.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the vaccine rollout has been a 'debacle'.

'Scott Morrison has had more than a year to prepare for the rollout of the vaccine but what we have is him giving up on the timetable, giving up on telling Australians what they want to know,' he told reporters in Hobart.

'Australians want to know when they'll be vaccinated.'

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week.

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to get jabbed at a vaccine centre without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout

He said GPs continue to be the cornerstone of the program but national cabinet will consider ways states and territories can assist with larger vaccination clinics.

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to get jabbed at a vaccine centre without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout.

'We've worked around the clock to find solutions to get vaccines in people's arms as quickly and safely as possible,' Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, who is in the heat of an election campaign, is concerned about the delays and lack of communication from the federal government about the vaccine rollout at disability and aged care residential facilities.

'We are in a good place but we cannot afford to go backwards,' he said in a statement.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week

Scott Morrison is in no rush to lift international restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world

A woman who died from blood-clotting last week was the third case linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The first two cases are still in hospital.

The nation's chief nurse Alison McMillan recognises there could be hesitancy in being vaccinated, but encourages anyone with concerns to talk to their health professional, GP or nurse practitioner.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who was until recently the minister for science and technology, did offer some hope for vaccine support in the future.

She says Australia has the capability to manufacture an mRNA type COVID-19 vaccine like Pfizer's, but is currently not able to produce it at scale.

The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for people under 50, a treatment which the government has secured a further 20 million doses, but they won't arrive until late in the year.

Ms Andrews said it is 'absolutely' possible Australia could manufacture an mRNA vaccine, and that work is already under way to try and make possible its production at scale.
Tears, cries for forgiveness and anguish were the order of the day when actress, Rosemond Alade Brown, aka Akuapem Poloo, was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment by the Accra Circuit Court for publishing her nude picture in which she was standing beside her son on social media.



Mummy please, mummy, I beg you, mummy please, she sobbed and begged the presiding judge, Ms Christiana Cann, to forgive her.



Her cries, and pleas from her lawyer, Mr Andrew Vortia, and other lawyers in the courtroom, were, however, not enough to stop the court from slapping a custodial sentence on her.



The judge held that it was necessary to impose a custodial sentence on Akuapem Poloo to serve as a deterrent to those who continue to post obscene images.



She stated that the prevalence of publication of materials had the potential to corrupt public morals, affect the best interest of children, violate the right to privacy, as well as the country's moral image needed to be curbed.



Guilty



The actress pleaded guilty to the publication of obscene material contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), engaging in domestic violence, namely a conduct that, in any way, undermined another person's privacy or integrity, contrary to Section 1(d) (iii) and 3(2) of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act732), and engaging in domestic violence, namely conduct that, in any way, detracted or was likely to detract from another person's dignity and worth as a human being, contrary to Act 732.



She was sentenced on her own plea, 90 days for each count, to run concurrently.



Brown had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but changed her plea to guilty last Tuesday.



The court, however, deferred the sentencing to yesterday to allow for a pregnancy test to be conducted on the convict in compliance with section 313A (1) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act30).



The pregnancy test came out negative.



Birthday celebration



Per the case presented by the prosecution on June 30, last year, Brown, as part of the celebration of her son's seventh birthday, posted her nude picture on her social media handles in which her son was looking directly at her.



The caption beneath the picture read: I am naked in front of you because this is how naked I was giving birth to you, so in case you find me lying somewhere, don't pass by, but see me as your mum who brought you to life.



The picture attracted many comments on social media.



Brown ended up in the clutches of the law following a complaint lodged to the police by the Director of Child Rights International Ghana, Mr Bright K Appiah.



Plea for mitigation



Counsel for Brown, Mr Vortia, in his plea of mitigation against a custodial sentence for his client, argued that Akuapem Poloo was a budding actress and a first-time offender, adding that a custodial sentence will kill her career entirely.



It was also his plea that his client was a single parent and the breadwinner of her family hence a custodial sentence would inflict more punishment on her son.



Again, counsel argued that first time offenders should be given a second opportunity to reform.

Mr Vortia also prayed the court to consider the fact that his client pleaded guilty simplicita which did not waste the court's time.



He argued that Akuapem Poloo's choice and style of dressing had also changed ever since she was first arraigned.

She has pulled down the nude pictures and apologised to both the public and her seven-year-old son, he said.



To further firm up his arguments against a custodial sentence, counsel again invited the court to consider media publication about his client's charity works with a recent one being undertaken at her alma mater.



For her part, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Agartha Asantewaa, who also prayed against custodial sentence, said the actress was not known to be a troublemaker.



Court's consideration



In passing sentence, the judge said she took all the mitigating factors into consideration.



Ms Cann, however, expressed concern about consistent abuse of children in the country, and the incessant rise in publication of obscene images.



Justifying a custodial sentence, she held that Brown did not only infringe on the rights of the child with the publication, but it morally corrupted those who saw the post and also cost the pride and dignity of the country as a whole.



The court is bothered with posting nude photos on social media. There is no doubt that apart from the canker of rape, defilement, physical assault, the publication of obscene materials is on the increase.



There is, therefore, the need to uphold our societal values and deal with this canker. The best interest of the child shall be the primary concern of the court, Ms Cann said.



She asked: Did she ask for the permission of the child before posting the said picture? Did she respect the child's rights?



Providing an answer to the questions, the judge said: No she did not.



The judge further noted that Akuapem Poloo had a basic responsibility for the development of her son but rather infringed on her son's best interest, right to privacy and dignity.



Ms Cann added that sentencing of Brown must not only be punitive but must serve as a deterrent to society.

A custodial sentence will serve as a deterrent, the presiding judge held.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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New Delhi: Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Sunday (April 18) demanded that the Centre declare a national health emergency in the country amid rising cases of COVID-19. He also urged the Election Commission to declare a moratorium on election rallies.

He said on Twitter, "COVID-19: Infections faster than recoveries. Modiji: Declare a National Health Emergency. Election Commission: Declare a moratorium on election rallies. Courts: Protect people's lives."

COVID-19

Infections faster than recoveries Modiji :

Declare a National Health Emergency Election Commission :

Declare a moratorium on election rallies Courts :

Protect peoples lives  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) April 18, 2021

On Saturday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in a statement lashed out at the Union government for being unprepared and pushing the country to the gravest disaster.

The CWC said that the Union government is passing the buck to the state governments and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi incorporating the suggestions made at the CWC, according to news agency IANS.

A few hours later, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced that he will suspend all his upcoming public rallies in West Bengal due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation.

He also appealed to the other politicians to seriously consider doing the same.

Live TV
Lahore: Three workers of banned radical Islamist party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were killed and scores injured in a fresh operation launched by Pakistani security forces here on Sunday against the outfit that carried out violent protests to force the government to expel the French ambassador over a blasphemous caricature published in France last year.

Rangers and police on Sunday morning launched the operation at the TLP headquarters (Chowk Yateem Khana) Lahore to remove thousands of workers camped there, blocking the main Multan Road.

During the operation, three TLP activists were killed and dozens injured. A senior police officer is among several law enforcers suffered injuries, a senior police officer told PTI. "As the number of TLP supporters was in thousands the Rangers and police could not manage to disperse them in a three-hour operation," he said, adding that the law enforcers ended the operation fearing loss of more lives.

During the operation, the protesters also held a senior police officer, Omar Farooq Baloch, hostage and tortured him, he said.

In a video message released by the TLP, Baloch, who had head injury, urged the Imran Khan government not to kill fellow Muslims and abide by the agreement his government signed with the TLP over expulsion of the French ambassador. Police have failed to recover Baloch from the TLP's custody so far despite having negotiations with it.

Punjab police spokesperson Rana Arif also confirmed death of three persons during the law enforcement agencies's operation. He said a dozen or so police officials were 'brutally tortured' by the TLP workers.

"Today in the early morning, miscreants (TLP workers) attacked Nawankot Police Station (which is close to TLP headquarters) where Rangers and police officers were trapped inside the police station and Deputy Superintendent Police (Omar Farooq Baloch) was kidnapped and taken to the TLP Markaz (headquarters)," the Punjab police said in a statement issued here on Sunday afternoon.

"One oil tanker with 50,000 litres of petrol has been taken by the miscreants to the Markaz. The miscreants were armed and attacked Rangers and police with petrol bombs. Police and Rangers pushed them back and took back the possession of the police station. Police did not plan or conduct any operation against the mosque or seminary," the statement said.

In a video message, a TLP spokesperson Shafiq Ameeni said, "Police attacked us at Lahore Markaz on Sunday morning in which a large number of our workers have been martyred while many are injured. We will bury our dead till the French ambassador is expelled and our agreement with the government is implemented."

The government on Friday had announced completion of the operation against TLP in the country which had begun Monday last. After completion of the operation, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said four policemen were killed and over 600 injured in the four-day violent clashes between the law enforcers and TLP workers across the country.

"I want to pay special tribute to our police force for their heroic stand against organised violence intended to create chaos to blackmail government. Four policemen were martyred and over 600 injured. Our nation is indebted to these heroes and we will look after the families of the martyrs," Khan had said in a tweet on Friday.

The Pakistan government had blocked the access to social media platforms - Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram - from 11am to 3pm on Friday in connection with the law enforcement agencies' operation against the TLP protesters who refused to vacate some main roads and highways in Lahore and other parts of the Punjab province.

The cellular and internet service has been suspended in some parts of Lahore including the area housing the TLP headquarters till Sunday.

The government this week banned the TLP. A notification declaring TLP as a proscribed organisation was issued by the Ministry of Interior shortly after the federal Cabinet approved a summary to ban the party.

The government has also imposed a ban on the media coverage of TLP and any police action against it. In compliance with this, none of the broadcast media in the country reported police action against the TLP in Lahore on Sunday.

The TLP workers had blocked all major roads and highways in the country mostly in Punjab on Monday last after the Imran Khan government arrested it's chief Allama Saad Rizvi.

The TLP had given the government April 20 deadline to expel the French ambassador over a blasphemous caricature published in France last year.

Punjab police spokesperson Rana Arif said more than 3,200 workers and leaders or TLP have been arrested in Punjab since clashes broke between Islamists and law enforcers.

He said all four policemen killed during clashes belong to Punjab police. TLP claims that over a dozen of its activists have been killed in clashes and hundreds of them injured.
Pope calls on Russia and Ukraine to seek reconciliation View Photo

VATICAN CITY (AP)  Pope Francis on Sunday voiced apprehension over a recent Russian troop buildup near the border with Ukraine and called for efforts to ease tensions in the 7-year conflict in eastern Ukraine pitting Ukrainian forces against Russia-backed rebels.

Ukrainian authorities say cease-fire violations have become more frequent in recent weeks, with nearly 30 troops killed this year. They accused Russia of fueling tensions by deploying 41,000 troops near the border with eastern Ukraine and 42,000 to Crimea, where Russia maintains a large naval base.

I observe with great apprehension the increase of military activities, Francis said in remarks to the public gathered in St. Peters Square.

Please, I strongly hope that an increase of tensions is avoided, and, on the contrary, gestures are made capable of promoting reciprocal trust and favoring the reconciliation and the peace which are so necessary and so desired, Francis said.

Take to heart the grave humanitarian situation facing the population, to whom I express my closeness and for whom I invite prayers, the pope said before praying aloud for his intentions.

Ukraine accuses Russia of fueling tensions with its troop deployment, while Russia has sought to justify the buildup as part of readiness drills organized in response to what it claims are NATO threats.

The United States and NATO say the concentration of Russian troops is the largest since 2014, when Russia seized Ukraines Crimea Peninsula and fighting broke out between Ukrainian forces and the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Beside contending there are threats from NATO, Russia has cast the buildup as a necessary security precaution amid what it described as Ukraines provocations along the line of control.
The Elisha Camp Manor has remained in the same family for over 200 years since the corner stone of the foundation was laid in 1807. Now, this historic Federal style, Georgian architecture home at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor is for sale.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Because it has remained in the family, there is an extensive history on the home both about its structure and its inhabitants. It has all been collected onto CampManor.org, where history buffs can take a deep dive into its depths.

Some of its more notable residents include the founder, Colonel Elisha Camp who served in the War of 1812 and Anna Quaid Mason, the first woman elected as mayor of a village in New York state when chosen to be Village President of Sackets Harbor in 1918. As the family notes, village mayors were also head of police, she is possibly the first first female police chief of a village in New York.

A famous frequent visitor to the home was Ulysses S. Grant, who was in business with one of the Camp sons. He left some pieces of his own furniture behind at Camp Manor which is now in the 10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

The stone for the home was locally sourced and the brick was bartered for from England. The glass fan windows were designed and installed in such a way that they would let light in, but help keep the heat inside the home from the fireplaces.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Much of the original architecture and features inside the home have been preserved. One of the most colorful rooms is the North parlor which has a French wallpaper mural designed for that room in 1816. The block-printed, hand-painted watercolor mural fills the room.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

The design is known as the Banks of Bosporus, depicting Constantinople in the Byzantine period. The family said it is one of three or four no-repeat, complete room wallpaper murals that still exist in the world today.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

The home has five bedrooms and three full bathrooms. There is a more modern kitchen on the main floor of the home, but the historic original kitchen is still intact in the basement. The family story that is told that the original lady of the house, Elisha Camps wife, Sophia Hale, did not want to eat on the same floor as the food was prepared. This caused the original kitchen to be moved downstairs.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

The property extends across 2.4 acres which covers most of the block and is two blocks up from the village of Sackets Harbor, so it is within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and marina. Beautiful Lake Ontario can be seen from its grounds and as it looks West, the sunsets are breathtaking.

The Jefferson County home is also just an hour away from the Syracuse Hancock International airport.

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Owner and seventh generation family resident of Camp Manor, George Smith said his favorite part of the house is the upstairs hallway.

Its a cool space with a lookout over the lake and in the winter time, its the warmest spot in the house, Smith said.

Smith also said he loves the way the house was built, being hand-done with no heavy machinery.

You cant build a house like this anymore, he said.

The home is on the National Register of Historic Places and the historical society of the village of Sackets Harbor recently acquired many documents pertaining to the Camp family for preservation.

After so many years of family lines, Camp Manor is ready for a new steward. Smith said the home needs someone with fresh eyes and someone who will care for it year-round, as historic places often do.

Details

Address: 310 General Smith Dr., Sackets Harbor, NY 13685

Price: $525,000

Size: 5,480 square feet

Acreage: 2.4 acres

Built: 1814

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 3

Total taxes: $10,970

School district: Sackets Harbor Central School

Agent information

Cathy Garlock

Garlock Realty

Phone: 315-486-4944

Email: cgarlock@garlockrealty.com

See the full listing

More photos below

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

Historic Camp Manor at 310 General Smith Drive in Sackets Harbor, NY.campmanor.org | Provided photo

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Must see Upstate NY home: Live off the grid near Otsego Lake with Catskill Mountain views
The coffin of Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, who died at the age of 99, is taken into St. George's Chapel for a funeral service in Windsor, Britain, April 17. Reuters



Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday bid farewell to her late husband, Prince Philip, at a royal funeral like no other, restricted by coronavirus rules but reflecting his long life of military and public service.



The Duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 9 at age 99, was interred in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after a 50-minute service attended by just 30 guests.



The Queen, 94, seen for the first time since his death, cut a lone figure, sat in mourning black, with a white-trimmed, black face mask. Close family, also masked, sat socially distanced in the historic 15th-century Gothic chapel.



Philip  described by royals as "the grandfather of the nation"  was Britain's longest-serving royal consort and was married to the Queen for 73 years.



He was an almost constant presence at her side during her record-breaking reign that began in 1952 as Britain rebuilt from World War II, and as its global empire began to unravel.



His death, which the family said had left a "huge void" in the Queen's life, has robbed of her of the man she called her "strength and stay" and closes a remarkable chapter for Britain's most famous family, and in the country's history.



The last high-profile funeral of a senior royal was for the Queen's mother, who died in 2002, aged 101.



But unlike then, when more than one million people thronged outside Westminster Abbey in central London to watch the sombre pageant, the public was noticeably absent from Saturday's ceremony.



The coronavirus pandemic forced hasty revisions to the well-rehearsed plans for the duke's death, code-named "Operation Forth Bridge", stripping back public elements to prevent large crowds from gathering.



Government guidelines limited the number of mourners and a quartet performed hymns the duke chose himself in a barren nave stripped of seating.





Pall Bearers carrying the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh, followed by the Prince of Wales, left and Princess Anne, right, into St George's Chapel for his funeral at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, April 17. AP



Mark of respect



The intimate, ceremonial funeral from behind the stately castle walls was broadcast live on television to millions across Britain and the world.



A military gun was fired to signal a minute's silence when his coffin arrived at the chapel on a bespoke Land Rover he designed himself.



The coffin was draped in his standard and topped by a wreath of white roses and lilies from the Queen as well as his naval cap and ceremonial sword.



Across Britain  on the streets, in shops, railway stations and at sporting events  people bowed their heads with respect. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, dressed in black, observed the silence at his country retreat, Chequers.



Flights in an out of nearby Heathrow Airport were stopped for the duration of the ceremony.



Ieuan Jones, 37, travelled to Windsor from his home in the Welsh capital, Cardiff, and called Philip "a strong man, a true hero (who) did so much for this country and the royal family".



"It's really a shame that because of the pandemic we can't pay a wider tribute to the exceptional man he was," he told AFP.



Despite the restrictions, the stripped-down sendoff for the former Royal Navy commander still combined centuries of royal protocol with pomp, pageantry  and military precision.



Members of the British armed forces, in formal dress, lined the procession route, heads bowed, as the cortege passed, as a minute gun rang out across the grounds and a bell tolled.



Philip's grandsons William, 38, and Harry, 36, joined the procession, in their first public meeting since a reported falling out about Harry's shock move to California, and his stinging criticism of royal life, including racism in the family.





Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence march behind the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, April 17. AFP



Last post



The pair, who as young boys walked behind the coffin of their mother, princess Diana, in 1997, were separated by their cousin, Anne's son Peter Phillips, 43.



They were later seen chatting as they left the chapel with William's wife, Kate.



The religious service was a simple affair, reflecting the wishes of the straight-talking duke, who was known for his aversion to "fuss".



In keeping with his wishes, there was no sermon, but the service reflected his love of the sea, and long association with the Royal Navy, including hymns and Bible readings.



The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, paid tribute to his "kindness, humour and humanity", and devotion to the Queen, who turns 95 next week and is in the twilight of her reign.



The Queen, who had been escorted to the chapel by a lady-in-waiting in the royal Bentley, watched from the chapel choir as her husband's was lowered steadily into the Royal Vault by electric motor.



The Pipe Major of the Royal Regiment of Scotland played a lament, and buglers of the Royal Marines sounded The Last Post.



When the Queen dies, he will be transferred to lie alongside her in the King George VI memorial chapel, which houses the remains of her father, George VI, her mother, also called Elizabeth, and the ashes of her younger sister, Margaret.





Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attend the funeral service of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, inside St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, April 17. AFP
Even as bitcoin soars in price and enjoys a wider demand as an asset, Australian investors and analysts are divided over its longer-term implications for cryptocurrency on the world.

Sydney-based venture capitalist Mark Carnegie says that although bitcoin is flawed, cryptocurrency points to new possibilities for global finance that Australian policymakers ignore at their peril.

China understands that this is their weapon to replace the US dollar as the worlds reserve currency, says Carnegie, of M.H Carnegie & Co. And Australia is ignoring the whole issue.

No fan of bitcoin: Chinas central bank, the Peoples Bank of China. Credit:Bloomberg

Days before the first-ever listing of a crypto exchange, Coinbase, valued at $US67 billion that marked a crossover moment for cryptocurrency, PayPal co-founder and tech investor Peter Thiel opined to a California audience that bitcoin could be used as a financial weapon against the US.
Some faith leaders across the United States have denounced new regulations that are seen by some as a move to restrict voting access and disenfranchise black and Hispanic communities.

Others say the laws are necessary to protect the integrity of the vote and that proving one's identity for something as important as voting shouldn't be an issue.

Still, in Georgia, clergy are asking corporate executives to condemn laws restricting voting access or face a boycott, while in Arizona and Texas, many have assembled outside the state capitols to decry what they see as voter-suppression measures.

Similar initiatives have been undertaken in Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio, as some faith leaders perceive a threat to voting rights that warrants their intervention in a volatile political issue.

'It is very much in a part of our tradition, as Christians, to be engaged in the public square,' said the Rev. Dr. Eric Ledermann, pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, Arizona, after the event outside the Statehouse.

Voters line up outside Vickery Baptist Church waiting to cast their ballots on Election Day in Dallas on November 3 2020. Georgia has enacted legislation with various restrictive voting provisions and more than 350 voting bills are under consideration in dozens of other states

'When people say, 'Let's not get political in the church' - Jesus was very political,' he added. 'He was engaged in how his culture, his community was being shaped, and who was being left out of the decision-making process.'

Georgia already has enacted legislation with various restrictive voting provisions and more than 350 voting bills are now under consideration in dozens of other states, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a public policy think tank.

The proposals include tightening requirements for voter IDs, reducing the number of ballot drop boxes and curtailing early voting.

The Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, executive director of Missouri Faith Voices, described the issue as 'very personal'.

She explained: 'I'm from Alabama, a little town called Demopolis. It's 47 miles west of Selma, where my mother fought for rights, went to jail on Bloody Sunday (in 1965). ... So those are the stories that I grew up with. I never imagined that I would still be fighting the same fight.'

'There is a playbook to suppress votes, to shrink the electorate. And we believe fundamentally, as a tenet of faith, that it should be expanded so that people are included, not excluded.'

Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon, D-Atlanta (center with arm in sling) walks beside Martin Luther King, III, as she returns to the State Capitol in Atlanta after being arrested last week for knocking on the governor's office door as he signed voting legislation

The Georgia law has ignited fierce debate nationwide about voting rights, particularly as it comes in the wake of a tense election which Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump claim was tainted with fraud.

What does Georgia's new GOP election law do? By Associated Press CAN THE STATE TAKE OVER LOCAL ELECTION OFFICES? Much of the work administering elections in Georgia is handled by the state's 159 counties. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. That has led to concerns that the Republican-controlled state board could exert more influence over the administration of elections, including the certification of county results. One target for intervention could be Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that contains most of Atlanta. The heavily populated county has been plagued by problems, including long lines, and it is often singled out by Republican officials. Under the law, the board could intervene in up to four counties at a time and install a temporary superintendent with the ability to hire and fire personnel including elections directors and poll officers. ARE PEOPLE BANNED FROM HANDING OUT SNACKS OR WATER TO VOTERS IN LINE? The new law makes it a misdemeanor to hand out 'any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink' to anyone standing in line to vote. The prohibition extends 150 feet from a polling place and 25 feet from any person standing in line. Advocates of the law say they are attempting to crack down on political organizations or advocacy groups trying to influence voters just before they cast a ballot. Critics say it's cruel and would penalize even nonpartisan groups or individuals for something as simple as giving water to someone waiting in a long line. Polling places would be able to, but not required to, set up self-serve water dispensers for voters. DOES THE BILL ELIMINATE SUNDAY VOTING? Republicans had proposed at one time to limit early voting on weekends, a time when many Black churches conduct 'souls to the polls' efforts to take congregants to vote. But Republicans reversed themselves, and the measure now expands weekend early voting. Previously, one day of weekend voting was required, with counties given the option of offering more. Now two Saturdays will be required, and counties can offer two Sunday voting days as well. Republicans point to this provision to argue they are actually expanding, rather than restricting, voting access. Advertisement

President Joe Biden has likened the new law to 'Jim Crow' - a reference to the institutional segregation that denied African-Americans civil rights in the South in the decades following the Civil War.

But supporters of the law accuse Democrats of exaggerating their claims that it will result in voter suppression and disenfranchisement of poorer Americans and black and Hispanic communities.

The Rev. Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr., senior pastor at First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix and chairman of Arizona's African American Christian Clergy Coalition, said: 'If you read the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, it talks about justice, talks about being on the side of the oppressed, the downtrodden, the orphan, the poor.

'And this whole voter-suppression issue is about fighting against those who would oppress people of color, the poor, people who are struggling to make it in life. So it is a faith issue as much as a justice issue. They're not disconnected.'

'The reaction of the Republican Party, to the most people ever voting in the history of the United States, is that we're gonna lose in the future.' So it's very obvious that this is not about accountability or about ethics, it's about politics. And that's unjust, and so that's why we're out here.'

In numerous states, voting rights activism is being led by multifaith coalitions that include Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups.

Rabbi Lydia Medwin of The Temple in Atlanta said: 'The Jewish community has responded to the call of our African American brothers and sisters since the since the Civil Rights era began.

'When our partners and people that we care deeply about say to us, 'We're hurting, we're being treated unfairly,' we have no other response but to step up.'

Rabbi David Segal, Texas organizer for the Religious Action Center for Judaism Reform, added: 'The backlash against Georgia passing legislation is actually helping us in Texas, because we're able to point to that and organize the anger around those laws to try and stop it here.

'People of faith stand for inclusion and stand for respect and stand for acceptance and a different kind of justice.'

Last month, 72 black executives signed a letter criticizing Georgia's bill, which proponents say is intended to make elections more secure.

Other corporations have publicly spoken out against the bill, including Coca Cola, Major League Baseball, Delta Air Lines, Citigroup, ViacomCBS, UPS, and Patagonia.

Baseball officials decided to move the All-Star Game this summer from Georgia to Colorado because of the voting bill.

But African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Reginald Jackson, who oversees AME churches in Georgia, has been urging corporate leaders to do more to fight voting restrictions.

So far, he's dissatisfied with the response, and says he may call for boycotts of some companies.

The Rev. Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, said: 'We have those in leadership - in Texas government - who have in their ideological DNA the same mindset of those slave masters who denied the humanity of black people.

'The same mindset of those individuals who upheld Jim and Jane Crow segregation. ... Gov. (Greg) Abbot and his Republican cronies have decided to dress up Jim and Jane Crow in a tuxedo of what they call voter integrity, but it's still Jim and Jane Crow. ... You are simply trying to create a problem for voters you don't want to vote.'

The Rev. Edwin Robinson, organizer of Dallas Black Clergy, added: 'No matter what side of the political aisle you find yourself, any attempt to hinder voting is an attempt to take away our greatest freedom and liberty.

'We should be doing everything to protect our greatest freedoms - and make ways for our citizens to enthusiastically vote and do so free from fear and intimidation.'

Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon, D-Atlanta (center) walks beside Martin Luther King, III, at the State Capitol in Atlanta. Proposals under the new legislation include tightening requirements for voter IDs, reducing the number of ballot drop boxes and curtailing early voting

The Rev. Anne Ellsworth, priest at St. Augustine's Episcopal Parish in Tempe, said that white Americans need to recognize their privilege and use it to fight 'voter suppression aimed at black Americans'.

She added: 'I am a pastor in a white congregation. I am a priest in a church, the Episcopal Church, that is famous for our white, Christian, moderate stance.

'My interest is in awakening knowledge in other white, moderate, Christian women who have remained silent or who have felt powerless or think that it doesn't matter to them.

'My guiding light is a quote from Martin Luther King: "There are not enough white people who value or who cherish democratic principles more than white privilege".'

'White Christian women know what it is to have our voices silenced. And we cannot stand by while other people's voices are also being silenced.'
Brain drain and migration View(s):

I called Suranjith on his mobile phone on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, but there was no answer. He must be still in the US, I thought. Suranjith is his nick name. After graduating from the Sri Jayewardenepura University, he joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in the mid-1980s. He has served as a senior public sector officer attached to a state ministry.

During the time of my postgraduate studies, I met him in Europe as he was serving there in the Sri Lankan mission. We became close friends and for a few years we used to meet quite often. After completing my studies, I returned to the Colombo University and thereafter we no longer had any opportunity to meet. Over the past 20 years I had met him only a couple of times, while our communications too had been limited.

It was about few years ago he called me for the last time from the US. He was there with his family, leaving their big house in Sri Lanka. It was a beautiful house with four bedrooms that had been built on a 20-perch land in a cosy residential area in a Colombo suburb.

Different worlds

Since someone else had reminded me that Suranjith must be retired now, I thought of trying to contact him and, hence the above call; but no response on that day.

To my surprise came a return call from Suranjith the next morning with New Year greetings as well. He had noticed my missed call and told me: Padma and I are in Anuradhapura; we came here for an alms-giving, then we both observed the Eight-Precepts (Atasil) yesterday. Padma is his wife. He continued: After making visits to the Eight Holy sites today, we will be coming back to Colombo tomorrow and after that we must meet.

Although it was over the phone, we carried on our conversation for some time. I was retired few years ago and spent time in the US. Then we decided to come back to Sri Lanka.

I commented: Of course, I understand; its also sad to build such a beautiful house and leave it unoccupied without enjoying what you have built.

I could hear him laughing, but it was difficult for me realise why, until he said: We both now regret coming back. We should have settled down there in the US, instead of coming back. I asked him: Why would you regret coming back?

He replied: Only this old couple is now left all alone in a huge house here! By old couple, he meant his wife and himself.

He continued a long story in a few words: Our children have no plans to come back and, I dont think they would ever come back to reside in Sri Lanka. The elder one is in Australia and the younger one in the US; they are grown up and in their own world. Even if they come to Sri Lanka once or twice a year for a vacation, they would like to stay in hotels rather than at home. Actually, it is not a home for them.

House for sale!

I understood well enough what Suranjith was saying, but I was speechless. Then, he revealed another bit of news: We have now put up the house for sale! Whats the use of keeping a huge house just for the two of us? And its maintenance itself is a big burden for us at this old age. We will find a small house or an apartment just enough for two of us. We only need one additional room for our meditation  now we both spend lots of time with our daily meditation; it gives us so much peace in mind.

I thought to myself that its good that he continued to speak without giving me time to respond, because I didnt have much to contribute to his story. Finally I said, Its sad to hear that you are going to sell the house you built to live. I guess you didnt live there that long.

Not more than five years! he said. Then, he gave me the news of the day: You know that its not surprising news nowadays; many of my own friends and university batch mates who built houses like myself, have sold or advertised to sell their houses for the same reason; their children have left the country and they are all alone here. If you do a little bit of research, you would see that many children from even the lower middle-class families are leaving the country  brain drain.

It wasnt strange news for me although it was a bit shocking. With many years of experience as a university teacher, I myself know the size of the brain drain from among the university graduates from various study backgrounds. And in this country brain drain is encouraged because it is politically correct to do so; we can also keep our unemployment rate down and the frustration of the educated youth at bay; and then we can show that everything is running smoothly.

We have two questions to answer, at least briefly: Why is there a brain drain and how does it affect the economy? We know the typical answer to the first question; knowledge is less-demanded and less-rewarded so that knowledge is attracted by pull-factors elsewhere. Why knowledge is less-demanded and less-rewarded is because the economic activities which demand such knowledge are limited. The pull-factors that pulled the brain-drain from countries like Sri Lanka are not limited to high payments but cover a wide range of economic, political and social aspects of life in a disciplined society.

In effect, economic growth makes little progress towards knowledge-based and high-tech economic activities, which cover all sectors  agriculture, industry and services. In fact, this is policy dilemma which explains part of the so-called middle-income trap as well; once the country has exhausted its unskilled and cheap labour-based development stage, it should enter into a skilled labour and high-technology based development stage. But some countries continue to struggle in bridging this transition without its enabling conditions.

The worst scenario of an economy locked up in a middle-income trap has two sides: On the one hand, investment in knowledge-based and high-tech sectors gets discouraged when the investors find that there is no supply of a suitable labour force from either the domestic sources or the foreign sources; therefore, such economic activities dont seem to be growing without investment.

On the other hand, when these economic activities do not seem to be growing, apparently there is no demand for knowledge and skills; therefore, even the little amount of such labour output that the country is producing, is going away as brain drain. In effect, lack of demand hinders supply and, lack of supply hinders demand  the economy rests at lower levels without a breakthrough.

Migration dream

The migration attitude is common among many youths nowadays and, it is not limited to the children of the middle-class families. If opportunities permit, migrating to another country for a better future is a general perception among many educated youths from both urban and rural families.

By the way, the frustration of educated youth is not a new phenomenon in Sri Lanka. Those days, they took arms against the political authority of the country; in the North among the Tamil community and in the South among the Sinhala community. Nowadays, their response is different: They leave the country as the world has opened up in order to accommodate them. And, it is politically correct to encourage them, even though it is at the expense of the future of the countrys own development.

(The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk and

follow on Twitter @SirimalAshoka).
Inc. plans to apply for a variety of wealth management licenses in China, the Global Times said in a tweet.

The firm wants approval to trade securities and futures, and underwrite the sales of stocks and bonds, according to the state-run newspaper.

A Hong Kong-based spokesman said the lender continues to explore opportunities to support its local and global clients in further.



The bank last week said it plans to exit retail in 13 across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa as part of a strategic overhaul, though it will continue to serve corporations and private clients in those areas.

Contours of the exit were not immediately known and the proposed exit from the consumer business will also need regulatory nods.

"There is no immediate change to our operations and no immediate impact to our colleagues as a result of this announcement. In the interim, we will continue to serve our clients with the same care, empathy and dedication that we do today," Citi India's Chief Executive Ashu Khullar said.

The sharpened strategy will strengthen our ability to bring the full global power of Citi to our institutional clients, reinforcing our leading positions across corporate, commercial and investment banking, treasury and trade solutions, as well as and securities services, he added.

Apart from the institutional banking business, it will continue to focus on offshoring or global business support rendered from centres in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Gurugram.

Khullar said India is a strategic talent pool for Citi and it will continue to grow the five 'Citi Solution Centers'.
Alabama walked off Auburn again Saturday.

Two days after taking Game 1 in the 10th inning, the Crimson Tide captured the weekend series with a ninth-inning double for a 10-9 win in Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Jim Jarvis was the hero in Game 3 when he drove in Drew Williamson from second with an opposite-field double to left center. Williamson reached with a leadoff single before Jackson Tate moved him to second with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Jarvis did the rest with his second hit of the day.

Alabama moved to 22-13, 7-8 in the SEC while Auburn slipped to 14-18 and 2-13 in the SEC. The Tigers took the Friday game 5-4 after Alabamas dramatic 8-7 win Thursday.

Auburn jumped to a 5-2 lead in the second inning Saturday. It was 8-5 through five before Alabama tied it with two homers in the seventh. William Hamiter had a two-run shot before Sam Praytors solo job tied it at 8.

Chase Lee (5-0) got the win for Alabama after pitching the final 2 2/3 innings on a pitcher-by-committee afternoon. Nobody threw more than 2 2/3 innings for the Tide after Connor Prielipp pitched the first.

Mason Barnett (2-2) got the loss for an Auburn team that used six pitchers.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
An ocean of passengers continued flooding Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday morning, crowding the security screening area, ahead of a national holiday.

The crowding was attributed to the rising demand for travel as Vietnam is about to commemorate the death of the Hung Kings, considered the founding fathers of the country, on Wednesday.

The airports current infrastructure fails to handle a large numbers of passengers at the same time.

From the very early morning, the security screening area, located on the airports first floor, was overcrowded with thousands of passengers queuing up for procedures including medical declaration, as a COVID-19 control protocol.

This situation has gone on for several days at the airport, with long queues of passengers inching forward in fatigue.

Such passenger congestion has happened not only in the screening area but also in some check-in counters of airlines, for many passengers had yet to complete their medical declaration.

Many passengers who were first-time flyers or who did not master how to make medical declaration nearly missed their flights.

Nguyen Khanh Hung, a 57-year-old passenger from Binh Duong Province, just outside Ho Chi Minh City, who checked in for a flight to Thanh Hoa Province in north-central Vietnam, said it took him a lot of time to fill out health declaration forms because of his old age and his ignorance of technological applications.

Staff here have aided me enthusiastically, Hung said.

It took me two hours to complete all procedures from medical declaration to security screening, as there were so many passengers.

By noon on Sunday, the security screening stalls were still crammed with waiting passengers.

An airport employee requires passengers to present their medical declaration forms before allowing them to access check-in counters at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Some passengers nearly miss their flights due to a long wait at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Passengers crowd the security screening area of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A tired little child stands among the waiting passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Passengers crowd the security screening area of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Passengers wait for airport staff to call their names at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Passengers crowd the entrance to the security screening area of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Some elderly people and children feel tired due to a long wait at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A passenger sits in the queue at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, April 18, 2021. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Madam Elizabeth Ohene, Senior Advisor, Office of the President, has called on graduands of the Evangelical Presbyterian College of Education at Amedzofe to be dedicated to the teaching profession and deliver quality outcomes to children.



She underscored the role of teachers in the transformational agenda of the country, which she said needed motivation.



Madam Ohene, who was speaking at the 14th Congregation of the College charged the graduands to exhibit high levels of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.



The teacher has to be at the centre of all that we try to do in education. If we are to transform our country, the teacher has to be at the centre of it all.



Madam Ohene said the confidence the children needed to navigate life and compete successfully in today's world could only come from a teacher who would make them feel there was nothing beyond them.



Dr Dickson Tsey, Principal of the College advised graduands to aspire to greater heights in life.



He said it was important for them to take necessary steps to obtain a Bachelor Degree after the Diploma to enable them acquire more knowledge that would help position them for better and greater opportunities.



He commended them for their tenacity, dedication and determination, which had made them go through the cold Amedzofe weather...and overcome the physical, spiritual and academic hurdles to achieve their dreams.



The Principal disclosed that though the outbreak of the novel COVID-19 had made the year 2020 a very difficult and challenging one for academia, bringing academic work to a slow pace, the year under review had been eventful and the College was progressing step wisely.



On some achievement of the College, he said, seven offices and five bungalows had been renovated, while work was ongoing on others to take care of the increasing number of staff, using the scarce financial resources of the College.



Dr Dickson said through the support of Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Beddzra, Ho West, Member of Parliament, the College now has industrial gas cylinders and burners, ending the era of 95 percentage use of firewood by the College.



The Principal said, though the College had chalked these successes, it was still facing a barrage of problems, especially in the area of infrastructure and appeal for support to address them.



Dr Dickson said due to inadequate staff accommodation at the institution, most of the staff commute from Ho, Kpando, Vane and other surroundings to the College to carry out their duties, which was a great worry.



He said the four storey ladies hostel that was started since 2009 by GETFUND had been abandoned at the foundation level, meanwhile female intake had been increased by 90 per cent, posing a great challenge to the institution.



We therefore appeal to GETFUND to intervene in this twelve-year old project that is still at the foundation stage, to enable us continue admitting more female students.



A total of 206 students graduated with Diploma in Basic Education, with two obtaining First Class, 73 Second Class Upper, 85 Second Class Lower, 29 Third Class while 17 Passed.



Master Wisdom Azaglo, was adjudged the overall best student.

Source: GNA









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Health officials in Colorado are warning about another wave of infections as new coronavirus cases in the state jump to levels not seen since January and as counties start to loosen virus restrictions.

The state is reporting an average of 1,661 new cases a day, up by 18 percent in the past two weeks, according to a New York Times database. Hospitalizations have climbed by 19 percent in the same time period. Deaths from the virus, which tend to lag behind infections for several weeks, have slightly increased.

We are seeing what appears to be the beginning of a fourth wave of Covid-19 in Colorado, Scott Bookman, the states Covid-19 incident commander, said at a news briefing on Thursday. He urged people to remain vigilant about getting tested as more of the states population becomes vaccinated.

As in many parts of the country seeing caseloads rise, health officials say the increase has been fueled in part by the spread of more contagious variants of the virus, particularly the B.1.1.7 variant first found in Britain. That variant is estimated to be about 60 percent more contagious and 67 percent more deadly than the original version. B.1.1.7 is now the most common source of new coronavirus cases in the United States, and tracking by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that variants of concern, including B.1.1.7 and a variant that emerged in California, CAL.20C, now make up more than half of all new coronavirus cases in Colorado.
Please be advised that Halton Region has announced COVID-19 vaccination appointments are now available for all essential workers (18+), who live or work in Halton and cannot work from home.

The care of our racehorses is essential work that cannot be done from home.

Those working with racehorses qualify for the vaccine in Halton under Essential Workers (Group 1) as Agriculture and Farm Workers. Eligible essential workers are required to bring a completed COVID-19 Proof of Employment Attestation Form to vaccine clinic appointments, signed by their employer.

To download the COVID-19 Proof of Employment Attestation Form, click here.

To book an appointment, click here.

Woodbine encourages all members of our racing community to receive the vaccine to protect ourselves, our families, our colleagues, and our community.

For more information on vaccine eligibility in Halton, visit www.Halton.ca/COVIDvaccines

Woodbine will continue to monitor other regions and provide updates when available.

(Ontario Racing)
The Elite Cars, a leading new and pre-owned luxury car dealers in UAE, has signed an exclusive deal with Jetour, bringing joint-venture British technology and global market performance to the country.



This partnership brings over 20 years of combined formidable experience in the automotive industry and remarkable global market performance, therefore bringing quality and trust to its customers.



Jetour exudes smart living, without compromising luxury and comfort. With its seven-seat space, cost-efficiency, intelligent driving experience and wide-angle integrated panoramic sunroof, Jetour adds plenty of elegance to The Elite Cars' product range.



The brand offers exclusive finance options, five-year warranty or 150,000 km, three years or 60,000 km service contract, free Insurance and free registration.  TradeArabia News Service


A Silver Lining?

Brian Hayden thinks he can pinpoint the day that Pennsylvania students started flocking to his school.It was early July 2020, and Hayden and the rest of the staff at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School were on their annual summer break. Betsy DeVos, at the time the U.S. Secretary of Education, told the press that the federal government would require schools to open for instruction in the fall.Her remarks came soon after the Wolf administration issued its first universal mask mandate, which raised the possibility that students and staff in school buildings would have to be masked all day.PA Cyber had thousands of enrollment inquiries from potential students when its staff returned from their week-long break, according to Hayden, the schools chief executive officer.Hayden said the school redeployed 40 staff members to help the enrollment office keep up with the overwhelming deluge of emails and phone calls. By the time the new school year began in August, it had hit its enrollment limit of nearly 12,000 students.When the pandemic shuttered Pennsylvanias classrooms last year, the states 14 cyber charter schools said they were uniquely qualified to help students thrive in their new world of online learning.Students and their families evidently agreed: Enrollment in Pennsylvanias cyber charter schools shot up by 60 percent during the pandemic, from 38,000 students a year ago to 60,000 students today, data from the state Department of Education show.The rush of students to cyber charter schools has also brought an influx of cash  along with renewed calls from traditional public school advocates for the state to more closely scrutinize the cost of cyber charters, which perennially log some of the lowest academic performance in the state.Like brick and mortar charter schools, cyber charters are funded by contributions from public school districts. Districts pay the online schools an annual rate for each of their students who opt to enroll in one.District payments to charter schools have been rising steadily for a decade. But theyre expected to double this year, driven largely by a $350 million increase in contributions to cyber charter schools, according to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials.Cyber charter schools are also due to be some of the leading recipients of federal funds that were intended to ease the transition to remote learning and mitigate learning loss among students.Thats despite the fact that cyber charter schools appealed to families by pledging dependability during the pandemic, saying they could spare children the disruptions that have plagued public schools for the last year.I dont want to go over the top, but its perplexing at best and appalling at worst, Temple University Law School professor Susan DeJarnatt said of the federal revenues slated to accrue to cyber charter schools this year.They dont have the same costs [as brick and mortar schools.] Everyone is affected by COVID, but Im sure they are the least affected of anyone in the public school system, DeJarnatt told the Capital-Star.Estimates from the Wolf administration show that 12 of the states cyber charter schools are due to receive a cumulative $151.9 million in cash subsidies from American Rescue Plan  the $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package that Congress approved in March, which sent $5 billion in one-time emergency relief aid to Pennsylvanias public school districts.Those one-time payments are the third installment that Pennsylvania schools are due to receive from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund.They come on top of $49 million in ESSER funds that cyber charters got from the federal stimulus package that passed in December. Cyber charter schools also received $10 million under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that passed last May.All told, the one-time cash infusions to cyber charters are due to exceed $211 million, not including the Paycheck Protection Loans that some of them claimed last year.When cyber charter schools were included in the first first round of emergency aid last summer, public school advocates questioned whether they should get a share.As the Pittsburgh-based news outlet PublicSource reported in June , those funds were intended to help schools pivot to remote learning  something that cyber charter schools were already equipped to provide.The two subsequent allocations from the federal government grew in size and came with different rules. The $2.2 billion in emergency aid that Pennsylvania schools shared in December was supposed to support food programs and technology. Schools are still waiting on federal guidance for the more recent round of funding, but the state has told them to use at least some of it to address learning loss and support vulnerable populations  a segment that includes children with disabilities, English learners, and students experiencing homelessness.Public school advocates are still skeptical that cyber charter schools are needful recipients of the federal cash.Weve been hearing since the day that traditional schools closed that cyber charters were built for the pandemic, Susan Spicka, executive director of Education Voters of PA, which advocates for tighter regulation of all charter schools, said. If they were perfectly positioned and [students] werent losing learning, those things dont match up.Spicka doesnt take issue with the way the state has decided to distribute its federal dollars: the formula they used relies on a schools Title-1 allocation, which weights federal funds towards schools that educate low-income students.But the state system has created an issue where charters have a lot of excess funding right now and school districts dont, Spicka said.Traditional public schools and even brick-and-mortar charter schools have had to retrofit facilities to accommodate in-person learning this year. Many have had to alter transportation schedules, too, so they could enforce social distancing on school buses or accommodate hybrid school schedules.A winter survey from PASBO found that most school districts have seen their costs skyrocket while state aid flatlines and local revenue sources slowed or declined. The emergency funds from the federal government may allow many to avoid tax hikes  at least in the short term.A Department of Education spokeswoman said its up to schools to apply for the federal aid, and that its unclear what would happen if a recipient wants to relinquish their share. Schools that receive ESSER funds have to report how they spend it and undergo an audit from the Department of Education if they get more than $750,000.Cyber charter schools say that their expenses have also increased as a result of the pandemic.Hayden says PA Cyber has made technology upgrades and hired more teachers and support staff.The school will likely cover the new personnel costs with revenue from public school districts, since federal relief funds are meant to be used for one-time expenses and programs.Hayden said PA Cyber intends to use all of its stimulus money in strict compliance with federal guidelines. And he expects there will be no shortage of initiatives that fall within its purview.PA Cyber has a sizable population of students who dont have stable housing, Hayden said, and administrators are preparing for their ranks to grow if federal eviction protections expire this year.The school has provided those students with cell phones and other equipment to ensure they have stable access to their learning materials.Hayden said educators are also preparing summer curriculum, which aims to prevent learning loss  a need he said could be particularly acute following a year that brought unemployment, illness and death to students homes.Weve been consistent with our reaching, that doesnt mean students home lives have been [consistent], Hayden said. Were here teaching, but that doesnt mean learning is as good as we would like it to be.Commonwealth Charter Academy, which is slated to receive $24 million under the most recent stimulus package, also said it would spend the cash according to federal law, though a spokesperson didnt respond to follow-up questions about specific expenditures. Agora Cyber School did not respond to a request for comment.Hayden still admits that cyber charter schools have been blessed with good fortune this year. His school was already projecting a surplus when it set its budget last June. He says its typical for his school to end the year with a cushion, but expects that this years surplus will be bigger than in the past.Can I say that every dollar weve received in additional revenue has been needed for expenses? Hayden said. No, it has not.Cyber school proponents and their critics agree on at least two things right now: that the pandemic is going to entrench remote learning in Pennsylvania, and that it will soon become much easier to assess the true cost of virtual education.Some students who sought refuge in cyber charters schools this year may return to their public schools if they reopen this fall. Whether that will translate into big enrollment fluctuations next year is the biggest crystal ball question that cyber schools are dealing with right now, Hayden said.But public school advocates such as Spicka think that pupils across the state will expect some degree of remote education, even if they stay enrolled in a district school.Hundreds of Pennsylvania school districts were offering remote learning options before the pandemic shuttered schools last year. Many more spun up online academies at the start of the current school year, hoping they could compete with cyber charters and keep students  and their attendant tuition dollars  in their district.Public school officials have long said that they can offer online instruction more cheaply than their cyber charter competitors.A 2018 analysis by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators found that district-run cyber schools could educate students for an average of $5,000 per year  roughly half what it costs for them to send a child to a cyber charter school. That study didnt evaluate their academic outcomes for students.Charter critics such as DeJarnatt argue that cyber charter schools inflate the cost of educating children online.A paper that DeJarnatt published in January contends that Pennsylvanias current method for funding cyber charter schools provides them with more cash than they need to educate students. She further argues that weaknesses in the states charter school law allows them to spend excess funds on advertising and expensive management firms.DeJarnatts research relies on cyber charter schools federal tax filings and year-end budget reports. Reporters have also used public records requests to piece together their spending on advertising and gifts for families.But DeJarnatt said that a dearth of publicly available information makes it difficult to get a clear picture of their finances.Shed like to see the state conduct more regular, rigorous audits of cyber charter schools. A review by the Scranton Times-Tribune in December found that six of the states 14 cyber charter schools have never been reviewed by state auditors.A Department of Education spokeswoman also confirmed Tuesday that eleven cyber charter schools are technically operating under expired charters. Cyber charters expire after five years, at which point schools must apply to the state for renewal  a process that includes a comprehensive review of their student achievement and financial operations.State law allows charters to remain in effect pending their renewal. But charter operators have complained for years that their applications languish while awaiting review from state regulators.With a historic number of students now learning in online environments, DeJarnatt thinks its time for the state to redouble its efforts to regulate cyber charter schools. That should start, she said, by figuring out how much it really costs to educate a student online in Pennsylvania.Whether lawmakers want to convene a special commission to study the issue or tap an outside researcher, we really need to figure out what the cost actually is, DeJarnatt said.Maybe the only silver lining to this huge COVID cloud is we might have more information about what it costs to provide a virtual education, she added.Hayden thinks that the findings may not come out in school districts favor.Cyber charter operators say that their methods are time-tested: Schools such as PA Cyber and Commonwealth Connection have been in business for two decades, with no shortage of demand for their enrollment slots.They also say parents should take criticism about their academic performance with a grain of salt.Cyber charter schools perennially log lower student test scores and graduation rates than typical public schools. And a 2019 study by Stanford University found that students in cyber charter schools learn less on average than their demographically identical peers in brick-and-mortar charter schools and district schools.Cyber executives such as Hayden attribute that to a highly transient student body. Cyber charters accept students at all points of the school year, from anywhere in the state, he said. They see high levels of churn as students opt out of traditional public schools.Hayden said that traditional public schools have dismissed cyber education as cheap and easy.But as soon as they had to offer comprehensive online learning themselves, we hear all of a sudden that its expensive and hard, Hayden said. Hopefully there is a better understanding now that we do know and we are good at what were doing.
DOW  Flea aficionados will see their options double this spring in Jersey County.

R & R Auction House in Dow plans to offer weekly flea markets starting April 24. The first event is scheduled the same weekend that The Loading Dock in Grafton resumes its popular monthly Riverside Flea Market, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24-25.

Grafton has their first flea market of the year the same weekend, so folks can make a day of treasure hunting as we are only a few miles apart, said Rory Shires of R & R Auction House at 24621 Elm St. in Dow.

In 2017, Shires and his brother, Rhett, bought the old grade school in Dow from the Jersey school district. Shires said they had been holding weekly consignment auctions at the site until March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the sales to be suspended. Since then, the auction firm has sold items online at Hibid.com.

We both love auctions and flea markets, Rory Shires said. And since we have the space, we thought we might give it a try.

The response from vendors has been good, he said, with more than 80 expected for April 24  from 7 a.m. til folks stop showing up.

We have several acres, about 15,000 square feet indoors, are in the process of building a 56- by 200-foot building and have recently purchased more land for additional parking, Shires said.

Im not sure where Im going to put everybody, he said. I think its going to go pretty well. Our plans are to keep it as close to a traditional style flea market where folks can come in and sell for a day or every week if they want to.

The vendor list for the April 24 event includes folks who want to empty out their old barns to livestock, jewelry, knives, antiques, hand-made furniture, vintage toys, household items and tools, Shires said. There is a full kitchen is on site, and food vendors will offer pork chop and ribeye sandwiches, lemon shake-ups, funnel cakes, barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers and breakfast items.

For more information, visit R & R Auction Houses Facebook page or call 618-972-0077 or 618-885-9324.

For information on the Riverside Flea Market at 401 E. Front S., Grafton, call 618-556-7951, email loadingdock@gtec.com or visit graftonloadingdock.com/flea-market.
Brandon Scott Holes mother was worried about his mental state. She told authorities she was concerned her son would commit suicide by cop so the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department seized a shotgun from his home. But mere months later, Hole was able to legally purchase two semiautomatic rifles that he then used to fatally shoot eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis on Thursday. The 19-year-old opened fire at the facility and killed eight people while wounding at least seven others before killing himself shortly before police arrived at the scene.

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UPDATE-During Thursdays incident, the suspect, Brandon Hole, was witnessed using assault rifles in the assault. ATF conducted a trace on the two weapons. IMPD learned that Brandon Hole purchased the rifles legally in July and September of 2020.  IMPD (@IMPDnews) April 18, 2021

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The way Hole was able to buy the two rifles he used in the attack in July and September of last year suggests that that he was not subject to what is known as a red flag law in Indiana. The measure prohibits people who have been determined to be dangerous from owning weapons. Under the states law, police have two weeks after taking someones weapon to present the case before a judge and argue that the person should be prevented from owning weapons. Although police never returned Holes shotgun its unclear whether a hearing before a judge ever took place, Chief Randal Taylor told the New York Times. I dont know how we held onto it, Taylor said of the shotgun authorities seized from Hole. But its good that we did.

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The revelation came shortly after the FBI said agents had interviewed Hole last year after his mother expressed concern about his mental health. But agents didnt find evidence of a crime and they didnt identify Hole as following any kind of extremist ideology, Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBIs Indianapolis field office, said.

The gunmans family released a statement apologizing on Saturday and emphasized that they had tried to get help for the 19-year-old, who was a former FedEx employee. We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of Brandons actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed, the statement reads. Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy.

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Police have yet to reveal a motive for the shooting and whether hate or bias played a role considering four of the fatal victims were members of the Sikh community. The shooting came at a time when the Asian American community is reeling from increased attacks during the coronavirus pandemic, including last months shooting in the Atlanta area that killed six people of Asian descent. These kinds of violent attacks are a threat to all of us, said community member Maninder Singh Walia in a statement released by the Sikh Coalition. Our community has a long road of healingphysically, mentally, and spirituallyto recover from this tragedy.
Fede Valverde during the second leg of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final tie against Liverpool in midweek.

Fede Valverde during the second leg of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final tie against Liverpool in midweek. AP

Fede Valverde has been forced to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19, although he has tested negative himself.

The Uruguayan midfielder will therefore miss Real Madrid's match against Getafe on Sunday, adding to the numerous absentees from Zinedine Zidane's squad.

The Frenchman is already without Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Lucas Vazquez, Ferland Mendy and Eden Hazard due to injury, with Casemiro and Nacho Fernandez both suspended.

Valverde was set to replace Casemiro in midfield at the Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
The Diocese of Allentown and its parishes and schools across five counties will celebrate the Year of the Real Presence.

This year will be an opportunity for Catholics in our Diocese to rededicate ourselves to Christs real presence in the Holy Eucharist and, as the pandemic slowly lifts, to return to Mass to be really present with our family, friends, parishioners and clergy, Bishop Alfred Schlert said in a news release.

At the Last Supper, as Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples, He instituted the Holy Eucharist, the sacrament that is most central to the Catholic faith. Whenever a priest celebrates Mass, he consecrates bread and wine, changing them by the power of the Holy Spirit into the Body and Blood of Christ.

The transformation is known as the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

The yearlong celebration began April 11 and encourages the faithful to rededicate themselves to, and to reaffirm their belief in, the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. It will be a time for people to rejoice in the gift of their own presence at Mass with families, friends and clergy, according to information from the diocese.

The diocese celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

On Jan. 28, 1961, the five counties of the diocese were separated from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to form the new diocese. On April 11, 1961, the life of the new diocese began with the installation of its first bishop, Bishop Joseph McShea, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

For more information on the Year of the Real Presence, visit www.YearOfRealPresence.org.
CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS CHECK

$600 Golden State Stimulus check: can I get it if I also received the third stimulus check?

The California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB) is in the process of sending out a round of state-specific stimulus checks to low-income residents as part of a relief bill signed in February.

The Golden State Stimulus bill provides $600 direct payments to certain residents as part of a $7.6 billion package. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said that the support would be aimed at addressing the human and the economic impacts of covid in a way that echoes President Bidens American Rescue Plan and will help those who are hurting most.

But what restrictions are there on eligibility, and can you receive both the federal stimulus check and the California-specific version?

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Bay of Plenty

We are looking for a storeman with an OSH forklift license. You will need to be physically for as the job is about 70% forklift...



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She often shares impressive workout videos with her social media fans.

And Ferne McCann proved all that time in the gym has paid off on Sunday, when she posted an Instagram snap of herself modelling matching lace lingerie from Jess Wright's Pour Moi collaboration.

The TOWIE star, 30, who is getting in shape using her Embodyment With Ferne, sizzled in the black two-piece, putting her toned physique on full display while posing in one of her home's doorways.

Wow: Ferne McCann, 30, proved all that time in the gym has paid off on Sunday, when she posted an Instagram snap of herself modelling matching lace lingerie

Ferne's blonde hair cascaded in waves to her shoulders, and the mother-of-one wore a full face of glam for the impromptu shoot.

The star accessorised with nothing more than beaded bracelets as she flashed the camera a sultry glare.

It comes days after Ferne stepped out in London for a date night with her boyfriend Jack Padgett.

They loved-up couple beamed as they held hands and entered the Elysee restaurant in Fitzrovia.

Gorgeous: The TOWIE star sizzled in the black two piece, putting her toned physique on full display while posing in one of her home's doorways

Last month, Ferne gushed over romance with her boyfriend Jack.

The former TOWIE star revealed she cannot stop saying 'I love you' to the male model.

Speaking to The Sun, she admitted that Jack has 'changed her life', saying: 'I feel like he really is the one. I'm in that love bubble and I don't think that's going to change. He's honestly changed my life and that's it now. I'm so grateful.'

Ferne, who is mother to daughter Sunday, three, went public with the model in late December after first meeting five years ago, and she admitted moving in together so quickly has 'fast-forwarded' her romance with her 'calm and kind' beau.

Speaking in a recent interview with MailOnline, the mother-of-one explained while she initially found the prospect of letting a new man into her life 'daunting', she is confident she has found the 'right person' in longtime friend Jack.

She has now said: 'It's a really healthy honest relationship. It's an adult relationship and I'm very happy. He's nice, calm and balanced, and fun. I love him. I did actually say "I love you" first.'

Sweet: Ferne says living with her new boyfriend Jack Padgett during lockdown has 'fast-forwarded' her romance with her 'calm and kind' beau

She added: 'I knew he loved me but he wasn't going to be the one to say it.'

While she shares Sunday with her incarcerated ex-boyfriend Arthur Collins, who is serving over 20 years in jail for an acid attack, babies are not on the cards yet.

She went on: 'It's too soon for all that, and I don't want to scare him off - but I have discussed baby names with him. But we're not planning for a baby yet. I just want to enjoy life with him first for a few more years to have fun with him.'
Cases of people contracting the South African and Kent variants of the virus after being vaccinated have already been recorded, an NHS expert warned yesterday.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser for NHS Test and Trace, reassured that vaccines were a primer for the immune system and would help reduce hospitalisations and deaths.

But she said: We have seen some people who have had their first dose of the vaccine who have had the South African variant and the variant that arose in Kent.

Dr Susan Hopkins (pictured), chief medical adviser for NHS Test and Trace, reassured that vaccines were a primer for the immune system and would help reduce hospitalisations and deaths

Thats to be expected, we know that these vaccines arent 100 per cent protecting you against infection and thats why we ask people to take caution.

She told BBCs The Andrew Marr show: You can see that [the vaccines are] not as good against the South African variant as they are against our own [variant] B117 at preventing infection and transmission.

However, she added: When your immune system is exposed to a variation of the same virus it responds faster and more adequately to protect you against severe disease.

It comes as scientists in Brazil have identified two cases where people were simultaneously infected with two different variants of Covid-19, according to a study.

Dr Susan Hopkins said: 'Thats to be expected, we know that these vaccines arent 100 per cent protecting you against infection and thats why we ask people to take caution (stock image)

Trial infects victims again Scientists have launched a trial to deliberately infect people with coronavirus after they have already had it. The study will help establish the level of immune protection which stops people being reinfected, which could help to fast-track future vaccines. The trial, which is led by the University of Oxford, will expose every volunteer to the virus, so that only those with a strong enough immune response will avoid being reinfected. Researchers will hope to ascertain what level of immune response protects people. That could mean vaccines which produce that golden level of immunity could be fast-tracked and licensed without trials of tens of thousands of people being necessary. Professor of vaccinology, Helen McShane  the study leader  said: If we can determine... that a certain level of antibodies means its not possible to reinfect somebody, that would feed very immediately into designing the most effective vaccines. Advertisement

Both cases were women in their 30s who had typical moderate flu-like symptoms and did not become severely ill, according to the report in the journal Virus Research.

Earlier this month the Lancet also reported a case from Nevada where a man was infected by two different strains of the coronavirus  which is officially known as SARS-CoV-2. The second infection was more severe than the first.

The study authors warned: Previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not guarantee total immunity in all cases.

Separately, Environment Secretary George Eustice said there is no evidence that the new Indian variant of coronavirus is able to get around the vaccine.

According to the latest update from Public Health England, 77 confirmed cases of the B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India, have been detected in the UK, including 73 in England and four in Scotland.

Boris Johnson has also been urged to set an example by cancelling his planned trip to India. Labours communities spokesman Steve Reed said the Prime Minister should follow his own governments advice and only travel if he absolutely needs to.

He told Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday: All of us in public life need to try and set an example. The Government is telling people dont travel if you dont absolutely have to travel. I cant see why the Prime Minister cant conduct his business with the Indian government by Zoom.

Mr Johnson was meant to visit for four days, but No 10 has confirmed a slightly shorter trip will mean all meetings take place on Monday, April 26.
Burma Two Civilians Shot in Myanmar Junta Crackdown in Myingyan

Junta forces open fire in Myingyan during the crackdown on anti-regime protesters.

A young man shot by junta forces in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, on Sunday during a crackdown on an anti-regime protest is in a critical condition, according to a rescue association.

Ko Tun Oo in his 20s was working at a rice retailer when he was shot above his eye when he was told to shut the buildings doors after hearing gunfire.

He was probably shot at close range, according to witnesses, as the rice retailer is next to a paint shop where soldiers were seen taking positions.

Another young man was injured when junta forces opened fire on protesters in No.8 ward in Myingyan.

A rescue worker said the injured protester only sustained minor injuries.

Ko Tun Oo, who was not in the protest, was shot after his employer told him to shut the shops doors.

The rescuer said: His condition is very serious. The hospital in Myingyan is closed and the private clinic and volunteer doctors do not have the equipment to operate, so he was transferred to the military hospital.

The security forces crackdown in Myingyan has left at least 25 dead since March 3.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 730 people have been killed, including bystanders since the Feb. 1 coup.

The association said Ko Aung Ko Ko Phyo, 25, died on Saturday night after being shot in the head at around 9pm in Kyaukme, northern Shan State, when he and two other friends were on a motorbike. His two friends were detained by soldiers and their details are unknown.

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Girl, 7, Shot as Myanmar Regime Forces Attack Protesters Near Indian Border

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Least-developed country Members involved in a dispute

All of the above rules of special and differential treatment apply to least-developed country Members, which are included in the group of developing country Members. In addition, the DSU sets out a few particular rules applicable only to least-developed country Members.

Where a least-developed country Member is involved in a dispute, particular consideration must be given to the special situation of that Member at all stages of the dispute. Members must exercise due restraint in bringing disputes against a least-developed country Member and in asking for compensation or seeking authorization to suspend obligations against a least-developed country Member that has lost a dispute (Article 24.1 of the DSU).

For disputes involving a least-developed country Member, the DSU also specifically foresees good offices, conciliation and mediation. Where consultations have not resulted in a satisfactory solution and the least-developed country Member so requests, the Director-General or the Chairman of the DSB must offer their good offices, conciliation and mediation. The aim is to assist the parties to settle the dispute before the establishment of a panel. In providing such assistance, the Director-General or the Chairman of the DSB, may consult any source either considers appropriate (Article 24.2 of the DSU).

Legal assistance back to top

The (WTO) Secretariat assists all Members in respect of dispute settlement at their request, but it provides additional legal advice and assistance to developing country Members. To this end, the Secretariat is required to make available a qualified legal expert from the WTO technical cooperation services to any developing country member which so requests (Article 27.2 of the DSU).

The Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation, a division in the WTO Secretariat, currently employs one full-time official and, on a permanent part-time basis, two independent consultants for this purpose. These experts must assist the developing country Member in a way that respects the continued impartiality of the Secretariat (Article 27.2 of the DSU).

The WTO Secretariat also runs technical cooperation activities in Geneva and in the capitals of Members by conducting special training courses concerning the dispute settlement system (Article 27.3 of the DSU). The courses that take place in Geneva are also accessible for representatives of developed country Members.

Representation by private counsel and the Advisory Centre on WTO Law back to top

As already mentioned, private legal counsel may appear before panels and the Appellate Body as part of a partys delegation. Also, private law firms often participate in the preparation of the parties written submissions to a panel or the Appellate Body. This is important for developing country Members, as it may enable them to take part in dispute settlement proceedings even when they lack human resources with specific expertise in WTO dispute settlement.1 Resorting to private law firms, however, is costly, especially because lawyers specialized and experienced in WTO law are mostly established in the capitals of developed countries (e.g. Washington, Brussels, Geneva, Paris and London).

Developing country Members can receive effective assistance in dispute settlement from the recently established, Geneva-based Advisory Centre on WTO Law. The Advisory Centre is a legal aid centre in the form of an independent intergovernmental organization. It is separate and independent from the WTO. It was established by an international agreement signed by 29 Members of the WTO in Seattle on 1 December 1999, the Agreement Establishing the Advisory Centre on WTO Law. This Agreement entered into force on 15 June 2001 and the official opening of the Advisory Centre took place on 5 October 2001. There are currently some 30 members. Every WTO Member, whether a developing country or not, as well as countries and independent customs territories in the process of accession to the WTO, can become members of the Advisory Centre.

The Advisory Centre functions essentially as a law office specialized in WTO law. It provides legal services and training to developing countries or countries with economies in transition, as well as to all least-developed countries that are WTO Members or accession candidates. The legal services fall into two categories. First, the Advisory Centre provides legal assistance in WTO dispute settlement proceedings. This means representing WTO Members throughout dispute settlement proceedings (e.g. by drafting documents addressed to the DSB, submissions to panels and the Appellate Body and by appearing on behalf of those Members before panels and the Appellate Body). Since July 2001, the Advisory Centre has regularly represented developing country Members in WTO disputes. For these services, the clients pay (discounted) rates at varying levels that depend on the level of economic development and on whether they are members of the Advisory Centre.

Second, the Advisory Centre provides legal advice on matters that are not or not yet the subject of a WTO dispute settlement proceeding. These services are free of charge for all least-developed countries and members of the Advisory Centre that are developing countries or countries with economies in transition up to a certain amount of hours. The Advisory Centre also provides legal assistance, at a commercial rate, to developing countries that are not its members. The Advisory Centre also provides training on WTO dispute settlement and plans to offer paid internships in order to contribute to capacity building (by enhancing the WTO expertise of developing country officials). The staff of the Advisory Centre is small, but comprises legal experts, some with long experience in matters of WTO law in general and WTO dispute settlement in particular.

Notes:

1. Appellate Body Report, EC  Bananas III, para. 12. back to text
A York City couple has been arrested, accused of filming themselves sexually assaulting a newborn over the course of several months, according to police.

Wyatt Andrew Jones, 25, and Marisel Toro, 20, are each charged with two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; disseminating photo, film of child sex acts; child pornography; and indecent assault of a person younger than 13 years of age.

Jones also faces two counts of causing or permitting photographing, filming, depicting on a computer child sex acts, while Toro faces two counts of photographing, filming, depicting on a computer child sex acts. All are felonies.

Jones and Toro, of the 400 block of South George Street, were arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Ronald J. Haskell Jr. and are in York County Prison without bail. Their bails were denied because theyre a risk to public safety and cant have contact with children, according to court records.

The couple allegedly assaulted the infant beginning when she was approximately one month old from January to April, according to charging documents.

Jones and Toro recorded the sexual assaults on a cellphone and shared it on messenger app Kik  where Boone Police in North Carolina discovered the child pornography and notified York City Police on Monday, according to charging documents.

Police served a search warrant and arrested Jones and Toro at their home, where officers found the infant sleeping in a bassinet, charging documents say.

Jones sexually assaulted the infant while Toro helped and came up with some of the ideas for the sexual acts, according to charging documents.

She advised that she did it because she knew it would please Jones, state charging documents.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for both on May 10 before Haskell.
There is no doubt that they meant well, coming out in their thousands to sincerely express their grief over the deeply tragic kidnap-murder of 23-year-old Andrea Bharatt.

But the organisers of those candlelight vigils held all over Trinidad between February 4 and April 1 did not seem in the least bit concerned that what they were assembling could turn out to be Covid super spreaders.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his principal operative, Union home minister Amit Shah, the saffron partys new sutra is to form a government in a state through any means. (Photo: PTI)

The BJP may or may not win the Assembly elections in Assam. In West Bengal, its chances may be considered to be less bright than in Assam on account of the structural makeup of the state, notwithstanding the pre-Partition communal politics rampant in undivided Bengal. But winning a poll fair and square is not the metric any longer. We have seen popular verdicts being overturned in state after state to the BJPs benefit.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his principal operative, Union home minister Amit Shah, the saffron partys new sutra is to form a government in a state through any means. The capture of power is evidently crucial for erecting a scaffolding -- a formal platform -- for the systematic spread of ideas in the public realm through unrestrained heavy-duty propaganda, the rapid dissemination of communal politics through enabling instruments of State power (the police and the bureaucracy), and the unleashing of policy with a communal slant.

The last indubitably means going out of the way to disadvantage and other those who are not the majority, leading to the making of such patently unjust policies -- which defy the idea of equality before the law -- the new normal in a sharp deviation from the political tradition whose roots were laid over 70 years ago.

The Westminster system of party politics, which is enshrined in our Constitution, has been stood on its head in the post-Atal Behari Vajpayee BJP. When the BJP fails to bag the numbers in an election, it simply sets up a trade mart in which MLAs become the commodity. The gomashtas, or middlemen, and auctioneers are out in strength.

When elected legislators on party tickets other than BJP fail to take the bait (offered in the form of incentives), the punitive element kicks in and various agencies of the Central government raid and begin so-called investigations against the BJPs opponents. The law courts simply watch helplessly. The Election Commission has little to say. The governors of various states frequently don the garb of apparatchiks. The Speaker is happy to receive instructions remotely.

The RSS is the ideological mentor of the BJP and several dozen allied organisations that are the repository of the notion of the Hindu Rashtra (the idea that the landmass of India -- in its present political geography as well as in its mythological connotation -- is the natural home of the Hindus of the world, where all others must resign themselves to the fate of being less equal).

The RSS lays claims to being exalted. Its propagandists and adherents have prided themselves on being seekers of a higher morality and ethical conduct in the family, society, and the nation, the last being an expression which in its most recent manifestation in India has been so thoroughly weaponised as to cause unease among citizens -- namely, those Indians who are not swayed by their religious identity alone in the running of public affairs and policymaking.

It was expected that the self-appointed custodians of the culture of the Hindus would object to such weaponisation in the interest of political hygiene and harmony in society. They have not done so.

When after an election, newly elected MLAs of non-BJP parties are pursued with serious intent to switch sides so that the BJP may unfairly get to form the government and make a mockery of the people who voted for them and against the BJP, a small hint from the top levels of the RSS leadership may have done wonders. It would have worked as a discouraging factor. But the RSS top brass have little to say. The inference is that they approve of dishonourable conduct in the interest of making an ideological conquest.

Whether it is an election to a panchayat, a district board, a trade union, a social club, a professional association -- and not just the state or national legislature -- the BJP uses every trick in the book to capture the body. Only then can it pass rules, regulations, laws, to influence civil society as well as the government.

More, only then does it gain the formal legitimacy and the authority to direct the making of budgets and play the lead hand in the disbursal of funds to its favourite schemes and outfits. The stamp of approval is thus gained to promote unworthy communal agendas. The general media tom-toms this, rather than interrogate the phenomenon.

Awestruck by the energy brought to bear by the BJP to win all elections, big or small, some commentators have urged other parties to emulate the saffron partys methods. This is misconceived advice. It leaves out of account the fundamental proposition -- that the BJP is unlike any other party that we know.

It sanctions the use of majoritarian force (which may be unseen), rather than the commonly understood constitutional methods. Ordinary civil society sometimes transforms into un-civil society under its gaze. This is a phenomenon that is anathema to a democratic order.

In both Assam and West Bengal, the political actors in the fray, as well as the general public, need to remain alert to the capture and takeover syndrome. A successful takeover bid may be expected to give rise to the unbridled spread of communal fires in (fragile) border states. The Congress and the Left parties have given little evidence of understanding the parallelogram of forces at work, especially in West Bengal. They may live to rue the day.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, April 17, 2021, the management of Port St. Maarten welcomed 159 passengers aboard the Celebrity Reflection cruise ship who were evacuated from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines due to the eruption of La Soufriere volcano. Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs, Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Secretary-General, Miguel de Weever, and Foreign Affairs Department Acting Head Patrice Gumbs were all present to ensure any needed assistance was rendered to the passengers. The arriving passengers all had a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of arrival and are predominately nationals or residents of the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK).

The Rapid Deployment Team; a trained group of crisis responders from the Foreign Development and Commonwealth Office of the UK Government and Canadian Honorary Consul Pierre DeCelles were present at Port St. Maarten as well to assist the UK and Canadian passengers with their onward travel arrangements. Some passengers needed assistance booking hotel stays or booking onward commercial airline flights from Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).

Prime Minister Jacobs stated, The Government of St. Maarten is pleased to have facilitated the arrival of the passengers together with Port St. Maarten and all stakeholders who were involved in this operation. Sint Maarten continues to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Saint Vincent and as such, we will continue to assist where possible.

Minister of Justice Richardson stated, "Globally, tragic events are occurring daily. Persons needing to be uprooted and moved to safer grounds cant be a pleasant experience. Nevertheless, I am elated with the cooperation displayed by all the coordinators and service agencies. I'd like to especially thank the Immigration and Border Protection Services team for their hard work and dedicated service in processing the passengers. I also extend appreciation to KPSM for being instrumental in escorting passengers who were against time to catch their connecting flights."

This humanitarian operation was possible via collaboration between the Government of St. Maarten, Port St. Maarten, the United States (US) Consulate in Curacao, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL). Momentarily, there are no future plans for additional evacuations.
The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an E.U. foreign ministers meeting on Monday.

The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people.

Russias Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper houses international affairs committee, on Saturday as saying Pragues assertions were absurd and Russias response should be proportionate.

Meanwhile, another high-profile official, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Dumas international affairs committee, said Saturday the grounds for the Czech move do not stand up to criticism, adding that the Czech Republic follows the Russophobic course of the United States by expelling Russian diplomats, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

The expulsions and allegations come at a time of heightened Russian-Western tensions and have triggered the biggest dispute between the Czechs and Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscows domination for decades.

On Sunday, the E.U.s executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute would be addressed during a previously schedule E.U. foreign ministers video conference on Monday.

Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion.

Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018.

Moscow has denied involvement in that incident.

The United States and Britain said they stood in full solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia.

A teenager in exile: How one Hong Kong protester came to seek political asylum in the U.K.

A statement by the U.S. Embassy in Prague said on Saturday Washington stands with its steadfast ally, the Czech Republic. We appreciate their significant action to impose costs on Russia for its dangerous actions on Czech soil.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter: The U.K. stands in full support of our Czech allies, who have exposed the lengths that the GRU will go to in their attempts to conduct dangerous and malign operations  and highlights a disturbing pattern of behaviour following the attack in Salisbury.

The Kremlins relations with many NATO members, most of whom are in the E.U., as well as the United States are more strained that at any time since the Cold War.

The West has voiced alarm over a large Russian military build-up on Russias Western borders and in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, following a spike in fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and government forces.

The United States imposed sanctions against Russia this week for interfering in last years U.S. election, cyber hacking, bullying Ukraine and other alleged malign actions, prompting Moscow to retaliate.

Last month U.S. President Joe Biden said he thought his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was a killer and Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations.

SOURCE: REUTERS
The Government of India has written to all central ministries and public sector undertakings (PSU) to dedicate their hospital beds for COVID-19 management in States/Union Territories (UTs).

According to the Health Ministry, the dedicated hospital wards/blocks have to be equipped with supportive/ancillary services including oxygen supported beds, ICU beds, ventilators, specialised CCUs (wherever available), lab/imaging services, kitchen etc., with a dedicated health workforce.

These hospitals/blocks should have separate entry and exit points for the management of COVID-19 cases, to provide treatment services including specialised care for the confirmed cases.

This move comes against the backdrop of shortage of beds reported from some States.

India reported its highest-ever single-day spike of COVID-19 cases with over 2.61 lakh new cases and more than 1,500 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry on Sunday.

In the last 24 hours, 1,501 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 1,77,150. As many as 2,61,500 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of cases has gone up to 1,47,88,109.

The active number of cases in the country stands at 18,01,316.In the last 24 hours, 1,38,423 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,28,09,643.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 15,66,394 samples were tested on Saturday. And, as many as 26,65,38,416 samples have been tested across the country till April 17.

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 12,26,22,590 till today.

(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.)
Sundance Vacations co-owner Tina Dowd hasnt put gas in her car in the last eight years.

She owns a Tesla electric car, her second one, which she said is better for the environment because it reduces carbon emissions and has no engine oil.

Throughout Pennsylvania, electric vehicle sales have increased by 24% in 2020 even though total vehicle sales dropped 15% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Global sales of electric cars also accelerated in 2020 but sales in Northeast Pennsylvania havent kept pace, said Kayla Kelly, internet manager at Tom Hesser dealerships. She said Tom Hesser Nissan sells a few Nissan LEAF cars a year.

While electric cars save on fuel costs and eliminate emissions, they take time to charge and can be pricey, even with state rebates and federal tax incentives for buyers.

A Tesla can cost between $37,990 and $144,490. The starting price of a Nissan LEAF is $31,670, and Kelly said she has been seeing a growing interest in them at Tom Hesser Nissan.

There are a certain amount of people who are into going green, she said. Buying those cars is like a lifestyle.

Dowd was one of the first in Luzerne County to install an electric vehicle charging station  which is free for electric vehicle owners to use  at Sundance Vacations headquarters on Highland Park Boulevard in Wilkes-Barre Twp.

She had the charging station installed at Sundance Vacations in 2013 after she bought her first Tesla. She charges her Tesla overnight in her garage in Lehighton and said she could drive about 240 miles after a charge.

I felt more comfortable having a place to charge here during the day, she said.

With the popularity of electric cars growing, more charging stations have been popping up throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

Electric vehicle chargers also can be found in Luzerne County at Breaker Brewing in Wilkes-Barre Twp., the Arena Bar and Grill in Wilkes-Barre, Holiday Inn in Plains Twp., Ken Pollock Nissan in Wilkes-Barre Twp. and Benco Dental in Jenkins Twp.

Benco Dentals two electric vehicle chargers were installed in 2016 and the dental distributor will install two more this year, said John Muscovitch, BENCOs national facilities and fleet manager.

The chargers at Benco Dental accommodate any electric vehicle including Teslas with adapters, and the new chargers will accommodate all electric vehicles as well, Muscovitich said.

Muscovitch said they continually seek out new opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of our facilities.

Benco Dental doesnt have electric vehicles but he said they are keeping a close eye on the industry as electric vehicles become more available.

We saw increasing support for electric cars and aligned our infrastructure to accommodate the needs of our associates and customers, he said.

In Lackawanna County, electric vehicle chargers can be found at the Shoppes at Montage in Moosic, Tom Hesser BMW and Chevrolet in Scranton and Tom Hesser Nissan in Dunmore, which also sells an electric vehicle: the Nissan LEAF.
The Reverend Professor Paul Frimpong Manso, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, has encouraged Ghanaians to keep faith in God and speak positively in these trying times.



He said negative utterances only showed a low level of faith in God and must not be entertained.



Rev Manso who was delivering a sermon on Sunday said negative comments retarded national development.



Such comments can affect an individual psychologically and this will not benefit the country. Having psychological problems can negatively affect your level of production at your workplace, which can retard the countrys development, he said.



The General Superintendent said some Christians also forgot the existence of God when they faced certain life challenges and tended to seek diabolic means to solve those challenges.



That, he said, would rather generate multiple problems for you. Seek the face of God and the positive changes you are seeking in your life would be manifested.



Rev Manso assured Ghanaians of the consistent blessings of God in their lives and the country when they had faith in God and did His will.



He encouraged the citizens to continue adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols to curb the spread of the virus.

Source: GNA









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Two new studies published in Blood suggest that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may have reduced efficacy in individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma, two types of blood cancer. According to researchers, these studies could help inform the ideal time for vaccination of these populations.

Study suggests two-dose COVID-19 vaccine is less effective for people with CLL as compared to healthy controls

The first study reports that people with CLL had markedly lower immune response rates to the two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine than healthy individuals of the same age. Because clinical trials of these vaccines did not include patients with blood cancers, who are at high risk of severe illness and complications from the virus, gauging the effectiveness of the vaccine in this population is critically important.

In this study of 167 patients with CLL, only four out of 10 (39.5%) had a positive antibody-mediated response to the vaccine; all healthy adults (controls), by comparison, marshalled an immune response.

Interestingly, the research revealed wide variations in immune response among patients with CLL depending on where they were in their cancer treatment process. For example, patients undergoing active cancer treatment had significantly lower response rates to the vaccine when compared with people who had completed treatment and were in remission, 16% vs 79% respectively. Treatment naive patients (those whose disease is being watched but not yet treated) had a 55.5% response rate. As well, response to the vaccine was markedly higher in people who completed CLL treatment at least a year before vaccination compared with those who were still in treatment within the last year, 94% vs 50%, respectively.

"Overall, the response rate to the vaccine was significantly less than what we see in the general population, which is most likely attributed to the presence of cancer itself and certain CLL treatments," said lead author of the study Yair Herishanu, MD, associate professor in hematology and head of the CLL service at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel. "It would seem that if you are untreated, in what we call 'watch and wait' or do not have active disease, you can gain more benefit from the vaccine. Patients who responded the best were in remission, which makes sense because their immune system had a chance to recover."

Aside from not being on active CLL treatment, younger age, being female, and having normal immunoglobin levels at the time of vaccination independently predicted better response rates to the vaccine. In addition to poorer qualitative antibody responses to the vaccine, patients with CLL also had lower antibody titers, which tells us that, in addition to fewer patients responding to the vaccine, the intensity of the response was also lower, explained Dr. Herishanu.

For the study, researchers included 167 patients with CLL and 53 healthy controls from December 2020 through February 2021. All participants received two doses of BNT162b2 messenger RNA (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine 21 days apart; this was the only vaccine used in Israel at the time of the study. Patients were 71 years old on average, and 67% were men. Fifty-eight patients (34.7%) were treatment naive; 75 (44.9%) were on active therapy; 24 (14.4%) were previously treated and in complete or partial remission; and 10 (6%) were in relapse. Antibody titers were also measured two weeks after the second dose. Patients were followed for a median of 75 days since receiving their first shot, and none had developed COVID-19 infection. There were no significant differences in reported side effects to the vaccine compared to the healthy population.

Researchers also looked at immune response to the vaccine based on which CLL treatment patients received. They found similarly low response rates among patients who were receiving common targeted therapies, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors (ibrutinib or acalabrutinib) or a combination of venetoclax with anti-CD20 antibodies such as rituximab. Notably, none of the patients who received anti-CD20 antibodies within 12 months of COVID-19 vaccination responded. Because only five patients were on venetoclax monotherapy, Dr. Herishanu said they could not draw any conclusions about the impact on response.

People with CLL and other blood cancers remain at high risk for severe illness and complications with COVID-19 infection, and while response rates are lower than ideal, vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly recommended. The authors suggest that an additional booster dose of the vaccine might be needed for patients with CLL who have completed therapy and previously failed to respond to COVID-19 vaccine, though this would need to be studied.

Even though response rates were not optimal, patients with CLL should still get the vaccine and, if appropriate, it may be better to do so before CLL treatment starts although the disease itself may affect the response. Equally important is continuing to take precautions - wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, keeping a social distance, and being sure close contacts get vaccinated against COVID-19." Dr. Yair Herishanu, Study Lead Author

He and his team will continue to follow these patients for 12 months to see how many, if any, develop COVID-19 infection following vaccination. Since this study only assessed antibody response, they also plan to check the cellular immune response to gain a more complete picture of the extent to which patients are protected after vaccination.

The researchers note that the same trends would be expected with the other mRNA vaccine (Moderna).

Similar results in elderly patients with multiple myeloma

In a Blood Letter to the Editor also published online today, researchers report similar findings after the first dose of the same vaccine in elderly patients with multiple myeloma. Evangelos Terpos, MD, PhD, of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Athens, Greece, and colleagues compared outcomes of 48 patients with multiple myeloma and 104 healthy controls at Alexandra Hospital in Athens. The median age of all participants was 83. On day 22 after the first dose of the vaccine but prior to the second dose, antibody titers were measured and the median response was 20.6% neutralizing antibodies for the multiple myeloma population as compared to 32.5% for the healthy controls.

At the time of the first dose, 35 (72.9%) patients were receiving anti-myeloma therapy, four were in remission after prior therapy and did not receive any therapy at the time of vaccination, and nine had smoldering (precancerous) myeloma. Based on their findings, researchers suggest that anti-myeloma therapy seems to negatively affect production of neutralizing antibodies after a single dose, although higher patient numbers are needed to further understand this effect. They also wrote that the administration of a second timely vaccine dose is essential for elderly patients with multiple myeloma to develop an adequate antibody-based response.
US-Japan alliance is becoming the axis of endangering peace in Asia-Pacific: Global Times editorial

Global Times) 13:57, April 18, 2021

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on April 16, 2021 shows a screen displaying U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attending a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C. in a live stream provided by FOX. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

US President Joe Biden and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday issued a joint statement which mainly themed on dealing with China. The statement talked a lot about the importance of the US-Japan alliance, an alliance being touted as "US-Japan global partnership for a new era." In the statement, the two countries pledge to work together to resist "challenges to the free and open rules-based international order." The statement outlined the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, accusing China of conducting "economic and other forms of coercion" in the region. It also mentioned the Taiwan question - the first time since 1969 American and Japanese top leaders have done so in their joint statement.

"An ocean separates our countries, but commitments to universal values and common principles, including freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, international law, multilateralism, and a free and fair economic order, unite us," said part of the statement. But this sentimental rhetoric is hypocritical. US-Japan ties are a kind of relationship that a victory country of the WWII dominates a defeated country, Japan. There is a strong "master-servant" feature in this relationship in terms of diplomacy. The joint statement has strengthened the compulsive dominance the US' extreme China policy has on Japan's diplomacy, while Japan has actively and cautiously catered to it.

Japan has become the country in Asia that follows the US policy of containing China most closely. There are two reasons for this: First, as mentioned above, the US has so far maintained its military occupation of Japan and it can be said that Japan's diplomacy is only at "semi-sovereign" level. It's unlikely for Japan to contradict the US.

Second, Japan is the Asian country that most wants to contain China. The biggest "shared value" between the US and Japan is actually the jealousy and hatred they both have against China's strong development momentum. The US' hegemonic thinking can't accept its status being matched by China, while Japan can't accept becoming a "second-class country" compared to China, again.

Has Japan forgotten how many times it inflicted devastation on China? Has China ever truly harmed Japan and can Japan cite an example? The tiny Diaoyu Islands are just a territorial dispute between China and Japan, and in Asia there are many similar disputes. But Japan takes the dispute as a strategic level issue and hypes it up every day. What's the point of it?

The US-Japan alliance could evolve into an axis that can bring fatal disruption to Asia-Pacific peace, just like the Germany-Italy-Japan axis alliance before and during the WWII. The core intention of the US is to maintain its hegemony and contain China's development through violating international laws and rules. The arbitrary act of the US could eventually end the peace in Asia-Pacific. And Japan is positioning itself as the top Asian accomplice of the US' vicious policy.

Washington and Tokyo want to build the Quad mechanism, comprising Japan, the US, India and Australia, into an expanded and upgraded US-Japan alliance, and draw more countries in to jointly confront China. They trumpeted "shared values," but the world is supposed to be diverse. The most dangerous thing is confrontation, group-based confrontation in particular. The US and Japan are tearing the so-called "Indo-Pacific" apart at the cost of eroding and destroying cooperation. They are attempting to make confrontation the main theme of the entire region.

They always emphasized "rules-based," but the rules should refer to those made by the UN., rather than those defined by the US and Japan. The US has willfully wielded the stick of trade war against China, and cracked down on Chinese high-tech enterprises by cutting off the supply of key technology products. Are these actions in line with the rules? The US is enticing Japan to establish supply chains that exclude China. But does this comply with rules? Besides, the US and the West arbitrarily interfere in internal affairs of other countries, is this encouraged by the UN Charter?

Japan once met China halfway in the past few years, which led the China-Japan relations to return on the right track. But now, it has abruptly changed the course and become a part of the US containment strategy against China. This has ruined the momentum of improvement in China-Japan relations. It's not only a result of US' pressure, but it's also caused by Japan's expanding strategic selfishness. Japan is too short-sighted, it formed an alliance with Germany and Italy before WWII and is now singing a chorus with the US' radical line. Japan hasn't learned its lessons. It is, instead, proactively creating and sinking into a vortex of confrontation.

Finally, we advise Japan to stay away from the Taiwan question. It may play diplomatic tricks in other fields, but if it gets involved into the Taiwan question, it will draw the fire upon itself. The deeper it is embroiled in, the bigger the price it will pay.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein which functions as a zinc metalloenzyme and is found on prostatic epithelium. In normal prostate tissue, PSMA expression and localization focuses on the cytoplasm and apical side of the epithelium surrounding prostatic ducts. However, during prostate carcinogenesis, PSMA is transferred to the luminal surface of the ducts.

PSMA is highly expressed (100-1000 fold normal) in the vast majority of prostate cancer cells, including in patients with advanced disease, in those with castration-resistant disease, and in those with poorly differentiated disease. Further, PSMA has a high internalization rate into prostate cancer cells.









Due to its ubiquity in prostate cancer, as well as the features described above, PSMA has become an appealing target for investigations for imaging modalities and therapeutics in patients with prostate cancer with utility in the initial staging of patients, characterization of disease heterogeneity, detection of recurrence, response monitoring, and theranostic intervention. PSMA based approaches may also allow some degree of prognostication as the ratio of PSMA to its truncated isoform (PSM) is proportion to tumor aggressivity.











PSMA as a target for diagnostic imaging

An accurate assessment of the extent of disease (staging) is critical to the care of patients with cancer, across the natural history of disease including initial evaluation, following local treatment, and assessing response to systemic therapy.

Initially, radiographic diagnosis of bony prostate cancer metastasis was made on the basis of plain radiographs. However, this approach is limited as extensive bone mineral loss (exceeding 30-50%) may be required before such changes are radiographically apparent1. Following plain projectional radiography, skeletal scintigraphy was the next imaging modality widely adopted for the assessment of bony metastases in patients with prostate cancer. To date, it remains widely utilized and is currently recommended, along with abdominal and pelvic computed tomography, for the staging of patients according to many guideline bodies. Skeletal scintigraphy, when performed in patients with known cancer in the absence of bony pain, has a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 81% for the detection of metastatic lesions1. As with any imaging modality, these characteristics differ somewhat on the basis of the patient population being tested (i.e. the pre-test probability or population-based disease prevalence). Among patients with prostate cancer, PSA levels are predictive of the likelihood of positive bone scan. Across a number of different cancers, Yang et al. found that bone scintigraphy had a specificity of 81.4% and sensitivity of 86.0%, on a per patient basis, for the detection of bony metastases2. In addition to bone scan, computed tomography has been utilized for the assessment of nodal metastatic disease, visceral disease, and bony metastasis. CT is highly sensitive for both osteoblastic tumors (such as prostate cancer) and osteolytic lesions in the cortical bone but is less sensitive in tumors that are restricted to the marrow space1. As a result, CT is of relatively limited utility as a screening test for bony metastasis due to a relatively low sensitivity (73%) despite excellent specificity (95%)  numbers based on a large scale meta-analysis from Yang and colleagues2. For this reason, conventional staging recommendations for patients with prostate cancer include bony scintigraphy for the detection of bony lesions along with computed tomography for identification of nodal/visceral lesions and correlation of any bony lesions3. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) may also assist with evaluation for distant metastatic disease, including, for example, assessment of local/regional nodal involvement including obturator and external iliac nodal chains on routine pelvic/prostate MRI. Abdominal/pelvic or whole body MRI may also be useful as a staging modality but is not widely adopted.

Moving from anatomic to functional based imaging, traditional positron emission tomography (PET) imaging utilizing fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is not typically effective in the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer metastasis owing to the relatively low metabolic activity associated with the disease. However, at least four other PET imaging approaches have been assessed and employed in patients with prostate cancer including 18F-NaF PET/CT, choline-based PET/CT, fluciclovine (Axumin) PET/CT, and PSMA-targeted PET/CT4. While clearly improved compared to bony scintigraphy, the limitations are similar  namely, that sensitivity is highly dependent on PSA levels. While fluciclovine-PET/CT demonstrated lower false negatives and false positive rates in patients with biochemical recurrence compared to choline-PET/CT5,6, it has proven to be inferior to 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in the detection of metastatic disease (13% vs 56%) (56%) compared with fluciclovine-PET/CT (13%) in patients with biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy7. PSMA-based PET/CT demonstrated particular benefit in the evaluation of patients with low absolute PSA levels.

Thus, PSMA-based molecularly targeted imaging likely represents the way forward in prostate cancer diagnostics. While the most well examined PSMA based approach is 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT, other radiotracers including 18F-DCFPyL and 177Lu-PSMA-617 have recently been examined in place of 68Ga-PSMA8 and recent work has also assessed the role of PET/MRI, rather than PET/CT. This approach leverages the advantages of the sensitivity of receptor targeted imaging and the spatial resolution of MRI9.

The role of PSMA-based imaging in prostate cancer

While there have been innumerable studies of the role of PSMA-based molecular imaging in prostate cancer, three warrant particular mention and will be discussed here.

First, assessing the role of PSMA-PET/CT in the initial staging is the proPSMA study, which was published in the Lancet10 and presented at the EAU 2020 Annual Meeting. This was a multi-center, two-arm randomized controlled trial among men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer who were being considered for curative intent radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. To be eligible for inclusion, men must have had at least one high-risk factor including PSA greater than or equal to 20 ng/mL, ISUP grade group 3-5, or clinical stage T3 or greater. Patients who had undergoing staging investigations (apart from prostate MRI) within 8 weeks prior to randomization were excluded.

Following enrollment, patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either conventional imaging performed using bone scan and CT or PSMA PET/CT. Randomization was stratified according to center. Patients who were randomized to conventional imaging underwent abdomino-pelvic CT scan with contrast as well as technetium-99m bone scan with SPECT CT of chest, abdomen and pelvic in keeping with standard of care. These investigations were assessed in aggregate to determine the presence of findings of interest. For patients randomized to PET/CT, gallium-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT was performed. In patients who had fewer than 3 unequivocal sites of metastasis, cross-over imaging for confirmation was performed within 14 days. Confirmatory testing following imaging was performed at the discretion of the treating physician and included biopsy confirmation.









The primary study outcome was accuracy of first-line diagnostic imaging for the identification of either pelvic nodal or distant metastatic disease. Accuracy was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The reference standard was a composite panel of histopathology, imaging, clinical, and biochemical characteristics.

Between 2017 and 2018, the authors randomly assigned 302 patients of whom 300 received assigned first line imaging. In keeping with the prostate cancer population, median age was 68 years, 293 men had ISUP grade 3 or higher, 65 had PSA20 ng/mL or higher, and 82 had clinical stage T3 or T4. 96% (146) of men assigned to conventional imaging underwent subsequent second line PSMA PET-CT. Assessment of the reference standard was possible in 295 (98%) of men, including 87 of whom had evidence of nodal or distant metastasis. Of these, hard criteria were used to define disease in 20 men.

In the primary outcome assessment, PSMA PET-CT had a 27% absolute greater AUC for accuracy compared to conventional imaging (95% confidence interval 23-31): 92% (95% CI 88-95%) vs 65% (60-69%). Conventional imaging had both a lower sensitivity (38% vs 85%) and also a lower specificity (91% vs 98%).









The authors performed a sensitivity analysis in which all lesions rated as equivocal were considered positive. This changed the results only marginally with an absolute difference of 28% (95% confidence interval 23-33%). These results were also consistent in subgroups of patients with pelvic nodal disease and those with distant metastasis. Further post-hoc subgroup analysis showed incremental benefit for PSMA PET-CT in men with GGG4-5 disease, those with GGG less than or equal to 3, and those with a PSA of 20 ng/mL or greater. Further, equivocal findings were more common in men undergoing conventional imaging (23%) compared to those undergoing PSMA PET-CT (7%).

Prior to treatment, the results of conventional imaging studies resulted in treatment change for 23 men (15%, 95% confidence interval 10-22) while the results of PSMA PET-CT resulted in treatment change for 41 (28%, 95% confidence interval 21-36). These changes included both a transition from curative intent to palliative intent treatment in 20 patients (14%) and also a change in treatment approach in 22 (14%). These data demonstrate the clinical utility of utilizing PSMA PET-CT in this clinical space.

Further, conventional imaging was associated with a higher radiation dose (19.2 mSv compared to 8.4 mSv; absolute difference 10.9 mSv, 95% confidence interval 9.8-12.0 mSv0. PSMA PET-CT was not associated with any adverse events and reporter agreement was high for both nodal (kappa 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.81-0.94) and distant metastatic disease (kappa 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.94-0.92).

Numerous other studies have assessed the role of 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT, including in more advanced disease spaces. Two more recently published studies have examined the novel 18F-DCFPyL tracer in the CONDOR11 and OSPREY12 studies. The developmental program for this tracer have spanned the spectrum of prostate cancer from initial staging of patients with high-risk disease who are planned for radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy through to mCRPC.







PCWG3 JCO 2016





The CONDOR study focused on patients with biochemically recurrent disease in which the authors recruited men aged 18 years and older with rising PSA after definitive therapy and negative or equivocal standard of care imaging (e.g., CT/MRI, bone scintigraphy, or F-18 fluciclovine)11. The authors undertook by PyL-PET/CT using s single 9 mCi (333 MBq)  20% dose of PyL, followed by PET/CT 1-2 hours later. Patients with positive 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT scans based on local interpretation were scheduled for follow up within 60 days to verify suspected lesion(s) using a composite SOT.As their primary outcome of interest, the authors assessed the correct localization rate (CLR), defined as percentage of pts with a 1:1 correspondence between at least one lesion identified by PyL-PET/CT and the composite standard of truth: pathology, correlative imaging, or PSA response, in descending order of priority. The trial was successful if the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval for CLR exceeded 20% for at least two of three independent, blinded central 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT reviewers.









The authors accrued 208 men who met inclusion criteria. Median PSA in this cohort was 0.8 [0.2 - 98.4] ng/mL. Using their defined primary outcome of correct localization rate, the authors demonstrated that PyL-PET/CT correctly localized lesions in 84.8-87.0% of cases among the three readers (lower bound of 95% CI: 77.8%-80.4%), against the composite SOT.











The performance of 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT by CLR (1 lesion co-localized) and PPV (1 lesion confirmed) was maintained through all 3 SOT categories:

1. Histopathology (N=31): 78.6-82.8% and 92.9-93.3% for CLR and PPV, respectively

2. Correlative imaging (N=100): 86.1-88.6% and 87.0-89.5% for CLR and PPV, respectively

3. PSA response (N=1): 100% for both CLR and PPV

Additionally, CLR remained high regardless of which correlative imaging modality was used including 18F-fluciclovine-PET/CT (N=71; CLR 86.8-90.9%), MRI (N=23; CLR 80.0-86.7%) and CT (n=6; CLR 80.0-100%).

While these imaging characteristics are important, potentially more important is the demonstrated clinical effect of this information. Using local radiographic assessment, PSMA-avid lesion(s) were found in 142 of 208 patients (69.3%). As a result, more than two thirds of patients enrolled in this study (131 of 205, 63.9%) had a change in intended management following PyL-PET/CT. Of those with a change in management, nearly 80% (103/131, 78.6%) were attributable to positive PyL findings while the remaining 21.4% (28/131) were attributable to negative PyL scans. Changes in management included a transition from salvage local therapy to systemic therapy on the basis of more extensive disease (n=58), a period of observation (n=49), non-curative systemic therapy to attempted curative salvage local therapy (n=43) and observation in place of planned treatment (n=9). In addition to providing this information, PyL was well tolerated with one drug-related SAE (hypersensitivity) and the most common AE being headache (n=4; 1.9%).

Beyond those with biochemically recurrent disease (CONDOR), the 18F-DCFPyL clinical development program includes a variety of other disease spaces which are captured in the OSPREY cohort12. Patients in both cohort A (high-risk prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy) and cohort B (suspected recurrent/metastatic prostate cancer based on conventional imaging) were included and underwent 18F-DCFPyL PET-CT performed using a single dose of 9 mCi (333 MBq) of 18F-DCFPyL, administered via intravenous injection and followed by PET/CT acquisition 1 to 2 hours thereafter. 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT detection rates including lesion counts were systematically analyzed according to TNM staging: prostatic (T), pelvic LN (N), extra-pelvic LN (M1a), bone (M1b) and other visceral organs/soft tissue (M1c). Images were reviewed by three blinded central reviewers and the diagnostic performance of 18F-DCFPyL PET-CT was compared to histopathology.

In cohort A, histologic detection of pelvic nodal disease (with specificity and sensitivity as co-primary endpoints) was defined on the basis of surgical lymphadenectomy. In cohort B, histologic detection was based on biopsy of lesions identified on conventional imaging. In total, 385 patients were enrolled of whom 252 were in cohort A and 93 were in cohort B.

In cohort A, 18F-DCFPyL-PET/CT had median specificity of 97.9% (95% CI: 94.5%-99.4%) and median sensitivity of 40.3% (28.1%-52.5%) among the three blinded reviewers. While specificity met the pre-specified threshold for efficacy, sensitivity did not. The median PPV and NPV were 86.7% (69.7%-95.3%) and 83.2% (78.2%-88.1%), respectively. In cohort B, the median sensitivity and PPV for extra-prostatic lesions were 95.8% (87.8%-99.0%) and 81.9% (73.7%-90.2%), respectively.

PSMA as a target for therapeutic intervention

Radiopharmaceuticals are pharmaceutical agents which contain radioisotopes that emit radiation and may be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. From a therapeutic perspective, as they are typically given via intravenous infusion, radiopharmaceuticals are systemic radiotherapies, emitting alpha or beta radiation. Radiopharmaceuticals are indicated in patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer with symptomatic bone metastases. Historically, beta-particle emitting agents including strontium-89 (Metastron), samarium-153 (Quadramet), phosphorus-32, and rhenium-186 were used as palliative therapies for patients with symptomatic bone disease13. In this context, they are quite effective in relieving bony pain14. However, these agents did not significantly improve survival15. In contrast, the ALSYMPCA trial, demonstrated an improvement in both overall survival and skeletal-related events for patients receiving the alpha-emitter radium-22316. Radium-223 functions as a calcium mimetic and selectively binds newly forming bone stroma in regions of high bone turnover in osteoblastic or sclerotic bone metastasis17. It then emits high-energy alpha particles with a very short range (less than 100 m)18. This high-energy radiation induces a highly localized cytotoxic effect due to double-stranded DNA breakage.

In contrast to the localization of radium-223 to areas of high bone turnover due to its calcium mimetic properties, PSMA-based theranostics are targeted to regions of tumor cells on the basis of the PSMA transmembrane protein. PSMA-based theranostics have, to date, utilized labelling to the beta-particle emitter Lutetium-117 (Lu-177). Lu-177 has favourable characteristics for theranostics as emitted beta-particles have limited tissue penetration (less than 2mm) which minimize injury to adjacent healthy tissue. Further, Lu-177 emits low-energy gamma rays which can be used to image the tumor in real time during treatment, with a relatively long half-life of 6.7 days resulting in a relatively prolonged treatment period following administration. While a number of 177Lu-labelled PSMA-targeted ligands have been developed, two are most commonly used: 177Lu-PSMA-617 and 177Lu-PSMA-I&T.

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis in press at European Urology as of April 8, 202119 has highlighted data for the use of Lu-177 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The authors included a total of 24 studies with 1192 patients who had received Lu-177 based therapy. The majority of these studies reported on 177Lu-PSMA-617 (20 studies) while 3 reported on 177Lu-PSMA-I&T, and 1 reported on both. In this heavily pre-treated population, 44% of patients (95% confidence interval 39-50%) had a PSA response of at least 50% among those receiving 177Lu-PSMA-617 with similar, though slightly lower numbers among those receiving 177Lu-PSMA-I&T (36%, 95% confidence interval 26-47%). Further, these authors found that treatment was well tolerated with very low rates of grade 3 or 4 toxicity, with the highest observed rates for anemia at 8% (95% confidence interval 5-12%). Using meta-regression, the authors demonstrated that patients who had more than one cycle of therapy were more likely to experience PSA declines of 50% or greater.

While the aforementioned systematic review highlighted 24 studies that have been performed examining the role of Lu-177 based theranostics, attention has focused on two key trials. The first of these, which is now published in the Lancet20, is the TheraP trial. This ANZUP/PCFA sponsored trial began in 2016 and represents a world-first study, being a phase III randomized controlled trial of a direct targeted radioligand. TheraP enrolled patients with mCRPC who had previously received docetaxel and were eligible to receive cabazitaxel. Patients were required to have progressive disease with a rising PSA with absolute PSA of 20 ng/mL or higher. All patients underwent both Ga-68-PSMA-PET/CT and F-18-FDG-PET/CT prior to randomization. To be eligible for inclusion, patients must have had a high avidity lesion on PSMA PET/CT (SUV max >20 at any site) with measurable disease with SUV max of 10 or greater. Further, there could be no sites of disease which were FDG positive but PSMA negative.









Among 200 men at 11 sites in Australia who were eligible, randomization was performed in a 1:1 fashion to 177Lu-PSMA-617 or cabazitaxel. Randomization was stratified according to disease burden, prior use of enzalutamide or abiraterone, and study site.

The primary study outcome was PSA response and these data were initially reported at ASCO 2020. PSA response was operationalized looking at a response of at least 50% from baseline. Compared to those receiving cabazitaxel (37%, 95% confidence interval 27 to 46%), responses were significant higher among those who received Lu-PSMA (66%, 95% confidence interval 56 to 75%) with an absolute difference of 29% (95% confidence interval 16 to 42%, p<0.0001).

More recent data were presented at ASCO-GU 2021 examining secondary endpoints including PSA/radiologic PFS (PCWG3), pain response (2 point reduction on McGill-Melzack Present Pain Intensity scale, objective response rate (RECIST 1.1), adverse events (CTCAE), PROs (EORTC QLQ-C30) and overall survival. As of a data cut-off of July 20, 2020, median follow-up was 18.4 months. PFS was significantly longer in those assigned Lu-PSMA rather than cabazitaxel (rates at 1 year 19% [95%CI 12-27%] vs 3% [1-9%], HR 0.63, 95%CI 0.46-0.86; p = 0.003) based on 173 events. As similar benefit was seen whether PFS was examined radiographically (rPFS, HR 0.64, 95%CI 0.46-0.88; p = 0.007; 160 events) or based on PSA (PSA-PFS, HR 0.60 95%CI 0.44-0.83; p = 0.002; 172 events). Among men with measurable disease (n=78), objective response rates were significantly greater in the Lu-PSMA arm (49% vs 24%, RR 2.1, 95%CI 1.1-4.1; p = 0.019). Similarly, among those with pain at baseline (n=90), pain responses occurred in 60% in the Lu-PSMA arm vs 43% for cabazitaxel (RR 1.42, 95%CI 0.84-4.48; p = 0.10). Overall, patient-reported global health status was similar between arms (Lu-PSMA 64 [95%CI 61-67] vs cabazitaxel 60 [57-64]), though significantly better function was noted for patients receiving Lu-PSMA with respect to fatigue, social functioning, insomnia, and diarrhoea domains. No PRO domains were superior for cabazitaxel. The authors further assessed deterioration free survival, defined as the time to a 10 point or greater decline in EORTC QLQ-C30 global health related quality of life. Again, this favoured the Lu-PSMA treated group.

On March 23, 2021, Novartis reported that the phase III VISION trial assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 compared to standard of care met both primary endpoints, significantly improving overall survival and rPFS among men with PSMA-positive mCRPC. Important inclusion criteria for this trial included failure of a previous taxane and a novel androgen axis therapy. Patients in the VISION trial were randomized 2:1 to receive 177Lu-PSMA-617 plus best supportive/standard of care versus best supportive/standard of care alone.











The results of the important VISION trial are expected to be presented in 2021 and have the potential to change practice patterns of advanced prostate cancer.

While both TheraP and VISION are assessing the role of 177-Lu-PSMA in mCRPC, there are notable differences. First, VISION is an industry sponsored trial with a much larger sample size (800 patients). Second, in VISION, a central production model is used with the agent subsequently shipped ready for clinical use. In contrast, in TheraP, lutetium is made on site. This allows some flexibility, but required standardization and quality control in order to undertake the study. Moving forward, this on-site approach is expected to be much lower cost than centralized processing. Third, as mentioned above, in order to be included in TheraP, patients could not have sites of disease which were FDG positive but PSMA negative. This requirement led to the exclusion of approximately 30% of otherwise eligible men. In contrast, the VISION trial didnt have this requirement. This narrowing of the selection criteria in TheraP will likely enrich for patients who are likely to respond, compared to VISION.

Moving forward, the optimal role for 177Lu-PSMA therapy remains to be completely delineated. Additional trials are ongoing, including (i) the PRINCE trial assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 plus pembrolizumab in men with mCRPC that have progressed after enzalutamide, abiraterone or apalutamide; (ii) the LuPARP trial assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 + olaparib in mCRPC men progressing on 2nd generation AR-targeted therapy and taxane chemotherapy; (iii) the UpFrontPSMA trial assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 + ADT followed by docetaxel versus ADT + docetaxel in men with de novo high-volume metastatic hormone naive prostate cancer; and (iv) the LuTectomy trial assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 prior to radical prostatectomy for men with high-risk localized prostate cancer. Certainty, the TheraP trial has demonstrated its value in patients who have progressed following prior docetaxel therapy for mCRPC. The results of the VISION trial will also provide further clarity as to the treatment options for men with mCRPC that have failed prior therapies. The aforementioned ongoing studies assessing 177Lu-PSMA-617 earlier in the disease process and in combination with other approved treatments for advanced prostate cancer will continue to delineate the role of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in the spectrum of prostate cancer therapeutics.



Written by: Christopher J.D. Wallis, MD PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA and Zachary Klaassen, MD MSc, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, USA



Published Date: April 2021
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Google has made the search for the nearest available COVID-19 vaccination sites much easier as it added site locations on its Search and Maps services to have more people receive their vaccines as faster as possible.

The service is initially available in the US, Canada, France, Chile, India, and Singapore.

Users just need to key in "vaccination sites" to secure a map with pins tagging several locations near them that offer such shots.

Google to Deploy "Virtual Agents" to Assist in Vaccinations

Google AI is likewise deploying "virtual agents" that can assist people to find out their eligibility for vaccination, book appointments, and even receive notifications and reminders, as the day nears.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Vaccine: Third Dose Likely Needed Within 12 Months to Get Fully Vaccinated





Tech Giant Sponsors COVID-19 Pop-up Vaccination Sites

Google also announced it is supporting pop-up vaccination sites all over the US for marginalized groups, and providing 250,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to countries that would need them.

To coincide with Google's Intelligent Vaccine Impact, the tech giant is utilizing its Contact Center AI (CCAI) to enable virtual agents on the chat, web, text, telephone, and mobile platforms to help users raising eligibility concerns, scheduling, registration, and reminders in 28 languages.

This virtual agent shall be developed to comprehend how people talk and the various ways they would express the same question or intent.

This includes the questions, "Where can I get the vaccine?" or "When can I get it?" which are the same question, and using CCAI, the virtual agent would understand the question's context and accurately answer it.

These virtual agents also assist public health agencies in offering vaccine eligibility updates in real-time.

Millions Pledged for COVID-19-related PSAs

Google has also pledged an additional $250 million worth of grants to sponsor 2.5 billion vaccine-related ads, which now amounts to an $800 million commitment to public service announcements (PSAs).

Google.org also bestowed $2.5 million in grants to healthcare organizations that target pop-up vaccination sites in marginalized communities.

Research revealed that around seven in 10 people go to the Internet first to look for health information. As such Google said a "health equity" shall be embedded across all its products.

These new features and announcements come in line with other COVID-19-related updates to Google Maps, such as info on location denseness, transit alerts, and travel restrictions.

Last September, Google added a new Google Maps layer that provides users frequently updated information on COVID-19 outbreaks in a geographic region.

Easy-to-spot COVID-19 Info

Users in the 220 countries and territories Google Maps currently supports can simply tap the "layers" button on the map's right hand corner and then click "COVID-19 info".

A week's average of new infections per 100,000 people shall appear, including a label that would indicate if the cases were trending up or down.

Google also allied with Apple on a contact-tracing software using Bluetooth to warn people if they have been in close proximity with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

Users can also decide if they intend to declare they had tested positive, using a PIN for anonymity.

RELATED ARTICLE: Severe COVID-19 Alleviated by Regular Exercise

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 on Science Times
In the COVID-19 unit at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, every day is what nurse Deena Smith describes as go, go, go constantly.

As Michigan endures a coronavirus surge that outpaces any other state, medical staff are on their third round of being overwhelmed.

I do feel like its been a little bit more hectic this time, just because it seems like we just have more people with this wave that are sicker, Smith said. It can also be that, you know, this is going into the third time that weve done this and we are exhausted, we are beat down.

Hospitals were overwhelmed when the pandemic hit its first peak in April of 2020, then in December with a second wave of covid cases  and now they are overwhelmed again.

For Smith, who began nursing in January 2020, the last year has been a whirlwind, she said.

As of Tuesday, 82.17% of hospital beds across the state are occupied. Most recent data shows 4,209 adults and children are hospitalized as a result of COVID-19. This means coronavirus patients take up 21.79% of occupied beds.

As Michigan is in the midst of a surge, coronavirus cases severely tax health systems staff and resources, said Dr. Nick Gilpin, medical director of infection prevention for Beaumont Health in Southeast Michigan.

Beaumont hospitals have 800 COVID-19 patients across eight facilities, Gilpin said. While they have enough personal protective equipment, beds and ventilators, staffing is strained.

For Smith, 30, she isnt just a nurse in a COVID unit, on her days off she is at home helping her daughter with virtual learning.

Thats the same for a lot of my coworkers, Smith said. Our responsibility doesnt end with just our job, we have to come home and basically work another job.

Hospitals have had to adapt several times due to the pandemic. So in the face of another surge, they have new plans.

McLaren hospitals in the northern region of Michigan have created plans for how to handle large surges of coronavirus cases, but has not yet had to implement them, said Magen Samyn, regional vice president of marketing and business development for McLaren Bay, Caro and Thumb regions.

There are times when based on daily admissions and discharges, we can approach kind of that higher level of capacity, but we have not reached the point where were not able to accommodate that, Samyn said.

McLaren has not had to cancel or reschedule elective surgeries, however Beaumont has canceled elective surgeries on a case-by-case basis.

Beaumont Hospitals are between 90% and 95% capacity, however capacity issues are different than they were during the December surge, Gilpin said. There has been a large increase in non-COVID patients.

Hospitals are still seeing the after effects of delayed care from the pandemic shutdown, said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan. This means more patients are in the hospital for reasons other than coronavirus infection.

So, you know, people that might have come in earlier that arent, but its just busy, Elmouchi said. A lot of sick people, unfortunately.

Another notable difference about this surge is the population. Hospitals are seeing younger patients than before, Elmouchi said. This is due to a majority of the older population being vaccinated, as well as more contagious COVID-19 variants.

When it comes to younger populations, Elmouchi said they dont realize because in the past they didnt really get sick. Now, some of them are getting sick.

While younger patients stay shorter periods and usually dont need ventilators, they are still incredibly sick, Gilpin said. Beds are still filling up and straining staff.

A number of Beaumont staff have picked up extra shifts and reached out to external agencies to bring in more staff for vaccine clinics and other health systems, said Susan Grant, chief nursing officer.

Beaumont is also looking to move staff across the health system to help various units and floors, she said.

But we need help. We need people doing their part to flatten this curve, Grant said.

Read more on MLive:

Whitmer wants vaccines, not restrictions, to end Michigan coronavirus surge. Experts say it wont happen.

Michigan coronavirus data for Friday, April 16: Oceana, Mason counties move into top 10 for new cases
GREENWICH  Health inspectors found near total compliance with coronavirus safety regulations at restaurants in town since the beginning of the year.

The town health department inspected 115 food-service establishments in the first quarter of 2021.

The inspectors have been looking for violations involving coronavirus safety protocols. While inspectors found a number of coronavirus-related violations in late 2020, and took a handful of complaints from the public, there were hardly any found in the first quarter of 2021, records show.

During one inspection at Douro on Greenwich Avenue March 18, two cooks were not wearing masks, according to the inspection report, but that was one of the few instances of non-compliance. Verbal warnings were given.

Douro owner Ruy Correia said it was a one-time event involving workers who had just come in to start working.

Everybodys doing the right thing, he said. I always get a high rating. We keep our kitchen immaculate.

No restaurants were closed by the department because of COVID-19 public-safety non-compliance in the latest round of inspections.

Inspectors deduct points for violations on a 100-point scale, and a score below 80 requires a restaurant to make fixes in a speedy fashion. The most serious violations, subtracting four points, involve food temperature and handling, chemical storage, hand washing and sanitation.

Pomodoro Pizza on East Putnam Avenue in Riverside was given an 82-point score by a health inspector, and two four-point violations were observed. The inspector said that unlabeled chemicals were found in the kitchen, and cheese was held at 47 degrees, not the required 45. In addition, the report stated, there were flies present, raw chicken stored above ready to eat food and there was reuse of single-use items found. A re-inpsection on March 20 gave a rating of 88.

At the Little Pub in Cos Cob, a score of 85 was given by a health inspector who found a dumpster left open, gouges in a cutting board, workers not wearing hair restraints, flies and dirty walls, the report stated.

Harvest Wine Bar was cited with two four point violations  an improper back flow device used on the plumbing, and a sink behind the bar used as a dump sink, while it was intended for use as a hand sink. An initial score of 86 was later revised to 94. Manager Vincenzo Siguenza said the problems were fixed quickly. He said a new bartender was working when the sink issue was flagged and given additional training.

Pizza Planet was cited with a four-point violation and given a rating of 89. An inspector found a prep-fridge temperature at 47-48 degrees, when the threshold is 44 degrees. The report stated there was no soap at a hand sink, food stored on the floor and stagnant water in a sink. Manager Sam Silva said the problems were fixed immediately and the food operation was closely supervised.

At Bistro V on Greenwich Avenue, a score of 89 was given, and two four-point violations were recorded, according to the inspection report. A hand sink near the cook area was blocked and a refrigerator had a temperature of 51 degrees. The problems were corrected, resulting in a later score of 93.

We always fix anything right away, said owner Marc Penvenne. He said the kitchen was kept clean and up to code, and the establishment typically received ratings in the upper 90s.

Messages left with the management at Little Pub and Bistro V were not returned.

All of the schools inspected in the latest quarter scored a 100-point rating: Central Middle School, Cos Cob School, Eastern Middle School, Greenwich Catholic, the International School at Dundee, Julian Curtiss, North Mianus, North Street School, Old Greenwich School, Parkway School and Indian Field School.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) - This coming week, April 18th-24th is National Volunteer Week. And many local State Parks are asking you to lend a hand.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has more than 10,000 volunteers who contribute countless hours of work. The D.N.R. wants to thank and recognize those volunteers for caring for Indianas Natural and Cultural Resources and salute their accomplishments on their social media pages this week.

With the recent boom in guest attendance at State Parks, Turkey Run and Raccoon Lake are asking for more volunteers.

News 10 spoke with the Naturalist at Turkey Run State Park, Aaron Douglass, and he says any and all volunteer work is welcomed.

If someones got a talent and theyve got time, we can probably find a way for them to help. Maybe not just here at Turkey Run, but somewhere within Indiana State Parks.

If you want to sign up to be a volunteer at a State Park in Indiana, you can click here.
Watch: Queen sits alone as she bids farewell to Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Philips funeral is dominating newspaper front pages this morning.

The Royal Family said goodbye to the Duke of Edinburgh at St Georges Chapel in Windsor on Saturday.

Just 30 guests attended the intimate funeral which was restricted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Most British papers led with poignant photos of the Queen sitting alone near her late husbands coffin.

Read: William and Harry walk apart behind Philip's coffin  23 years after walking behind Diana's

Speculation of Prince William and Prince Harrys reunion amid their strained relationship was also widespread.

Here we take a look at the front pages of national papers the morning after Prince Phillips funeral.



Sunday Mirror

The Sunday Mirror led with: "The loneliest goodbye".

The Sunday Mirror was among the newspapers highlighting Queens solitude in St Georges Chapel with the headline: The loneliest goodbye.

Inside, Dickie Arbiter, the Queens former press secretary, said he believed her work would help her carry on during what is going to be one of the most difficult periods of her life.

The newspaper also gave a step-by-step picture guide to explain how Harry and William started the afternoon "solemn and tense", and ended up "side by side".



The Sunday Telegraph

"Sitting alone, the Queen bids her final farewell"

"Sitting alone, the Queen bids her final farewell", said The Sunday Telegraph.

Inside, Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson wrote the "brutality of social distancing only heightened the widow's loneliness. How many millions of viewers yearned to reach out and metaphorically embrace their beloved Queen?"

The paper's editorial said the service had "the reassurance of tradition".

"Her Majesty, now 94, remains our most valuable connection to the past, to an era, we sense, that was tough but in which people were willing to make tremendous sacrifices in order to secure a better future," it said, adding "the nation wishes its Queen health and happiness".



Story continues

Sunday Express

'You're not alone Ma'am"

The Sunday Express splashed with a message of support on its front page, saying "You're not alone Ma'am" while adding "we all share her grief".

In an editorial, the Express also praised the duke's lifetime of service and said the "ramrod straight" events at Windsor seemed reassuring and crystal-clear compared with ongoing rows at Whitehall.

"Philip's death is all the more noble and his royal role all the more instructive as it's been played out against the seedy, backbiting political world of cronyism and lobbying," the paper said. "Our political leaders had barely drawn breath after paying parliamentary tributes to the Duke before returning to their bickering about whose snout should be in which trough."



The Mail On Sunday

The Mail led with the Queen, saying: 'It was a fitting farewell, Ma'am".

The Mail On Sunday's headline said: "It was a fitting farewell, Ma'am".

But the paper also reported that the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex are talking again.

Inside, the Mail on Sunday report commented on the monarch's image as a model of stoic constancy, but said: "Never was the blast of goodwill from her country needed most than when she stood - desolate, masked, alone, without even a hand to squeeze - watching the coffin bearing her husband of 73 years sink dramatically beneath the chapel's marble floor".



The Observer

"Queen alone with her thoughts as Duke laid to rest"

The Observer led with the headline: "Queen alone with her thoughts as Duke laid to rest".

Like other papers, the paper chose a picture of the monarch sitting alone on the bench in St George's chapel.



Daily Star Sunday

"Bless her," wrote the Star.

The Daily Star Sunday runs with a simple "Bless her" alongside a picture of the Queen at the funeral.

Alongside a photo of her sitting alone, it added: Our Queen, truly alone for the first time in 73 years.

Inside, the newspaper also reported on Prince Harry and Prince William meeting again after a year saying: Reunited for their grandad.



The Sunday Times

"Forced to mourn alone, the Queen bids Philip goodbye"

The Sunday Times - inside a wrap-around pictorial special on the ceremony - commented on the Queen being "forced to mourn alone".

The paper also turned part of its focus onto her heir, the Prince of Wales.

A column by Andrew Marr headed "Philip energised the Firm. Can Charles repeat the trick?" said Charles would "need to make peace with Harry and keep Britain fascinated by the royal family".



Foreign Papers

The New York Times's main story led, however, on "what seemed like a slight easing in the strained relations" between William and Harry during the service, above a smaller story on the service under the headline: "Seeing the Queen alone added a painful note for many watching from home."

Watch: William and Harry leave chapel together after ceremony

The Washington Post echoed that theme with its headline: "Image of Queen sitting at funeral alone breaks hearts".

In France, Le Figaro gave considerable coverage to the funeral, with an analysis pondering momentarily whether the loss of her husband could prompt the Queen to abdicate.

"Without overestimating the strengths of Elizabeth II, the most likely is that she continues to cope. Alone, weakened, but standing and her voice firm, as in her recent speeches. Duty above all, always," the analysis said.

In Spain, El Pais borrowed somewhat from Winston Churchill with its headline: "The funeral of Philip of Edinburgh marks the beginning of the end of an era in the UK".

Read more:

Duchess of Cambridge pays final respects to Prince Philip in first royal funeral

Prince Philip funeral: Where the 30 guests sat in St George's Chapel

"Throughout the week, the media and institutions have devoted themselves to extolling, through the memory of the Duke of Edinburgh, the seven decades of stability provided by the second Elizabethan era," the paper's article said.

"Each reaffirmation of the value of the monarchy was a reminder that an era is ending."

Italy's La Repubblica gave a florid account of the funeral as it also looked ahead to the new royal era, detailing that the Queen looked "shrunken in pain and loneliness against COVID".

"God save the Queen, today more necessary than ever after the ominous farewell to her beloved consort," the paper said.

In Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald also focused on the Queen, saying the service was a reminder that "for the first time since ascending to the throne nearly seven decades ago, she now carries the weight of the monarchy alone".

Watch: Prince Philip's funeral felt like an intimate family occasion - as the Royal Family says farewell
Mack Follmer, a 90-year-old living independently in Eugene, made it through more than a year of the coronavirus pandemic in good health  albeit very isolated beyond trips to the grocery store, the pharmacy and the occasional socially distanced coffee klatch with friends.

His own efforts to secure a COVID-19 vaccine through his doctor went nowhere.

But his daughter managed to snag an appointment for him for Feb. 9, the day after seniors his age became eligible to be inoculated in Oregon.

The week following his first injection of the two-dose regimen, hours after his housekeeper had left him making a cake in the kitchen, Julie Holmes found her father collapsed on the bathroom floor of his home. He was hospitalized, tested positive for COVID-19 and eventually sent to a nursing home in Roseburg to quarantine.

He seemed to recover from the virus, even tested negative. But by that point, he had contracted pneumonia and a staph infection. Thirty pounds disappeared from his 6-foot-4 frame.

Follmer died March 24 due to complications of COVID-19, victim No. 2,387 on the anonymous and growing state list of 2,457 Oregonians through Friday who have succumbed to the disease.

I dont think he would have died if he hadnt gotten COVID, so Im blaming that 100%, said Holmes. The vaccination is a godsend, but it didnt come soon enough for him.

It might have, in fact, but for Gov. Kate Browns highly controversial decision to prioritize vaccinations for teachers over seniors, starting Jan 25. That decision delayed the rollout for seniors 65 and older living outside long-term care facilities by anywhere from two to five weeks.

Public health officials say its impossible to know for sure what the ultimate impact of that decision will be due to a number of complicating factors, from initial vaccine shortages to the difficulty seniors had trying to secure appointments online, not to mention the unknown number who are hesitant to get the shots.

But the decision to delay eligibility for some 700,000 seniors living independently undoubtedly took a toll, experts say. And the number of fatalities could increase, as deaths trail cases and hospitalizations  both of which are on the rise again.

At least 148 individuals 65 and older have died this year who tested positive for COVID-19 after Jan. 25, according to an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive of death information disclosed by the state. They tested positive an average of 27 days after the date Brown originally made teachers instead of seniors eligible. More than half of those seniors tested positive after their actual eligibility date for a vaccine  an average of three weeks afterward.

Its impossible to say how many of those deaths were preventable, how many people would have sought earlier vaccinations or succeeded in finding one. While supplies continued to improve, there clearly wasnt enough vaccine on hand to address the entire population over 65 immediately.

But the quantification of senior deaths adds new context to Browns decision prioritizing teachers for vaccinations amid her push to get kids back in classrooms. More than 270,000 students are now receiving some in-person learning, or about 47% of those enrolled in K-12 schools. Those numbers keep rising.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 deaths in Oregon has plummeted across all ages after a devastating December and January. For seniors, the 148 deaths among those who tested positive after Jan. 25 is a markedly lower rate to the roughly 1,900 senior fatalities from previous 11 months.

More contagious coronavirus variants could wipe away recent progress, although the likelihood of significantly more deaths is diminished by increasing inoculations using highly effective vaccines. But advocates say much work is still needed to reach the states 200,000 unvaccinated seniors, who are most vulnerable to die from COVID-19 until theyre inoculated.

About three quarters of Oregonian seniors are now at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state ranks 30th in the country in its vaccination rate for individuals in that demographic.

Charles Boyle, a spokesman for Oregons governor, said the state has some of the nations lowest death rates for seniors. Vulnerable seniors living in long-term care, where infections can spread like wildfire, were eligible for shots under a national program beginning in December.

Every death from COVID-19 is a tragedy, and from the beginning of this pandemic, Governor Brown has taken action to protect our most vulnerable seniors, Boyle said in an email. Those decisions have saved lives.

Chunhuei Chi, a professor in Oregon State Universitys College of Public Health and Human Sciences,

said the governors decision to delay shots for seniors had an impact, but it would be very difficult to pinpoint the number of preventable deaths.

Chi said supply challenges, technological barriers, transportation inequities and operational obstacles all likely influenced how many seniors would have been able to be vaccinated more quickly.

After taking all these other factors into account, it was probably relatively small, he said. At the same time, a preventable death is a valuable life lost.

The Delay

Oregon and Idaho were the only two states that chose to give priority to teachers over seniors in an effort to get kids back into classrooms sooner.

Brown in January briefly considered making seniors eligible for vaccines along with child-care, preschool and K-12 employees, but reversed course when expectations of more vaccine supply from the federal government fell through.

Instead, she made about 150,000 teachers, school staff and childhood educators eligible for its limited supply of vaccines starting Jan. 25, a population that would require some 300,000 vaccine doses to fully inoculate.

A federal program separately prioritized nursing homes starting Dec. 21 and other congregant care settings on Jan. 18 -- important because such facilities account for about half of all Oregon deaths. Not all the residents of those facilities are seniors, but as of April 12, that program had fully vaccinated about 60,000 residents and staff.

Oregon has roughly 767,000 residents over the age 65. Those that live outside congregant settings became eligible on a staggered basis starting Feb. 8 for those over 80, then lowering the bar by five years each week until everyone over 65 was eligible on March 1.

The timeline left Oregon as one of the last states in the country to begin vaccinating seniors and meant it lagged some states by more than two months. California made everyone over 65 eligible for vaccination Jan. 13, and Washington a few days later -- six weeks before Oregon would do the same.

It was a cluster, Mary Rita Hurley, chair of the Governors Commission on Senior Services, said of the state rollout. They should have all been in phase 1a of eligibility, beginning far earlier.

On a practical level, that meant the earliest an Oregonian living independently over the age of 80 would be considered fully vaccinated  after two doses and a two-week buffer  was March 15. The date stretched to early April for those over 65.

But even a first dose could have offered protections to scores of vulnerable seniors. A study released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine is 80 percent effective in preventing infections two weeks after administered. The vaccines effectiveness jumped to 90 percent two weeks after the second dose.

The decision to delay garnered deep criticism given the lethality of the disease among seniors and the domino effect it might create vaccinating the states most vulnerable.

The governors full Commission on Senior Services sent a letter Jan. 25 asking her to reverse the decision.

Maureen Hoatlin, a retired biochemistry professor at Oregon Health & Science University, wrote to Brown a week later pleading the same. Hoatlin said it was clear that new, more infectious coronavirus variants were already circulating in Oregon, making it even more urgent to revise the priorities in advance of an anticipated wave of new infections  a wave that has since arrived.

Each day this delay continues for Oregonians 65+ will be measured in lives lost, she wrote. What is our overarching goal in vaccinating Oregonians if not to preserve life?  It is inexcusable to continue to delay for even one day.

Michael Osterholm, an influential epidemiologist from the University of Minnesota and member of President Bidens Coronavirus Transition Team, told the Oregon Legislatures COVID-19 committee much the same thing two weeks ago.

He said 70 percent of seniors nationally have had at least one shot, a number fairly close to Oregons at the time. But he lamented the fact that in order to keep their vaccination numbers high, states were opening up their programs to the general population before covering the people who need it the most.

Thats not a victory, he said. Its a defeat.

Judy Davis, a 78-year-old Clackamas County resident, certainly felt defeated.

Davis said she didnt begrudge teachers or front-line workers being vaccinated if they were going to be out in public, but if they werent going back to school immediately, she said seniors should have been given priority. Even when she became eligible Feb. 15, she found the process confusing and frustrating.

There was no direct communication as to how to get an appointment and not enough sites, she said. I was getting up at 3 in the morning. I was getting up at 5 a.m. I heard that appointments were opening up at 9 oclock Monday and Thursdays, but I was getting nothing.

She eventually got a call back from a Clackamas County employee who helped her schedule an appointment for a shot on March 27.

As a senior I was competing with a lot of people and I swear to god I was giving up, she said, cause I just couldnt handle the stress of it.

Carlos Crespo, a professor at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, says it is possible to model various vaccination scenarios and calculate if any particular decision led to an increase in mortality among particular groups. But he said there were a number of intangibles in play.

This is an art, more than a science, he said. Weve never been here before, releasing three vaccines at once, but with the number controlled by the federal government. There were shortages.

He said the initial CDC push properly focused on congregant care facilities, where the state was seeing the biggest outbreaks among the elderly and where they were at higher risk of death. Seniors living independently, many distancing at home, were likely at lower risk, Crespo said, and the vaccinations of other groups, including teachers, likely saved lives among those workers.

Getting kids back to school is not a life-or-death decision, but its a human development issue, he said. There were older adults who wanted to be vaccinated but couldnt get one. You end up making an ethical decision.

Finding those left out

While vaccines are now more widely available, advocates for the elderly said early accessibility problems compounded as successive waves of younger and tech savvier Oregonians became eligible in the past month and swooped in to snap up new appointments as they appeared online.

And theyre worried about virus variants as well as the fact that vaccination uptake among seniors seems to be slowing down well short of the rates needed for her immunity. Kids can bring any version of coronavirus home.

Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, told lawmakers last week that the increase in senior vaccination rates has clearly slowed down, and was below 50% in many rural areas of the state.

This is not due to lack of availability, Allen said. This is really a question of whether people want the vaccine or in some cases were waiting for the since-halted Johnson & Johnson one-shot dose.

Pam Latta, a Wallowa County resident and member of the Governors Commission on Senior Services, said her county has done an excellent job rolling out the vaccine so far, with nearly a third of its 7,000 residents fully vaccinated. The OHA says about two-thirds of seniors there have been at least partially vaccinated. But Latta says a fair number of people have declined to get one.

A common refrain: They dont feel the time between the development and administration of the vaccine was long enough, she said.

Its unclear how much demand there will be among seniors in the weeks ahead. OHSU has modeled vaccinations flatlining at about 80% for the elderly and other populations, although an opt-in survey of some 2,000 AARP members in Oregon last month showed that 89% of members wanted a vaccine.

For seniors who havent been vaccinated, competition will increase come Monday, when Oregon opens up vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 or older.

I hear story after story of people waiting for someone to call them, said Hurley, chair of the senior services commission. Everything was pushed online. There was no outreach to churches, faith leaders, community groups. Unless you had a computer and someone tech savvy who was ready to go, you got left behind.

The next phase, she said, is finding those individuals and going house to house to vaccinate them.

Rudy Owens, a spokesman for the OHA, said in an email that the agency continues to work in collaboration with local public health authorities to reach all older adults and encourage them to get a vaccine. It is sending mailers, working with community organizations and insurers, and determining how it can overcome transportation challenges as well as vaccine hesitancy among people concerned about safety.

Owens stressed that the death rate among Oregonians 80 and over with COVID-19 is 20%, meaning one in five has died.

We will continue to encourage those in this group to schedule a vaccination appointment, he said, particularly before all Oregonians become eligible to schedule appointments.

Holmes, whose father died last month before he could be fully vaccinated, said shed urge seniors to get the shots as soon as possible. She said her dad started pushing her to get vaccinated immediately after he had his own, conscious of the heart ablation procedure shed had in early February. She followed his advice.

Just get it, she said. And if you dont have access to the internet, wait on hold or have someone help you.

Her dads memorial, with 12 people coming, is this weekend, with an outside gathering at his house to follow. In preparation, she spent the last few weeks cleaning out the house. Shes a bit exasperated at the number of household items held together with duct tape, a reminder of how frugal he was despite having plenty of money. Shes finding notes from her dad to her mom, who died two years ago. And as condolences come in from friends extolling what a great guy he was, shes remembering how loud and opinionated he was -- a trait she says she inherited.

Shes still upset he died when he did, more than a year into the pandemic, after the biggest peaks in cases, after being partially inoculated.

He was 90 and had a really great life prior to that, she said. I thought hed dodged the bullet. But he didnt.

-- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
Patna, April 18 : After several complaints about hospitals charging extra money from patients, the Bihar government has fixed the charges of hospitals for Covid patients in ever district.

The state health department has categorised Patna as A grade district, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Purnea as B grade districts and the remaining districts have been classified under C grade.

The hospitals in Patna can charge Rs 10,000 for isolation bed, Rs 15,000 for ICU without ventilator, Rs 18,000 for ICU with ventilator while one PPE kit is available for Rs 2,000.

In B grade districts, the private hospitals can charge Rs 8,000 for isolation bed, Rs 12,000 for ICU without ventilator and Rs 14,400 for ICU with ventilator while in C grade districts, the charges will be Rs 6,000, Rs 9,000 and Rs 10,800 for the respective facilities.

Bihar's principal secretary of the health department Pratyay Amrit had directed all the district magistrates of 38 districts to implement the same in respective jurisdictions.

Fixing the charges will bring a big relief for the Covid patients as there were several complaints that private hospitals are charging Rs 3-4 lakh per patient from Covid infected patients.

The situation in Bihar is grim as almost all the hospitals in Patna are showing unavailability of beds. There are 110 beds in PMCH, 160 in NMCH, 200 in AIIMS Patna, 30 in Paras hospital, 27 in Big Apollo, 154 beds in Ruban hospital and all of them are currently full.

In several cities, patients are found sitting on corridors of the hospitals. In Arrah Sadar hospital, two patients were alloted one bed. Several hospitals have even complained about unavailability of oxygen cylinders while many of them are giving oxygen in the corridors.
A man has been jailed after a multi-million money laundering seizure in the Midlands linked to gangland crime.

He laundered over 3.5 million - the largest cash seizure by gardai in the history of the State.

Darren Hoey, (46) of Oak Drive, Ballacollig, Mountmellick was jailed arising from his arrest by Gardai who seized nearly 700,000 in Mountmellick and a further 2.8 million at a cottage in Lisselton, Co Kerry.

Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau arrested the Laois man after he took two bags of cash from a car and bring them to the north Kerry cottage - his holiday home. Six more bags of cash were discovered in base of a bed in the cottage.

During the raids, a ledger highlighting provided details of cash for drugs shipments. Gardai also recovered an encrypted phone with a Dutch SIM card. A vacuum packer and money counter were also recovered in Kerry. Hoey was described as the 'financial controller' for a criminal gang.

Hoey was found guilty of two counts of money laundering and two counts of having an article for assisting an organised crime gang at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee this week.

His defence team told the court that he got "sucked into" drugs following his mother's death.

Judge Helen Boyle sentenced the Laois man to eight years in jail, with one year suspended.

Det Supt Dave Gallagher from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau was the senior officer. He spoke after sentencing.

Money is the lifeblood of organised crime. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau will continue to target persons willing to engage in the activity and facilitate the purchase and importation of controlled drugs that impact our communities, he said.
Kolkata, April 18 : In view of the steep rise of the Covid cases in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene immediately and make available adequate supplies of vaccine, medicine and oxygen so that the vaccination process can be scaled up and treatment be provided.

The Chief Minister, in her two-page letter, mentioned three areas where the state is looking for an active cooperation from the centre.

"Vaccination is of top importance. Particularly in our state and more particularly in metropolitan Kolkata where density of population is extremely high, focused and aggressive vaccination is extremely important. Unfortunately for us, the supply of vaccines from the GOI (Government of India) side has been scarce and erratic which has been negatively affecting our vaccination programmes.

"While West Bengal is one of the best performers in vaccination, it is now suffering because of uncertainties of supply from GOI end. We have to vaccinate around 2.7 crore, and for that we need 5.4 doses. We request for an urgent intervention to ensure that the state gets its requirement of vaccine doses fulfilled at the earliest." Reminding the Prime Minister that her state wanted to purchase the doses of vaccination directly from the state funds and had written to the Prime Minister earlier on this issue, Banerjee said: "The state has not received any requisite clearance yet." The Chief Minister also said: "The supply of essential medicines like remedesvir and tollizumab (Actemera) is extremely scarce and uncertain today, which has been a matter of grave concern for the doctors here. We need around 6,000 vials of remedesvir and 1,000 vials of Tollizumab daily. However, presently only 1,000 vials of remedesvir are available daily and no fresh supply of tollizumab is coming. It may be seen that the relevant authorities step up their efforts to ensure steady supply of these most essential supplies of medicines as soon as possible." She also requested the Prime Minister to increase the supply of oxygen. "The supply of oxygen, as you know, must be assured and certain. SAIL is meeting our need for the moment and we shall be grateful if you kindly instruct them too for ensuring steady supplies," she wrote.

The Chief Minister also assured that the state is ready to extend its resources to the fullest extent to the Centre to tackle the pandemic so that the country can overcome the situation.
The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Saturday, condemned the recent attacks by gunmen on mon...

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Saturday, condemned the recent attacks by gunmen on monarchs in Ekiti State, describing the act as flagrant disrespect to traditional institution.

Adeboye, who assured that God would put an end to the reign of terror and violence in Nigeria, however, urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the countrys survival in view of the problems confronting it.

The cleric spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, during a visit to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

He said traditional institution deserved respect because of the critical roles it plays in society, saying, It is condemnable the flagrant disrespect to our traditional institution in Ekiti state in recent time by gunmen.

He spoke against the backdrop of attacks to two traditional rulers in Ekiti State within a space of six days  the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Oba Adetutu Ajayi, was waylaid and shot, but escaped being kidnapped penultimate Friday and the Obadu of Ilemeso Ekiti, Oba David Oyewumi, who was abducted in his palace on Thursday and his whereabouts still unknown.

The cleric, who said, I have committed myself in fighting the battle for the soul of the nation spiritually, led in prayers for divine intervention in Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria at large.

Adeboye, who said he was in the state to ordain about 1000 pastors in RCCG, charged political leaders across board not to relegate the power of God to the background in their activities and policies in the interest of the citizens.

Also speaking, Fayemi expressed delight on the visit by cleric. He thanked Adeboye for his prayers and efforts towards the development and progress of the country, saying, We need prayers, we need a lot of help. We pray that God will continue to be good to us and heal the land and in a moment, all of us will have testimony to the good works of the Lord.
In Cool Things to Do Part 3, we covered Artplex Gallery and its sister across the street Artspace Warehouse on Beverly Blvd. near La Brea in Los Angeles. In April, we decided to revisit the Southern California art scene as more galleries began reopening. COVID has caused most (that survived) to have very limited or by-appointment-only hours over the past year, so if you want to visit one, be sure to call, no matter what their website says (as we learned when we took what was listed there as current).

We also want to let artists know about some of the best local art suppliers.

Elena Bulatova Fine Art https://www.elenabulatovafineart.com/ has galleries in Laguna Beach, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs. Walking into the Laguna store, we were wowed by the variety of edgy and visionary contemporary paintings and mixed media. We were especially impressed with the incredible robots and fantasy creatures by Mr. Santo of Thailand (that's how he is known), whose metal sculptures are made of everything from chains to gears (the robots are priced from $5,000 to $25,000, the largest called the Predator, is at least 6 feet tall). The galleries are owned by Bulatova, who is an award-winning artist known for her abstracts, pop, and mixed media paintings and sculptures. Consultant Madison Martinez was very helpful in explaining each artist's work.

Dawson Cole Fine Art https://www.dawsoncolefineart.com/ has galleries in Laguna Beach and Palm Desert that have very striking bronze sculptures of bodies in motion outside and inside, many by the president Richard MacDonald, Jr. Each looked like he or she is in a state of ecstasy. Prices we saw ranged from $1,725 to $68,500. There is also a variety of work from American and European masters in the Contemporary, Early Modern and West Coast Regionalism categories, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

Corey Helford Gallery https://coreyhelfordgallery.com/ in the gritty industrial East L.A. neighborhood of Boyle Heights is a pearl magnificent in its simplicity. When we walked in, we discovered an artistic oasis that took our breath away, with an emphasis on Pop Surrealism, Street Art, Post-Graffiti, and other cutting-edge styles. There were seven artists of great talent featured in large rooms of uncluttered white walls with smallish original paintings 12"x12" to 49"x33.5", ranging in price from $800 to $8,800, so affordable for a wide audience. We were especially impressed with the work of Rodolfo Loaiza, which provided an amusing and twisted vision of Disney characters, and Zoe Byland, whose black-and-white fantasy women are "partially disguised to keep their secrets, so the viewer's imagination has room to think up their narrative ideas and meanings," in her words.

Bergamot Station https://bergamotstation.com/happening-now-1 in Santa Monica has a quite varied group of galleries that are mostly open, especially Thu.-Sun. Our favorite has long been the Lois Lambert Gallery + Functional Art Gallery https://www.loislambertgallery.com/, which feature an extraordinarily diverse group of artists who create small masterpieces in ceramics (a china plate by Damien Hirst "I am become death, shatterer of worlds" for $70), recycled metal (tiny cars), wood, stone, cardboard, glass, and other materials. The exhibits when we visited included the moving sculptures (like a globe in a frying pan) by Jim Jenkins and the humorous fantasy animals and people in oil pastels and acrylic of Daveed Schwartz.

Be sure to drop in next door at the nonprofit Building Bridges Art Exchange https://www.yelp.com/biz/building-bridges-art-exchange-santa-monica, which was hosting Christian Castro's imaginative use of technology and recycled materials to create active sculptures like a former Volkswagen turned into a 1,000-lb. crab.

Blick Art Materials https://www.dickblick.com/stores/california/los-angeles/ is a family-owned retail and catalog art supply business, which was established in 1911. We visited the Beverly Blvd. location in Los Angeles near Fairfax and it has stores in West L.A., Santa Monica, Pasadena, Fullerton, and San Diego. Blick has so thrived in this COVID age they have emerged as the Rocky-like champion of art supplies for those who want to shop at a physical store and become inspired with a large selection of new and exciting products. They have well-informed employees who are mostly working artists and know all the technical details you want. Each store does framing, has a huge inventory of a wide variety of supplies, and their website is even more abundant. They also have super-sales at certain times of the year and so be sure to sign-up for their emailed coupons. If you love being in the flow of creating art, when you enter Blick Art Materials you will feel you have come home.

Graphaids https://www.graphaids.com/ has art supply stores in Culver City, Agoura Hills, on the OTIS college campus in Westchester (open to the public). What makes Graphaids so distinctive is its professional level of fine-art photography and scanning, as well as printing, stretching, mounting, and framing. They have a huge selection of professional-grade materials, such as brushes from the tiniest for minute details to the biggest for painting large canvases, all of very high quality. They carry the full line of Epson paper to produce the highest-level of finished prints. The staff is very knowledgeable. Look for the colorful murals on the outside (as well as inside) of their stores.
This is the second reported shooting at Westroads Mall in a little more than a month. Omaha Police Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck was shot at four times by a 21-year-old man who was accused of shoplifting T-shirts from J.C. Penney on March 12. Wittstruck survived.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has lauded the bipartisan nature of discussions at the National Dialogue on Small Scale Mining at the Accra International Conference Centre.

He, therefore, commended the leaders of political parties for their participation and support for the two-day event.



"This is a true Ghanaian adventure. This clearly shows that with a bipartisan attitude,we can achieve a lot for the country," he said in his opening remarks on day two of

the dialogue.



Plenary



He, among other things, cited the chairing of the first plenary session by a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Inusah Fuseini, as an example of the

commitment of political parties to the fight against illegal mining.



The dialogue was opened last Wednesday by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who among other things, called for consensus building on issues regarding

mining.



It is on the theme: "Sustainable Small Scale Mining for National Development", it is being attended by chiefs, representatives of political parties, Parliamentary Select

Committees on Lands and Forestry, Mines and Energy and Environment, civil society organisations, industry players, among other groups, and personalities.



Chiefs



Mr Jinapor also lauded the chiefs for their commitment and sitting through out the dialogue, adding that it was a clear testimony of patriotism and nationalism.



The minister said the enthusiasm with which the discussions had been held was quite remarkable and commendable.



"Yesterday, I think we remember the spirited nature with which the contributions, observations, critique and inputs were made," he said.



He, on behalf of the President and the people of Ghana, thanked the participants for coming together to make their inputs heard on issues concerning small scale mining.



"The feedback we are getting from across the country is that people are excited about the dialogue," he said.



Making a contribution at one of the sessions, the Leader and Founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP),Madam Akua Donkor, praised the President for the dialogue.



However, she said, she wished the discussions were held in the local language so that majority of the people involved in small scale mining would appreciate what was being said.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) -- House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Sunday appealed to the Food and Drug Administration to expedite the procedures concerning the application of local drug makers for certificates of product registration and emergency use authorization permits amid the pandemic.

Velasco said local pharmaceuticals can boost the countrys response against COVID-19 but government agencies should strike a balance between the "thorough study of drugs" and making compliance easier for the drug firms.

There are countless reports of local drug manufacturers whose products have been stuck in regulatory limbo for years. These bureaucratic impediments are something that we need to eliminate, especially during a public health crisis, he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera-Dy said based on computations from the current FDA checklist, it will take a company at least eight months to complete the requirements needed for the issuance of a CPR. But business insiders said that the process for CPRs usually takes longer than that, she added.

Velasco and Herrera-Dy earlier filed a resolution calling for an inquiry on the policies set by the DOH and the FDA in approving COVID-19 drug products.

Even from a trade and industry perspective, it is alarming that a number of local pharma producers have actually been forced to close, simply because they could no longer afford to wait for the FDA to grant them their permits, Herrera-Dy said.

She also said the government should provide support to the local drug makers.

This can be done through direct grants from Bayanihan 3, soft loans or credit subsidies, or tax considerations. Now is the perfect time to look into these options, and to maximize our resources, she said.
MILFORD  A firefighter was injured and seven residents were displaced Saturday afternoon in a fire in a condo complex, officials said.

Firefighters were called to the 300 block of Foxwood Lane shortly after 5:20 p.m., offiicals said. Because of the rapidly extending fire, a second alarm was transmitted, drawing addtional crews to the scene. West Haven Fire Department and Stratford Fire Department assisted with station coverage during the fire.
600,000 in funding is being made available to help children and young people to improve their use of technology through Rethink Irelands Children and Youth Digital Solutions Fund.

The Fund was officially launched earlier this month by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic OGorman TD.

Rethink Ireland will partner with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the one-year fund which is being delivered from April 2021  March 2022. The objective of the Fund is to support services who work with children and young people to enhance their efficiency, programme reach, collaboration and their data collection through the use of technology. It is being funded under the What Works Initiative, funded through Dormant Accounts, an initiative of the DCEDIY to maximise the impact of prevention and early intervention to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Digital Solutions Fund will support up to eight projects/collaborations. Each awardee will receive a cash grant (to a maximum of 50,000), mentoring support and a comprehensive six-month Accelerator programme. The Accelerator Programme focuses on building awardees' capacity and equipping them to scale so they can reach more people in need of their work.

The Fund is open to organisations that have a not-for-profit legal form, e.g., a school, charity, social enterprise, voluntary organisation, or Higher Education Institution. It will also be open to applications from Children and Young Peoples Services Committees and Child and Family Support Networks, as key coordinating structures involving statutory and non-statutory agencies, and non-government organisations, in service delivery to children, young people and their families.

The successful applicant can be:

- A collaborative project with two or more organisations working together using technology to become more efficient in their communication and delivery of services to children and young people.

- A collaborative project with two or more organisations making innovative content for children/youth available and accessible online.

- A project that seeks to enhance the use of data and evidence in their service planning through digital solutions.

- An innovative IT/Digital project which aims to improve the digital literacy of children, young people and/or their parents in order to address the digital divide.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic OGorman TD, said:

This funding will make an important difference to the lives of children, young people and their families. It will provide practical support to services focused on providing high-quality prevention and early intervention services for children, young people and their families, while encouraging the sharing of learning and collaboration. We know that by intervening early in a childs life, or early in the onset of difficulties, we can improve lives and address the impact of disadvantage.

CEO of Rethink Ireland, Deirdre Mortell, said: The Covid-19 pandemic has made our society become even more reliant on technology to learn, work and socialise. Technology has the ability to connect us to community, to learning and to new ideas. Unfortunately, the pandemic has also exposed the digital divide and the challenges some young people face in terms of accessing and using technology. Therefore, it is timely that today Rethink Ireland is launching the Digital Solutions Fund.

I would strongly encourage services which help children and young people to improve their use of technology to apply to the Digital Solutions Fund. Rethink Ireland would be delighted to work with you to support you strengthen your impact and help bridge the digital divide.

The Fund will be open for applications until May 17. Further details are available on https://rethinkireland.ie/
Hong Kongs Fall a Harbinger of Communist Chinas Takeover of Free World: Epoch Times HK Director

The suppressive climate in Hong Kong cultivated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)under which attackers can rampage the printing press of one of the citys independent newspapers with impunityis what Beijing hopes to foist onto the West, according to Guo Jun, director of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times.

Once hailed for its democratic freedoms, Hong Kong has seen a steady rollback of its autonomy since the former British colony reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. Over the past year, Beijing imposed sweeping laws to criminalize vaguely defined acts of secession, subversion, and foreign collusion, while instituting electoral reforms declaring that only patriots could rule the territory.

Since then, authorities have prosecuted dozens under the new security law or other charges, including most recently media mogul Jimmy Lai, publisher of local outlet Apple Daily and a fierce critic of the Chinese regime.

Hong Kong is the perfect example of how the CCP turned a free society into one where people fear speaking freely, Guo said in a recent interview for The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program.

Today, even the Oscars cant be aired in Hong Kong because movies have to be reviewed by the Chinese regime before they can be played in Hong Kong theaters. The Chinese regime, step by step, turned Hong Kong into this, she said, adding that she has observed the same phenomenon happening in the West.

Hollywood, some big tech companies, Wall Street, they need to do business with China, so they toe the Chinese Communist Party line when it comes to topics that the Chinese Communist Party does not like, she said.

Imperceptibly, things change around you and you realize the world is different, she said. People dont dare to say what they really feel because they fear being attacked or discriminated against.

Guo noted that some may find it hard to conceive that this could be happening in a free society.

But whos behind all of this, controlling all of this? Whos using financial incentives and Chinas market as bargaining chips to change the entire world? she said.

We know its the Chinese Communist Party, and its honed its skills in Hong Kong.

Bringing the Truth

On April 12, four men barged into The Epoch Times printing plant in Hong Kong. Wielding sledgehammers, two of them smashed critical printing equipment, bringing the outlets newspaper distribution to a halt. The edition resumed publication on April 16, in time to cover the sentencing of Lai and other prominent pro-democracy activists.

Guo, citing a series of similar sabotage attempts since the facility began operations in 2006, said the CCP was highly likely behind the violent attack.

The Epoch Times doesnt have any hostile enemies because we dont owe any debts and we never had any financial conflicts with groups or individuals, she said.

Guo, who was among the founding members of The Epoch Times in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2000, said the scarcity of independent information from inside China was what motivated the group to establish the newspaper.

They wanted to bring the truth of China to the entire world and also convey international voices to the Chinese people, Guo said.

At the time, the Chinese regime staged a self-immolation incident to use as propaganda to justify its persecution of Falun Gong adherents, which had been initiated a little more than a year earlier. Guo found that Chinese and English-language outlets werent reporting the evidence that emerged about how the CCP had staged the event.

But our newspaper at that time was able to report the truth about this event to the world, she said.

A year later, when SARS broke out in southern China in late 2002, the CCP, as they did during the current pandemic, covered up the outbreak.

It was the Hong Kong Epoch Times that first broke the story, Guo said.

Sabotage

But the outlets unfiltered reporting of the Chinese regime has come at a cost. Not long after the organizations founding, its first cohort of reporters in China were all arrested.

A lot of them are graduates from Tsinghua [University] and other prestigious universities in China, Guo said. They were tortured for a long time in prisons in China.

Even today, reporters with the outlet are targeted by the regime.

We also have a lot of reporters globally whose family members continue to be harassed and threatened in China, she said.

In March, a host of the Hong Kong Epoch Times online current affairs programs received a message, delivered by a relative, from mainland Chinese police: Stop broadcasting or face arrest under the new national security law.

Guo herself has been the target of intimidation by the CCP. When she moved to Hong Kong to work at the edition, she received a letter demanding that she immediately leave the city. The writer also said they would surveil her every move and follow her wherever she goes.

The regime had also attempted to sabotage the Hong Kong edition by putting pressure on retailers and advertisers. Guo recalled one instance in which a small advertising client in Hong Kong received threatening letters in four different languages.

Some of these clients [in Hong Kong] are Koreans or from other countries, so the Chinese regime uses different languages to threaten and harass them, she said.

In May 2019, the Hong Kong Epoch Times started selling newspapers in about 500 7-Eleven stores in the city.

People were very happy that it was now very convenient to purchase The Epoch Times, Guo said.

But that arrangement didnt last long.

Unfortunately, the Chinese regime very quickly put pressure on the 7-Elevens, so 7-Eleven unilaterally backed out of the contract and took The Epoch Times off its shelves, she said.

Not Backing Down

What the regime seeks to achieve is not just about filtering out one or two news items, but to export its entire system through a combination of threats and economic coercion, Guo says.

Because Hong Kong was free from Western sanctions until recently, the Chinese regime has taken advantage of Hong Kongs status as an international financial center to attract foreign investment and engage in forced technology transfer, she said.

Its tactics are to lie and to use financial incentives to get major financial groups to partner with it, and these big financial groups and companies control the media and important institutions, she said. Financial incentives make people lose their conscience, to self-censor, and to even restrict other peoples free speech.

You can be very financially free and relatively prosperous, but fundamentally you have to operate within the rules of the Chinese regime, Guo said. Your freedoms are restricted, you have to give up freedom of speech, and you have to attack the other group of people so that they cant speak up.

Asked whether she was afraid, Guo vowed to never back down.

For us, humans must have basic dignity, basic freedoms of expression, she said. Theres no turning back for us because this is so essential. If we give up even this, then we wont have basic dignity.

Guo added that shes received a lot of advice about moving operations elsewhere due to the escalating political pressure. She urged the free world to stand together in protecting Hong Kongs basic rights and supporting the papers persistence in the city, calling it a shared responsibility.

A popular nickname for Hong Kong is base to counter the CCP, she said. The Chinese regime also sees this. Its strategy this time around is to take Hong Kong but not its people  through intimidation and threat.

If it really comes to that point one day, I feel it would be a tragedy, not just for Hong Kong people and Chinese people, but very unfortunate for the world, Guo said. So we hope to stop this downward trend while we still can.

Cathy He contributed to this report.
Officials from India's Research and Analysis Wing, the external spy agency, and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence travelled to Dubai for a meeting facilitated by the United Arab Emirates government

Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, people with close knowledge of the matter told Reuters in Delhi.

Ties between the nuclear-armed rivals have been on ice since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019 traced to Pakistan-based militants that led to India sending warplanes to Pakistan.

Later that year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir's autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade.

But the two governments have re-opened a back channel of diplomacy aimed at a modest roadmap to normalising ties over the next several months, the people said.

Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, both of which claim all of the region but rule only in part.

Officials from India's Research and Analysis Wing, the external spy agency, and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence travelled to Dubai for a meeting facilitated by the United Arab Emirates government, two people said.

The Indian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Pakistan's military, which controls the ISI, also did not respond.

But Ayesha Siddiqa, a top Pakistani defence analyst, said she believed Indian and Pakistan intelligence officials had been meeting for several months in third countries.

"I think there have been meetings in Thailand, in Dubai, in London between the highest level people," she said.

'IT IS FRAUGHT'

Such meetings have taken place in the past too, especially during times of crises but never been publicly acknowledged.

"There is a lot that can still go wrong, it is fraught," said one of the people in Delhi. "That is why nobody is talking it up in public, we don't even have a name for this, it's not a peace process. You can call it a re-engagement," one of them said.

Both countries have reasons to seek a rapprochement. India has been locked in a border stand-off with China since last year and does not want the military stretched on the Pakistan front.

China-ally Pakistan, mired in economic difficulties and on an IMF bailout programme, can ill-afford heightened tensions on the Kashmir border for a prolonged period, experts say. It also has to stabilise the Afghan border on its west as the United States withdraws.

"Its better for India and Pakistan to talk than not talk, and even better that it should be done quietly than in a glare of publicity," said Myra MacDonald, a former Reuters journalist who has just published a book on India, Pakistan and war on the frontiers of Kashmir.

"...But I don't see it going very far beyond a basic management of tensions, possibly to tide both countries over a difficult period - Pakistan needs to address the fall-out of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, while India has to confront a far more volatile situation on its disputed frontier with China."

DIALLING DOWN THE RHETORIC

Following the January meeting, India and Pakistan announced they would stop cross-border shooting along the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir which has left dozens of civilians dead and many others maimed. That ceasefire is holding, military officials in both countries said.

Both sides have also signalled plans to hold elections on their sides of Kashmir this year as part of efforts to bring normalcy to a region riven by decades of bloodshed.

The two have also agreed to dial down their rhetoric, the people Reuters spoke to said.

This would include Pakistan dropping its loud objections to Modi abrogating Kashmir's autonomy in August 2019, while Delhi in turn would refrain from blaming Pakistan for all violence on its side of the Line of Control.

These details have not been previously reported. India has long blamed Pakistan for the revolt in Kashmir, an allegation denied by Pakistan.

"There is a recognition there will be attacks inside Kashmir, there has been discussions as to how to deal with it and not let this effort derailed by the next attack," one of the people said.

There is as yet, however, no grand plan to resolve the 74-year-old Kashmir dispute. Rather both sides are trying to reduce tensions to pave the way for a broad engagement, all the people Reuters spoke to said.

Pakistan is transiting from a geo-strategic domain to a geo-economic domain," Raoof Hasan, special assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, told Reuters.

"Peace, both within and around with its neighbours, is a key constituent to facilitate that."

( Courtesy: Reuters)
Review of Virtual Theater: Call Me Elizabeth

Exploring a legend

Movie aficionados are familiar with Elizabeth Taylor for her role as the queen of the Nile in the film Cleopatra (1963), for Whos Afraid of Virginia Wolf (1966), an adaptation of Edward Albees 1962 play, and for both Tennessee Williamss Cat on the Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). Furthermore, those who follow celebrity news are familiar with the violet-eyed actress from her tempestuous affair with Richard Burton, her scandalous marriage to Eddie Fisher, and her eight marriages. Yet she was so beautiful, so glamorous, and lived such an extravagant life that the more serious, determined, and decisive Taylor is unknown to many.

Now actress and writer Kayla Boyle brings a more in-depth portrait, showing the introspective side of the star, in her Call Me Elizabeth. Written and starring Boyle, with direction by Erin Kraft, the one-woman show is presented in a streaming production that brings aspects of the early Taylor to life.

The play is set in May 1961 as Taylor speaks on the phone to writer Max Lerner about a possible biography. It takes place in the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles after Taylors Academy Award-winning Best Actress award for her portrayal as a call girl (a role she didnt like) in Butterfield 8 (1960), and after her near-death experience from pneumonia from which she was saved by a tracheotomy.

We hear Taylor discussing her acting career, her passionate love affairs, her marriages, and learn of her determination to become a serious actress. We hear of her will to survive the loss of her husband Mike Todd, who died in an airplane crash in 1958, a year after their marriage. We learn of her health issues, such as continuous back problems from scoliosis, or perhaps from injuring her back when she was 12 after being thrown off a horse during the filming of National Velvet (1944); a rusty splinter embedded in her eye on the set of Elephant Walk (1953); respiratory infections, and bouts with many other illnesses.

With dark hair, long eyelashes, and bright red lipstick, Boyle resembles Taylor and delivers a convincing portrayal of the cinematic legend. Indeed, within 20 minutes of the show, we forget that were watching an actress playing an actress and feel as though were witnessing palpable experiences in Taylors life.

Call Me Elizabeth also explores how Taylor fought the Hollywood system, and its producers and directors, who treated her as though she was just a pretty face, and whom she battled as she worked to break through film-industry barriers.

During the course of the drama, which unspools from Taylors early years, we learn that she began to chafe under the film studios control. She felt that they controlled every aspect of her life: what time she would eat, when she would be tutored, when she had to take dance lessons, and how she should spend her time away from MGM. The studio wanted her to dye her hair, re- shape her eyebrows, and change her first name from Elizabeth to Virginia. She rebelled and refused to make those changes.

Indeed, she was so disillusioned by Hollywood that she almost ended her career. She was stopped from leaving the California Dream Factory when she got the female lead role in Giant (1956).

By the end of the play, we have gained a new perspective of Elizabeth Taylor. She wasnt just another celebrity who became an icon. Beyond her beauty, her movie stardom, her jet-set style, and her gorgeous jewels, there was a woman struggling to survive within the Hollywood star system and struggling against a world trying to define her.

We come away from Call Me Elizabeth with a deeper understanding of Taylor as a woman trying to control her own life.

Call Me Elizabeth

Porchlight Music Theatre in partnership with KB Productions

Streaming on-demand at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

Run Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Dates: April 2330

As an arts writer and movie/theater/opera critic, Betty Mohr has been published in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Australian, The Dramatist, the SouthtownStar, the Post Tribune, The Herald News, The Globe and Mail in Toronto, and other publications.
Barely two weeks after new sex scandals drove him to remove a pair of Roman Catholic priests from public ministry, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond met Friday with the rest of his clergymen and called on them to rededicate themselves to the vows they took when they were ordained, according to priests who attended.

Following the three-hour meeting at Notre Dame Seminary, the leaders of two clerical councils released an open letter to local Catholics, professing confidence in Aymond's leadership as he tries to steer the archdiocese through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, continuing revelations associated with the sex abuse crisis engulfing the Catholic Church and a call from abuse survivors for a Vatican investigation of his ministry.

All 335 priests in the Archdiocese  emphatically support Archbishop Aymond, the letter said. Archbishop Aymond is a dedicated, faithful and holy priest of Jesus Christ. He has always faithfully served the people of God throughout his priesthood.

One priest said Aymonds message to clergy in the private meeting was we need to work to rekindle the fire of the faithful. Another said Aymond is trying to do the right thing, but its difficult because theres a much bigger picture and it points to some systemic flaws that need to be discovered and addressed, and hes aware of that. Both spoke to WWL television on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to comment on internal matters.

The prevailing subject of the meeting was the archdioceses removal of the Revs. Patrick Wattigny and Travis Clark from ministry on Oct. 1.

On that day, Wattigny, pastor at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish and former chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School in Slidell, told archdiocesan officials he had abused minor in December 2013, the archdiocese says. He made that admission while undergoing psychological evaluations over improper text messages he had sent to a Pope John Paul II student earlier this year, leading to his forced resignation as the schools chaplain over the summer.

This week, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office said it has opened a criminal investigation into the 2013 allegation.

Clark, who replaced Wattigny as the school chaplain and was pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Pearl River, is accused of recording himself on video engaging in sex with two professional dominatrices atop the altar at his church. The sex was consensual, but Clark and the two women, Mindy Dixon and Melissa Cheng, were arrested on charges of obscenity after a passerby saw them through a window, recorded video of their activities and called the police, according to court documents reviewed by The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and WWL.

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The revelations sent the archdiocese in crisis mode yet again, five months after it filed for financial reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The petition for protection from creditors cited costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic as well as litigation pertaining to the clerical abuse scandal.

Priest who allegedly admitted 2013 child sex abuse under investigation by St. Tammany deputies The St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office confirmed this week that it is leading a criminal investigation into the Rev. Patrick Wattigny after t

Wattignys reported admission of abuse shattered archdiocesan officials' long-held belief that no local clergymen had abused children since 2002, when U.S. bishops passed safety measures meant to root out predator priests and deacons. As recently as this year, Aymond said he had not seen any allegations of abuse that had taken place in the last decade.

Also on Friday, the local chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests staged a small demonstration outside the seminary with about 20 child sex abuse victims and their supporters, again to question Aymonds commitment to a full local accounting of the abuses that have taken place in the archdiocese. The chapter held up Clarks arrest and the allegations against Wattigny as evidence that Aymond could not control his clergy and therefore should be investigated by Pope Francis for possible removal.

SNAP leader Kevin Bourgeois also questioned why Aymonds reaction to Clark was so much stronger than what hes seen in response to allegations against more than 70 clergymen the archdiocese acknowledges to be credibly accused child molesters. The archbishop ordered the altar at Saints Peter and Paul burned and replaced with a new one, and he condemned Clarks alleged actions as demonic.

If Archbishop Aymond can light an altar on fire, then why hasnt he burned down every religious building in the archdiocese of New Orleans? Bourgeois said. There wouldnt be anything standing if he cared more about the abuse survivors than he cared about a priest having sex with two porn actresses.

The letter supporting Aymond argued that he deserved more credit for being willing to add to a list of credibly accused clergymen, which was 57 names long when it was first released in November 2018 but as of Friday had grown to 72 entries.

Although a small number of priests have betrayed us and you, we commit ourselves and our lives wholeheartedly to the mission of Jesus Christ made present in the Church, the letter said. Be assured that the Church cannot and will not tolerate any sexual abuse or misconduct on the part of any cleric.
Damian Lewis has penned a heartfelt second tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory after confirming she had lost her secret battle with cancer on Friday at the age of 52.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Damian, 50, said his wife had shown 'no fear, no bitterness, no self-pity' during her illness, which had only been disclosed to close friends and family members.

He also wrote of his sadness that Helen's passing meant she had left their children, daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13, 'too early'.

The actor had previously described her heroic' battle with the disease while announcing her death on April 16th.

He wrote: 'Already I miss her. She has shone more brightly in the last months than you would imagine even the brightest star could shine.

Emotional: Damian Lewis has penned a heartfelt tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory after she died of cancer aged just 52 (pictured together in 2020)

'In life, too, we had to rise to meet her. But her greatest and most exquisite act of bravery and generosity has been to 'normalise' her death.

'She's shown no fear, no bitterness, no self-pity, only armed us with the courage to go on and insisted that no one be sad, because she is happy. I'm staggered by her. She's been a meteor in our life.'

Damian wrote that he had never known anyone who had been able to enjoy life as much as Helen, who had kept her cancer diagnosis private.

The actor added that the Peaky Blinders star did not believe in self-reflection or 'navel-gazing' and so was able to 'turn her light so brightly on others'.

Heartbreaking: The actor, 50, confirmed Helen had passed away following a 'heroic' battle with the disease in a statement on Friday (pictured in 2013)

He said the actress had told her children to not be sad shortly before her death because she had lived the life she wanted to.

Damian wrote that only a few weeks ago Helen joked to him and their children from her bed that she wanted 'Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them' but said he should try get through the funeral without snogging someone.

The actor also told how staff at the Royal Marsden hospital always looked forward to Helen coming in because she made their day better.

He stood by the actress' side as she secretly battled the disease, with Helen brushing off her hoarse voice in her final TV appearance last month to selflessly talk about their charity work.

The couple's devotion to one another shone brightly for all to see, with Damian saying the actress died peacefully at home surrounded by 'peace and love' and their children.

He wrote: 'Already I miss her. She has shone more brightly in the last months than you would imagine even the brightest star could shine' (pictured in 2012)

Helen's close friend Carrie Cracknell revealed those close to the Peaky Blinders star 'were sworn to secrecy' when it came to her cancer battle.

Discussing her friend's tragic passing on Saturday, Cracknell, 41 - who is a theatre director - told BBC Radio Four's Today: 'Helen wanted to be very private about her illness. Very few people knew. We were sworn to secrecy.'

Touching upon 52-year-old McCrory's - who passed away on Friday after a 'heroic' battle with cancer - resilience, she continued: 'She faced up to cancer with a level of bravery and humour that was extraordinary.'

Old times: Helen played Narcissa Malfoy in three Harry Potter films, starring alongside Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton

Success: A star if stage as well a screen, Helen also won praise for her portrayal of Yelena in a Donmar Warehouse production of Uncle Vanya

Popular: Her long-running role as Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders won her a new legion of fans

First lady: In 2010 she played Cherie Blair in political drama The Special Relationship

No objection: More recently Helen took a smaller role as Sonia Woodley QC in 2020 hit Quiz

Cracknell also said the only reason she had been made aware of McCrory's diagnoses was because they were planning a Broadway show.

She said: 'Very few people knew, and I only did because we were planning to transfer a show to Broadway and had to cancel that because she was having treatment.

'We were sworn to secrecy.'

Cracknell went on: 'Helen wanted to be very private about her illness and I understand why. When you live in the public spotlight you have to find space to protect the things that are just for you.'

She added: 'Her need to be fully alive and be committed and to take things incredibly seriously, such as her family and charity work, defined her last few years for her as much as ever.'

Marriage: The couple's devotion to one another shone brightly for all to see, with Damian saying the actress died at home surrounded by 'peace and love' (pictured 2019)

Tragic: In his statement, Damian said: 'I'm heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died at home'

Helen first met Damian in 2003, when they were both cast in the play Five Gold Rings at the off-West End Almeida Theatre.

And the Peaky Blinders star said it was Damian's sense of humour which first attracted her. 'He just made me laugh a lot. And still does,' she told the Radio Times.

'Of course, everyone in life wants someone to love and be loved by, but I think I was always just engrossed and involved in work. And no, the timing was pure fluke, pure chance, it always is, isn't it?'

Soulmate: Damian, 50, stood by the actress' side as she secretly battled cancer, with Helen brushing off her hoarse voice in her final TV appearance last month

After three years of dating, the couple became engaged in 2006 and Helen said she had to compromise with Damian on the rings.

She told the Daily Mail: 'When Damian and I got engaged, I wanted a ring made of tin.

'I love travelling and one thing I've learnt is that if you travel with a diamond on your hand, you might attract the wrong sort of attention. Damian put his foot down so it's titanium. These are our wedding rings, which are platinum.'

Helen's stellar career continued to go from strength-to-strength and she was cast to play Bellatrix Lestrange for the 2007 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but had to drop out because she fell pregnant with Manon.

Happy times: Helen had been married to fellow actor Damian since 2007 and shared two children with him - daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13, (pictured in February last year)

She would later go on to star in the Harry Potter franchise as Narcissa Malfoy.

The couple welcomed their daughter in 2006 and in July 2007 married in front of family and friends at Kensington and Chelsea Registry Office.

Helen was pregnant with her Gulliver at the time and told Daily Mail: 'I wore a cornflower-blue Roberto Cavalli dress  white's pushing it a bit when you've got a baby in one hand and another in your tum!'

The actress showed her fierce sense of humour as she joked: 'I did have a honeymoon. It lasted an evening. It was very short, but very lovely.

Magic: Helen was cast to play Bellatrix Lestrange for the Harry Potter franchise in 2006 but had to drop out because she was pregnant with Manon. She would later return as Narcissa Malfoy

Well done: In 2017 she was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama

'We got married in the Kensington and Chelsea registry office, then walked down the King's Road and had lunch in a nice restaurant around the corner with 11 people. A very romantic day.'

They later announced the birth of their second child.

Also in 2007, the couple moved to Los Angeles as Damian starred as the main character Charlie Crews in the American television series Life on NBC.

After two years in Los Angeles, Helen and Damian moved back to the U.K and settled in their Victorian house in north London and would later go on to buy their second home in Suffolk.

The actress previously credited her parents for showing her a 'great marriage' and that it 'takes work'.

While both were regarded among the best talent in the acting industry, the couple made a pact when they became parents that they wouldn't accept roles at the same time, so one of them could be at home with their children.

In an interview with Woman and Home in 2017, Helen talked about how her career took a backseat, particularly when their children were very young.

She said: 'I lightened my workload when the children were younger, but I'm building it up again now. I often played the lead until I became a mother. Then I played smaller roles to keep my foot in the water.'

Sweet: As their children became older, Helen spoke about how Damian sacrificed working a lucrative job in America to encourage her to take on ITV drama series Fearless in 2016

But as their children became older, Helen spoke about how Damian sacrificed working a lucrative job in America to encourage her to take on ITV drama series Fearless in 2016.

She said at the time: 'He is so supportive. Much more so than I am. He was the one that persuaded me to do Fearless.

'He told me: 'You have to do Fearless. You have to'. I pointed out that he was going to be in America filming Billions and in 10 years I've always had the children when he goes away filming. But he replied: 'Well, I'll do it. Of course, I can'.'

They did, however, both star alongside one another in the 2015 film The Bill in which Helen played Queen Elizabeth I, while Damian took up the role as Sir Richard Hawkins.

Don't mess with a Peaky Blinder! From 2013, Helen took up her critically-acclaimed role as Polly Gray in BBC period crime drama Peaky Blinder (pictured 2016)

From 2013, Helen took up her critically-acclaimed role as Polly Gray in BBC period crime drama Peaky Blinders.

Before series five, the actress said she had considered not returning to her role.

She told The Express at the time: 'I had a wonderful offer of another thing by one of the people I think is the most talented people and I said no and came back to this because I feel it's given me so much.

'You see it through to the end if somebody wants to, you don't just go 'thank you.'

'And also I want to see it through to the end.'

Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory at the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in September 2012

During the Covid pandemic, Helen and Damian supported Feed NHS, a programme to give food from high street restaurants to NHS staff, and had raised 1 million for the charity by early April of that year.

And the actress remained dedicated to her charity work, despite her declining health.

The couple were last seen during an appearance on Good Morning Britain last month, where they appeared to speak about their charity work for the Prince's Trust and the Prince's Trust Awards.

And the actress remained dedicated to her charity work, despite her declining health. The couple were last seen during an appearance on Good Morning Britain last month

During the interview, Kate Garraway asked Helen: 'Are you alright, Helen? You sound a bit croaky. Have you got a sore throat?' Helen joked: 'I've got children!'

During the interview, Kate Garraway asked Helen: 'Are you alright, Helen? You sound a bit croaky. Have you got a sore throat?'

But Helen brushed off the Kate's concern as she joked: 'I've got children!'

Just six weeks later however, Damian announced Helen tragically passed away after secretly battling cancer.

The actor wrote: 'I'm heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.

'She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.'
A Qantas flight touched down in New Zealand just 41 minutes after the trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia opened at 11.59pm on Sunday.

The first quarantine-free flight from Australia took off from Sydney on Sunday night and was initially due to land at 12.05am in Auckland.

From April 19, Kiwis and Aussies can travel freely between the two nations without being required to quarantine.

It's understood the Qantas flight repositioned in New Zealand and only had crew on board.

Flight Radar 24 listed a Qantas A330 arriving at 12.05am - six minutes after the border opened. However the flight wasn't displayed on Auckland Airport's arrivals, and arrived 35 minutes after schedule.

A Qantas flight touched down in New Zealand just 41 minutes after the trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia opened at 11.59pm on Sunday

Thirteen flights on Air New Zealand, Qantas and Jetstar will leave Sydney Airport on Monday from between 6.15am and 7pm, heading for Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington

A different plane, a Qantas 737, was seen leaving Sydney Airport for New Zealand's North Island late on Sunday evening, but Flight Radar 24 didn't have a destination listed.

Meanwhile, airlines across Australia and New Zealand are preparing for chaos when the first passenger flights take off across the ditch on what's been dubbed 'Massive Monday'.

Thirteen flights on Air New Zealand, Qantas and Jetstar will depart Sydney Airport on Monday between 6.15am and 7pm, heading for Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington.

The first passenger flight (Jetstar JQ201) to take advantage of the travel bubble will arrive at Auckland from Sydney at 11.20am on Monday.

National cabinet is now faced with the task of plotting how international borders can ease further in the coming months.

But Scott Morrison is in no rush to lift international restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world.

The global death toll from coronavirus has now topped three million people and the prime minister said issues around borders and how they are managed will be handled very carefully.

'But the idea on one day that everything just opens, that is not how this will happen,' Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday.

'It will be happening cautiously and carefully, working very hard on the medical and health protections in place because I'm not going to put at risk the way that Australians are living today.'

The national cabinet will meet on Monday, the first of twice-weekly gatherings following the vaccine rollout being thrown into disarray after health authorities recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to people over the age of 50 after blood-clotting was linked to younger people.

From April 19, Kiwis and Aussies can travel freely between the two nations without being required to quarantine

Included in discussions will be changes to Australia's vaccination policy, including state vaccination implementation plans, in the wake of the new advice around the AstraZeneca vaccine and additional supplies of Pfizer doses.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the vaccine rollout has been a 'debacle'.

'Scott Morrison has had more than a year to prepare for the rollout of the vaccine but what we have is him giving up on the timetable, giving up on telling Australians what they want to know,' he told reporters in Hobart.

'Australians want to know when they'll be vaccinated.'

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week.

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to get jabbed at a vaccine centre without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout

He said GPs continue to be the cornerstone of the program but national cabinet will consider ways states and territories can assist with larger vaccination clinics.

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to get jabbed at a vaccine centre without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout.

'We've worked around the clock to find solutions to get vaccines in people's arms as quickly and safely as possible,' Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, who is in the heat of an election campaign, is concerned about the delays and lack of communication from the federal government about the vaccine rollout at disability and aged care residential facilities.

'We are in a good place but we cannot afford to go backwards,' he said in a statement.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week

Scott Morrison is in no rush to lift international restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world

A woman who died from blood-clotting last week was the third case linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The first two cases are still in hospital.

The nation's chief nurse Alison McMillan recognises there could be hesitancy in being vaccinated, but encourages anyone with concerns to talk to their health professional, GP or nurse practitioner.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who was until recently the minister for science and technology, did offer some hope for vaccine support in the future.

She says Australia has the capability to manufacture an mRNA type COVID-19 vaccine like Pfizer's, but is currently not able to produce it at scale.

The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for people under 50, a treatment which the government has secured a further 20 million doses, but they won't arrive until late in the year.

Ms Andrews said it is 'absolutely' possible Australia could manufacture an mRNA vaccine, and that work is already under way to try and make possible its production at scale.
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President Muhammad Buhari has condoled with Kwapre community in Hong Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa over the recent Boko Haram insurgents attack.

Mr Buhari, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said this when he visited the community on Sunday.

The president expressed his deepest sympathy and condolence to the affected community.

 I am in Kwapre to see things under the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari and to symphatise and condole with the community.

 I have seen the level of destructions which is tragic of monumental dimension.

 I am deeply saddened by what I saw and am assuring the community, government will do all what is possible to protect lives and property of the citizens, he said.

He said that from information available, over 78 houses ,12 shops, schools and four worship centres were destroyed.

He said that securing communities was a collective responsibility adding that members of communities had a great role to play.

 Government is going to take steps that will be quite effective to curtail the menace as much as possible.

 Government is going to help the community to reconstruct places destroyed,  he said.

Musa Zarami, manager, Humanitarian Affairs, North East Development Commission ( NEDC ), said the commission had provided relief materials to the victims.

 The materials donated include bags of rice, maize, blankets, mats, detergents cooking oil among others,  Mr Zarami said.

Simon Yakubu, district head of Dugwaba, thanked Mr Buhari for the gesture.

 The destruction was devastating, because Kwapre has now turned into a ghost town as the entire community has been displaced.

 The visit of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has given us hope and encouraged us to return to our respective homes,  Mr Yakubu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Boko Haram insurgents had on Friday, April 9 attacked the community, destroying lives and property.
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Prince Harry will fly back to LA to be with his pregnant wife Meghan Markle tomorrow after going for a walk with his father Prince Charles today, royal sources have claimed.

In what will be a rare face-to-face meeting between the pair since Harry left the UK for the US, the Duke of Sussex and his father are expected to walk together around the Windsor estate to view floral tributes left for Prince Philip.

According to royal sources, Harry, 36, is likely to spend another night at Frogmore Cottage - his former home in Windsor where he has been staying on his return to the UK.

He is expected to fly back to the US tomorrow and return to his 11million Montecito mansion, where wife Meghan has been staying.

The Duchess of Sussex did not travel with Harry to the UK after doctors advised her not to make the 10-hour flight due to her pregnancy.

Instead the 39-year-old watched the ceremony - which began at 7am Pacific time - on television and sent a hand-written note to leave with a wreath at the funeral.

Prince Harry's walk with his father, 72, comes after he and his brother Prince William, 38, were seen talking after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at St George's Chapel yesterday.

The pair's relationship has been strained since Harry and wife Meghan's tell-all US interview, in which he made damaging accusations of institutionalised racism within the royal family.

And they were separated by The Queen and Prince Philip's eldest grandson, Peter Philips, during the funeral procession yesterday.

But, in a sign of a possible reconciliation, the brothers were seen speaking as they left the chapel and walked towards Windsor Castle.

Prince Harry (pictured left) will fly back to LA to be with his pregnant wife Meghan Markle tomorrow after going for a walk with his father Prince Charles (pictured right) today, royal sources have claimed. In what will be a rare face-to-face meeting between the pair since Harry left the UK for the US, and in the wake of his bombshell Oprah interview, the Duke of Sussex and his father are expected to walk together around Windsor to view floral tributes left for Prince Philip

The brothers were separated by The Queen and Prince Philip's eldest grandson, Peter Philips, during the funeral procession yesterday

But, in a sign of a possible reconciliation, the brothers were seen speaking as they left the chapel and walked up the hill towards Windsor Castle

The Duchess of Sussex did not fly with Harry to the UK after doctors advised her not to travel due to her pregnancy. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their bombshell interview with Oprah

Harry was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton, but then she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her.

The brothers' discussion came following an impromptu decision by some of the Royal Family to walk back to the castle, despite state cars having been put on for them - and it gave the cameras a chance to see them talk.

Meanwhile, sources have since told The Mail on Sunday that Harry has experienced 'a great deal of frostiness' from many of his relatives since arriving in Britain a week ago and self- isolating at Frogmore Cottage, the house given to him and Meghan as a wedding present by the Queen.

Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie failed to acknowledge Harry before or during yesterday's service, it was claimed.

'Ironically the only one who has expressed any sympathy towards him is Prince Andrew,' said one source.

'He knows from Sarah Ferguson  and now first-hand  how it feels to be the outsider, which Harry very much is.

'As far as the others are concerned, there is a deep sense of protection towards the Queen and resentment towards Harry. There is little sympathy for him after what he and Meghan said on Oprah.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the Royals of institutional racism during the bombshell 90-minute interview last month and claimed one member of the family  not the Queen or Prince Philip  questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

'They are still very upset,' the source added. 'They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the Royals of institutional racism during the bombshell 90-minute interview last month and claimed one member of the family  not the Queen or Prince Philip  questioned what colour their son Archie's skin would be.

'They are still very upset,' the source added. 'They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think he has behaved appallingly.'

Prince William and Prince Harry were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips as they walked behind Prince Philip's coffin yesterday

However, the brothers appeared to share a long conversation after leaving the funeral service

Earlier: Prince William (centre) and Prince Harry (right) walked either side of their cousin Peter Phillips (left) at Windsor today

Prince William (left) and Prince Harry (right) walk either side of Peter Phillips and behind Prince Andrew at Windsor today

Prince William and Kate Middleton (left) sit on the opposite side of St George's Chapel to Prince Harry (right) who sat alone

The Duke of Sussex sits alone in the pews at St George's Chapeal in Windsor Castle this afternoon

The siblings had maintained stony expressions yesterday as they walked behind their grandfather's cortege, separated by Peter Phillips.

The Duke of Cambridge strode ahead of his brother as they entered the 15th Century chapel, and once inside the atmosphere remained frosty.

William sat with Kate directly opposite Harry but did not appear to make eye contact, instead preferring to focus his gaze towards his grandfather's coffin.

However, it was reported last week that William had spoken briefly with his brother on the phone, although the source said communication had been 'more texts than calls'.

Harry has spoken to his cousin Princess Eugenie who remains a steadfast friend. 'He is thought to have seen Eugenie, most likely outside since she's being strict with her new baby,' said the insider. According to one report, William requested that Peter Phillips stand between him and Harry during the funeral cortege.

Asked about the claim, a friend of Harry said: 'He's just doing what he's told and getting on with it.'

The last time the brothers were seen together in public was on March 9 last year when they attended a Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey  with the tension between the Cambridges and Sussexes clear to see.

Aides were yesterday reported to have 'been walking on eggshells' all week as the funeral plans were tweaked, but there was relief that the brothers have spoken and done so publicly.

The princes talked while walking out of St George's Chapel following the service, in a sight which triggered hopes among royal fans of a reconciliation.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence during the funeral of Prince Philip

Members of the Royal Family including Harry and William walk away from St George Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle

As the Royals filed out of the chapel, Prince William spoke to the Right Reverend David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, while Harry chatted with Kate behind them.

William was initially ahead of his wife and brother but turned back towards them to speak to Kate while Harry exchanged pleasantries with the Dean.

Harry then caught up with his brother and sister-in-law and they walked together for a while as William removed his face mask.

Then, Kate stepped away to speak to the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise  leaving the brothers alone.

The brothers' discussion came following an impromptu decision by some of the Royal Family to walk back to the castle, despite state cars having been put on for them - and it gave the cameras a chance to see them talk.

Harry's friend Tom Bradby, who was presenting ITV's coverage of the funeral today, said: 'Funerals are a time of reconciliation and that a sight, let's be honest, that's many wanted to see. Not least the family itself.'

Prince Harry and Prince William walk next to each other as they leave the funeral service at St George's Chapel yesterday afternoon

Massed military bands stood still as the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin past by in a Land Rover that he had built himself

The Foot Guards Band are seen marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with his Personal Standard, is carried on the purpose built Land Rover Defender followed by the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex, the Earl of Snowdon and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence

Members of the Royal family march behind the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of Prince Philip

Members of the Royal Family walk behind the Land Rover hearse carrying Prince Philip's coffin

Pallbearers of the Royal Marines carry the coffin at the West Steps of St George's Chapel

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin on the back of the Land Rover with royal family members walking behind

Philip's coffin was carried on a custom-built Land Rover Defender hearse designed by the duke and modified over 16 years

The Queen wiped away tears and was forced to mourn alone away from her family in St George's Chapel during Prince Philip's Covid-hit Windsor Castle funeral yesterday as she said an emotional final goodbye to her 'strength and stay' after their extraordinary 73-year life together.

Her Majesty looked grief-stricken and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved husband's coffin on its final journey while their eldest son Prince Charles cried as he walked behind the casket into church followed by other devastated royals.

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers with a handwritten note from his wife as pallbearers placed him on to his extraordinary self-designed green Land Rover Defender hearse in the castle's quadrangle packed with hundreds of armed personnel.

The Queen kept her husband poignantly close during the service by carrying special mementoes from their life together inside her handbag.

According to a Royal insider, the Queen was planning to include one of Philip's trademark white handkerchiefs, made by his Savile Row tailors Kent & Haste. The crisply folded squares, inserted into the breast pocket of a sharply cut suit, were an enduring feature of the Duke's classic sartorial style.

In honour of their long marriage, she is also said to have carried a small photograph of the two of them together, thought to have been taken in Malta.

Alone in grief, the Queen sat on the opposite side of the church as she says goodbye to her husband at his funeral in extraordinary and poignant circumstances due to the pandemic

A picture of the then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Malta, where the Duke of Edinburgh was stationed with the Royal Navy. There is no suggestion the Queen kept this photo with her during the funeral

The emotional Queen wipes away a tear in the back of the royal Bentley as she saw the procession

A tear rolled down Prince Charles' cheek as he walked behind his father Prince Philip's coffin at Windsor Castle

Prince Charles blinks away tears as he follows the coffin into the church with his brothers behind him

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, James, Viscount Severn and Sophie, Countess of Wessex listen to the service

Prince Harry was sat directly across from his older brother and his wife Kate having flown in without his wife Meghan

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with His Royal Highness's Personal Standard is carried to the purpose built Land Rover

The purpose built Land Rover Defender hearse waits for Philip's coffin to be carried out from the castle

The island was a deeply special place for both the Queen and Philip. As newlyweds they lived in Villa Guardamangia, on the outskirts of the capital Valletta, between 1949 and 1951, while the Prince was stationed there as a naval officer with HMS Magpie.

The Queen later described it as one of the best periods of her life as it was the only time she was able to live 'normally'. The couple returned often, including to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007.

During her husband's Covid-secure Windsor Castle funeral, the grief-stricken monarch left a personal, handwritten message to Philip placed alongside a wreath of white lilies, small white roses and white freesia chosen by her.

Photos from yesterday afternoon show only a glimpse of the note, which appears to be written on official card from Buckingham Palace. However, the Palace has not yet confirmed the content of the note.

After the eight minute procession and the 50 minute service, Prince Philip's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault yesterday afternoon.

A lament was played by a lone piper of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Last Post was then sounded by buglers of Philip's beloved Royal Marines who then played Action Stations at the specific request of The Duke of Edinburgh.

The masked soldiers who carried the lead-lined coffin carrying Philip gently lift it into place in front of the Queen

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby praised the extraordinary life of the Duke of Edinburgh

(top row, left to right) Zara and Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie, (front row, left to right) the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of Wessex, James Viscount Severn, the Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales during the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Cambridge look towards Philip's coffin before it was lowered into the Royal Vault

The Queen stands alone as she watches Prince Philip's coffin being carried by soldiers on its final journey into St George's Chapel, Windsor today for the funeral of her beloved husband

Around 700 members of the Armed Forces were involved in the organisation of the funeral - the ceremony planned by Prince Philip before his death

Members of the royal family line up behind Prince Charles and Princess Anne as they follow Prince Philip's coffin

All of the royals wore black suits with medals after Prince Andrew and Prince Harry's attempts to wear Navy uniforms were denied

The Royal Family stand at the bottom of the steps of St George's Chapel as the coffin is carried up into the church

Members of the Household Cavalry lined the route of the ceremonial procession and lowered their heads as the coffin passed them

Members of the military stand for a minutes' silence before the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks emotional as she leaves the funeral at Windsor yesterday

The coffin is carried up the world famous steps of St George's Chapel on its final journey

Prince Philip had links to 42 regiments before he died on April 9 aged 99

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, pronounced the Blessing before the 30 royal mourners silently filed out of the church into cars to take them the short journey back to castle. Harry and William decided to walk back with Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and were seen smiling speaking animatedly as they were reunited for the first time in a year where their relationship became fractured.

The emotional Queen had arrived at the funeral as the national anthem played and the royal Bentley stopped next to her beloved husband's coffin, where she poignantly paused for a moment of reflection as cannons fired and bells tolled in remembrance of the duke, wiping tears from her eyes.

Her Majesty was then driven to St George's Chapel with her lady in waiting Susan Hussey, before being sat alone at the front of the church where she stood and bowed her head during the national minute's silence. She looked at the coffin throughout the poignant service, where the majority of her children and grandchildren were on the verge of tears.

Following behind the coffin was the royal procession, led by Philip's children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. The grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, followed but the feuding brothers were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips, viewed as a 'peacemaker' between the two.

The Duke of Cambridge entered the chapel one place ahead of his younger brother, as the mourners filed into the historic gothic chapel without saying anything to each other. But they later spoke as they walked back to the castle, with Kate taking a step back to let them spend time alone.

The Queen had decided that no royals should wear military uniform after Prince Andrew demanded to dress as an Admiral and Prince Harry was stripped of his titles. They were allowed to wear their medals, however. Andrew was seen driving away in a casual suit and aviator sunglasses around an hour after the funeral ended.

The Queen wore Queen Mary's Richmond Brooch, while Camilla wore the Rifles Brooch. The Duchess of Cornwall wore the brooch in July 2020 when Philip's role as Colonel-in-Chief of the infantry regiment The Rifles was formally handed over to her.

Kate wore a necklace and earrings borrowed from the Queen.

After the funeral ended at 3.49pm, the Queen led the Royal Family from the chapel, followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

She had a brief conversation with the Dean of Windsor outside the chapel before being driven away.

Other members of the royal family walked away from the chapel in small groups, chatting as they walked through the sunlit grounds, including William and Harry.

Many of the royals only stayed at the castle for a short period before heading home.
A 13-year-old girl reported missing Thursday in Florence has been found safe.

Florence Police confirmed around 7 o'clock Saturday night, Abbygail Moody was located unharmed after a lenthy investigation involving multiple city, state and federal agencies.

The Florence Police Department and Moody's family send special thanks to the FBI Birmingham, FBI North Alabama Vilolent Crimes Taskforce, FBI Dallas/Tyler Resident Agency, The Corinth Police Department and ALEA, (Alabma Law Enforcement Agency), for their all their help in recovering Abbygail safely.
We've heard the announcement by the Tourism Ministry that cultural workers are to get priority access to vaccines and travel exemptions.
Defending the Constitution From the Living Constitutionalists

Commentary

Originalism means applying the Constitution as the Founders understood it. Originalism is just a modern name for how English and American judges and lawyers have read most legal documents for at least 500 years (pdf).

By respecting the understanding behind a document, originalism keeps the document alive.

By contrast, theres no simple definition of living constitutionalism because living constitutionalists differ greatly among themselves. Theyre united by dislike of many of the Constitutions rules and standards, and they all want to adjust the Constitution to serve their political goals. But beyond that, their unity ends: They sometimes have different goals, and they propose different ways of justifying constitutional manipulation.

Living constitutionalism is a misnomer, because when we abandon a documents rules and standards, the document dies. In practice, living constitutionalism converts our Constitution into a parchment loincloth to cover political pudenda.

Among the inconsistencies of living constitutionalists are claims that our Basic Law is both too rigid and too vague. One who thinks its too rigid is David A. Strauss, a law professor on President Joe Bidens Supreme Court commission. He wants constitutional law to evolve much as the common law evolves. Such common law constitutionalists underappreciate the fact that our decision to adopt a written document was a clear rejection of the British-style evolving constitution.

By contrast, William Brennan, a living constitutionalist who afflicted the Supreme Court from 1956 to 1990, thought that much of the Constitution was so vague as to be virtually meaningless. He referred to constitutional provisions as luminous and obscure. He wanted judges to replace the shimmering fog with structures of their own making.

The too vague and too rigid accusations are not only inconsistent with each other, they also are incorrect.

Lets apply a dash of common sense to a serving of history. The Constitutions framers werent the kind of people who write overly rigid or meaningless terms. They included Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, John Dickinson of Delaware, and John Rutledge of South Carolina, each the leading attorney in his respective state. Eight framers had been educated in Londons Inns of Court, the schools for training English barristers. The framers included other celebrated lawyers as well, such as James Wilson of Pennsylvania and Alexander Hamilton of New York.

Even most of the non-lawyers, such as James Madison and Nathaniel Gorham, had been immersed in legal subjects throughout their careers. The framers had composed written legal documents in business, in law practice, in the state legislatures, and in Congress.

They were, moreover, deeply familiar with the 600-plus-year Anglo-American tradition of composing constitutional-style documents.

They drafted the Constitution as a legal document should be drafted: tuning each provision to the level of rigidity or flexibility necessary to its purpose.

As a result, some constitutional phrases are rigidbut properly so. For example:

The president shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years.

No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

Few of us would want to live under the living constitutionalist versions, which might read:

The president shall hold [insert politically correct pronoun here] office as long as the judges, balancing all factors, decide it promotes good social policy, and

A person may be convicted of treason if the judges find the evidence persuasive after they have balanced its reliability and quantity with the needs of social justice.

But when rigidity wasnt appropriate, the framers could write terms flexible enough to satisfy any living constitutionalist. For example:

Each House shall keep a Journal  and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy, and

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

And as explained below, the Constitution also has many provisions that are neither particularly rigid nor overly flexible.

One reason some people think the Constitution is too vague or too rigid is that they dont understand what many of its clauses actually mean.

For 25 years, Ive been working to cure that by writing a series of research articles exploring sections of the Constitution. My research has demonstrated that many charges of rigidity or vagueness are wrong.

For example, some law professors used to laugh at how rigid the coinage clause is. The coinage clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 5) grants Congress power To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures. The scoffers assumed that To coin Money meant only to strike metallic coin. They said that in modern society, this is impractical: We need paper and electronic money as well.

But if theyd read the clause carefully, they might have noticed that interpreting coin as only metal made no sense. When the Constitution says regulate the Value  of foreign Coin, it means setting foreign exchange rates. If Coin meant only metal, then Congress could set exchange rates for foreign metal tokens but not for foreign paper money. Surely the Founders couldnt have intended such an absurd interpretation.

And they didnt. As I documented in a 2008 article (pdf) published by one of the Harvard journals, the Founders understood the Constitutions word coin to include money in any medium, including paper. The scoffers were flat wrong: The coinage clause wasnt rigid at all.

I also have disproved the once-common charge that the Constitution permits only male presidents, and other scholars have rebutted (pdf) the charge that its original meaning permits segregation of schools.

The living-Constitution crowd leveled the opposite accusation against the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18). They claimed it was so open-ended that they branded it the elastic clause.

The necessary and proper clause grants Congress the power to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

What in the world does necessary and proper mean? the scoffers asked. And what about these powers in the Government of the United States? Is that a drafting mistake? The Constitution grants powers to government departments and officers, but not to the Government of the United States. Some living constitutionalists have even claimed it refers to federal authority not otherwise mentioned in the Constitution.

Most constitutional commentators have had little experience practicing law. But I have, and to me, the necessary and proper clause looked like a phrase Id seen in agency and trust documents. I suspected necessary and proper was a common term in 18th-century documents and had a specific meaning.

Investigation proved my hunch. During the Founding Era, necessary and proper and variants of that phrase were exceedingly common in legal documents. In this context, necessary was a technical term for incidental, and proper meant in compliance with fiduciary duty. I dont have space here to explain all of these legal expressions, but I can assure you theyre not vague.

The necessary and proper clause authorized Congress to undertake a limited number of subordinate activities the Constitution doesnt list explicitly. My investigation also showed that the Supreme Court had misapplied the clause in some very important cases.

I also foundcontrary to what the scoffers were sayingthat the part of the clause referring to powers granted to the Government of the United States wasnt a drafting error or a reference to mysterious extra-constitutional authority. The Constitution explicitly grants some powers to the federal government as an entity. This last point became clear from examining colonial documents familiar to the framers but unknown to most commentators.

My necessary and proper clause findings were published in a book issued by Cambridge University Press and in other outlets (pdf).

Over the past quarter-century, I have examined many other parts of the Constitution previously pronounced rigid, vague, or meaningless. I have found that all have fairly well-defined meanings. Moreover, most are flexible enough to accommodate modern political activity consistent with the Constitutions underlying principles of freedom, federalism, and limited government. Admittedly, theyre inconsistent with the goals of many of the living constitutionalistsregimentation, centralization, and cultural destruction.

Of course, altered conditions occasionally do require constitutional change. To respond, we can use the amendment process. We dont need to kill the Constitution on the pretense of letting it live.

Robert G. Natelson practiced law for 11 years, then served as a law professor for 25. Among other subjects, he taught constitutional law, constitutional history, First Amendment, and advanced constitutional law. In 2010, he returned to the private sector. He is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver and the author of The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Heading to San Antonios Southwest Side for some door-to-door campaigning, Mayor Ron Nirenberg has a particular date in mind.

April 19 is the start of early voting. Then theres May 1, Election Day, when Nirenberg will learn whether San Antonio voters are satisfied with how hes handled the pandemic and will award him a third consecutive term.

But for the moment, Nirenbergs thinking of another date: Aug. 20.

Mark your calendar, the 44-year-old mayor says. Thats when some hard rock giants of yesteryear  Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts  are playing the Alamodome.

We havent had big names like that in a long time, he says.

Ron Nirenberg  policy wonk, unflappable television presence during the pandemic, one-time head of a university jazz station  rocking out to Kickstart My Heart?

It seems to run counter to the image Nirenberg has cultivated during his two terms as mayor: stoic, intellectual, decisive, deliberative. Thats how supporters view him. Others in City Hall say he can be stubborn, parochial, mercurial and uncollaborative.

A general consensus, however, is that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major turning point for Nirenberg.

He is more sure of himself, more confident in his decision-making, more willing to buck natural allies and key constituencies in pursuit of his objectives, which now center on the citys economic recovery from the pandemics effects and on getting the employed and underemployed ready for better-paying jobs.

In conversation, he still tends to slip into lengthy policy explanations replete with jargon, delivered in an easy baritone.

That wonkishness blends with his love of classic rock. As an undergraduate at Trinity University, Nirenberg submitted a formal proposal to the communications department, explaining how classical music evolved into the hard-charging rock of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

That led to The Revolution, his own late-night classic rock show on the universitys KRTU, a jazz station that plays alternative music at night.

Nirenberg can wax poetic about his favorite band, The Doors.

But when you get right down to it, the mayor is, well, kind of a normal dude.

He still takes part in a March Madness bracket with buddies from his grad school days at the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School of Communication nearly two decades ago.

In the past year, Nirenberg and Erika Prosper, his wife of almost 20 years, have introduced their 13-year-old son, Jonah, to the classic film franchises of their youth  Alien, Predator and Back to the Future  during their Friday movie nights. Recently, the mayor began educating his son on the 80s oeuvre of action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Nirenbergs favorite movie: The Terminator.

I think its just such a great story, he said. Its got no loose ends  I just love that movie.

Nirenbergs a fitness freak and weight-lifter. He hasnt been to the gym in a year, but thanks to equipment he keeps in his garage  his sanctuary  he hasnt missed a workout during the pandemic.

It hurts like hell now, but I do it because its mental relief, he said.

He has a soft spot for a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. (According to his wife, the mayor of the seventh-largest city in the U.S. went out of his way to watch a cheesy 15-minute commercial in which actor Mario Lopez plays a hunked-up iteration of Col. Sanders.)

Nirenberg rarely, if ever, orders a regular burger at Whataburger. But that doesnt mean hes not a fan of the cult Texas chain.

Nirenberg has a special order: grilled chicken on a wheat bun, no oil on the bun, with mustard and jalapenos.

They might want to call it the Ron, Prosper said. I swear to you, if I have to see another one of those

The mayor has found other comfort food during the pandemic: a plate of red curry from India Oven on the citys North Side. Just like his mom, a Malaysian immigrant, used to make.

Im Ron, Im your mayor

On a warm Wednesday afternoon, Nirenberg paces a Southwest Side neighborhood, going door to door. Hes rolled up the sleeves on his white dress shirt, and hes wearing a mask with the American and Texas flags.

In tow are Zack Lyke, the mayors senior communications advisor, and campaign field organizer Austin Dolan, who carries Mayor Ron for San Antonio signs. Trailing close behind, in a black SUV, is the mayors security detail.

The neighborhood, just north of Palo Alto College, is a priority for the Nirenberg campaign. Two years ago, the mayor won it by just 5 percentage points over former City Councilman Greg Brockhouse.

People welcome Nirenberg like a friend or a visiting celebrity.

An elderly woman calls out to Nirenberg as he strides past.

Papacito, she croons.

Nirenberg is affable, dry-humored and self-effacing in these encounters. Hes also a bit awkward and can come off as achingly sincere.

At another home, the mayor catches Thomas Cruz, 28, trying to balance a fast-food order in his arms as he walks from his car to the front door.

You need some help? Nirenberg calls out.

Ive got it, Cruz replies.

Im Ron, Im your mayor.

Youre our mayor?

Yes, sir.

Pause.

Hold on.

Nirenberg waits in the driveway.

The rule of thumb is that we never walk by somebody whos outside, even if theyre not on your list, Nirenberg says. Its an opportunity to talk to somebody.

Across the street, Ophelia Goff, 74, has paused her yard work and made her way to the edge of her front lawn, where a Nirenberg sign is planted. She waits expectantly.

Ill be right there, shouts Nirenberg.

Nirenberg is reminded of his time at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, leading a civic-engagement project.

The opportunity to get somebody interested in voting is as good as it gets, Nirenberg says.

Cruz is back outside in his driveway, and Nirenberg asks for his vote.

Only if you promise to put me on your shoulders like this guy, Cruz says, pointing to a door-hanger that pictures Jonah on his dads shoulders.

Nirenberg crosses the street to talk to Goff, as if making the rounds at a party. They exchange pleasantries and chat about the neighborhood.

Is there anything I can do for you? the mayor asks.

How about taking the Weedeater? Goff jokes.

Nirenberg seems game.

If you need me to, Ill help, Nirenberg says. Its been a while.

Next time, Ill be waiting for you.

You just tell me when, Nirenberg says.

One family invites him inside  though they dont want to force the issue if the mayor is uncomfortable. Nirenberg is extremely fit, but he hasnt gotten his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine yet.

You guys are good, Nirenberg says. Unless youre having parties and stuff.

Inside, he meets Lilia Huerta, 79, whos sitting on the couch watching Baywatch. Huerta, who recently suffered a stroke, is surprised to find the mayor in her living room.

I got my two shots, Huerta tells him triumphantly.

But shes concerned about a bill making its way through the Texas Legislature that would prohibit local election officials from automatically sending mail-in ballots to voters with disabilities.

Theyre trying to take away mail-in voting, Huerta tells the mayor.

Theyre trying to make it harder, Nirenberg agrees.

He tries to reassure her, In your case, its OK.

Then it was on to the next house.

Solid as a rock

Nirenberg narrowly defeated Brockhouse in a runoff two years ago, and Brockhouse is his principal opponent again this year.

But its a much different picture this time around. A recent poll showed Nirenberg leading by as many as 30 percentage points.

Nirenberg has turned into what established political leaders such as Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff consider a peer.

When a crisis hits, you find out whether a guy can find himself or not, said Wolff, 80, who grew closer to the mayor during the pandemic. And he did find himself. I think he handled that very well.

Nirenberg showed that leadership and some rare fire amid summer protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

On June 4, 2020, before a crowd of Black Lives Matter activists, Nirenberg made a declaration on the steps of the Bexar County Courthouse.

Hold me accountable  because Im the mayor of this goddamn city and were going to make change together, Nirenberg said.

That was a moment that I felt deeply, Nirenberg recalled. I communicated honestly and I dont regret it.

Later, some police reform activists would sour on the mayor  either for not committing to cut the citys police budget or for not supporting their proposition on the May 1 ballot to strip the police union of its ability to negotiate contracts.

Nirenberg says he never guaranteed reform without friction.

I know its going to be frustrating, he said.

Through his nightly televised briefings with Wolff on the pandemic, Nirenberg has grown familiar to San Antonians, calmly delivering the latest on the state of the virus and local efforts to curb its spread.

To former Mayor Henry Cisneros, Nirenbergs improved standing in the polls stems in part from his physique and the way he projects vigor.

He looks just solid as a rock with respect to his convictions, Cisneros said. You get the impression, Man, this guys got the strength, the determination, the physical power if necessary, to do what it takes to beat this pandemic.

Rarely does the mayor get visibly upset or flustered. Its just hard to get the mans heart rate up.

Hes pretty calm, Wolff said. I dont ever see him get real emotional.

Its how Nirenberg governs and makes policy  meticulously.

Hes a cerebral man, District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez said. A lot of folks will lead with their gut. A lot of folks will lead with whats popular. Rons leadership style is to have every single question answered before he pulls the trigger.

But the virus spread forced Nirenberg into a series of tough decisions last year. Often, he consulted with other Texas mayors, who also complained of a shortage of help and advice from state and federal leaders.

There was literally no playbook, Nirenberg said.

Among the most difficult choices: the decision last March to prohibit indoor dining at bars and restaurants.

Nirenberg initially held out against such a shutdown, fearing economic devastation for the citys hospitality industry, a major employer.

But he was swayed by the advice of health experts  and by the virus rapid spread in hot spots around the country. Nirenberg says he let the cold, hard data guide him.

There was no doubt in my mind that the people I need to be listening to were the public health folks, Nirenberg said. The concern, though  in what was in some cases agonizing  was understanding the consequences of making that decision. We knew it was going to be impactful to businesses and to folks who relied on those businesses.

Nirenbergs approach influenced Wolff, who also had been hesitant to take such a drastic step.

All the health experts were saying, Yeah, yeah, yeah, you need to do it, Wolff said. Finally, I figured, Well, hell, I guess we need to do it, though I personally didnt think it was necessary.

Nirenbergs handling of the pandemic has emboldened him to take stronger stances on other issues, Wolff said.

Take the long-planned, $450 million overhaul of Alamo Plaza. The ambitious project stalled out after the Texas Historical Commission refused to allow a key component of the plan: relocation of the Cenotaph, a 1930s-era monument to the Alamo defenders.

District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino, who for six years held key leadership positions overseeing the project, declared it dead.

Nirenberg disagreed, though he had once supported moving the Cenotaph. In March, he kicked Trevino out of his leadership posts and replaced him with outgoing District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran.

It was a very gutsy thing to do, Wolff said.

Nirenberg felt he had no choice if the project were to move forward. He announced a reset and championed a slightly scaled-down version of the Alamo Plaza makeover. Last week, in support of that plan, the City Council approved an amended lease with the Texas General Land Office, a partner in the project.

We can work this out

The economic damage wrought by COVID-19 and efforts to contain it pushed Nirenberg to re-evaluate his ambitions for his second term. He had planned to spend a good chunk of it making the case to San Antonio voters to devote sales tax dollars to expand public transit.

In June, he changed course and pushed for those sales tax dollars to go toward economic recovery instead. That maneuver incensed members of the VIA Metropolitan Transit board  who threatened to pursue the transit vote without him.

Eventually, both sides tried to strike a compromise. Those involved in the negotiations described days of lengthy, intense phone calls that sometimes went late into the night.

Imagine a saloon in the Old West where everybody has a gun pointed at each other and theyre all loaded, said Cisneros, who facilitated the negotiations. I think the mayors job in this case was to say, Wait a minute, guys, we can work this out, put your guns back in your holsters.

Nirenberg held firm, he said.

Basically, his line was, Look, this is what I need. Im not against these other things. Lets figure out how to do it, and if you can figure it out, call me, Cisneros said. And in the end, he took a risk.

Nirenberg argues he never abandoned transit  but the economic crisis had to be dealt with somehow.

I do not have the luxury as mayor to just look out for one sector.  It had to be taken care of, Nirenberg said.

Ultimately, a deal was struck and approved by voters by a healthy margin in the November ballot election. The city retained the 1/8-cent sales tax for the mayors Ready to Work program  a four-year, $154 million plan to help residents seek job training and college degrees to equip them for higher-paying jobs.

After four years, VIA will receive the sales tax revenue in perpetuity.

Nirenberg also had to settle the future of the popular Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, which had been paid for with the same sales tax revenue he and VIA were fighting over. The aquifer program pays for conservation easements to prevent over-development of land above the aquifer, the citys primary source of drinking water.

Nirenbergs solution: keep the aquifer program going with funds from elsewhere in the city budget, a decision that inflamed some in the environmentalist community, historically one of the mayors core constituencies. Opponents of the plan argued that voters should decide the programs fate  as they had in four previous elections. In the end, Nirenberg prevailed.

Initially skeptical was District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez  who worried there wasnt a solid plan to fund aquifer protection. But Nirenberg spent a lot of time with me going through the mechanics of it and showed Pelaez it could work, he said.

The council went along with the mayor by a 9-2 vote.

More collaboration?

As a councilman and later as mayor, Nirenberg gained a reputation for making decisions in a vacuum, often without consulting other council members.

One such instance came early in his quest to hold the mayors seat. The first-term councilman  representing District 8 on the citys Northwest Side  decided to throw his hat into the ring in 2014 to replace outgoing Mayor Julian Castro, who left to join the Obama administration.

Nirenberg found out that the two other North Side councilmen at the time  Joe Krier and Mike Gallagher  planned to back then-Councilwoman Ivy Taylor, not him, to fill the vacancy, Krier said.

The morning of the vote that July, a strongly disappointed Nirenberg confronted Krier and Gallagher in Kriers office, the former councilman said. Nirenberg felt the North Side council members should stick together, Krier said.

Krier said it was the first time Nirenberg had told them he planned to seek the open seat.

Ron did think that as North Side council members, we should all stick together, Krier said. But he had not discussed that issue to my knowledge with any of us before he made that decision.

Krier and Gallagher explained to Nirenberg why they opted to support Taylor, Krier said.

We were both disappointed and surprised that he took it for granted that we would support him when he had not asked us to do that, Krier said. And I think he was surprised that we made the decision to support someone else without talking to him. Thats certainly fair on his part.

A Nirenberg spokesman said the mayor has no memory of the incident  but he did ask every council member for support at the time.

That time, Nirenberg failed to attract any votes. Instead, the council picked Taylor  the citys first African-American mayor.

The mayor has tried to shake off the perception that he doesnt collaborate. He has monthly meetings with each council member, and they all have his cell number.

Nirenberg points to great teamwork prompted by COVID-19, including city-county working groups he and Wolff created early in the pandemic. Those efforts, he said, formed the basis of the citys economic recovery program  which includes housing assistance for needy families, small business grants and job training.

In terms of collaboration, I think that this council has been, despite the pandemic, markedly more collaborative perhaps than a couple of years ago, Nirenberg said.

Some council members say the mayor listens to them more than he used to and seeks diverse opinions before moving forward.

Ron makes you argue your case, Pelaez said. Hell poke holes. Hell debate you and hell poke holes in your reasoning. And then when you point out that hes got some holes in his, hell own that.

But more communication with the mayor doesnt mean council members always feel heard. To District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, Nirenberg often approaches his colleagues about big policy proposals with his mind already made up.

He has great interest in really good policy, Gonzales said. Thats not the same thing as being collaborative.

Alpha dogs

There seems to be little collaboration between Nirenberg and Trevino these days.

Despite their shared progressive views, the mayor and the councilman who represents San Antonios urban core increasingly have been at odds during Nirenbergs second term.

Pelaez chalks the disagreements up to natural tensions between two alpha dogs who are both incredibly passionate about helping the most vulnerable people.

Theres no denying both of these guys are hard-headed men, Pelaez said. Theyre like two silver-backed gorillas, man. You put them in close proximity and both of them are always going to be competing to see whos right.

Before the pandemic, they clashed over whether to put bicycle lanes on a downtown stretch of Broadway. Nirenberg wanted the bike lanes. Trevino wanted to redirect cyclists to a side street. Trevino prevailed.

During the pandemic, Trevino accused the mayor of being too focused on long-term efforts, such as workforce development, rather than on immediate relief for residents and businesses. Nirenberg prevailed, winning overwhelming voter support for his workforce plan. And he directed tens of millions of dollars to business and residential relief, much of it from federal coronavirus aid.

Both men chafe at the question of whether theres personal animosity behind their disagreements.

But to some onlookers, it was hard not to detect a whiff of vindictiveness on the mayors part when Nirenberg dumped Trevino from his Alamo leadership positions  especially during an election year  and replaced him with a termed-out councilwoman.

Nirenberg says Viagran was the right person for the job. She was the councils representative on a delegation that sought UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition for the San Antonio Missions, including the Alamo. And shes a descendant of a Tejano Alamo defender, Toribio Losoya.

Trevino seems to have made peace with his ouster  though he was the lone no vote against the Nirenberg-driven Alamo plan last week.

Its obviously something I wish didnt happen, Trevino said of the committee reassignments. But it did.

Trevinos said his disagreements with the mayor wont prompt him to vote for Brockhouse. But hes not sure hell vote for Nirenberg, either.

I dont know, Trevino said.

I am so proud of you

Every year, Nirenberg and Prosper ask each other three questions  a ritual to see how well the two still know each other after nearly 20 years of marriage.

A few weeks ago, they held the ritual at the newly-opened restaurant Landrace at the Thompson hotel  the couples first real date in more than a year.

First question: What is your favorite color?

His is green. Hers is navy blue.

Second question: favorite drink?

They both love an old-fashioned  though Prosper is growing more fond of a rum cocktail from Best Quality Daughter, the new Asian-American restaurant at the Pearl.

Third and final question: favorite ice cream?

Hes partial to double fudge chocolate. Shes still into vanilla.

I want to make sure I know, Prosper said. And he wants to make sure he knows.

Its tough to find time for each other these days.

When Im not here working, Im at home working, Nirenberg said from his office in Plaza de Armas, the seat of city government. So its not like theres respite.

As an executive with H-E-B, Prosper also works long hours.

Most weekdays, Nirenberg gets home around 7:30 p.m. and spends an hour or so with Jonah before his bedtime. The father-son relationship has blossomed during the pandemic, Prosper said, even though Nirenberg has had less time.

I can tell it takes all in him to be able to shift his mind to that, Prosper said. Because hes not the type of person that can just let go of work when he comes home. Hes not.

Once Jonahs in bed, its back to the grindstone for his dad.

Earlier in their relationship, that would have bothered Prosper.

But over the past year, shes learned to accept that once he sets his mind to something, he really does go all in.

I think this last year forced me to really rethink some of the maybe small annoyances that I did have like, Oh, gosh, youre going to miss dinner again or OK, you know what, Jonah, Daddy cant make it so Im going to be the one taking you, Prosper said.

I had to take a step back and really tell him, You know what? I am so proud of you, she said.
Chinese envoy urges parties to Iran nuke deal to immediately start negotiating sanction-lifting formula

Xinhua) 09:19, April 18, 2021

Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, receives interview after a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Georges Schneider/Xinhua)

China believes that the Joint Commission should continue to focus on the "more substantive work" of sanction-lifting through the two major processes -- the nuclear implementation and sanctions-lifting working groups' work, and the "proximity talks" with the United States.

VIENNA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Saturday urged all parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to immediately start negotiating the specific formula of sanction-lifting.

Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, made the appeal here after attending a new round of meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission.

"China has drawn much encouragement that the Joint Commission has, over the two days, come back to its normal track with productive and constructive work," he said.

"China maintains that all U.S. sanctions should be lifted immediately," be it sanctions against Iran, or its long-arm jurisdiction measures on third-party entities and individuals, including those on the Chinese, he noted.

China believes that the Joint Commission should continue to focus on the "more substantive work" of sanction-lifting through the two major processes -- the nuclear implementation and sanctions-lifting working groups' work, and the "proximity talks" with the United States, said the envoy.

According to him, China will continue to work with all parties concerned to push the U.S. and Iran to resume negotiations on the implementation of the JCPOA for early and tangible results.

Saturday's talks were chaired by Enrique Mora, the deputy secretary general and political director of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran attended the meeting, according to a press release from the EEAS.

Photo taken on April 15, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
A Tesla electric car that no one appeared to be driving has crashed in Texas, erupting into flames and killing the two passengers, according to local authorities.

One victim was found in the front passenger seat of a 2019 Model S and the other was in the rear, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said in a telephone interview. The car ran into a tree in the Carlton Woods subdivision near The Woodlands after traveling at high speed and failing to navigate a turn.

The position of the victims, statements and other physical evidence suggest that no one was driving the vehicle at the time of impact, Herman said. Its still under investigation.

Herman said his office is co-ordinating with federal authorities, without specifying which ones, and didnt know whether the Autopilot feature was engaged. It took more than 113,000 litres of water to extinguish the fire, which burned for four hours, he added.

Our preliminary investigation is determining - but its not complete yet - that there was no one at the wheel of that vehicle, Herman told The Wall Street Journal. Were almost 99.9 per cent sure.
Brandon Scott Hole, who has been identified as the gunman in Thursday's mass shooting

The family of the gunman who killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis on Thursday night is apologizing as more is being learned of the victims.

Ex-employee Brandon Scott Hole, 19, was armed with two assault rifles when he walked into the facility where 100 people were at work and opened fire.

Eight people were killed and another seven were injured in the incident, before Hole turned the gun on himself.

Police say the teen had bought both weapons legally last summer despite being placed on a mental health after his mom reported him to the authorities over fears he wanted to commit suicide by cop.

His family claims that they tried to get Hole help prior to Thursday's tragic shooting, for which no motive has yet been given.

'We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of Brandons actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed,' the family said on a statement to the Indianapolis Star on Saturday.

'Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy,' the statement continues. 'We are so sorry for the pain and hurt being felt by their families and the entire Indianapolis community.'

Pictured: A body taken Friday from the scene of the shooting at a FedEx facility on Thursday

In March 2020, Hole was placed under a mental health temporary hold after his mom called the authorities over fears he was suicidal and wanted to die by cop. Additionally, a shotgun was removed from his home.

According to WTHR, the FBI claimed they interviewed Hole in April.

'Based on items observed in the suspects bedroom at that time, he was interviewed by the FBI in April 2020,' said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan.

'No Racially Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE) ideology was identified during the course of the assessment and no criminal violation was found. The shotgun was not returned to the suspect.'

Yet the police revealed on Saturday night that Hole was able to purchase two assault rifles used in the incident in July and September 2020, with both purchases made after the March hold.

Hole died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following the shooting at the FedEx facility on Thursday night.

Since Thursday night, all eight of the victims who have died have been identified.

Amarjit Sekhon, 48, (left) was a mother of two boys, 22 and 16, and a member of the Sikh community, Jasvinder Kaur, 50, (right) moved to the U.S. in 2018 and had two children, a daughter and a son

Pictured: Jaswinder Singh, 68, and Samaria Blackwell, 19, one of the youngest victims

Amarjit Sekhon, 48, was a mother of two boys, 22 and 16, and a member of the Sikh community.

She only began working at the FedEx facility in November. She previously worked at a bakery.

'She was a workaholic, she always was working, working,' her brother-in-law, Kuldip Sekhon, said to the Associated Press.

'She would never sit still...the other day she had the shot and she was really sick, but she still went to work.'

Jasvinder Kaur, 50, moved to the United States in 2018 and also had two children, a daughter and a son.

According to the Indianapolis Star, she sent money from her job to India, where her son was still located.

Rimpi Girn, her daughter's brother-in-law, said that she wanted to switch from the night shift to the day shift.

Jaswinder Singh was 68 years old. He was also a member of the Sikh community, according to ABC7 Chicago.

'He had started working at the facility a few days ago and we are told that he had gone there to collect his payment when the shooting occurred,' Jatinder Singh, his son, told The Hindustan Times.

Samaria Blackwell, 19, was one of the youngest victims of the eight. She only began working at the FedEx facility two months ago and had aspirations of being a police officer.

'As an intelligent, straight-A student, Samaria could have done anything she chose to put her mind to, and because she loved helping people, she dreamed of becoming a police officer,' her parents said in a statement Saturdya.

'Although that dream has been cut short, we believe that right now she is rejoicing in heaven with her Savior.'

John Weisert, 74, was the oldest victim in the Thursday night shooting

Pictured: Karli Smith, 19, who had contact with her family before the shooting, and Matthew R. Alexander, 32, who was a former student at Butler University

Amarjeet Kaur Johal, 66, was a member of the Sikh community, as well as a grandmother

John Weisert, 74, was the oldest victim in Thursday night's massacre. He had worked at the FedEx facility for around four years.

He was working as a part-time package handler when he was killed after his shift came to an end.

'My dad's life was senselessly and needlessly cut short by a sick, depraved human being out for revenge against a former employer. I don't understand and will never understand the reason for this kind of random violence,' Mike Weisert wrote about his father on Facebook.

'He was a GOOD man. He was a great father. He was a wonderfully devoted and faithful husband of almost 50 years to my mom. And he was a man who worked very hard throughout his life to provide the best home he possibly could for his family.'

Karli Smith, 19, contacted her family at 10:59pm according to a Facebook post, but did not survive the shooting.

'She was a lovely, beautiful and youthful teenage girl,' a family member said to the Indianapolis Star.

'She had just started to buckle down and get a job and take life a little more serious.'

Matthew R. Alexander, 32, was a former student at Butler University, according to the school.

'The Butler community is mourning the loss of Matthew Alexander,' the university said in a statement on Twitter.

'We want to extend our deepest sympathies to Matthew's friends and families during this time of great sorrow.'

Amarjeet Kaur Johal, 66, was also a member of the Sikh community, as well as a grandmother.

She originally chose to work a double-shift on Thursday, before changing her mind. She had a check in her hand when she was found, according to her grandson's Twitter account.

'I am heartbroken to confirm that my nanjii (maternal grandmother), Amarjeet Kaur Johal, is among those killed in the senseless shooting at the FedEx facility in Indianapolis,' her grandson tweeted.

'We are still working to identify others who were injured and killed on Thursday night,' he continued. 'I have several family members who work at the particular facility and are traumatized. My nani, my family and our families should not feel unsafe at work, at their place of worship, or anywhere. Enough is enough  our community has been through enough trauma.'

Mourners gathered at a vigil for the victims at Olivet Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday

A woman reacts during the vigil on Saturday afternoon, with another scheduled for later

The vigil was emotional for many, with at least one victim's family member present

On Saturday, vigils were held for the victims of the shooting.

One was held at the Olivet Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon, according to the Indianapolis Star.

'I wanted to show solidarity in our community, because were tired,' said DeAndra Dycus, a member of Purpose 4 My Pain, a support group for people affected by gun violence.

'Enough is enough. And I wanted families who have been impacted by gun violence to know their community is here to support them.'

'She was the most amiable in the family, most diligent, dedicated,' a family member told CNN about one of the victims.

'Today we were supposed to have a big celebration, but now we are mourning, we are in grief.'

Another woman said, 'We lost two family members in one day. Its completely devastating for us. We never expected something like this to happen.

'We read about gun violence every single day. Its not acceptable anymore. Something needs to be done about it. Our government, everyone, we need to do something about this.'

Around 50 people attended the vigil, with another planned for Saturday evening.

FedEx have confirmed that Hole was a former employee who last worked for them in 2020. Hole's family told Fox59 that he had previously been fired but it was not immediately clear when.

Hole's stepsister, who did not want to be identified, described him as 'isolated' and said their father died by suicide in 2004, she told NewsNation affiliate WXIN-TV.

'We do have a lot of mental illness in our family and he never got the help that he needed,' she said.

Families were forced to wait over the course of Friday for identifications on the victims to be made.

'Chaplains and Victims Assistance Unit have remained at the family reunification center, providing support to survivors and families throughout the night and into today,' police said in a press release on Friday.

Pictured: The scene outside of the FedEx facility where the shooting happened on Thursday

Pictured: A woman talking to law enforcement outside of the FedEx facility on Thursday

Employees have detailed their accounts of the rampage, with one employee. Levi Miller, telling NBC's Today that he heard more than a dozen shots before he saw the hooded gunman screaming and firing.

'I stand up, I see a man, a hooded figure,' he said. 'I was unable to see his face in detail. However, the man did have an AR in his hand, and he started shouting and then he started firing at random directions.'

Miller said he didn't recognize the gunman but colleagues had said he was a 'well-known worker at this facility.' He said it was possible the gunman was trying to target the manager.

President Joe Biden was among those who weighed in during the aftermath of the shooting.

'While we await critical details about the shooting, its motivation, and other key information, once again, I have the solemn duty of ordering the flag lowered at half-staff at the White House, public buildings and grounds, and military posts and embassies, just two weeks after I gave the last such order,' he said in a statement.

'Last night and into the morning in Indianapolis, yet again families had to wait to hear word about the fate of their loved ones. What a cruel wait and fate that has become too normal and happens every day somewhere in our nation,' Biden said.

'Gun violence is an epidemic in America. But we should not accept it. We must act.'
More than 90 per cent of Americans now think that marijuana should be legal in some form with almost two-thirds saying they support legalizing both medicinal and recreational use, according to a new survey.

Less than one in ten - or 8 per cent - said marijuana should not be legal for use, according to the study done by Pew Research Center.

The poll was done just weeks after Virginia and New York became the latest states to take steps toward legalizing marijuana.

The Democratic-controlled Congress is also considering legislation that would legalize marijuana nationally.

The latest Pew survey finds that majorities across all age groups - with the exception of those 75 and older - think that marijuana should be legal for both medicinal and recreational use.

There was also widespread agreement along racial and political lines. Whites (63 per cent) and blacks (65 per cent) overwhelmingly supported legalization for both recreational and medicinal.

More than 90 per cent of Americans now think that marijuana should be legal in some form with almost two-thirds saying they support legalizing both medicinal and recreational use, according to a new survey

The latest Pew survey finds that majorities across all age groups - with the exception of those 75 and older - think that marijuana should be legal for both medicinal and recreational use

There also appears to be a generational divide on the issue. Republicans older than 65 are far less likely to support legalization for both medicinal and recreational use, according to the survey

Just 29 per cent of whites and 26 per cent of African Americans surveyed said that only medicinal marijuana should be permitted.

Hispanics (52 per cent) and Asians (43 per cent) supported legalization for both medicinal and recreational, but at smaller percentages.

Both of those groups supported legal medical marijuana by large pluralities - 35 per cent among Hispanics and 46 per cent among Asians.

Just 12 per cent of Hispanics and 8 per cent of Asians think marijuana should not be legal in any form.

Democrats and Republicans both support legalization, though supporters of the GOP back it in smaller numbers.

Of those who call themselves Republicans or Republican-leaning, 47 per cent back legalization for both medicinal and recreational marijuana. Just 40 per cent say it should be legal just for medicinal purposes.

Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters, 72 per cent think it should be legal for both medicinal and recreational use; 23 per cent say it should only be legal for medicinal use; and 5 per cent said it shouldnt be legal at all.

There also appears to be a generational divide on the issue. Republicans older than 65 are far less likely to support legalization for both medicinal and recreational use, according to the survey.

Among Democrats, there is also a drop in the enthusiasm for legalization as the age group gets older.

A New Yorker is seen above smoking a joint in the Washington Square Park section of Manhattan on April 3. New York became the 15th state last month to legalize recreational marijuana use

Nearly 80 per cent of Democrats between the ages of 18 and 29 are in favor of legalization marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use while 64 per cent of Democrats over the age of 65 say the same.

Earlier this month, Virginia became the 16th state in the nation and the first Southern state to legalize recreational marijuana, as lawmakers voted to approve Governor Ralph Northams proposed changes to a bill that will allow adults to possess and cultivate small amounts of the drug starting in July.

Northam sent the bill back to lawmakers substantially changed from the version that squeaked out of the General Assembly in February.

The amendments lawmakers agreed to this month would accelerate the timeline of legalization by about three years, well before retail sales would begin, a move thats been cheered by racial justice advocates.

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.

Northam said the state has 'made history as the first state in the South to legalize the simple possession of marijuana.'

'Marijuana laws were explicitly designed to target communities of color, and Black Virginians are disproportionately likely to be stopped, charged, and convicted,' he said.

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.

So far, 34 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana in some form, including recreational use, medical use and sales

Gov. Ralph Northam (seen above in October) announced earlier this month that Virginia is making history as the first state in the south to legalize marijuana

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 $274million. The legal industry could bring in between $698 million and $1.2 billionannually 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, the 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.

'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.
She's been residing in the United Arab Emirates for nearly a year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And Georgia Harrison continued to live it up as she enjoyed a pool day in Dubai on Sunday.

The Love Island star, 26, commanded attention as she showcased her stunning figure in a sky print two-piece by IttyBittyKinis.

In her element: Georgia Harrison continued to live it up as she enjoyed a pool day in Dubai on Sunday

Highlighting her toned abs, the influencer caught the eye in her swimwear set, featuring a triangle bralet, briefs and a matching kaftan.

Georgia accentuated her naturally radiant complexion by going make-up free, and wore her tresses in a half up half down fashion.

The businesswoman had recently taken a short break from social media after dealing with past traumatic relationship drama.

Working it: The Love Island star, 26, commanded attention as she showcased her stunning figure in a sky print two-piece by IttyBittyKinis

All in the details: Highlighting her toned abs, the influencer caught the eye in her swimwear set, featuring a triangle bralet, briefs and a matching kaftan

In a tearful video, Georgia vowed to remain silent until she could 'speak her truth' after her ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear was arrested.

The CBB star, 31, was arrested for allegedly filming them having sex without Georgia's consent and posting the video online.

While the blonde didn't name her ex in the video, she appeared to issue a stark warning by saying she would 'scream every second of her story from the rooftop' after keeping silent since her ex Stephen was arrested.

She wrote: 'Cannot wait until the time I can speak my truth about everything I'm going through the lies, the heartbreak, the deception, the manipulation.

'Being stripped of my privacy and laughed at. Imagine having young daughters and supporting that sort of abuse on a social platform. How embarrassing.'

She said: 'At the end of the day anything that happens in the dark eventually gets shed light on, you might be able to get away with things for a little bit, but karma always gets you. Always.'

After taking a brief social media break in February, Georgia has returned to social media where she has been posted updates from her life in Dubai.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
A 21-year-old student from the University of Sydney might have solved one of the most common problems with quantum computing in his first academic paper, which could possibly change how the technology works permanently.

According to a recent report from ABC Australia, second-year physics student Pablo Bonillas code received attention from researchers at Yale University and Duke University, while e-commerce giant Amazons AWS platform might include his fix for what is being called a decades-old quantum computing problem.

Also read: A Swiss company claims it used quantum computers to find weakness in encryption

The 21-year-olds code has remarkable error-correcting properties  all thanks to a simple modification to code that has been in use for almost two decades, according to assistant professor Shruti Puri, from Yale Universitys quantum research program. "What amazes me about this new code is its sheer elegance," she told ABC Australia.

According to Bonillas co-author Ben Brown, only the smallest of changes were made to a chip that is widely used, but the chip started doing a lot better and that it was amazing to him that nobody had spotted it in the for the past two decades. Dr Brown also told ABC Australia that his student had been leading from the front and that he had no doubt he would go a long way.

Read more: Meity, AWS to set up Quantum Computing Applications Lab in India

While computers have gotten a lot faster over the past few decades, researchers have been working on quantum computers, which employ quantum mechanics to solve problems faster than a regular computer. Quantum computers are also being developed in order to perform a large number of computations to eventually solve problems with healthcare, diagnostics, research, finance, trading, meteorology, logistics, marketing, agriculture, security and defence and much more.
With long-haul travel still on hold, most of us are missing the little things: the sound of our passports being stamped, the plushness of hotel pillows and the calm that only comes after switching on your Out of Office. With the trans-Tasman travel bubble set to open on Monday, now is the time to reacquaint yourself with those feelings closer to home. Whether youre headed to the South Island or North Island, youll find awe-inspiring views and serene landscapes, from snow-capped peaks and pristine lakes to native flora and tranquil bushwalks.

Aro Has programs are designed to regenerate mind and body.

Aro Ha

This is a place that needs no introduction. The multi-award winning, world-renowned retreat merges wellness traditions with luxury, offering varied programmes designed to regenerate mind and body. In Te Reo, Aro Ha translates to in the presence of divine breath. From waking to the chimes of a Tibetan bowl and watching the sunrise over the mountains from the yoga studio to exploring the local subalpine trails and daily massages. Guests are encouraged to switch off from technology, enjoy vegetarian cuisine and review their awareness for a mind-body reboot.

33 Station Valley Road, Glenorchy, 9372, aro-ha.com
Sarah Halimi, pictured, was killed and thrown from her balcony by Kobili Traore in April 2017 while the drug dealer was suffering a cannabis-fueled psychotic episode

France's top court will not prosecute a Muslim man who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he allegedly pushed a Jewish woman from the balcony of her apartment block because he was in a psychotic state from cannabis.

The Court of Cassation's Supreme Court of Appeals upheld a previous ruling that the defendant, Kobili Traore, cannot be held criminally responsible for the killing of Jewish woman Sarah Halimi in Paris in April 2017 after smoking up to 15 cannabis joints a day triggered a psychotic episode.

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, Halimi, who was 65, was beaten before being thrown from her apartment building.

Traore reportedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is great' in Arabic) as he pushed the Jewish woman to her death. He is also claimed to have said: 'I have killed the devil.'

Wednesday's decision to not allow the defendant to take the stand as he was not considered criminally responsible has angered Jewish and anti-racism groups.

The heavy cannabis user has remained in a psychiatric facility since the victim's death in April 2017.

According to the New York Times, Traore was also dealing drugs from his flat and was paranoid because of his drug use.

French judges ruled Kobili Traore's heavy cannabis use caused a 'delirious fit' while carrying out the killing and was therefore not mentally fit to stand trial

One psychiatric report said a religious icon hanging from Halimi's door 'amplified the frantic outburst of hate'.

The court said he suffered a 'delirious fit' while carrying out the killing and was therefore not responsible for his actions.

Halimi's death has sparked debate over increasing anti-Semitism among Muslim youths in predominantly migrant areas of Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron previously criticised the lower court's decision in January last year, adding that there was a 'need for a trial' despite the judge ruling that the defendant was not criminally responsible.

Jewish groups said the decision highlights France's failure to deal with growing anti-Semitism.

The decision to block the prosecution of Traore was condemned by Jewish representatives as the attack was anti-Semitic. While throwing his victim from the balcony Traore called out 'God is Great' in Arabic before claiming he had just 'killed the devil'

Francis Kalifat, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, said: 'From now on in our country, we can torture and kill Jews with complete impunity.'

The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism said after the decision: 'This is an additional drama that adds to this tragedy.'

Meanwhile, the victim's family has said they plan to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Muriel Ouaknine Melki, the lawyer for the victim's brother, said: 'It's a bad message for French Jewish citizens.'

The court accepted that Traore, now in his early 30s, had anti-Semitic views linked to the killing, but accepted the defence's claim that he was psychotic at the time and should be placed in a psychiatric institution.
Burning questions remain regarding the COVID epidemic. Where did it come from? How did it spread? Who is responsible? The key question is whether we are dealing with the release, accidental or not, of a lab-created pathogen. The Russian and Chinese press continue to pump out articles holding America guilty, but they serve as a smokescreen for ill-run Chinese labs.

In March 2020, the Russian monthly Zvezda ([Red] Star) blamed George Soros for financing "the laboratory in Wuhan, China, that developed and released the coronavirus in late 2019," blaming America by association. The mainstream American media are quick to dismiss that claim as "disinformation." Yet perhaps it is Russian mis-information, a propagandized account shaping public opinion of something that actually happened, some lab accident at a Chinese laboratory. However grossly hyped, this claim still deserves investigation to determine whether or not the novel coronavirus was released in a laboratory accident connected to American-funded research facilities located in Wuhan, China.

In July 2020, two researchers, Jonathan Latham and Allison Wilson, released the results of their investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). They discovered that the most closely related coronavirus genome sequences to COVID, BtCoV/4991 (98.7% identical) and RaTG13 (96.2% identical), were obtained from live bats collected from a mineshaft in China's Yunnan Province in 20122013 by scientists working under Zheng-li Shi at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). Their purpose was to determine the source of a mysterious illness contracted by six miners working there in spring 2012; three of them had died. The Chinese doctor who supervised their treatment made this the subject of his master's thesis, which Latham and Wilson translated and used as a source. Unlike its near relatives, SAR-CoV-2 has a variant region of its viral spike protein that greatly enhances viral spread in the body. Another puzzling feature is that SARS-CoV-2 targets the lungs, which is unusual for a coronavirus.

Zheng-li Shi's laboratory at WIV was one of the two Chinese research facilities in Wuhan working with bat coronavirus. Not George Soros or the Gates Foundation, but rather Anthony Fauci's NIAID awarded a continuing grant through the EcoHealth Alliance to fund Shi's research, the Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence Project, starting on 1 June 2014 and scheduled to end on 24 April 2020. Between 2014 and 2017, a total of $1,893,999 was awarded for the Shi lab experiments, WIV's share in EcoHealth's NIH grants of a total $3.25 million over five years in 2015, followed by another $3.7 million, five-year renewal in 2019. As part of that research, the Wuhan lab conducted in vitro and in vivo research using S protein sequences, infectious cloning technology, and other genetic recombinant experiments to test the potential of these novel bat coronaviruses to lead to disease pandemics.

A group of Russian virologists working in Wuhan laboratories before they were evacuated from Hubei Province in late January 2020 maintain that the large genome of the so-called "Chinese" coronavirus, its long incubation period, and the severe pulmonary edema it causes are all factors that make it a potentially pandemic pathogen or PPP. They drew attention to a 2015 research article in the journal Nature Medicine that discussed the design of a "chimera" or lab-created bat coronavirus rendered capable of infecting human cells. All fifteen researchers worked for the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV (COVID) virus pandemic. According to these researchers, they combined bat coronavirus SHC014 with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV. The result was a novel virus capable of replicating efficiently in the human airway. In vitro experiments with mice demonstrated its replication in the lung tissue "with notable pathogenesis"  development of disease. One telling feature is that young mice infected with their novel coronavirus recovered with few ill effects, while elderly mice succumbed to a cytokine storm  precisely like the human victims of COVID.

In 2015  after they had published research with level-4 pathogens, describing their creation of a recombinant SHC014/SARS-CoV virus  WIV became China's very first BSL-4 facility. Only then was the Wuhan laboratory properly equipped for research into a level-4 pathogen like the coronavirus. To initiate the necessary ongoing monitoring of the lab, as a BSL-4 facility, in January 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing sent American science diplomats to WIV. After their first visit, the U.S. inspection team immediately reported their findings to Washington in two "Sensitive but Unclassified" cables. The 19 January 2018 cable warned that "[d]uring interactions with scientists at the WIV laboratory, they noted the new lab has a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory." Their first cable further warned that the WIV's work with bat coronaviruses and their potential for human transmission risked the emergence of a new, SARS-like pandemic.

The NIH threatened to terminate the grant, claiming that EcoHealth's research "failed to align with agency priorities." Yet as secretary of state Mike Pompeo has noted, NIAID's entire purpose in continuing to fund and affiliate with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a longstanding Chinese biomedical laboratory, was "to protect the American people from labs that aren't up to standard." Professor Justin Fendos, the former director of the Tan School of Genetics at China's Fudan University, visited many such research facilities in China, and "can say with some authority that safety standards can, in many cases, fall short of what you would expect in the United States." Accordingly, in August 2020, NIAID awarded a new grant to WUV's Li laboratory, specifically for gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses.

Many scientists have criticized gain of function research (GOF), the methodology employed at the WIV. GOF involves manipulating viruses in the laboratory, including genetic recombination, to explore their potential for infecting humans, risking the start of a pandemic from the accidental release of what would be a novel virus. Regarding GOF research, Director Thomas Inglesby of Johns Hopkins' Center for Health Security admits, "even in the greatest laboratories of the world, there are mistakes." Dr. Martin Furmanski of the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation published a historical review of outbreaks of PPPs that occurred from laboratory releases, including three separate escapes of SARS: from the National University of Singapore in August 2003; from a Taiwanese SARS research scientist who contracted it at a medical meeting in Singapore in December 2003; and from a nurse in Beijing, China, who had treated a laboratory researcher with China's National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Beijing who had fallen ill in March 2004. After investigating the 2003 outbreaks, two previously unrecognized, additional SARS laboratory infections at the NIV in February 2004 were identified. The WHO found other shortcomings in the handling of live SARS virus at the NIV, plus a lack of surveillance of laboratory personnel for laboratory-acquired infections.

Given the international problem of laboratory safety and the genuine concerns regarding GOF research, a thorough investigation of these U.S.-funded laboratories seems in order. Any U.S. investigation should ignore the media pundits and simply discover the truth.

Lynn Corum is a translator who studies developments in the Russian press that affect America's national interests. She has been researching and writing on Putin's stated plans since 2009 and is a world expert on Project Russia, the Kremlin's published state ideology.

Image via Pxhere.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Oregon softball couldnt hold on to a one-run lead in the opening game of Saturdays doubleheader at Washington, but it made up for it with a run-rule win in the nightcap.

Terra McGowan and Shaye Bowden each went 2 for 3 with an RBI in a 4-2 loss for the No. 4 Ducks to the No. 6 Huskies to start the afternoon in Seattle and Rachel Cid hit a grand slam and Allee Bunker hit a three-run double in a 10-1 win in five inning for UO to earn a split on the day.

In the opening game, which counts for Pac-12 play, Washington (33-6, 11-2 Pac-12) took the early lead on a solo home run by Sami Reynolds, her second in as many days.

Bowden tied it was a blast down the left field line in the third and McGowan added an RBI single to put the Ducks ahead 2-1.

Samaria Diaz struck out four of the first eight batters she faced and worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the third but lost command in the fourth and left with the bases loaded and one out. She allowed four runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batter in 3.1 innings.

Brooke Yanez walked in the tying run and Sis Bates hit a two-run single to put UW back on top 4-2.

Oregon (28-7, 6-5 Pac-12) got a runner on third with one out in the sixth but couldnt capitalize against Gabbie Plain, who struck out six and allowed two runs on seven hits, a walk and two hit batters in the complete game win to improve to 22-0.

In the nightcap, Taryn Atlee hit an RBI single to give Washington a 1-0 lead after two, but it was one of just two hits allowed by Makenna Kliethermes over 5.0 innings.

Cids grand slam to left put Oregon ahead 4-1 in the third.

Bowden hit an RBI single down the line in right, Deijah Pangilinan hit a two-run single and Bunker hit a bases-clearing double to right-center to cap a six-run fifth.

Kelley Lynch (5-5) allowed four runs on three hits and four walks over 3.0 innings and Brooke Nelson was tagged for six run on four hits, two walks and a hit batter over 1.1 innings for UW.

The teams conclude the series at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Veteran yacht owners have been joined on the high seas over the past year by a flotilla of newer sailors, cast adrift from the corporate offices where once they were moved. Thanks to the popularity of yachts as floating pandemic pods, the shipbuilding market is now hot and on fire, according to the president of one large brokerage firm. To wit, a few telling stats: Sales of new powerboats, including yachts, increased an estimated 12 percent in the US last year, but that figure doesnt reflect the substantial number of American-owned vessels registered in more tax-friendly countries. At MarineMax, the worlds largest recreational boat and yacht retailer, revenue for the quarter ending December 2020 rose 35 percent, to a record $411.5 million, compared to the same period in 2019. Globally, the number of pre-owned vessels longer than 78 feet sold in January jumped 55 percent compared to January 2020.

As yachtings fortunes have risen, the cruise-line industry has sunk, leaving countless deckhands, chefs and stewardesses unemployed, and owners awash with applications from crew, some so desperate they are offering to work for free. Yet even in this flooded market, competition for exceptional crew remains fierce and has fueled a new spate of an old maritime taboo: crew poaching. Its a practice worth guarding against, because as proprietor, your happiness at the apex of nautical hierarchy predicated on rank is largely dependent on attractingand retainingan excellent team.

More from Robb Report

There are two parallel universes within the crew recruitment. One, inhabited by placement agencies, casts doubt on poachings very existence. Its an industry with a lot of integrity, insists Michael Jacobs, managing director of M/Y Crew Agency, a superyacht recruitment firm. There is a gentlemans agreement not to poach staff. Anyone has the right to terminate their contract at a months notice, he acknowledges, but theres a lot of loyalty to a boat or a captain. Crew dont jump from one boat to the next.

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Though pilfering crew is undoubtedly considered poor form, other agencies admit some recruiters resort to it when desperate to fill openings. We do hear of poaching, says Chloe Collet, a senior recruiter for captains and officers at YPI Crew in Antibes, in the South of France. But she adds the practice is not part of our ethics. One agent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says its not quite the rarity that has been claimed; some recruiters have no scruples. Having collected a fee for placing a new staff member, certain agencies will not hesitate to lift them off that yacht straight to another one, this agent tells Robb Report. If the yacht has a large crew with shifting layers of management, the owner might be unaware of the high turnoverand of whos to blame.

Even with the influx of cruise employees, top-rate yachties know theyre in high demand, particularly with so many more boats on the water. Most crew who jump ship do so not through agencies but through the old-fashioned grapevine. In this world you have nice little networks of friends of friends, so its word of mouth, says Katie-Lee Grant, a 30-year-old superyacht purser. You can seek a job without the vessel knowing. On agencies websites you can say you are confidentially looking.

Crew regard this hyper-mobility as legitimate within a labor market that treats them as replaceable. Crew are very dispensable, says Jay, a 30-year-old first officer who asked that we not use his last name. I could leave today and theyd find someone else tomorrow. Theres always someone waiting on the dock for your job.

Jay, whos based on a family yacht in Florida, says he was recently offered his first captains role by a contact who previously poached him once before. Jay is weighing whether to accept, because his current employer just upgraded to a 150-footer and hes very loyal to the family, he says. Im still considering, waiting to hear the perks, itinerary and salary.

Owners and captains can sometimes persuade valuable crew to stay by dangling pay raises and promotions, but the new big lures are coveted equal-rotation contracts, which allow as much paid time onshore as at sea. (More common rotational contracts require three, four or five times as many months sailing as on leave.) Wages are dependent not only on experience but also on the size of the yacht.

A deckhand can take home $3,000 to $5,000 a month, while a captains monthly salary might range from $10,000 on a 140-foot vessel to $30,000 or more on anything over 280 feet. Its such a small industry, with no shortage of cash, so if someone is exceptional, an owner and captain will look after that person, says Jacobs. They reward hard work and look after their crew with paid leave, rotation and handsome salaries. On most large boats there will be a Michelin-trained crew cook employed at the boats expense to feed the crew whenever they want.

It pays to invest a lot of effort in crew harmony, says Luca Regusci, the owner of Miamaa, a 105-foot yacht that Benetti delivered in 2012. Regusci, 67, sails the Mediterranean from May to September each year with his family and a small crew of four: a captain and a stewardess (gendered roles remain common) who have been on board since the boats launch, plus a chef and an engineer. We have always tried to form and maintain a close-knit and collaborative group, he says.

Regusci, from Lugano, Switzerland, believes that a happy crew makes a happy owner. His hiring requirements are as follows: first of all, proven professionalism and demonstrable seriousness. Second, each candidate is evaluated as a member of a team in which they must collaborate and share life on board. Targeted hiring with group dynamics in mind ensures tranquility, he says.

By all accounts, Regusci is an outlier. Superyachts seem to have a never-ending churn of staff, and even owners of smaller yachts, at sea for just part of the year, need to recruit for at least some positions annuallyif theyre lucky.

Yacht crew are notorious for boat-hopping midseason. Some are poached by other boats offering better pay, others flee a bullying captain and some just leave on a whim, says Grant, the superyacht purser. They will get a bee in their bonnet and theyre out of here. Then its a snowball effect, and [suddenly] youve lost 10 crew.

Many yachties are permanently scanning the horizon for a better berth. Looking for work is your other profession, says a 44-year-old super-yacht chef. You have to be good at it. Its a very fluid industry, and I like that because it allows you to take risks. If its a miserable boat, you can just pack your bags. This major perk of crew lifemobilityis a major pain in the neck for employers, who must factor in placement fees, retraining, security considerations and nondisclosure agreements for every new staff member. Owners like to see the same faces, says Grant. They know their personal preferences. Every time the crew changes you have to teach them again.

So, if youre a boat owner, how do you keep hold of your best people?

When recruiting, look for evidence of longevity and loyalty, advises Jacobs, as well as superior service, utter discretion and a ridiculous work ethic. The best crew, as well as knowing the finest fishing spots in the Exumas or where to procure caviar in Colombia, are willing to go beyond the job description to help the team. Jay describes how, at the end of his shift on deck, he often lends a hand in the galley, decorating desserts and cleaning plates. The best engineer he ever worked with, he says, was a former Porsche mechanic who pitched in with wash downs and in the galley. Another engineer baked fresh bread for guests and crew alike. Such are the ingredients of a happy ship.

Owners usually delegate poaching prevention to the captain. But dont make the mistake of thinking your trusted skipper is impervious to a better offer himself (the vast majority of captains are still men), or that he is not enticing crew from other yachts.

Or worse. A captain will leave, and if he had a couple of great crew members he will certainly try to take them to his new vessel, says Jenifer Mosley, first mate on the Dorothea III, a 147-foot explorer yacht belonging to Steven Green, a former US ambassador to Singapore. Sometimes, according to Collet, the recruiter, a captain might take his whole crew to another vessel.

If, as an owner, you want to see the same trusted team every time you come down to breakfast, if you do not want to have to re-explain how you like your shirts folded, martinis mixed and eggs cooked, you must aim to join that rare species of boss who treats crew like family, in the words of one seasoned captain, Chris, who spoke on the condition that we not use his real name. We call them unicorns. Every yachtie is always looking for their unicorn, he says.

Neglecting the crew, or allowing the captain to rule by fear, is a mistake that will cost you your staff. After all, boat-hopping can be driven as much by poor working conditions as by juicy job offers. Marianne (not her real name), a 35-year-old former stewardess who now works as a yacht broker in Florida, recalls her first job as a crew-mess stew (short for steward) on a 200-footer: The best part of my day was taking out the trash, because it was the only time I got to go outside, she says. People always say how cool it is to work on a yacht I remember thinking once, while detailing a toilet hinge with a toothpick and Q-tip, Is this really my life? 

After a while, she applied to the captain for a job on deck, to which he responded,  Females belong inside, cleaning and serving,  Marianne says. Its very common, unfortunately. You are always fighting against the idea that girls dont belong on deck.

Things did not improve after she jumped ship to a smaller yacht. Some captains think they are God and can do whatever they want, she says. I got touched up a lot. Yachting is really hard because theres no HR department, no one you can speak to. Thats the dirty side of yachting that does not get talked about a lot. Sexual and verbal abuse are very common. When she finally complained to the owner, he went to the captain and I lost my job.

The power dynamic between captain and owner can be tempestuous, according to Mosley, the first mate, who, having worked for the same family for 20 years, seems to have found her unicorn. Theres inclement weather and the captain says we shouldnt go out, but the owner will override them, she says. Then its up to the captainare you willing to lose your job? They end up in bad weather, and things get broken. You are moving a multimillion-dollar condo on the water, and when the crystal falls over, the ocean doesnt care.

Some owners, according to Chris, also jeopardize safety by depriving the crew of sleep. The veteran captain recalls once, after an 18-hour day, the crew were getting ready to go to sleep, and the owners were out partying on an island in the Bahamas. I was asked to load up the tender with fireworks and go out to a private island 10 miles away to [set] them off. If an accident happens because the crew has done 22 hours without sleep, that falls on me.

Guests bad behavior is another tricky area. Guests often barely sleep, says Anita Rogers, president and founder of British American Household Staffing, especially if theyre a younger group whove chartered for a couple of weeks to have a ton of fun. Chefs and chief stewardesses get fed up answering calls for food and drink at all hours of the night, while other demands are beyond the call of duty. Tales of guests, in Chriss words, getting a little too handsy with crew members of both sexes are common.

Guests shenanigans can go so far as to risk the captains arrest. Paul Triporo, a Florida-based captain who has worked for high-profile families in the US and overseas, recalls being boarded by the US Coast Guard after one of its vessels passed by and suspected his charter guests of smoking marijuana on deck, which he was unware of. They tore the hell out of that boat, Triporo says. The Coast Guard found lots of cocaine, four or five kilos, hidden in the bed. The only thing that saved [me] is that the bag had a travel tag with the [guests] name on it. Even so, Triporo was handcuffed and taken back to Miami, because under maritime law captains are usually responsible for contraband. He was released only after passing a polygraph test. After that I quit charters, he says.

Its also not unheard of for guests to try to poach crew for their own yachts. Sometimes they want to be served cocktails and be taken to the beach and given hand towels, says Jay. Other times they want to get to know the crew. He knows of guests who have kept in touch with staff, bought their own boat, called the first mate and said, Hey, were looking for a captain. 

Superyachts in particular struggle to retain employees. On a recent trip to St. Barts, Rogers recalls talking to some crew who worked for a Russian billionaire on a huge yacht and, desperate to fill a spot quickly, were game to poach. Superyachts are not popular to work on, even though everyone is paid massive sums. Theyre too big, with not much of a team atmosphere. The problem, she says, is the recklessness inherent in owning a depreciating money pit. If you have a 400-foot yacht, you have to be able to throw that money away, she says. Maybe that disposable attitude filters down through the staff.

Reguscis fellow yacht-owners rarely approach crew recruitment and retention with due skill and care, he says. I very often hear negative statements from owners complaining about the crew. For my part, I always say that every owner has the crew he deserves.

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Karan Kkundra and Anusha Dandekars breakup disappointed their fans as they wanted to see the two who gave others hope through their show, Love School, end up together but who knew that the future didnt hold this for them. Just yesterday, Karan told in his interview with Times Of India that he hasnt moved on even if she has. While Anusha has found love in Jason Shah, Karan admits it is not easy for him to enter another relationship.

I am single. I dont think I have recovered yet. My family, childhood best friends, and friends in the city have tried their best to set me up with someone, but its hard to get into a relationship at the moment. Had it been 10 years ago, I would have immediately entered another relationship, but you mature with time. I am glad that I am back to being close to my family, the actor told The Times Of India.

Anusha had accused Karan of cheating on her. When questioned about the same, the Dil Hi Toh Hai actor said in the same interview, I have remained silent out of respect for the relationship and I would like to keep it that way adding I have learnt a lot from Anusha, and I have a lot of respect for her and her family. How is it that these allegations are being levelled against me when there is a development on my professional front? Why hasnt any other person, who I have been in a relationship with, ever accused me of something as serious as this?

Karans statements have come after Anushas Ask Me Anything session on Instagram during which she opened up on experiencing heartbreak. When a fan questioned her about how she dealt with her breakup with Karan Kundrra, the MTV VJ wrote, You know I wasnt torn from inside, I was more shocked and disappointed in what I had accepted all these years when I stepped away and saw the reality of what was going onhow much self-love and self-respect I had allowed myself to lose I really broke my own heartif that makes sense.

After his interview started to get traction, Anusha also didnt hold back and chose to take a dig at him with cryptic posts she posted in the morning. She said she was sad that people believe their own lies and the stories they make up in their heads.

People, who are mad at you for speaking the truth are those people, who are living a lie. Keep speaking the truth, read another note. Anusha captioned these notes, writing, I woke up like this and I may not be a lot of things but the one thing I am is honest! Happy happy Sunday #tellyourtruth.

We hope it doesnt get murkier anymore after this.
Kent Police are urging anyone who recognises a man in a computer-generated image to get in touch. (Kent Police)

A man has been arrested after a woman in her 60s was tied up and burgled in her own home.

The woman was forced inside her home by a man who asked her for a drink of water, then was assaulted.

The man assaulted her and took money and valuables then tied her up. She was found by police at her home in Frittenden, Kent, two days after the incident on Easter Sunday.

An investigation was launched by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate and on Sunday Kent Police said a man has been arrested in connection with the aggravated burglary.

The 29-year-old, from the Headcorn area of Kent, was arrested on April 16 and taken into custody but has since been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

The burglary happened in Frittenden, Kent, on Easter Sunday. (Google Maps)

Police have urged anyone with any information to get in touch, and are also asking anyone who can identify a man pictured in a computer-generated image released by detectives to get in touch.

In a statement, the force said: "Residents who live in the vicinity and have privately held CCTV, or doorbell cameras, are also asked to contact officers if they suspect they have footage that can assist with enquiries and have not done so already."

In an initial appeal for witnesses, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber said: "The victim has endured a harrowing and traumatic ordeal and we are appealing to members of the public to help us find the person responsible."

Anybody with information should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/56590/21, or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or by using an online form.
Press Release

April 18, 2021 Angara encourages LGUs, NGAs and businesses to help out with the community pantries Senator Sonny Angara today urged the government and more private entities to replicate the community pantries that have been sprouting up in various areas across the country. What was apparently started in Maginhawa in Quezon City has now been replicated in several other areas within and outside of Metro Manila with the intention of helping Filipinos who are in need of assistance in their own small way. "It is encouraging to see more Filipinos demonstrating the bayanihan spirit by putting up community pantries for the benefit of people who are struggling during these very challenging times," Angara said. "Maliit na bagay kung tutuusin ang pamamahagi ng libreng gulay, prutas, bigas, tubig o noodles ng isang tao, pamilya o grupo ng tao, para sa mga naghihirap sa panahon na ito dahil sa nawalan sila ng hanapbuhay ay malaking tulong na ito para mapatid ang gutom hanggang sa makaahon na sila muli sa pandemiya na hinaharap ng ating bansa," Angara added. Angara said that these small efforts by private citizens could have an even greater impact if the government and businesses will participate, starting in the areas where they are situated. "We encourage our local government units, the national government, and even private businesses who can afford it to replicate and even scale up these community pantries to cater to even more people," Angara said. The Senator argued that huge budgets are not necessary here because during these trying times, any kind of help that will go to those in need is appreciated. Manufacturers of food products for instance can share their production through their own pantries or just bring them over to the existing operations in their respective areas. "One small gesture when duplicated by a large number of people will amount to something very meaningful," Angara said.
Dont hold your breath awaiting the emergency of billions of cicadas in the Capital Region later this spring. Despite the hype surrounding the mass emergence of Brood X cicadas, they wont crawling out of the ground in this area or anywhere else in New York because they dont live here.

Lots of people by now have seen or read about Brood X, a variety of cicadas (thumbnail-sized insects) that live and grow underground emerging once every 17 years to breed and lay their eggs before dying after a few weeks.



While hard to spot and harmless, their sound is ubiquitous when and where they do emerge due their distinctive rattling sound. Most people have heard it, but the Brood X, due to its size, is supposed to be unusually loud - creating a thrum that can approach 100 decibels, similar to a subway train rushing by.

There have been scattered media reports, along with some web-based maps, suggesting they will be found around the Capital Region. But that is not the case said Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, an entomologist with Cornell University's Integrated Pest Management program.

In reality, they are expected to emerge in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia.

That doesnt mean there are no cicadas in the region. But Brood X, or the Great Eastern Brood, consists of three species that emerge once every 17 years. They are identifiable by their red eyes.

There may be other misconceptions. Brood X isnt some mystical allusion to X-Files or an unknown factor. It merely signifies the number 10. There is, for example a Brood VI, which emerged in the Hudson Valley in 2012. All in all there are 20 known broods.

The various broods emerge at 11, 13 or 17-year cycles, said Gangloff-Kaufmann.

The periodic appearances is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation. By spending just a few weeks above ground, they limit their exposure to predators such as birds or squirrels.

The years between the emergence events are delineated in prime numbers, that is they are only divisible by one. One theory for that it that its another evolutionary tactic to prevent different broods from overlapping with cyclical population swings among predators such as robins or wasps.

Its a universal biological strategy, said Gangloff-Kauffman, who explained that even trees do that, as evidenced by how acorns are abundant in some years but not others.

Historically, Long Island has been Brood X territory but Gangloff-Kaufmann said that 17 years ago in 2004, when there were supposed to emerge, they couldnt be found.

They may be extinct on Long Island, probably because of development and pesticide use.

When you remove trees and build houses, you lose all tree-root feeding insects. There are a few but most noticeable are cicadas. Then you install lawns and use grub control. You finish them off, she said.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
A former Mobile police officer is facing charges of sexual extortion.

Jamorris Cage, 27, turned himself in after he was charged with the sex crime, according to Mobile police on Saturday. He was charged with two counts of sexual extortion.

Mobile police did not provide any additional details. It was also unclear when Cage was last a member of the Mobile Police Department.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With every adult New Yorker now eligible for the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, community leaders want to ensure that people of color on Staten Island have access and are educated about the vaccine.

Thats why the CANVAS Institute of Arts, Culture, and Civic Engagement held a virtual panel with Staten Island community leaders titled COVID-19 Vaccine Concern Among Black and Brown Communities to address the issue.

Panelists included Amoy Barnes, city council candidate for District 49; Hina Naveed, registered nurse and law school graduate; Robyn Piper, summer youth employment director for New York Center for Interpersonal Development (NYCID), and Reverend Judy L. Brown, Bethel Community Church pastor and executive director of African Refuge Inc.

Approximately two dozen live participants took part in the panel, which was hosted by executive director of CANVAS Institute, Bobby Digi.

DISPROPORTIONATE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND EDUCATION ABOUT COVID-19

Panelists explained that people of color have been struggling throughout the pandemic to get equal access to COVID-19 resources and education about the vaccines.

Information and access were huge barriers, and so was transparency and accountability, Naveed explained. Were in a place now where there is still mistrust and lack of access, and that has to do with the [COVID-19] response in the beginning and the former presidential administration.

This mistrust, Naveed said, only contributes to the lack of access to vaccines in communities of color.

When the data showed that people of color were not getting vaccinated, it was reduced to, oh, theres mistrust of the government, and thats why people arent vaccinated, she said. And while that may be part of the reason, what nobody really addressed was the access issues.

Several panelists noted that the lack of a public hospital system on Staten Island is particularly damaging to people of color, who may not be able to get access otherwise.

The community does not have a public health hospital, which means that we rely on health systems and clinics. Those individuals who cannot access systems and services, where do you go for treatment? said Rev. Brown.

One of the main takeaways from the panel was that Staten Island as a whole has been neglected when it comes to COVID-19, panelists said.

In New York City, Staten Island is often thought of as the forgotten borough, and you can see it in the way that resources and staff members are allocated, Naveed explained. A local Staten Islander had to come up with a texting app service and be online every 15 minutes to send out text alerts for Staten Islanders.

The texting service was created by Natalie DeVito -- a Westerleigh native and a board member of the Staten Island Long-Term Recovery Organization -- who has been advocating for access to coronavirus vaccines for months.

The lack of access to information about the vaccine and mistrust in the community and government proves that something has to change, said Piper.

NEXT STEPS TO CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE STATEN ISLAND

When asked about how people of color on Staten Island can be given the same level of access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Rev. Brown explained that having more diversity in the medical field is a start.

There has been a movement, which [COVID-19] highlighted, that in order for our population of Black men to stop dying, there needs to be more Black doctors, who are actually reaching out and treating Black men, Rev. Brown explained. If we want to see the changes in the trajectory of Black men -- who are actually dying prematurely from curable health diseases -- as well as [COVID-19], there needs to be an outreach effort to begin educating young, Black males now so that they can be introduced to the field of medicine and begin to increase the number of Black men who are actually in the doctors office.

Rev. Brown explained that Black medical professionals inspire trust in the Black community, which is one reason why diversity in medicine is so critical.

Many times, health disparities are placed at the feet of the people who are directly impacted, Naveed said. Its a multipart effort. You have to work with key stakeholders who already have trust in the communities... and the second part is addressing the social determinant and the systemic issues related to access.

Overall, the panelists explained that giving access to communities of color to become vaccinated is an effort that needs to be made by individuals, institutions, and the government working together.

We have to work together to bring about change, Rev. Brown said. Our job has to be to make sure that our communities have the information, help them make educated decisions about the vaccine, make sure that they are being tested, and continually provide them with relevant, current information to make decisions that will effect their lives, their childrens lives, and the lives of our seniors.
The Czech Republic ordered 18 Russian diplomats to leave the country after Czech intelligence linked Russian military agents to a massive ammunition depot explosion near Vrbetice on October 20, 2014.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis told reporters late on April 17 that the decision to expel the Russians was made on the basis of "unequivocal evidence" provided by investigators from the Czech intelligence and security services.



The Czech Republic "must react to these unprecedented revelations in a corresponding manner, Babis said.
OROVILLE, Calif. - Oroville will have a new park, but it will be different than other typical parks and playgrounds. It will be a special park for kids and families with special needs.

The project means so much to the Wallace family.

Avalynn was a vibrant 7-year-old who lost her battle with AML leukemia after three years, said Nicole Wallace, Avalynns mother.

We miss her a lot," she continued. We want to give back with the journey that we faced and the hardship we went through and really just try to make it a better place for families who are going through that.

Not only does the family get to honor their daughter, it will also be a place for all children across the region, including those with disabilities.

Our family was raised with a brother with down syndrome, so we are very familiar with not being able to do things with a family, Danielle Devine, Avalynns aunt, explained. This park is really inspired by Avalynn because she ended up in a wheelchair and she couldnt play with her sisters at a lot of places. This park is for families to be able to experience life together, parks together and swings together. A lot of our stuff is going to be all-inclusive which we are really excited about.

This park and playground will have a merry-go-round, swing zone, a slide mountain, a water spray ground, and much more.

The park will also feature 6 different camp cabins so people from all over can come and enjoy their stay.

Not only that, but this park will feature a Walkway of Heroes, an area in the park to celebrate those who have fought with cancer.

To make the groundbreaking even more special for the Wallace family, today would have been Avalynns 9th birthday.

Being Avalynns birthday, its been very emotional for me, Louie Wallace, Avalynns dad, said. I miss that little girl, but I know I dont have to worry about her anymore and that she is safe and in a good place.

Devine continued, This park is really born out of the heart of a family who misses their little girl but also knows the incredible impact she had on this community and our family. We want to do this in memory of her and to help other families who were like us.

Avalynns family told Action News Now that there isnt an accessible park like this north of Sacramento, but now, they hope to change that.

If youd like to learn more about Avies Place and would like to donate to the park, click here.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says home quarantine for vaccinated return travellers may become a reality from the second half of the year as he prepares for a meeting with state and territory leaders that will scrutinise the vaccine rollout and pandemic control measures.

Mr Morrison said the prospect for creating mass vaccination centres to help immunise those aged 50 to 70 would also be canvassed in the first of the new bi-weekly national cabinet meetings on Monday.

Mass vaccination sites are being considered earlier in the rollout, in a bid to speed the program up. Credit:Getty

Speaking in Adelaide on Sunday morning, the Prime Minister said it was not a matter of taking supplies off GPs, but rather boosting supplies to states as more doses arrive in the country.

I know some states are very interested in supporting larger vaccination programs now for people aged 50 to 70 and we are very open to discussing that with the states and looking forward to that discussion tomorrow, he said.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the People's National Convention (PNC), has indicated that the ongoing rift between officers of the party and its leader, Mr David Apasera, over the alleged misappropriation of the party's funds for the 2020 general election has sharply divided the rank of the party.

While dismissing claims by its National Communications Secretary, Mr Awudu Ishaq, over an alleged misappropriation of a supposed GH30,000 by the party's General Secretary, Ms Janet Nabla, the NEC cautioned that the unresolved issues had the potential of diminishing the fortunes of the party.



In a statement jointly issued and signed by the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Sulemana Seidu, and its Northern Regional Secretary, Mr Suale Karim, on behalf of NEC, the PNC urged its officers to resort to the structures of the party to resolve their differences.



Disagreements



The subtle discord among the leadership of the PNC was amplified when Mr Ishaq, in a statement dated April 11, 2021, accused its General Secretary of engaging in financial malfeasance.



He countered earlier accusations by the General Secretary against Mr Apasera of misappropriating the party's funds and failing to render transparent account on how funds that were mobilised for the 2020 election was expended.



Mr Ishaq indicated that the leadership of the party at its last NEC meeting in February this year caused the national treasurer of the party to render an account of how funds realised for the 2020 election was expended.



He said at the said meeting, which was attended by NEC members, including the General Secretary, the accounts rendered by the National Treasurer was deemed largely satisfactory by the NEC.



NEC reacts



In a sharp rebuttal, the NEC dismissed claims by Mr Ishaq that it expressed satisfaction about the account rendered by the treasurer at the said meeting.



We acknowledge the feud between our leader, Mr Apasera and our General Secretary, Ms Janet Nabla, which emanated from a certain GH30,000.00 being an amount received from the Electoral Commission of Ghana and which led to a discussion of another GH1.7 million being funds raised towards the 2020 general election.



An attempt was made to account for the GH1.7 million at the NEC meeting of February 27, 2021 but was clouded with so many clerical and basic arithmetic errors and was never deemed largely satisfactory' as claimed by Comrade Awudu in his statement, it explained.



According to the NEC, it was fully aware of every penny spent as far as the GH30,000 was concerned because we suggested to the General Secretary to give us the money to support our regional offices' rent advances.



It further indicated that it was waiting for the leader to present proper accounts to NEC for further deliberation.



We appeal to our leader, secretary and all interested parties to resort to the structures of the party to resolve their differences instead of bringing them to the media.



These media arguments, consequently, deteriorate the fortunes of the party, it urged.















Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Germany promises help for local staff amid Afghan withdrawal View Photo

BERLIN (AP)  The German defense minister says she wants to help bring some Afghan employees of her countrys military to Germany as it prepares to leave Afghanistan after nearly 20 years.

NATO allies including Germany are set to join the United States in pulling their remaining troops out of Afghanistan, starting on May 1. Germany currently has just over 1,000 troops participating in the mission there, and about 300 local employees.

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told German news agency dpa in comments published Sunday that she wants to get employees who may face danger if they remain in Afghanistan to Germany quickly.

We are talking here about people who in some cases have worked for years by our side, at danger to their own safety, also have fought with us and made their personal contribution, she said. I see it as a deep obligation for  Germany not to leave these people behind unprotected now that we are finally leaving the country.

The Welt am Sonntag newspaper, citing the Interior Ministry, reported that Germany plans to set up an office in Kabul and probably also one in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan to help process cases.

Germany already has a procedure to allow in some Afghan employees, under which the Defense Ministry says 781 have been taken in since 2013. However, there have been some disputed cases.

From my point of view, we have a changed situation because we are not talking about the rearrangement of a mission but about the end, Kramp-Karrenbauer said. And that possibly means a different security situation and a different evaluation.

Germany aims to complete its withdrawal by mid-August.
A company that's been trying for years to interview Boeing Co. workers in North Charleston about an engine fire that damaged a 787-9 Dreamliner might have sealed its own fate by asking the highest court in the land to review its case.

New York-based Servotronics Inc. is accused of making a defective valve for the Rolls-Royce Trent-1000 engine that caught fire during testing in 2016. The blaze caused $12.8 million in damages to the widebody plane, which London-based Rolls Royce has already paid to Boeing. Rolls Royce now wants to be reimbursed by Servotronics, with an arbitration hearing looming in the engine maker's hometown. The plane was later delivered to Virgin Atlantic following repairs.

Servotronics denies responsibility, and has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to settle a dispute over whether federal courts can force three Boeing workers to give statements to be used in the private arbitration hearing. Servotronics has said Boeing and Rolls Royce workers on site at the time caused the fire due to "numerous improper, inadequate and incorrect actions and failures to act."

The high court has agreed to consider the case, but not until this fall at the earliest.

That would be too late to help Servotronics, because the arbitration hearing in London is scheduled for May 10. The panel in charge of the proceeding already has said it won't delay it.

"In other words, less than a month from the hearing, Servotronics request to compel deposition testimony could be a now-or-never proposition," Charleston-based U.S. District Court Judge David Norton said in a ruling last week.

While Norton appeared to sympathize with Servotronics' plight, he denied the company's request for an emergency order requiring the Boeing workers to testify. He said he'll wait to see how the Supreme Court rules rather than try to guess what the justices' decision will be.

"Since it was Servotronics who ... (asked) the Supreme Court to weigh in ... it could be seen that Servotronics is the author of its own demise," Norton said in a footnote to his ruling.

While U.S. courts can provide assistance to parties participating in what federal law calls a "foreign tribunal," its not clear whether a private arbitration hearing fits the definition.

Norton ruled in 2018 that Servotronics did not have a right to interview the Boeing workers. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., reversed the decision last year, apparently paving the way for Servotronics to take testimony and obtain documents from the planemaker.

But in a sister case filed in Boeings home state of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal courts cannot be used to help parties obtain information for private, commercial arbitrations.

Other federal courts have made conflicting rulings on the matter, which is why the Supreme Court took the case to decide the matter once and for all.

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Lab partner

Vigilent Labs, a health and medical technology company in North Charleston, has formed a partnership with Seroclinix and Davenport Aviation to distribute COVID-19 tests to government customers.

The partnership will also distribute Vigilent's v.Pass technology  a personal digital health credential that is the size of a business card. The v.Pass includes personal health information such as test results that can be uploaded to a web portal.

The rapid-test kit partnership with SeroClinix produces accurate results in 10 minutes or less. Those results can then be converted into a digital credential for the v.Pass, offering near-real-time health surveillance. The technology was recently used to screen participants in the nine-day King of the Hammers off-road race in California's Mojave Desert.

Vigilent is investing $104.6 million in a test manufacturing facility at the former Navy base in North Charleston. In addition to coronavirus testing, the facility  which eventually will employ 400 people  will be able to produce tests for a range of viruses, bioweapons and other threats and track those threats digitally in real time.

Coates joins SPA board

Greenville attorney Bill Coates is set to become the newest member of the State Ports Authority's board of directors.

Gov. Henry McMaster announced Coates' appointment to the board that oversees the agency that owns and operates the Port of Charleston. The appointment still needs consent from the state Senate.

Coates, a former federal prosecutor, is an attorney at the law firm of Roe Cassidy Coates & Price, where he handles white-collar criminal defense matters and governmental investigations. He is a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's top civilian honor.

Coates will fill the seat previously held by Kenneth Jackson, whose term expired in February.

McMaster also reappointed the following SPA board members: Bill Stern, Willie Jeffries, Kurt Grindstaff, Whit Smith, Pamela Lackey, and Mark Buyck Jr.

The SPA board consists of nine members and two non-voting representatives who run the state departments of commerce and transportation.
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The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, has commended the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole combating insurgents in the north-eastern part of the country, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari appreciates their performance.

Mr Magashi, a retired major general, made the commendation on Sunday while addressing the troops at the headquarters of the Theatre Command in Maiduguri.

Let me begin by thanking you all with the work you have been doing.

The job you have been doing is highly appreciated by our Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, President Muhammadu Buhari and he said we should come here and talk to you to continue with the effort,Mr Magashi said.

The minister who noted the injuries and loss of lives by some personnel in the course of the assignment, assured them that their losses would not be in vain.

He observed that the Nigerian military has distinguished itself in various operations across the world and that of the insurgency would not be different.

You are doing your best and we recognise that.

You have already been baptised, all you need to do is to find the enemy and bring him to his knees.

We have the resources, the equipment to improve your standard and training to be able to do this good job.

We will continue to improve on your welfare and allowances and all what is due to you.

Very soon we will embarked on recruitment of other soldiers and officers so that we can improve the manpower of our armed forces.

Your commanders will brief you on further details of what we discussed with them, Mr Magashi said.

The defence minister , who also spoke to newsmen on his visit to assess the fighting spirit of the troops, urged journalists to be patriotic in reporting the military.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ministers entourage included the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru and Chief of the Air Staff, Ishiaka Amao.

The minister and his team also visited injured soldiers at 7 Division Gospital.(NAN)
Vitamin D is in focus these days due to a report stating that the Nordic countries with the highest levels in Europe have the lowest Covid-19 mortality rate.

Although it is only correlation, you need to think of supplementing with some sunshine vitamin for its many health benefits. Vitamin D deficiency is a growing epidemic across the world and is contributing to many chronic debilitating diseases. Its deficiency is a well-known risk factor for rickets, osteoporosis and some evidence suggest it may increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, as well as certain cancers and even dementia.

Vitamin D is actually a prohormone - which your body produces from cholesterol. Because it is a prohormone, it influences your entire bodys multiple repair and maintenance functions. We have about 25,000 genes in our body. When you consider the fact that vitamin D has been shown to influence nearly 3,000 of them, the bigger picture of its true impact on your health can be easily understood.

Just one example of an important gene that vitamin D up-regulates is your ability to fight infections. It produces over 200 antimicrobial peptides, the most important of which is cathelicidin, a naturally occurring broad-spectrum antimicrobial. This is one of the explanations for why it's so effective against colds and influenza. Vitamin D also modulates (balances) your immune response; it can prevent an overreaction in the form of inflammation, which can lead to a variety of allergies, asthma and autoimmune disorders, such as Crohns disease.

Vitamin D receptors have been identified throughout the human body, and that includes your brain. One study found that people with the lowest levels of vitamin D were 11 times more prone to be depressed than those who had normal levels. Vitamin D deficiency has previously been implicated in both psychiatric and neurological disorders. Researchers believe that optimal vitamin D levels may enhance the amount of important chemicals in your brain and protect brain cells; improves your brain's detoxification process and remove mercury by radically increasing an intracellular antioxidant; called glutathione. All these wonderful properties play part in the prevention of dementia and Alzheimers disease.

To get adequate Vitamin D from sunshine you need to expose 40% of your body every day. Lets be honest, thats impossible most months in Ireland, so we need to supplement. Reaping the health benefits of vitamin D is dose dependent, meaning you need to make sure your levels are within therapeutic range to benefit. And this range is far higher than previously thought and way higher than the recommended daily allowance established. Based on the most recent research, the current recommendation is 35 IUs of vitamin D per pound of body weight. It is best to get your GP or practitioner to check your blood levels regularly, especially if you have any health conditions. It should be taken with the other fat-soluble vitamins, especially Vitamin A and K for best results.
CAIRO: Ninety-seven people were injured on Sunday when four train carriages derailed in Egypt`s Qalioubia province north of Cairo, the health ministry said in a statement. Two security sources and local media reported that several people had been killed in the accident, but there was no official confirmation. Officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The train was heading from Cairo to the Nile Delta city of Mansoura and derailed at 13.54 local time (11:54 GMT), about 40 kilometres north of Cairo, Egyptian National Railways said in a short statement. The cause of the accident is being investigated, it added.

More than 50 ambulances took the injured to three hospitals in the province, the health ministry said.

The derailing is the latest of several recent railway crashes in Egypt. At least 20 people were killed and nearly 200 were injured in March when two trains collided near Tahta, about 440 km (275 miles) south of Cairo.

Fifteen people were injured earlier in April when two train carriages derailed near Minya al-Qamh city, about 70 km north to Cairo.

Egypt`s transportation minister Kamel El-Wazir, a former army general, has faced calls to resign from some Egyptians on social media.

He has rejected these and vowed to keep working on developing the ageing rail network.
Baptist Health Spokes for Strokes Set for June 12

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Baptist Health Paducah will host its 10th Spokes for Strokes bike tour on Saturday, June 12, to raise stroke awareness, along with funds for life-saving technologies and expanded stroke care services.Spokes for Strokes will begin at 7 a.m. with registration at Baptist Health Imaging Center on the west end of campus at 2705 Kentucky Ave.; followed by the tour at 8 a.m. Registration at active.com is $25 for an individual, $40 for couples and $50 for a family for four.The bike tour offers 10-, 20-, 35- or 65-mile rides through southern McCracken, Marshall and Graves counties. Support vehicles will follow all rides. Helmets are required.Last year, Baptist Health Paducah celebrated 10 years as a leader in stroke care. The hospital became the region's first certified primary stroke center in 2010, and remains the only local facility with 24/7 neurohospitalist and neurosurgery coverage.According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.The acronym B.E.F.A.S.T. is a good way to learn stroke symptoms.B  Balance: Does the person have a sudden loss of balance?E  Eyes: Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand?T - Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.Additional stroke signs include sudden severe headache with no known cause or sudden confusion or trouble understanding.For more information about Spokes for Strokes, phone 270-575-2871.
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Great royal occasions  and make no mistake, the funeral of Prince Philip was a very great occasion indeed  are always charged with historical meaning.

For the senior members of the House of Windsor, this was above all a poignant personal farewell. I defy even the most strident republican to watch the footage of our widowed Queen, alone with her grief after almost 75 years of marriage, without feeling a rush of sympathy.

Yet for the vast majority of her subjects, Saturdays funeral was loaded with public, not private, significance. It was a genuinely unifying national moment, a chance to reflect on what Britain means, and on how much we owe our Royal Family.

How appropriate, then, that with more than 13 million people watching on a sunny Saturday, the funeral was steeped in history.

Massed military bands stood still as the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin past by in a Land Rover that he had built himself

The Foot Guards Band are seen marching ahead of the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle

Military band plays in the Quadrangle ahead of during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle today

Today saw a spectacular display of pageantry inside the Windsor Castle bailey - with the ceremony undimmed by Covid restrictions

The hearse moved through the castle's quadrangle, which was packed with hundreds of armed personnel

A general view shows the coffin of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh laid onto a modified Land Rover Defender in the quadrangle ahead of the ceremonial funeral procession to St George's Chapel

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with his Personal Standard, is transported from the Quadrangle on the purpose built Land Rover Defender

The Duke of Edinburghs 99-year life was itself a kind of microcosm of our modern story. He came to Britain as an immigrant, against a background of war and revolution. He served with distinction in the Royal Navy and saw action against the Nazi war machine.

He became a symbol of the New Elizabethan age, and helped steer the monarchy from Empire to Commonwealth. In his final years he became the nations grandfather, a living symbol of honour, duty and responsibility.

Each of these elements was perfectly reflected in Saturdays solemn ritual, from the personal standard on the coffin to the hymns he chose to mark his passing. For me, though, the afternoons most resonant theme was Prince Philips deep respect for the grand sweep of Britains past.

The setting itself told a story of continuity. Ten kings have been laid to rest at Windsor Castle, from Henry VI (murdered) and Charles I (executed) to the current Queens grand- father and father, George V and George VI.

For many of us, that sense of rootedness is precisely what we love about the monarchy, a living link with our vanished past. And it reminds us that as Britons, we are more than individuals in an atomised world.

The Duke of Edinburgh's casket was covered in his personal standard and carried his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers as pallbearers placed him on to his extraordinary self-designed Land Rover hearse

The Land Rover - which Philip designed - passed through the Windsor Castle quadrangle onwards into St George's Chapel

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with his Personal Standard, is carried on the purpose built Land Rover Defender followed by the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex, the Earl of Snowdon and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence

Troops stood with their heads bowed as the Land Rover, upon which the coffin will be placed, was driven into the quadrangle while military bands played music selected by the duke

The Land Rover as it arrived at the steps of St George's Chapel before the coffin was carried inside by another party of pallbearers

We are members of a national community, stretching back into the mists of history and forward into an unforeseeable future. As conservative philosopher Edmund Burke wrote in 1790, the nation, like some vast family, is a partnership, not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.

In recent years, that partnership has sometimes seemed in grave danger. There are those who seek to tear our United Kingdom apart, preferring narrow provincial sectarianism to the communal fellowship of old. And with Nicola Sturgeon and her associates still pressing for secession and fragmentation, the fight is far from over.

An even more insidious threat, meanwhile, comes from the strident, self-righteous demagogues of the woke Left, who sneer at our flag, denigrate our history and regard Britishness itself as a kind of original sin.

All too often in recent months our great institutions, from the Church of England to the National Trust, have abased themselves before these posturing pygmies. Hymns have been cancelled, statues torn down, the Union Jack itself mocked and derided, in obeisance to an ignorant mob. But Saturdays funeral, thank goodness, was a ringing endorsement of Britishness without even a hint of equivocation or apology.

And how splendid to see the whole thing carried off with military precision  another reminder that when we pull our fingers out, as the late Duke would have put it, nobody puts on a better show.

It was entirely fitting that our great martial traditions played such a central part. As Prince Philips coffin was lifted from the hearse, for example, a Royal Navy party piped the Side, a ceremonial salute deriving from the bosuns call in the days when Nelson walked the Victorys deck.

Later, buglers sounded the Last Post, the haunting call played every night at Ypres to mourn the fallen of World War I. And at the end of the service, they sounded Action Stations  sounded on a warship to summon the crew to battle.

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin on the back of the Land Rover with royal family members walking behind

The Royal Family walk behind Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, carried by a Land rover hearse

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with his Personal Standard, is carried into St George's Chapel

Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Andrew, Duke of York follow Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin

Members of the Royal family march behind the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of Prince Philip's coffin

Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence follow Prince Philip's coffin

I doubt I was alone in finding these moments enormously moving. The history of the monarchy has always been interwoven with the heroism of our Armed Forces, as Prince Philip well knew.

The United Kingdom was born in 1707 in resistance to the tyrannical ambitions of Louis XIVs France, and it was through war that the men of England and Scotland forged a common national identity. Even Prince Philips own life was shaped above all by the high drama of the world wars, especially the titanic struggle against Nazi Germany.

Its easy now, from the comfort of our 21st-century living rooms, to underestimate the courage of our ancestors. But Prince Philip, who had known war at first hand, never made that mistake. And in its way, his funeral was a final thank-you to the men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

For me, though, the most resonant moment of the funeral came during the procession, when the band played I Vow To Thee, My Country  one of the most stirring hymns ever written.

For the woke Left and their fellow travellers, this magnificent anthem is a prime target. One Church of England bishop has called it racist; and a vicar, almost unbelievably, judged it unjust and obscene.

Prince Philip knew that better than anybody. He knew that to be British is to celebrate our history, and to cherish the bonds that have long united people across the country, from the shores of Scotland to the tower blocks of London

Members of the Royal Navy standing in reverence outside St George's Chapel

Members of the Royal family march behind the coffin during the ceremonial funeral procession of Prince Philip

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with His Royal Highness's Personal Standard is carried to the purpose-built Land Rover hearse

It is none of those things, of course. In fact, it is a tribute to those supremely Christian virtues of sacrifice, solidarity and responsibility  and a reminder that some things are more important than narrow individual self-interest.

Prince Philip knew that better than anybody. He knew that to be British is to celebrate our history, and to cherish the bonds that have long united people across the country, from the shores of Scotland to the tower blocks of London.

For as long as Britain has existed, the monarchy has been at the very heart of that story. Nothing better embodies the sweep of our shared past, the richness of our traditions or the values of duty and service that most of us still hold dear.

And the fact that Prince Philip chose to remind us of those virtues, in the ceremony he designed to mark his passing, speaks volumes about the character of the man, and what he meant to this country.

Pall bearers from The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carry the coffin into the chapel

Pallbearers of the Royal Marines carry the coffin at the West Steps of St George's Chapel

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin, covered with His Royal Highness's Personal Standard on the Land Rover Defender

The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin is loaded onto the back of his handmade Land Rover before being taken to St George's Chapel

Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence follow Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin during the Ceremonial Procession

Members of the Household Cavalry line the route of the ceremonial procession during the funeral

Members of the military stand for a minutes' silence before the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

The coffin is carried up the world famous steps of St George's Chapel on its final journey
New Delhi, April 18 : The Union Health Ministry on Sunday asked the states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that various restrictions put in place by them to tackle Covid spread do not affect the ongoing vaccination drive.

In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries, Health, of all the states and UTs, Additional Secretary, Health, Manohar Agnani said that Covid vaccination services should not be affected by Covid curfews and lockdowns and the movement of beneficiaries to and from Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs) should not be restricted during such interventions.

"In view of rising Covid cases, various measures are being undertaken to control the spread of which also includes curfews and partial or complete lockdown in some states or districts for variable periods.

"In this regard, it is advised that vaccination services should not be affected by Covid-19 curfews or lockdowns and the movement of beneficiaries to and from CVCs should not be restricted during such interventions," he said.

Agnani also said that vaccination centres which have been identified as dedicated Covid Hospitals should continue providing uninterrupted vaccination services.

"Vaccination services should be provided in a separate building or block in these hospitals that is distinctly separated from the building where management of Covid patients is being done. This will ensure that beneficiaries of vaccination are not inadvertently exposed to Covid at these hospitals," he said.

"I request you to kindly direct the concerned officials for ensuring uninterrupted continuation of Covid vaccination across all states and UTs. The Government of India will extend all possible support for Covid vaccination which is an important strategy for mitigating the impact of ongoing pandemic," he wrote.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Seven years ago, I planned a special cruise ship dinner during which Id tell my wife I was retiring from the Air Force.

I enlisted a photographer to record her tears of joy when I surprised her with my retirement orders. I wrote about that touching moment in 2014, but I left out the sweetest part of when I asked Becky onto the dance floor.

Before I say what happened next, lets get something straight. I CANNOT DANCE.

Im rhythmically challenged. I hear the music in my ears but it never finds my feet.

Its not that I wont shimmy. Its that I cant.

I dont hip or hop. My boots dont scoot or boogie. I only skip and trip.

My cadence deficit can be traced to a Kenny Loggins observation: Your mama dont dance and your daddy dont rock 'n' roll.

They sent me to a Baptist college where dancing was banned. Back then, Baylor University didnt use the D-word, so fraternities hosted off-campus foot functions.

School President Robert Sloan rescinded the ban in 1996 but cautioned students against being "obscene or provocative." Perhaps he believed the old joke that Baptists dont make love standing up because it might lead to dancing.

By the time I graduated in 1979, the die was cast. I would never learn to dance.

Nevertheless, 300 miles into the Labrador Sea on my retirement cruise, I felt the Holy Spirit bestow upon me the gift of dancing. I said to the DJ in my best Dobie Gray impression:

"Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul

I wanna get lost in your rock n roll and drift away."

Dont worry, no one actually heard me say that, least of all Becky.

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But when the music started, I adjusted the cummerbund of my military dress tuxedo and slid onto the dance floor like the Energizer Bunny, hips swinging, arms flinging, lips singing.

I remember the moment as sweet. However, Becky stood frozen on the sideline, her mortification amplified by the stares of onlookers. She saw my arms and feet moving as if possessed by a disco demon.

Pleading, she whisper-yelled, Please stop! No one heard her, least of all me.

Her shock reminded me of when King David danced naked before the Lord in 2 Samuel 6. (Actually, Dave was only half-naked in his skivvies.)

Still, his actions brought out the dance critics who complained David was exposing himself to the eyes of the servants.

David replied, In Gods presence Ill dance all I want!  Oh yes, Ill dance to Gods glory  more recklessly even than this. And as far as Im concerned  Ill gladly look like a fool.

These days, when I hear music, this old Baptist bod still wants to move. I dont care if its country, rock and roll or hymns  music that just soothes the soul, Bob Seger said.

Yes, I may drift too far or miss the beat, but Ive discovered that music isnt born of the feet, hips or arms. Its born of the soul. Its born of the heart. Its truly spiritual.

Thats why I leave you today with spiritual advice from Lee Ann Womacks I Hope You Dance," by Tia Sillers and Mark D. Sanders.

If you know it, sing along and sway those hips.

"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

"Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

"Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

"And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance ..."
A world renowned Russian ballet dancer has blamed 'cancel culture' for the death of a fellow choreographer who died suddenly aged 35 - a year after he was suspended from the Royal Ballet amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

The American Ballet Theatre's artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky said directors feared being 'eaten alive' if they put on shows by highly-acclaimed choreographer Liam Scarlett.

Mr Scarlett was accused of encouraging Royal Ballet School students to send naked photographs, commenting on dancers' genitalia, touching their backsides and walking in on them changing over a 10-year period.

The choreographer - who joined the Royal Ballet Company in 2006 but retired in 2012 to focus on choreography - was cleared following an independent investigation.

Even so, The Royal Opera House, who run the Royal Ballet, ended its relationship with him in March last year - with several other theatres following suit.

The Royal Danish Theatre dropped all performances of his production of Frankenstein over allegations made between 2018 and 2019, just one day before he died.

The Opera house in London yesterday issued a tribute following his death, saying they are 'deeply saddened'.

The American Ballet Theatre's artist in residence Alexei Ratmansky (left) said 'cancel culture is killing' after directors refused to put on Liam Scarlett's (right) ballets over the accusations

Mr Ratmansky said directors feared being 'eaten alive' if they put on shows by highly-acclaimed choreographer Mr Scarlett

He was cleared following an independent investigation. Even so, The Royal Opera House refused to work with him - with several other theatres following suit. Following Mr Scarlett's death, Royal Opera House said on its official Twitter: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Liam Scarlett's death'

Russian Mr Ratmansky said his death was a 'tragic loss of a rare choreographic talent', adding that directors refusing to make his shows 'killed him'.

He wrote on Facebook: 'I am shocked by the news of Liam Scarlett's suicide. What a tragic loss of a rare choreographic talent.

'How many amazing ballets he could have created yet!

'After allegations of inappropriate behavior less than two years ago, companies that he worked for removed his ballets from the rep and canceled all his future contracts.

'I did hear one director saying: "I can't program his ballets, I'll be eaten alive".

'Liam knew he has no future as a choreographer. That killed him.

'It should not have happened. This cancel culture is killing, it is too much!

'Would Diaghilev, Nureyev, Robbins and countless other greats, who were not spotless, be able to work today?

'How is it possible that the whole ballet world, all of us, turned our backs on such an amazing talent, forcing him to die so young?

'Shame and sadness. Rest in peace Liam.'

Mr Scarlett's cause of death has not been confirmed.

A statement from his family yesterday said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic, untimely death of our beloved Liam.

'At this difficult time for all of our family, we would ask that you respect our privacy to enable us to grieve our loss.'

Liam Scarlett (pictured) was accused of encouraging Royal Ballet School students to send naked photographs, commenting on dancers' genitalia, touching their backsides and walking in on them changing over a 10-year period

Last year an independent investigation into Mr Scarlett concluded there 'were no matters to pursue in relation to alleged contact with students of The Royal Ballet School'.

The artist-in-residence had been investigated over claims of sexual misconduct involving students.

Independent investigators had probed claims Mr Scarlett behaved inappropriately with Royal Ballet School students, including encouraging them to send naked photographs.

One former student told the Times he was coaxed into sending an intimate photo when he was 18 and alleged Mr Scarlett had shared sexual messages with around 10 male students over Facebook.

Mr Scarlett was the youngest choreographer to have a full-length ballet commissioned by the company and was described as 'potentially the greatest British choreographer since Kenneth Macmillan'

Liam Scarlett as Alain in the Royal Ballet's production of Frederick Ashton's La Fille Mal Gardee at the Royal Opera House

Another student alleged he would also comment on dancers' genitalia, touch their backsides and walk in on them changing.

He said: 'As a dancer you are trained to say yes to everything.

'Because it's so competitive you can't lose an opportunity, so when someone with a lot of power asks you to do something you are pre-programmed to do it.'

He claimed at the time he was speaking out to stop Mr Scarlett from working with students again.

Mr Scarlett (pictured meeting Prince Charles at the Royal Opera House) was the youngest choreographer to have a full-length ballet commissioned by the company

In March last year, the Royal Opera House said it would no longer work with Mr Scarlett.

The Royal Opera House runs the Royal Ballet.

Following Mr Scarlett's death, Royal Opera House said on its official Twitter: 'We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Liam Scarlett's death.

'Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very sad time.'

The Royal Ballet School - an independent charity - was first made aware that the allegations involved some of its students in 2020.

The allegations sent shockwaves through the ballet world, with Australia's Queensland Ballet among those to cut ties with him.

Mr Scarlett was the youngest choreographer to have a full-length ballet commissioned by the company.

He was described as 'potentially the greatest British choreographer since Kenneth Macmillan', the producer who launched British ballet onto the world stage for a quarter of a century.

His works for The Royal Ballet include Despite, Vayamos al Diablo, Consolations And Liebestraum, Asphodel Meadows, Hansel And Gretel, Jubilee pas de deux, which was in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and a new production of Swan Lake.

The choreographer (pictured left with dancers) graduated from the school in 2005

His death comes a day after all performances of his production of Frankenstein were axed by the Royal Danish Theatre after allegations of misconduct between 2018 and 2019 were made by several members of the Royal Danish Theatre's staff.

Theatre director Kasper Holten said in The Times: 'Offensive behaviour is unacceptable at the Royal Theatre.

'The wellbeing and safety of our employees is a high priority for us.

'We therefore do not wish to perform the works of the choreographer in question until further notice and Frankenstein in the spring of 2022 has therefore been cancelled.'

A spokesman for the Royal Opera House, which funds Royal Ballet, last year told The Times: 'We were made aware of allegations relating to Liam Scarlett in August 2019.

'The individual was immediately suspended and an independent disciplinary investigation opened.

'The Royal Ballet Company has a code of conduct to ensure staff and visiting artists are always supported.

'As the process is ongoing, and as a duty of care to staff and artists, we are unable to comment further.'
Illegal Immigrant Who Was Ordered to Be Deported Convicted of Child Rape

An illegal immigrant who had been ordered to be deported from the United States in 2016 has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for forcible rape of a child.

Fredy Aguilar-Menjivar, 31, from El Salvador was convicted of three counts of rape of a child under 14 and one count of child molestation earlier this month, the Monterey County, California, district attorneys office said in a statement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to The Epoch Times that Aguilar-Menjivar, who resides in California, had been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge on June 28, 2016. But according to Breitbart, he was never deported. ICE offficials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times to clarify whether any attempt to deport Aguilar-Menjivar was made between June 2016 and March 2020.

Following his arrest, ICE issued an immigration detainer on Aguilar-Menjivar with Californias Monterey County Jail on March 19, 2020.

California is a so-called sanctuary state; it prohibits state and local law enforcement officers from sharing information about an illegal immigrants release from custody, personal information, and physical description with federal immigration agents. Under Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), state and local officers are also barred from transferring these individuals to immigration agents unless in exempted circumstances such as under a court warrant. The law also includes exemptions for illegal immigrants convicted of a serious or violent felony.

The Monterey district attorneys office said the sexual assault occurred repeatedly between August 2018 to March 2020two years after the deportation order. The child, who is a family member, was under 14 years old when the offense began. The crimes were discovered by another family member during a party in which the child had attempted to stop Aguilar-Menjivar, the prosecutors office said. But the 31-year-old threatened to hurt her and her parents if she screamed.

Aguilar-Menjivar will also be required to register as a sex offender for life and is prohibited by law from contacting the child for a maximum of 10 years.

The Trump administration had made efforts to strike down SB 54 and escalated a case challenging the law to the Supreme Court in 2019. But in June 2020, the nations top court refused the request to hear the case, although Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have granted the petition for review.

The news comes after the Biden administration issued interim enforcement priorities for federal immigration agencies as the administration continues finalizing its policies. These priorities include narrowing immigration enforcement to three categories: individuals who have been engaged in or suspected of terrorism or espionage; immigrants who crossed into the United States illegally on or after Nov. 1, 2020; and individuals convicted of an aggravated felony.

The guidance is temporary, lasting for three months, until Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas can issue new enforcement guidelines for the department.

The temporary enforcement guidance has already been challenged by attorneys general in Texas and Lousiana, who argue that the current administration failed to prioritize detention of criminal aliens with final orders of removal, criminal aliens convicted of drug offenses, or criminal aliens convicted of crimes of moral turpitude.

The result of implementing the memoranda, the lawsuit argues, has led to ICE rescinding detainer requests related to incarcerated criminal aliens, not issuing detainer requests for illegal aliens subject to mandatory removal, and the release of such individuals from federal detention facilities in Louisiana and Texas.

The Biden administration is currently facing an influx of illegal border crossings, in which thousands of unaccompanied minors are flooding across the southern border. Lawmakers have warned that these children are subjected to human tragedies such as cramped conditions and assault.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Pakistan's foreign minister has welcomed mediation efforts by the United Arab Emirates between his country and India but told UAE newspaper Khaleej Times that he was not planning to meet his Indian counterpart in the country.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar are visiting the Gulf state at the same time.

"I am here for a bilateral visit. I am not here for a India-specific agenda," Qureshi told the daily, which published a video excerpt of the interview.

"We welcome third party facilitation ... But no matter what friends like the UAE say the initiative has to be indigenous," he added.

A senior Emirati diplomat said last week that the UAE is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a "healthy and functional" relationship after military tension over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

India's foreign ministry spokesman had tweeted that Jaishankar's discussions in the UAE would focus on economic cooperation and community welfare.

Ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019 traced to Pakistan-based militants that led to India sending warplanes to Pakistan.

Later that year, India's prime minister withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir's autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade.

(Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai and Sanjeev Miglani in New Delhi; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Life has finally returned to international airport terminals in Australia more than a year after borders were slammed shut to halt the spread of Covid-19.

As the clock struck midnight on Sunday night, travellers from Australia were once again freely able to cross the Tasman into New Zealand in quarantine-free travel.

Travellers, many of whom were visiting family, were pictured at Sydney Airport in the early hours of Monday as they took advantage of the landmark easing of restrictions which Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed as "an important step in our road out".

Travellers queue up at Sydney Airport early Monday morning. Source: Nine

Todays milestone is a win-win for Australians and New Zealanders, boosting our economies while keeping our people safe," Mr Morrison said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed those flying into the nation, calling it "truly exciting".

Thousands of travellers are due to fly on the first day.

Several travellers revealed their relief at scoring a seat, with one passenger saying the separation from family had been "very hard".

"It's definitely been a long journey that's finally coming to an end," another told Channel Nine's Today show.

Australian residents have not been able to leave the nation without quarantine for more than a year. Source: Nine

Lauren Young and her young daughter Alice were heading to meet family, including some for the first time.

It's amazing. Yeah, it's been a long time, Ms Young told the ABC at the airport.

So really looking forward to it. Meeting our 10-month-old new niece as well will be great.

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The first departure for passengers, the 6.15am JQ201 flight heading to Auckland, was delayed by 25 minutes.

Pacific nations focus of next bubble

In a joint statement from both prime ministers, they revealed further travel bubbles were being explored, with Pacific nations next on the agenda.

Story continues

They said such a focus demonstrated their "commitment to supporting [the Pacific's] recovery".

All people residing in Australia or New Zealand, including foreign nationals, can use quarantine-free travel, as long as they meet the health, immigration and other standard border clearance requirements in each country.

The easing of the border restriction reciprocates the arrangement already in place for Kiwi arrivals, who have been able to visit Australia without undertaking quarantine for up to six months in some states.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Married NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Bob Behnken present a spaceflight achievement award during a 2012 ceremony. NASA via RNASA

Last spring, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Megan McArthur took their son to see SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launch cargo to the International Space Station. They wanted him to feel the rumble of the rocket's engines, hear its roar, and follow it out of view - before either of them were on board.

"He could watch a big rocket launch with both mom and dad there, and we could talk to him about it," McArthur recently told reporters in a call.

Soon thereafter, Theo, who was 6 years old at the time, waved goodbye to his dad, and Behnken climbed into SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship to pilot the world's first crewed commercial spacecraft. That demonstration mission carried Behnken and his crewmate, astronaut Doug Hurley, to the ISS in May, where they stayed for nine weeks.

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Now, McArthur is preparing to pilot that same spaceship on a mission called Crew-2 - SpaceX's second routine astronaut flight - which is set to launch on Friday. It's literally the same capsule, refurbished. Behnken and Hurley named it Endeavour, after the last Space Shuttle.

Getting assigned to the Endeavour was "a neat surprise, and kind of a fun twist on the whole thing," McArthur said. "I'm going to launch in the same seat. So that is kind of a fun thing that we can share, you know, I can tease him and say, 'Hey, Can you hand over the keys? I'm ready now to go.'"

McArthur's been to space once before, to help repair the Hubble Space Telescope, but has never set foot on the space station. She said she's "super excited" for the mission.

Story continues

The Falcon 9 rocket launches with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from Cape Canaveral, Florida, May 30, 2020. SpaceX via Youtube

Still, for Theo, who turns 7 this month, it's not easy having astronaut parents.

"At first he was trepidatious about it, and said, 'Hey I don't want you to launch on a rocket,'" Behnken recently told People. "But after he saw one, he was good with me going and then mommy going, with the stipulation that he gets to go after mom. I don't know if we can make that happen for him, but that's his plan at least."

In the shorter term, being apart is the biggest challenge, McArthur said.

"Like any child facing a parent being gone for six months, he's not super excited about it," she said.

When your spouse is 250 miles above Earth

When it came time for Behnken to say goodbye before his launch, NASA TV microphones picked him up telling Theo: "Be good for mom. Make her life easy."

Hurley (left) and Behnken (right) say goodbye to their families and give distant "hugs," May 27, 2020. NASA TV

But watching your spouse rocket to orbit isn't easy, according to McArthur.

"One of the hardest things to do is watch the person that you love launch into space," she told The Washington Post before the liftoff. "It's much harder than actually doing it yourself when you're in the rocket. You have the training. You're prepared for the mission. When you're watching, you're just a spectator. And no matter what happens, there's nothing you can do to contribute to the situation."

To make matters more difficult, it wasn't yet clear at the time how long Behnken and Hurley would stay on the space station. They had up to three months in orbit, but they could have left earlier. It depended on NASA's schedule, and on how well the Crew Dragon's solar panels held up in space.

The Resilience capsule approaches the International Space Station for docking, November 16, 2020. NASA

"Probably one of the bigger challenges was, well, when is dad coming home?" McArthur said.

While Behnken was in space, McArthur and Theo could often turn on NASA TV and see him floating around on the ISS. They called him every day from their Houston home, which meant coordinating across time zones. Behnken often wanted to talk before he went to bed, which was when the school day was ending.

"I've just got home, I'm putting down the bags, I got to make dinner," McArthur said. "So finding that right time where you can really engage with one another and connect is part of the challenge."

They also tried to video chat, but learned that Theo couldn't stay engaged for an entire hour of that. So for McArthur's mission, she said, they'll keep the video visits to 15 or 20 minutes.

Bob Behnken introduces "Tremor," the sequined dinosaur plushie that traveled into space aboard the Crew Dragon, May 30, 2020. NASA TV

McArthur began to train for her own mission while Behnken was still in space. She relied heavily on a babysitter. Then finally, her husband splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico three months after he left the planet. That's when McArthur really had to start traveling for her own training.

"We gave him about two weeks to get his land legs back, and then I was off," she said of her husband.

By then, the family was well-acquainted with the training rhythm. Behnken had been involved in the Commercial Crew Program - through which NASA funded the development of SpaceX's astronaut-launch system - for five years before his mission. The final couple years of that involved intensive training, and he spent several days each week in California.

Megan McArthur (left) and Bob Behnken (right) in their SpaceX spacesuits. SpaceX; SpaceX/Ashish Sharma

Then for the last eight months, it's been mom's turn to follow a similar schedule. Her time on the ISS will be even longer than Behnken's.

"Megan being gone for six months will be kind of a unique experience for me. We haven't been apart for that long a period of a time," Behnken told People.

The moon may not be in the cards for Behnken or McArthur

An illustration of SpaceX's Starship lander that will carry NASA astronauts to the moon's surface during the Artemis mission. SpaceX

Behnken and McArthur met at NASA in 2000, when they were both training in that year's astronaut class. They married eight years later, just before McArthur took her first trip to space.

"I figured it was a pretty good screening program. You got a full background check," McArthur told People.

Now, the astronaut couple is paving the way for a new era of human space exploration. Commercial astronaut launches to the space station will likely become common. Both NASA and SpaceX want to return astronauts to the moon and, eventually, send humans to Mars.

"I would love to go to the moon or Mars," McArthur told Insider. But she added, "I think probably this mission will be my last mission. You know, our family has been through a development program already. And I think that the right thing for our family is for me to complete this mission and move on."

Another member of the family may take up the mantle eventually, though.

"My son has said that he's going to go to the moon," McArthur said. "I've asked him, you know, would you mind bringing mom with you? And he said sure."

This story has been updated. It was originally published on April 18, 2021.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Edamah Property Management Company (EPMC) has formalised the establishment of the first under 30-minute delivery grocery concept in the region, talabat Mart as a key tenant of Reef Mall in Malkiya, a community centre serving the Southern Governorate, including Hamad Town, Sadad, and Lawzi.

The online quick-commerce facility delivers essential grocery items all over Bahrain within 30 minutes through the talabat platform.

Emad Gharzuddine, the talabat Mart Country Launcher, said: "The expansion of talabat Mart throughout Bahrain was fast-tracked during the Covid-19 pandemic and country-wide lockdown as online shopping and contactless purchases became essential for the safety of our communities."

"With the help of the government, talabat has facilitated deliveries throughout the region and allowed customers to remain in the safety of their homes while receiving their everyday essentials," he noted.

"We saw an opportunity to make grocery shopping safer and more convenient through our Quick-Commerce solution and chose Reef Mall as a prime location that will allow us to reach and satisfy more customers, as talabat Mart remains an important part of the kingdoms online shopping and grocery delivery infrastructure," he added.

EPMC General Manager Waleed Adel Ali said: "We are excited about the Reef Mall upgrade, which will bring a new mix of leading brands to the area. We are also pleased to offer talabat Mart a strategically important location to help it meet its 30-minute or less brand promise."

"It is a good example of how online shopping and brick and mortar businesses, such as ours, can co-exist and benefit from each other," he noted.

Reef Mall, which is set to undergo a significant revitalization over the coming months, is now at 94 percent occupancy with a tenant mix that includes a supermarket, various food and beverages outlets, a pharmacy and salons, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi: Each year April 18 is celebrated as the World Heritage Day or less popularly known as the International Day of Monuments and Sites.

World Heritage Day is celebrated to preserve the monuments and culturally significant items of a civilization. It is important because deterioration or disappearance of any item of the cultural or natural heritage constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world, mentioned in The World Heritage Convention (1972).

History of World Heritage Day

The idea to have a separate day to mark respect for historically and culturally significant monuments and sites was proposed in 1982 by the ICOMOS (International Council and Monuments and Sites).

They suggested that an International Day of Monuments and Sites would help spread awareness regarding the preservation of ancient culture and its historic sites.

The suggestion was adopted one year later in 1983 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) during the 22nd General Conference.

Significance of World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day is important because it helps in spreading awareness about the heritage identification, conservation and its transmission to future generations, according to an article on UNESCO official website.

World Heritage Day theme 2021

The theme for this years World Heritage Day is Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures. The theme for this year is decided keeping conflicting histories on the same historical and cultural issues in mind and the need to discuss these varying opinions and perspectives. This day invites all of us to reflect on, interpret and review existing narratives, reads the UNESCO article.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks before the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump for his campaign event at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport in Opa Locka, Fla., on Nov. 1, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Floridas DeSantis Joins Rumble After YouTube Censorship

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has set up a channel on the video-sharing platform Rumble after being censored by YouTube.

The Republican governors Rumble channel currently features a single 45-second video. DeSantis hasnt posted any videos on his YouTube channel in three months.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is a longtime proponent of free speech and has been at the forefront of the effort to demonopolize Big Tech, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski said in a statement.

He understands firsthand Americans distrust of monolithic tech companies and the danger they pose to free expression and free markets. In fact, YouTube recently removed from its platform a video of the governor and a handful of Ivy League-educated medical experts discussing the downsides of prolonged pandemic-related lockdowns. Rumble, on the other hand, invites robust and civic dialogue on our platform, including Gov. DeSantis insights and expertise.

Earlier this month, Google-owned YouTube, without warning, scrubbed videos of a roundtable discussion between DeSantis and prominent scientists from Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford who assessed that lockdowns were an ineffective measure against the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) was the first to flag the videos disappearance. The original clip is now hosted on a different platform, appearing along with a full transcript on the AIER website.

Google and YouTube have not been, throughout this pandemic, repositories of truth and scientific inquiry, but instead have acted as enforcers of a narrative, a Big Tech council of censors in service of the ruling elite, DeSantis said in response to YouTubes censorship during an April 12 video conference call with three of the scientists from the banned video.

When they took down the video  they were really continuing what theyve been doing for the past year: stifle debate, short-circuit scientific inquiry, make sure that the narrative is not questioned. And I think that weve seen already that that has had catastrophic consequences for our society.
According to a report, the Biden Administration will be releasing about 400 migrants a day in two months. This comes as another situation that critics have scoured from the release of migrant criminals and sex offenders.

If the Biden administration releases 400 migrants, what happens next?

Reports say that President Joe Biden will release more migrants than was let into the US in early 2021. According to the republicans, the border crisis worsens, with Jen Psaki, White House Press secretary is seeing the actual score. Even Vice-President Kamala Harris has not visited the border since getting tapped to solve it, reported the Blaze.

The Washington Examiner gave the information about the planned release of the migrants crossing the border illegally. It will be an eight-fold increase compared to earlier statistics.

Migrants are removed from government custody and monitored by immigration officials before immigration courts decide their cases under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement program known as "alternatives to detention." It bears a similarity to the system used by the past administration.

Based on the Examiner, "the number of individuals participating in the ICE Alternatives to Detention program has expanded from 50 per day to 200 per day in March 2021. Within 90 days, the enrollment will increase substantially per a day."

The government has been overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of illegals crossing unlawfully, but the administration wants to make it look like the extra 400 migrants per day need better care for where they eat, sleep, and health care concerns. As the administration denies the border is a total mess, they ask Republican governors to accept immigrants, which was dismissed, leaving the Biden administration to look for solutions from ending Trump-era policies that kept the border orderly.



Guatemala: Biden Administration Lied About Increased Border Security Deal



Another concern by many sectors is to divert resources from American citizens and let taxes paid to support them be used for immigrants brought in by coyotes and cartels.

Instead of admitting the President's almost knee-jerk reaction, anything Trump, like the stay in Mexico policy, they caused all the border chaos. Top Biden officials deny the problem could have been avoided if they listened to former immigration officials; they won't even answer border questions and evade the Democrats' blunder, serial dishonesty has shown itself in polling data.

Government data officially states that 172,000 have tried to cross into gaps in the US borders last March, that is a huge jump of 100,000 registered in February and 100,000 in January when Biden became President in a highly contested election. More minors made the journey as Biden's mixed messaging was exploited by cartels and coyotes.

One remark by many is why migrants come when there is an epidemic, and competitions for jobs will be more intense if migrants are admitted that makes conservatives assume that the President is anti-American, even ex-president Trump took a jab mocking Biden for all the problems at the border.

The document in the Washington Examiners hands shows that more migrants will see them coming over in 2021, the most in 20 years.

It's not just the Republicans tearing up the Biden administration for its plans to allow 400 migrants per day by June. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that Biden is the reason for the border fiasco, and the White House never admits his blunder.

US Border Officials Say Among All the Migrants, 861+ are Criminals

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

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Colombia and its economy, including the vital energy sector, particularly hard. After implementing one of the worlds longest pandemic lockdowns during 2020, which took the economy to the brink of collapse, a recent sharp spike in COVID-19 cases has forced the reintroduction of lockdown measures across the Andean countrys major cities. It is the popular tourist city of Medellin and Colombias all-important principal port Barranquilla which are the worst affected, with strict curfews and restrictions on movement now established. Those measures will impact many sectors of the economy including the vital petroleum industry and weigh heavily on Colombias desperately required recovery. During 2020, the oil price crash and COVID-19 pandemic sharply impacted the Andean countrys energy sector causing the gross domestic product to contract by almost (Spanish) 7%, Colombias worst economic decline on record. The strife-torn countrys dependence on crude oil becomes apparent when, even in a year where prices plunged into negative territory and Brent averaged $41.96 per barrel, it still accounted for 17% of fiscal revenue, 28% of export earnings, and 3% of GDP. Before the late-2014 oil price collapse, the economic importance of crude oil was even greater. It generated over a fifth of government revenue, more than 60% of Colombias exports by value, and almost 5% of GDP. While a strong economic rebound for Colombia is projected for 2021, led by a recovering petroleum industry, with the IMF and central bank both forecasting GDP growth of over 5%, there are significant headwinds ahead.

The most pressing risk is the sharp uptick in COVID-19 cases and renewed lockdowns in Colombias major cities, which will weigh heavily on an already fragile economy. These will cause GDP growth, business activity, and tax revenue to decline placing greater pressure on a fiscally embattled national government. Bogotas precarious finances are highlighted by Colombias finance ministry, in March 2021, raising the fiscal deficit to a startling 8.6% of GDP, its highest level ever and greater than the 7.8% deficit reported for 2020 when GDP contracted by nearly 7%. A cash-strapped Bogota urgently needs to reactivate the energy sector, by attracting additional investment, if the economy is to recover.

Related: Iraqi Kurdistan On The Brink Of Collapse As Oil Prices Crash

While the Duque administration and Colombias peak industry body the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP  Spanish initials) expressed considerable optimism regarding the petroleum industrys outlook the numbers present a different picture. In January 2021, the ACP projected an annual exploration and production investment of $3.1 billion to $3.45 billion. While at the bottom end that represents a 51% increase over 2020, it is still at least $580 million shy of the $4.03 billion invested during 2019. Weaker than required hydrocarbon production highlights that the oil industry has yet to return to pre-pandemic operations. For February 2021, Colombia pumped 745,769 barrels per day, a worrying 15% decrease compared to the equivalent period for 2020, and similarly reported production volumes since the pandemic hit the Andean country. More worrying is that activity in Colombias oil patch, as shown by the Baker Hughes rig count, is not rising at the rate required. By the end of March 2021, there were only 14 drill rigs operating in Colombia compared to almost double that number, 25 drill rigs, for the same period a year earlier.

Those numbers indicate that despite the Duque Administration implementing strategies aimed at boosting oil company investment, including tax relief through refunding or removing value-added tax, spending is falling short of the required levels. Rising fiscal pressures, combined with the declining economic activity caused by the latest round of lockdowns, will force Bogota to ease spending and potentially even the tax breaks and other incentives extended to the petroleum industry. Recently proposed tax reform, where the Duque administration is seeking to raise taxation revenue equivalent to 1.5% of GDP not only illustrates Bogotas desperation but that many of the corporate tax benefits introduced since 2018 could be reduced or even removed. If that occurs it will deter further investment from foreign oil companies in what is already a volatile and highly uncertain operating environment.

Another emerging headwind is the growing skepticism over claims of a new commodity supercycle. Rising COVID-19 cases and renewed lockdowns around the world along with sluggish vaccine rollouts are weighing on the global economic outlook impacting metals and crude oil. According to Bloomberg, investors are dumping commodities, notably metals, and the contagion has spread to crude oil, making proclamations from a month ago that Brent is headed to $80 or even $100 a barrel appearing doubtful. Oil prices will be volatile over the remainder of 2021, especially now that OPEC Plus countries have flagged the gradual unwinding of production cuts, including Saudi Arabias one million barrels per day, which triggered the January 2021 oil price rally. That will weigh on crude oil prices, particularly if major no-OPEC producers such as the U.S. and Brazil continue to bolster petroleum production. Weaker Brent pricing poses a considerable risk for Colombia because of its high onshore breakeven prices, which are estimated to be up to $45 per barrel after tax. Most of the petroleum produced in Colombia is comprised of sour medium to heavy grade crude oils, which are becoming increasingly less popular since the introduction of IMO2020 and the ongoing global push to substantially reduce the sulfur content of fuels. There are less hazardous jurisdictions with significantly lower breakeven prices in South America, which produce lighter sweeter grades of crude oil, making them superior destinations for foreign energy companies. Heightened insecurity in major cities and particularly the rural regions where much of Colombias oilfields are located poses a significant risk for foreign oil producers. The Andean country has been wracked by civil conflict for most of the last 70 years, and there has been a sharp uptick in violence over the last two years under the Duque administration. Since 1 January 2021, there have been 28 massacres (Spanish), more than double the number for the same period in 2020, with 102 victims. The murder of social leaders, environmental activists, and labor leaders is a growing dilemma with 46 assassinations (Spanish) during that period. Those numbers alone, indicate that the Duque administration is incapable, despite prolific promises, to provide sufficient policing and security throughout much of Colombia. Illegal armed groups are taking advantage of Bogotas weakness, which is being amplified by renewed pandemic lockdowns, to expand control of vital terrain for coca cropping, cocaine trafficking, and illegal gold mining.

Related: The Death Of U.S. Oil

It is only a matter of time before rising violence and growing insecurity impact the energy sector. Toward the end of 2020, the ACP issued a communique condemning multiple violent oilfield invasions in eastern Colombia by indigenous communities. Those are evidence not only of domestic security breaking down but of the oil industrys deteriorating social license in Colombia. Energy infrastructure, notably oil pipelines and wellheads, remain popular targets for the various non-state armed groups operating in the country. In 33 years of operation the 2220,000 barrels per day Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline, alone, has suffered nearly (Spanish) 1,500 attacks, the latest being roughly a month ago. Pipelines are the only cost-effective means of transporting crude oil across Colombias rugged terrain to crucial ports that provide access to international energy markets. When bombed, operations are shuttered forcing oil companies to use more costly road transport as well as store the crude oil produced on-site. Once storage facilities are at capacity, producers are required to cease operations until the pipelines return to service. This risk was a key reason for Occidental Petroleums decision to sell its mature onshore Colombian oil assets last year to Carlyle Group for $825 million.

A range of local and global headwinds are buffeting Colombias economically crucial oil industry. Their impact is being magnified by the Andean countrys rapidly rising COVID-19 case count and renewed pandemic lockdowns in major cities as well as growing insecurity. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Duque administration, despite guarantees, is incapable of guaranteeing the security of many communities or industries outside of the major cities. The rising violence, notably in rural regions, will impact oil industry operations further magnifying the fallout from the pandemic. For these reasons, it will be some time before Colombias oil industry returns to a pre-pandemic tempo of operations, significantly endangering Bogotas plans to re-open Colombias economy, bolster its deteriorating finances and return the country to growth.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Ole Anthony, president of the Dallas, Texas-based televangelist accountability group Trinity Foundation, and a small congregation that modeled itself on first century Christianity in lifestyle and mission, died at the age of 82, the church announced.

Describing Anthony as a longtime nemesis of televangelists and a thorn in the side of prosperity gospel televangelists, his congregation, called Community on Columbia, said he died Friday, four years after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

In 1972, Anthony and other Christian leaders founded the Trinity Foundation, a watchdog group that monitors religious fraud around the world, and he led it through the 1990s and 2000s on investigations and lawsuits against televangelists, including Robert Tilton, Benny Hinn and Jan and Paul Crouch.

Anthony was also a founding member of a congregation that worked to help the Dallas homeless population in the 1990s and continues to help East Dallas families, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Source:The Christian Post
Take it easy. Photo: Images Press/Getty Images

On March 31, New York became the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuana after a yearslong campaign to decriminalize the drug. The NYPD has instructed officers not to stop and arrest people if they see them smoking pot in public. New No smoking of any kind signs have sprouted along with daffodils and hyacinths along the boundaries of Bryant Park and Herald Square Park.

But New Yorkers cant rush out and buy a few spliffs at a neighborhood dispensary just yet. And weed dealers who want to scale up and go legit could wait more than a year to get a license. Naturally any new law, especially one as closely watched as the legalization and decriminalization of a historically banned substance that could spur a multibillion dollar agglomeration economy, comes with a lot of questions. Over the next few months, state officials will be writing regulations that will affect what kind of marijuana you can buy, where you can consume it, and who will be able to sell it to you. Many details still havent been sorted out yet, but heres what we know so far.

I can smoke anywhere now?

Not exactly. You can possess up to three ounces of marijuana, the equivalent of 50 to 75 joints (or 24 grams of concentrated cannabis) and toke anywhere you can smoke a cigarette, if youre 21 and older. But you cant purchase weed without a prescription or sell it without a license until state regulators write rules for recreational use of the drug.

Police cannot arrest you for carrying a small amount of pot, and prosecutors are not going to run you through the system, according to a memo sent to NYPD officers. Cops cant charge someone for selling marijuana unless they observe cash being exchanged, but its still illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, and cops can pull you over for impaired driving.

Of course its hard to change policing habits overnight. Weve always said that marijuana legalization in and of itself isnt going to fix racist policing, but it removes a tool used for far too long to justify summonses and arrests, said Melissa Moore, state director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

So where can I smoke?

Smoking is strictly prohibited in parks, pools, or beaches and comes with a $50 fine. You can light up anywhere cigarette smoking is allowed under the states Clean Indoor Air Act, but there are some gray areas. Offices, restaurants, bars, the subway, ferries, and schools are off limits, too, and you could get a $25 ticket or 20 hours of community service if caught. Public-housing units and their grounds are prohibited since the buildings are federally subsidized and subject to federal law, but advocates are challenging this provision of the law. That leaves sidewalks, streets, the inside of a parked car, your roof, and your home, unless your landlord prohibits smoking. Whatever you do, be considerate. The very first thing is to smoke responsibly, said Saki Fenderson, a Brooklyn-based cannabis educator and activist. You wouldnt want certain smells or certain smokes coming into your home. Just acknowledge that you live with other people around you.

So I can use it, but I cant buy or sell it yet?

Public officials suggest it could take 18 months before recreational marijuana is available in stores but some companies believe sales wont start before December 2022. There is no licensing of legal marijuana being grown or sold yet, hence if you buy it the way you always bought it, its still an illegal product, said Manhattan state Senator Liz Krueger, who wrote the legalization law. There isnt really a penalty for you buying under three ounces but there may still be penalties for selling it.

What if I bring back weed from elsewhere?

Thats not a good idea. Even though recreational marijuana is legal in 17 states now (New Mexico and Virginia OKd it after New York), transportation of weed across state lines violates federal law. Those caught for the first time with less than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) could face a fine of $250,000 and up to five years in prison.

How can I get high (legally) right now?

The quickest way under the new law is to get a prescription from your doctor and visit a dispensary. The state has expanded the list of medical conditions eligible for a prescription beyond cancer, chronic pain, and HIV/ AIDS to include anxiety, insomnia, muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimers disease. Once your doctor certifies you as a patient, visit my.ny.gov and register for the states medical marijuana program.

Some doctors may not be on board and refuse to register with the state for the program. Fortunately there are plenty of practitioners who endorse marijuanas medicinal use (heres a list) and telemedicine has made it easier to connect with them. There are also virtual providers like PrestoDoctor and NuggMD who can help you get a medical marijuana card, but youll need your identification and proof of residency.

Where do I buy medicinal marijuana?

There are ten medical-marijuana companies operating 38 dispensaries including 12 in New York City as of November. You can get a prescription for a limited number of oils, ointments, capsules, powders, vaporizers, and chewable gummies, but not every dispensary has every variety. The new law will allow dispensaries to offer a wider array of products including whole flower  the dried bud of a marijuana plant and more types of edibles. Thats a game changer for consumers because smokeable flower is substantially cheaper than processed products which can cost between $80 and $100 and as high as $350, which insurance doesnt cover. Theres a higher cost on edibles than extract or flower but overall the medical product costs will come down from where it is today, said Hillary Peckham, chief operating officer of Etain Health, a medical-marijuana company. I would like to be able to sell all products in medical as well as adult use. Theres an economic benefit for patients treating their conditions, especially with insurance not being able to cover cannabis since its federally illegal.

When is bud going to be available in dispensaries?

Existing medical marijuana companies can produce and package smokeable flower pretty quickly but it could take 60 to 90 days for the state health department to approve a new product request. Thats because the health labs used to test the safety of new marijuana products are being inundated with thousands of COVID-19 tests. Some new health labs may scale up in the meantime but it takes about a month to run tests on whole flower and new edible products and work out any kinks with the operator before the Department of Health gives its final approval, according to Katharine Neer, a government policy attorney who works with the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association. Experts believe smokeable flower could be available in medical marijuana dispensaries sometime this summer.

Cant I just grow my own?

The law allows you to cultivate up to six marijuana plants, three mature and three seedlings, or up to 12 per household if you live with another adult. However you cant grow them right away. You have to wait six months after the law passed to start growing if youre a medical marijuana patient. Everybody else must wait 18 months after the first adult-use dispensary opens to allow the market to mature. And details surrounding how seedlings and mature plants will be grown and sold, including licenses for marijuana nurseries, are still in the works.

Where will I be able to buy and consume?

Entrepreneurs will eventually be able to apply to the state for licenses to open storefront dispensaries, hookah bar-style consumption lounges, bakeries, restaurants, yoga studios, hotels, and wellness centers, as long as they dont sell alcohol on the premises. Several existing medical marijuana companies are already planning to offer marijuana to the general public, although theyre capped at having a maximum of eight dispensaries with only three three of the eight approved to offer recreational products and two of those must be located in underserved areas. In as little as six years, the marijuana industry could generate $2.6 billion in sales and support 50,806 jobs, according to a Center for New York City Affairs report released in February.

Can I get prior marijuana charges dismissed?

Yes, but that may take a while too. District attorneys in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan have largely stopped prosecuting low-level marijuana offenses, but there are roughly 108,000 cases involving marijuana-related charges that must be removed from peoples records. That could rise to 150,000 cases once all records are reviewed and it could take up to two years to expunge the records, according to an Office of Court Administration spokesman. There have been discussions within the court system about expediting requests for individuals who need to pass a background check for a job, housing, or a loan, but short of calling your boroughs court, theres no formal mechanism in place.

How will the law help marginalized communities join the industry?

State officials set a goal of offering half of all licenses to businesses owned by women or people of color, distressed farmers, or disabled veterans. In addition, taxes collected from the sale of cannabis will be redirected toward schools, drug treatment initiatives, and community organizations in areas adversely affected by drug enforcement. Entrepreneurs will also be able to access grants and loans, and business development training through the Office of Cannabis Management, although drug advocates are already raising concerns that medical companies could get a head start and dominate the market. If we do this in a way so everybody rolls out at the same time, you can meet the social equity goal. if you dont roll out at the same time, what are you going to do? said Fenderson, the Brooklyn cannabis educator.

How do I support entrepreneurs of color?

Marijuana cooperatives are a great way to start. Theyre trying to urge regulators to allow them to cultivate, process, and sell marijuana directly to consumers from their co-op site, which isnt currently allowed. Co-ops also allow people to pool resources, including those who may have bad credit and criminal records, and access a larger share of capital than an individual would otherwise be able to get. We had anticipated entering the legal market and our dream is to be vertically integrated, Emily Ramos, a member of the Bronx-based women-owned co-op Hi Mi Madre, said. We have a right to know there is quality assurance in the process and the only way to get that is to grow the plant yourselves.
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John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, speaks during a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of U.S. Embassy in Seoul



US climate envoy confident on Japan's consultation with IAEA



By Nam Hyun-woo



Korea's efforts to entice the international community to join its campaign to protest Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant are failing to gain traction, with a U.S. presidential envoy reiterating Washington's stance that it was confident in Tokyo's move.



During a press conference in Seoul, Sunday, John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, said, "the U.S. is confident that the government of Japan has had full consultations" with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its decision to release the contaminated water.



"What is key is Japan's continued coordination with the IAEA as it monitors the process," Kerry said. "It is important to have effectiveness of the implementation and the dilution process be carefully pursued. But we have confidence that Japan has worked very closely with the IAEA, and will continue to."



The remarks came a day after Kerry and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong discussed joint efforts between Seoul and Washington to tackle climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.



During their meeting over dinner, Chung expressed the Korean government's concerns on Japan's April 13 decision to discharge the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean and asked that Washington play a role in persuading Tokyo to share transparent and precise information on this matter with the international community.



President Moon Jae-in also expressed concerns on Japan's decision. "There is much concern here about the decision as a country that is geologically closest and shares the sea with Japan," he said when new Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi presented his credentials, April 14. Following this, Moon ordered government officials to explore petitioning an international court over Japan's decision.



Despite the concerns, Kerry said the U.S. was unwilling to play an active role in Korea's campaign to protest the release.



"I know that Japan has weighed all the options and it has been very transparent in the process," the envoy said.



"We think we have confidence in the ability of IAEA and Japan and our relationship with the agency. We need to see how it progresses, and how they do, but we're not planning right now, we don't think it is appropriate for the U.S. to jump in to a process that's already underway and where there are very clear rules and expectations."



With the U.S. stepping back from this issue, Korea is taking on both political and technical challenges to counter Japan's planned release of more than 1 million tons of contaminated water, which will start in 2023 after it is filtered to remove harmful radioactive isotopes.



Japan has said it will release the water, containing tritium, a radioactive isotope byproduct of nuclear fission, in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards. The IAEA said it believes the water disposal method is "technically feasible."



To overturn the IAEA estimation, Korea needs to verify the damage that will result from the radioactive water, which is yet to be released, thus it is requesting Tokyo to share information.





Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong poses with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry during their meeting at the former's official residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
STAMFORD  When Caryn Cosentini heard the state planned to remove trees off of High Ridge Road, she jumped into the public process feet first. Cosentini requested a public hearing, readied her arguments, and rallied the neighbors.

Two months later, she feels shortchanged.

Stamford officials held the public hearing, spoke with residents, and fielded ideas from the community about the lot adjacent to the Merritt Parkway to no avail. A few days later, the state Department of Transportation continued with the project as planned, chopping down the trees in question.

Now, Cosentini wants answers on what happened.

Whether they were right or wrong, the state and city had a breakdown, she said. But they engaged the public. Because of their breakdown, were getting no answers. And that feels like a stonewall.

The plot of land in question straddles the Rippowam River in North Stamford, right next to the highway exit, abutting Wire Mill Road. The state tagged 38 trees on the property for removal in January in order to replace and expand a strip of road that runs over the river.

The state argues the bridge  first built in 1931, but replaced 43 years later  requires substantial updates due to inadequate curb-to curb width and flooding from the river. However, neighbors expressed concerns about the projects environmental and aesthetic impacts in the community.

The new roadway will include an additional travel lane and sidewalks on both sides. The structure is slated for completion in November 2023.

After demands from Cosentini and others, the city granted residents a public hearing on the trees along High Ridge Road on April 5. About 20 residents showed up to hear city officials talk through vegetation-related concerns, along with the projects design.

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

Representatives from the state Department of Transportation did not attend the public hearing, but the DOT announced in late March that it formally would begin the High Ridge Road bridge replacement on April 1.

The hearing was only the first step by the city. Ultimately, residents expected Stamfords tree warden to render a decision on the trees. But before that could happen  only two days after the hearing  laborers arrived to continue work on the project and axed 37 of the 38 trees in question.

With with the trees in question no longer standing, the city opted not to issue the recommendation and told Consentini that the need for a decision from the Citys Tree Warden (was) moot.

The state did not notify the city officials that it would begin tree removal on city property, according to city spokesperson Arthur Augustyn. That same day, the city contacted the state to object to the tree removal.

However, the State continued tree removal anyway, wrote Augustyn in an email.

The Departments ability to acquire property, temporarily or permanently, is set forth in the states general statutes, DOT Spokesperson Kevin Nursick said in an email. The state acquired the parcel in April 2020, when the Board of Representatives granted the DOT a temporary construction easement.

The department then gained full control over any vegetation fully or partially within the limits of the state highway, according to Nursick.

Once an acquisition or temporary construction easement is in place, the property essentially becomes the states, and the authority to perform vegetation management is codified in state statute, he wrote, pointing specifically to Connecticut General Statute  13a-140.

State law establishes that the transportation commissioner can remove any trees or vegetation either partially or wholly within the limits of state highways if necessary for safe and convenient travel.

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

Though the state has final say on what happens to the trees, Gary Rose of Sacred Heart University said the Stamford situation is emblematic of a larger issue. According to him, state government has become more bureaucratic over the years, and traditional channels of communication with local governments have broken down.

Even though local governments are still very vibrant units of our state, the distance between the state and the local levels of the policy have become much more distant over the years, said Rose, an expert on Connecticut government. As bureaucracy grows, he said, the once-intimate relationships between appointed government officials and municipalities become more strained.

Government in Connecticut also skews local, a through-line Rose traces back to the its Puritan origins. The states home rule provision, passed in the 1950s, only further solidified that tradition into law.

Theres a long history in Connecticut and throughout the New England area of local governments, Rose said. Were pretty protective of that here. This tree issue, in many ways, is a perceived violation of this longstanding culture that we have of local activity and local power.

Even after reaching a dead end with the city, Cosentini and her allies still want a say in High Ridge Roads future.

I do not think the matter is moot and I do not think the city should hide behind that conclusion. In fact, I think they should call for an oversight review of the state's conduct, she said.

In fact, the DOTs course of action only motivated Cosentini to stay involved. While the trees are gone, the state still has to start rebuilding the road and must remediate the vegetation with the help of a landscape specialist.

With respect to the site, the city should give us the opportunity to review the remediation plan, Cosentini added. The state should step up and engage with us on a better bridge design.

Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the name of Gary Rose.
This April 17 Malbec World Day is celebrated, an initiative that seeks to promote Argentine Malbec around the world, through a celebration that pays tribute to the flagship vine of said South American country.

Impulsed by Wines of Argentina (WofA) and with the support of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Mexico, Malbec World Day (MWD) has been celebrated for 11 years with the spirit of sharing Argentine culture and identity with the world through the most outstanding wines of that nation, so that the glasses from all over the world are always accompanied by wines that reflect the diversity of Argentine terroirs and the warmth of the hands that create them.
Janhvi Kapoor To Collaborate With Anurag Basu For A Film? Here's What We Know

Janhvi Kapoor starrer Dostana 2 might have run into some trouble lately with Kartik Aaryan exiting the film and reports of Dharma Productions being miffed with the actor, but that does not mean that she doesn't have her hands full in work. The actress had wrapped up the shoot of Good Luck Jerry just a few months back and will be doing the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Helen, which will be produced by her father Boney Kapoor. Now, we are getting to hear that she might be a part of Anurag Basu's next as well.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Janhvi Kapoor (@janhvikapoor)

If a report in Peepingmoon is to be believed, then Janhvi is the top contender for a film that would be directed by none other than Anurag Basu. The details of the film are not yet known and have been kept under the wraps. The report also mentions that the dup is currently in talks and nothing has been finalised.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anurag Basu (@anuragbasuofficial)

Well, we hope that the film materialises because it would be interesting to watch Janhvi being directed by Anurag Basu. Anurag last helmed the Netflix release Ludo which was highly appreciated by the audiences. His last theatrical release was the 2017 musical Jagga Jasoos starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in the lead.
WE WENT to Newport for three days last week, two Minnesotans long married, to rediscover the fact that ocean air is delicious and invigorating and can even make you happy. That surely is why the Vanderbilts built their monstrous mansion on the shore: sinking into decadence in a fake palace w
German vaccine-maker IDT Biologika said Friday it plans to bottle this year some 10 million doses of the coronavirus shot developed by AstraZeneca.

IDT Biologika and AstraZeneca previously announced they would expand production capacity for the British-Swedish company's vaccine at a plant in the German town of Dessau by the end of 2022.

The new agreement was made possible because a third manufacturer, Merz Pharma, relinquished the production capacity it had reserved with IDT for the second quarter.

IDT produces vaccines for several pharmaceutical companies. In March, the company announced that for three months it would make the single-dose COVID-19 shot developed by Johnson & Johnson.

Chief Executive Officer Juergen Betzing said Friday that IDT was also in talks with the developers of Russia's Sputnik V shot, which has yet to be approved for use in the European Union.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is restricted to people over 60 in Germany due to concerns over rare blood clots in some recipients. Among those who received it recently are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Singapore: China and the United States will push for stronger international climate change commitments by the end of the year in a show of solidarity that will put further pressure on Australia to take more action on emissions reduction.

In a substantial breakthrough after hostile negotiations between the foreign affairs arms of both countries in Alaska in March, the two governments will work together on developing carbon capture, energy storage and hydrogen targets, while also providing funding for developing countries to switch to greener energy sources.

The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands, the joint statement from the two negotiators released on Sunday morning said.

US climate envoy John Kerry. Credit:Bloomberg

While the brief statement outlines the two superpowers shared aims, it provided no detail on any specific goals or methods to tackle climate change.
By Elizabeth Culliford

(Reuters) - Audio-chat app Clubhouse closed a new Series C round of financing, the company said during its weekly town hall on Sunday, without disclosing the amount raised.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters that the new financing would value the company at $4 billion.

The social media app said the new round of financing was led by Andrew Chen of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz with major investors like DST Global, Tiger Global and Elad Gil.

Clubhouse and Andreessen Horowitz did not respond to requests for how much the funding round raised.

The San Francisco-based company, whose app allows people to discuss varied topics in audio chatrooms, has seen its popularity surge after appearances by billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

The success of the invite-only, year-old platform, which recently reported 10 million weekly active users, has demonstrated the potential of audio chat services, particularly as people stay inside homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bloomberg earlier this month said Twitter Inc was in discussions to buy audio app at a $4 billion valuation.

Tech website The Information first reported details on the funding on Friday.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Culliford in New York and Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
EDWARDSVILLE  Edwardsville and Glen Carbon police chiefs attended Madison County States Attorney Tom Haines cross-river task force last Friday.

Madison County States Attorney Thomas Haine said a new Cross-River Crime Task Force would create a united effort to address complaints of criminals coming over from Missouri, committing crimes, and then heading back across the river  many times before victims realize the crimes have been committed.

Auto thefts and burglaries have been very common, but there have also been retail thefts, strong-arm robberies, shootings and murders.

I understand his concerns and am always open to ideas to address crime, Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeven told the Intelligencer Tuesday. I agree with the concept of sharing resources to address crime that impacts the citizens of numerous communities within Madison County.

Keeven said he has volunteered to be part of the data/planning working group. One of the things to come out of the April 11 meeting are two different working groups. One will focus on data collection and developing a plan to combat the criminals. The other will focus on the efforts organization, structure and funding.

We have not yet met, but as I understand it, our mission will be to identify crimes common to all of our communities and share ideas for addressing these crimes.

Several communities and other entities in the area are adding license plate reader (LPR) cameras on area roads, particularly near interstate interchanges. SIUE has at least two near its southern entrance, north of Interstate 270; Glen Carbon is preparing to install two on the south side of the 270-Route 157 interchange with two more planned on Route 159 north of 270; and Edwardsville seeks to add two such cameras on 157 on or near Sunset Hill.

LPR technology is useful in tracking stolen vehicles and the movement of individuals using these vehicles to traverse our highways, Keeven said.

A chunk of Haines presentation at the Madison County Administration Building on April 9 discussed criminals crossing the Mississippi River from St. Louis.

I am aware of two homicides and numerous vehicle thefts and burglaries, which occurred in Madison County, where those suspected of the crimes were from North County/St. Louis, Keeven said. I have not tracked the amount of time our officers work cases by the state of residence of the suspect. We could identify state of residence when we have either made an arrest or identified a lead suspect, but any unsolved cases may skew those numbers.

For Glen Carbon Police Chief Todd Link, he and his department stand ready to help Haines office.

I believe States Attorney Haine is committed to preserving and enhancing public safety, Link said. I fully support his efforts to address and reduce cross-river crime. I am not assigned to either committee, but my staff and I may take on tasks at a later time, should States Attorney Haine ask us to do so.

Link believes there is no question Missouri criminals target Madison County.

While I do not have exact numbers of incidents yet, I know Glen Carbon PD has responded to a higher number of crimes involving suspects from Missouri than in years past. This has been especially true in regard to property crimes like stolen motor vehicle incidents and incidents involving burglaries to motor vehicles.

Edwardsville and Glen Carbon have been hotspots for vehicle burglaries and thefts in the past six to 12 months, as have other suburbs and towns in the metropolitan area  Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Lake St. Louis, St. Peters and others. Each of these crimes has had a common denominator.

At the most basic level, we need our residents to be vigilant about their personal safety and protection of their property, Link said. The simplest way to do this is to lock all vehicles and secure all valuables, keys and key fobs away from the vehicles. This one quick and simple action would eliminate 100 percent of our stolen motor vehicle incidents over the last year and nearly 100 percent of our burglaries to motor vehicles over the last year.

The Glen Carbon Police Department depends on our residents to help us solve crime problems and this increase in cross-river crime is just one more crime problem that can be solved, he said.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
In a couple of weeks, billions of cicadas from Brood X will emerge from the ground for a pitched mating ritual that happens once every 17 years, introducing a cacophony of noise and the possibility of another creature becoming more visible: copperheads.

Cicadas are an ideal snack for the venomous snake species found in New Jersey, experts said.

I think of them as cicada McNuggets, said David Wheeler, the executive director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Theyre bite sized treats for most wildlife.

The insects are high in protein and low in fat, Wheeler said. They are defenseless, with their large numbers acting as their primary defense. Other creatures from birds to rodents enjoy eating the cicadas, since they serve as a plentiful fast food buffet for wildlife, he said.

The nice thing about the cicada is that its pretty defenseless, said Sara Ruane, a herpetologist and professor at Rutgers-Newark. The insects are soft and squishy, and copperheads tend to target them as soon as they emerge, before theyve even fully solidified.

Swarms of 17-year cicadas will emerge in parts of New Jersey this spring.

Although the emergence of the insects wont increase the number of copperheads  just one of the two venomous snake species found in the state  it may make their appearance a little more likely.

The snakes shouldnt be a concern for most people, said Ruane. Its important to remain aware if you live in an area where cicadas are present, but the snakes prefer to remain hidden.

Copperheads are more active at night and in specific environments, she said, like deciduous forests. The orange, copper-colored snakes can be well camouflaged on a bed of leaves, but if one was on a neatly trimmed green lawn, youre likely to spot it.

Regardless, snakes like to have cover, keeping them safe from predators like hawks. A tidy, mowed lawn is likely to deter them from living in an area, as opposed to debris and tall grass, which encourages security.

Theyre not going to show up in your yard just because there are cicadas, Ruane said. Again, unless youre out at night, marching around in the woods, youre probably not going to encounter one.

The snakes are mostly found in the northern counties of the state, including Somerset, Mercer, Hunterdon, and parts of Bergen. They dont live in suburbs or southern New Jersey  you wont find copperheads in the Pine Barrens.

There also arent that many of themcopperheads are a vulnerable species that have been largely impacted by habitat loss and other changes in the state, Wheeler said.

If you do happen to see a copperhead, dont purposefully interact with it, Ruane said. Give it space and dont touch it. If its in an unnatural place, like your garage, contact the states fish and wildlife department and someone will come to remove it, she said.

People worry about snakes probably a lot more than they need to, she said. Snakes are just trying to live their lives and dont want to interact with you.

If you do happen to get bit by a copperhead, dont panic, Ruane said, but immediately head to the hospital. Although bites are serious, their venom is relatively weak and the person is very likely to survive this type of bite, she said.

The cicadas tend to appear in late spring and early summer, so theyre likely to appear soon. Although the noise  which comes from male cicadas competing with each other for the loudest mating calls  may be a disturbance to some people, they are also a unique event.

As much as some people are concerned with the cicadas and everything, the reality is its really an amazing natural spectacle, Wheeler said. Unless theyre keeping you up all night, try to enjoy it.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
(Natural News) When it comes to biodiversity, the waters around the equator have long been miles ahead of most of the rest of the planet. The tropical waters are known for their rich and varied marine life, with creatures ranging from vibrant coral reefs, whale sharks and sea turtles to tropical tuna and manta rays.

Unfortunately, its reign appears to be coming to a close as scientists report a mass exodus of marine species from the area, and everyone on the planet could end up paying the price.

Researchers from the Universities of Queensland, Auckland and the Sunshine Coast are sounding the alarm bell about rising water temperatures in the areas surrounding the equator, which is causing species to head for cooler waters toward the polar regions in both directions.

As these species try to establish themselves in their new homes, they will essentially become invasive species there, and their fate looks grim. The researchers point out that when something similar occurred 252 million years ago, an incredible 90 percent of all marine species died. At that time, global temperatures rose by 10 degrees Celsius across a span of 30,000 to 60,000 years thanks to greenhouse gas emissions from a series of volcanic eruptions in Siberia.

A study last year of fossils from that time period showed how a strong peak in biodiversity around the equator flattened and then spread in a giant wave rearranging global diversity.

Fleeing species will impact global ecosystem, human livelihoods

These changes are expected to cause serious disruptions to the global ecosystem. Species will be fighting for space, resources and food, which means that mass die-offs and extinctions could be right around the corner.

Of course, its not just the ecosystem that could collapse; humans will also suffer from this redistribution. Many tropical island nations rely on revenue from tuna fishing by selling licenses in their waters; this will no longer be possible as tuna head for cooler waters. Moreover, the reef species needed to support artisanal fishers will also likely head for the subtropics, threatening these nations abilities to meet Sustainable Development Goals related to marine life and hunger.

A shifting curve

The researchers tracked nearly 50,000 different species by looking at distribution records that dated back to 1955 to determine their trajectory. They said that even though the warming seen at the equator of 0.6 degrees Celsius in the last half century is considered relatively modest when compared to the warming seen at higher latitudes, these tropical species need to move further in order to stay within their thermal niche compared to species living elsewhere.

They wrote: For each of the 10 major groups of species we studied (including pelagic fish, reef fish and molluscs) that live in the water or on the seafloor, their richness either plateaued or declined slightly at latitudes with mean annual sea-surface temperatures above 20?.

The typical global distribution of ocean life is similar to a bell curve, with the poles being home to a dramatically lower number of species than the equatorial areas. However, the curve is already starting to change noticeably as these creatures head for the poles.

The greatest species richness on the planet today can now be found in the southern oceans of Mexico and China and the norther oceans of southern Brazil and Australia, they reported. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Changes to marine life around the equator might seem like an inconsequential issue to many people, particularly those who live far from the tropics, but the effects of the resulting mass extinctions will be felt throughout the planet.

Sources for this article include:

WakingTimes.com

PNAS.org

TheHill.com
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did something a lot of the agencys employees wanted, something a lot of us needed to see happen. New CDC Director Rochelle Walensky launched Racism and Health, a broad, agencywide effort to focus public health work on the many ways race has an impact on health. There's a website accompanying the move.

Too often when people hear or read race they think Black and skin color. That has its place, but when it comes to health the focus should be on access, education, treatment and research as well as health agency and provider representation.

The word racism is intentional in this (initiative) for the CDC, Dr. Walensky told TIME. This is not just about the color of your skin but also about where you live, where you work, where your children play, where you pray, how you get to work, the jobs you have. All of these things feed into peoples health and their opportunities for health.

The May 2020 death of George Floyd angered and outraged many of us, and not just Black folks. A diverse group of more than 1,000 CDC employees sent a June 30 letter making seven demands, including greater agency leadership diversity and seeking a public declaration that racism is a public health crisis. "Systemic racism is not just a concept perpetrated outside these walls," they wrote to then-CDC Director Robert Redfield. "It is a crushing reality for people of color in their daily lived experiences here at CDC."

Redfields response: CDC is committed to fostering a fair, equitable, and inclusive environment in which staff can openly share their concerns with agency leadership."

In other words, I read your letter, and no further action is necessary.

New CDC Director Walensky took a different approach. She addressed the issue directly as she spoke about the CDCs significant initiative: Racism is not just the discrimination against one group based on the color of their skin or their race or ethnicity, but the structural barriers that impact racial and ethnic groups differently to influence where a person lives, where they work, where their children play, and where they gather in community.

In other words, I hear you, your concerns are legitimate and as I speak heres what were going to do.

Its a good next step. Like health and science experts in Louisiana and elsewhere, I want to see impact at the state and local levels.

Tiffany Jeanminette, director of policy and equity at the Louisiana Public Health Institute, said whats been done is good enough for now. Dr. Thomas LaVeist, dean of Tulane Universitys School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a co-chair of Gov. John Bel Edwards Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, said the approach will help us deal with health inequities that continue to be a drag on our nations economy.

Dr. Amy Lesen, an associate professor with the Dillard University Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, said it address racism as part of a larger, historic system that creates health inequality.

Jeanminette, LaVeist and Lesen appreciate the national visibility that comes with the CDCs race and health move. But they want to see more.

Lesen wants to see more significant funding to deal with health disparities at centers like the one where she works. The next step is the alignment of resources and power to dismantle institutional racism within systems whose mission is to promote health and wellness, Jeanminette said. More support will be needed in the actual implementation of the CDCs programs at the state and local levels."

LaVeist notes that there are different types of racism, and structural racism is just one of several. The new website should help people think more seriously about these issues so the issues can be addressed. Websites will not fix structural racism, he said. Only policy can fix that.

As happy as I am that CDC is addressing the issue head on, I hope more people will review and consider the deep-dive data and information, especially those who have denied that health equity racism exists. If some of us are unhealthy, all of us are unhealthy because many of us use the same services, schools and streets. The cost to individuals is ultimately the cost to us as a society.

Ignore it because the word race is used if you wish. But we wont be better until all of us are better.
KCRA - Sacramento Videos

A hum of nervous excitement makes its way through the stadium at Whitney High School Friday evening. Parents and soon-to-be grads -- posing for pictures. A lot of smiles, and pride. The easily distinguishable notes of Pomp and Circumstance emanate from speakers near a portable stage. Families scanning a sea of caps and gowns -- hoping to catch a glimpse of their graduate filing down to the field. This day, filled with joy for so many Whitney High families, is one that carries thoughts of what could have been for a high school senior who is not here. Zachary Didier, a stand-out student in academics, theatre and sports, and a friend to many on that field for graduation, died from fentanyl poisoning back in December. See more in the video above.
Originally from Son Tay, a small rural town outside Hanoi, Nguyen Ba Phuoc spent much of his childhood cooking with his family, but never imagined that he would one day become one of Vietnams top chefs of Japanese cuisine.

In 2016, Phuoc was awarded a full scholarship by Hokuto Bunka Academy in Hokkaido, Japan and became a student of its cooking faculty the same year.

One year later, he was honored as one of the ten most excellent residents living in the city of Muroran for his achievements in studying Japan's traditional cuisine and promoting Vietnamese cuisine there as well.

In 2020, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam presented a certificate of merit to Phuoc for his outstanding contribution to the Vietnamese community in Hokkaido.

Phuoc has also become a coordinator for the Traditional Japanese Culinary Research Association.

A 'wild child'

Phuoc was never an all-star student.

Even now, long after graduation many of his teachers still remember him as a "wild child who couldnt sit still long enough to take in a lesson."

In fact, his scores were so low that he was not able to attend a public high school and was instead placed in a complementary education school  an outcome that shamed his parents.

During his formative years, Phuocs dream was to turn his reputation as a class clown into a full-time profession by following in the footsteps of his idols  locally famous comedians Xuan Bac and Tu Long.

I always try my best to make people around me laugh and feel comfortable, Phuoc said.

Phuocs dream of making it big as a comedian was shattered when he failed the entrance exam to the Hanoi Academy of Theater and Cinema and had to figure out what his next steps in life would be.

Around that time, his father offered him a piece of advice that would forever change his life.

Youd better learn to cook, his father suggested.

For years Phuoc had cooked for his family. Though he had always enjoyed feeding his mother and father, he never once thought about a career in the kitchen.

Still, with no other options in front of him, Phuoc left Son Tay and headed to Hanoi to enroll in culinary school.

A lesson in Japanese spirit

Phuocs first experience with Japanese food came during an internship where he worked as a server at a Japanese restaurant.

At the time, the Vietnamese capital city was home to just a few Japanese restaurants.

Each day they asked me if Id keep coming back for work, Phuoc shared.

Many servers who had worked there before me had left because of the owners strict rules.

"It was a culture for many, but not to me.

According to Phuoc, it is his background as a rural villager that prepared him for restaurant life.

As a farmer by nature, I am not afraid of hard work and unpleasant tasks, like cleaning floors and wiping grease, he explained, adding that it made him more uncomfortable to do nothing than to do something difficult.

Between the two years he spent working at the restaurant and a Japanese cuisine exhibition held at the capitals Nikko Hotel which showcased the beauty and thought put into each of Japans dishes, Phuoc grew a tremendous passion for Japanese food.

Following his new dream, Phuoc quit his job and enrolled in a Japanese class, hoping it would prepare him to travel to Japan and study the countrys cuisine.

Overcoming culture shock

Phuocs tenacity earned him a scholarship to study the culinary arts at the Hokuto Bunka Academy in Japan.

I went to Hokkaido," Phuoc said.

"There werent many Vietnamese students there at the time and I was the only non-Japanese student in my class.

Nguyen Ba Phuoc prepares dishes at the cooking school at the Hokuto Bunka Academy in 2017 in this supplied photo.

One of the biggest challenges for Phuoc was the language barrier.

Despite reaching a level of Japanese proving his ability to understand the language in daily situations, it was difficult for him to adjust to the local culture and bond with his classmates.

The Japanese didnt like to speak English and they were also hesitant to talk to foreigners," he recalled.

"This made it very difficult to engage with them at school."

Hoping to overcome the language and culture barriers he faced, Phuoc set about improving his Japanese language command and brushing up on the countrys culture, history, and institutions.

His hard work paid off two years later with a culinary degree in traditional Japanese cuisine  one of his school's most difficult subjects.

In Japan, traditional food refers to cuisines that were served just one time only to the royals," said Phuoc.

"There are instances where no amount of money can buy a traditional dish.

Slowly, that is changing.

Over the past few decades, Japans traditional restaurants have begun opening themselves to the general public, exposing the masses to food once reserved for royalty.

When you go to a traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant, you not only enjoy dishes there but you also have the opportunity to enjoy a typical Japanese space inside the restaurant and the unique service experience offered by the staff," he said.

"The food is just about 40 percent of the experience.

Nguyen Ba Phuoc prepares dishes before the Lunar New Year holiday in 2019 in Hanoi in this supplied photo.

Dreaming of a day of return

With such an outstanding academic record from culinary school, Phuoc was able to secure a job in Tokyo but was quickly laid off after the country was hit by COVID-19.

He then picked up a part-time job as a porter at a local market in order to afford rent while he continues his job hunt.

He did not have to wait long for a stroke of luck.

Within just a few weeks, a larger restaurant than the first offered him a job.

Now, after nearing his dream of conquering Japans traditional culinary scene, Phuoc has begun to set his sights on a new dream: returning to his homeland to help build Vietnams Japanese food ecosystem.

Though it will take several more years of experience before he is ready to return to Vietnam, the cook has already set the wheels in motion by using the Internet to begin creating a network of like-minded chefs who share his ideas.

He also holds online seminars for such individuals to exchange knowledge, skills, and experiences relating to traditional Japanese cuisine.

He has helped eight young people in the last three years gain the opportunity to travel to Japan.

As long as they really love cooking, I will try my best to help anyone, said Phuoc.

Nguyen Ba Phuoc with a dish of sweet and sour pork ribs in a photo taken in 2019

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For Ayo Folarin, being a landlord at Kelani Olaniyi Street, Toga-Zanmu, Badagry, Lagos, has brought more hardship than comfort for him and his family.

Mr Folarin, 55, lives with his wife and five children at Toga-Zanmu village in Badagry, in what he called an escape from tenancy and killing house rents of Lagos.

Mr Folarin said building his house at Toga-Zanmu has been one of his greatest achievements. This excitement has, however, been marred by the citing of a telecom mast behind his house, causing him distress.

When the generator powering the mast is on, my house vibrates non-stop. The smoke of the generator enters the house, this is causing health problems for my family.

My wife is unable to sleep in the house, her mind is never at rest, two of my young children have developed high blood pressure, Mr Folarin lamented.

Mr Folarin told PREMIUM TIMES that his children  aged eight and 12  have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. He did not provide proof but said they were told at the hospital.

Background

Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Nigeria erected a telecom mast at Kelani Olaniyi Street, Toga-Zanmu, Badagry, in 2008.

Now managed by IHS Nigeria, a telecom infrastructure service provider company, the mast with Site Identity Number LG 3200 was erected a few metres away from Mr Folarins house.

I moved to my house in 2006, because it is a new site, only few houses were around, I had only two neighbours then. There was another piece of land directly behind me and it was used as MTN site. At first, we didnt know their plan for that place, we only saw building materials on the land and they started work later, he said.

Mr Folarin said it was when construction began on the site that they realised it was meant for a telecom mast.

At the initial stage, the network mast was powered by solar and caused no disturbance to the neighbourhood. But it was for a short period.

Later, they started using a generator and the generator began making a lot of noise. I called the landlord in 2012 to tell him about the issue, he said.

Mr Folarin said when the telecom mast was brought to the area, he was employed as a security personnel since his house was the closest to the site.

He said since he was working seven hours per day in Agbara Industrial Estate, he said he accepted the offer and was being paid N10,000 monthly.

I started working for them around 2009, my job was just to open and close the place, he told PREMIUM TIMES.

He narrated that things began to turn sour when the generator being used to power the mast started causing disturbance for him and his family.

I didnt pay attention to it initially, but I knew my wife was unable to sleep when at home, her heart always beat fast. The house vibrates a lot and the children are also affected. It was later I realized I was being paid for something that is affecting my health and my family, he said.

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Mr Folarin said that he consulted with the community leaders, the family that sold the land to the company, a lawyer, and the Area K, Police Command in Badagry over the issue.

We cannot leave our houses because MTN brought a mast to the area, it is a residential area and they met us here, he said.

A familys ordeal

Mr Folarin told PREMIUM TIMES that the problem with the IHS mast has brought a setback to his family health-wise, with the condition of his wife consistently relapsing.

The generator makes so much noise that we cannot sleep, you know it becomes worse at night when the area is quieter. Also, we feel the vibration in the house, that when we are at home, we also vibrate, he said.

My wife has health issues and whenever she is in the house, her heart beats really fast. She cannot sleep when in the house, when she goes out, she does not want to come back.

Not just that my wife has health issues, her family has fought me several times and threatened to take her from my house because the environment is making her health worse, he added.

Although there is no medical report to show any health condition of his wife was caused by the network mast, Mr Folarin said her health worsened due to the closeness of the tower to his house and the disturbance it causes.

My children fall sick often, I have bought several drugs for my wife and children. Two of my children had high blood pressure the last time, he added.

NCCs Intervention

On January 19, 2019, Mr Folarin, through his lawyer, Latif Rashidi, petitioned the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the removal of the telecom mast within his clients premises.

In the petition, the lawyer said that MTN had erected a mast too close for the comfort of the Folarin family thereby making them suffer medically. He demanded NCCs intervention for the removal of the mast.

In reaction, the NCC set up an investigation team and conducted a site inspection on February 21, 2019, to guide the NCCs action on the matter.

In a copy of the report obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the NCC team led by Yetunde Akinloye, Director, Legal & Regulatory Services, found that the distance from the generator to the demised building is 6.15 meters, while the distance from the tower (mast) to Mr Folarins building is 10.54.

There was slight sign of air pollution but no oil spillage at the site; there is a hybrid power system at the site although not operational; The noise level of the generator at the demised building is 68.2 decibel (dB), the report says.

On radiation and its possible effects on humans, the NCC team maintained the position of the World Health Organization (WHO) on base stations which states that:

No adverse short- or long-term health effects have been shown to occur from the Radio Frequency (RF) signals produced by base stations; and Signals from base stations are comparable to broadcast services and there is no convincing scientific evidence that such weak RF signals can cause adverse health effects.

Meanwhile, on the noise level permissible in residential areas, the team reported that the 68.2 dB noise level of the generator is in line with the World Health Organizations (WHO) recommendation that exposure to noise should be limited to a maximum of 90decibels.

As resolved at the said inspection, IHS Nigeria Limited will be directed to replace the solar batteries in order to reduce the usage of the generator and also service the generator, the team concluded.

Despite the recommendation that the solar batteries powering the network mast should be replaced, IHS did not comply with this directive since 2019.

In a recent petition to the NCC for the removal of the mast, Tinka Gabriel, counsel to Mr Folarin, said despite site inspection, the NCC perpetrated a calculated fraud in its recommendations and called for the removal of the mast.

Fact-check

When PREMIUM TIMES checked the guidelines of WHO on noise in specific environments, it stipulated 50-55 dB for outdoor living areas and for a maximum of 16 hours.

For indoor noise, the WHO guideline stipulates 30-35 dB, stating that the critical health effects of noise indoors include; moderate and serious annoyance, sleep disturbance at night-time and speech intelligibility.

Despite the clear guideline of the WHO which the NCC said it followed, and the possible health risks associated with noise in living areas, the NCC said MTN/IHS limited complied with regulations.

Similarly, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Law (LASEPA Law) said the standard approved noise level in residential areas in the state shall not exceed 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.

A Comparative Analyses of Base Transceivers Station (BTS) and effect on Human Body also recommended a minimum of 16m distance from transceiver stations and buildings. This is contrary to the 10.54metres distance between the IHS tower and Mr Folarins house.

Regardless of the different regulations guiding the placement of masts in residential and commercial areas, Mr Folarin and his family have been subjected to hardship as a result of the mast.

All efforts to reach Ikechukwu Adindu, the spokesperson of the NCC, on the matter were unsuccessful. The official did not respond to calls and text messages.

MTN, IHS react

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson on MTN Nigeria, Funsho Aina, he explained that the network mast is no longer operated by the company.

MTN does not own Base Transceiver Stations anymore, Mr Aina said.

There is what we call managed services that we did many years back when we sold our towers to IHS Towers. We sold our towers to them and they own them now, we are just paying to use the infrastructure and it is like that with many telecommunications.

They are the ones managing it. It is an IHS tower and IHS site and not our own, Mr Aina responded.

Reacting to the matter, a spokesperson for IHS said the company was looking into the complaints of Mr Folarin.

IHS Nigeria is aware of alleged complaints regarding a site in Badagry, Lagos, and takes these matters very seriously. We are investigating the concerns and will follow up with relevant residents in due course, the company said in an e-mailed response.
Mumbai: Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Sunday paid tribute to `Harry Potter` actor Helen McCrory and penned down an emotional note stating that her demise is a `deep sense of loss` even when he did not know her.

In a tweet, the `Hotel Mumbai` star posted two pictures of the late actor and expressed sorrow over her demise.

He wrote, "All deaths are saddening & tragic. But there are times when you feel a deep sense of loss with someone leaving this world even when you don`t know the person.""#HelenMcRory was one such actress. Great in #HarryPotter films & electrifying in #PeakyBlinders. RIP. @lewis_damian," added Kher.

Earlier Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Anushka Sharma paid tribute to the `Harry Potter` star.

Anushka shared a picture of the late actor on her Instagram story. The `Ae Dil Hai Mushkil` star wrote a heartfelt message that read as, "Helen McCrory, may you always rest in peace gleaming in your brilliance."

Vicky shared a tribute post for Helen from the official social media handle of the show `Peaky Blinders`. He put up a heart-breaking emoji on the picture while sharing it. Actor Helen McCrory, who was widely known for playing the role of Narcissa Malfoy in the popular `Harry Potter` franchise, had passed away, on Friday (local time) after suffering from a long time battle with cancer.

She was 52 when she breathed her last. McCrory`s husband, Damian Lewis announced the news on his Twitter handle and wrote, "I`m heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.

"Bidding his final goodbye, he added, "She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God, we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you."The late star who played the role of Polly Gray in the hit Netflix show `Peaky Blinders` was also paid a tribute by the show`s official Twitter handle.

"Helen McCrory as Polly Gray. All our love and thoughts are with Helen`s family. Rest in peace," the tweet read. The `Peaky Blinders` star also appeared in the James Bond film `Skyfall`, Martin Scorsese`s `Hugo` and played Cherie Booth, wife of U.K.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, in `The Queen` and `The Special Relationship`.In addition to her film and TV roles, McCrory began her career on stage and appeared in more than 25 productions during the 1990s through the mid-2010s. Her stage credits included `Macbeth`, `Pride and Prejudice`, `As You Like It`, `Medea`, and many more
The sign at the main entrance to the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus is seen Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Fairbanks. Caitlin Miller/News-Miner
Mumbai, April 18 : The board of Future Retail along and its lenders have approved a resolution plan to restructure the existing secured financial debt from the banks under the resolution framework for Covid-19 related stress.

In a regulatory filing, the company said that the board approved the plan in its meeting on Saturday.

It now requires the approval of the expert committee, under the chairmanship of the K.V. Kamath constituted by the Reserve Bank of India.

"As part of the resolution plan, the debt raised through the non-convertible debentures issued by the Company under Series IA, IB and II ("NCDs") are also part of the Existing Debt and are proposed to be restructured," it said.

The company has received the written consent of 100 per cent of the holders of the NCDs to amend the terms and conditions of the NCDs as per the resolution plan approved by the other lenders of the existing debt.

"The Board took these consents on record, in the aforementioned Board meeting, and approved the restructuring of the NCDs, in line with the resolution plan approved by the other lenders of the Existing Debt," the filing said.

Further, the company shall, prior to undertaking the restructuring of the NCDs as per the resolution plan, obtain the approval of the relevant stock exchanges where the NCDs are listed, under the applicable provisions of the LODR Regulations.

The resolution plan shall be implemented after execution of necessary agreements, deeds, undertaking and other relevant documents between the company and the lenders which shall be executed on or before April 26, 2021, said the filing.

It further said that pursuant to the implementation of resolution plan of the existing debt the board expects that the company would recover from the financial stress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, within the resolution timeframe.

It may be noted that 5.6 per cent US Senior Secured notes 2025 issued by the company and non-convertible debentures issued by the company to certain trusts are not part of the resolution plan.

"The Board also places its sincere appreciation to all the lenders, whether financial or otherwise, who have extended their support and posed their faith in the long-term viability of the business operations of the company," it said.
Not all the products we find on the supermarket shelf or buy in the shops are as harmless as they may appear. Although we may not know it, some of these contribute to the destruction of biodiversity and aggravate climate change.

There are many countries in which the development of agriculture and the breeding of livestock increasingly come at the cost of rainforest territory, as huge swathes of virgin forest must be cleared for new farmland and pastures.

Spain, in fact, is one of the countries whose purchases produce the largest destruction of forest in the world, according to environmental organisation WWF, which used data from the Trase - Stockholm Environment Institute, an organisation for sustainable commerce, to compile its report.

The data shows that, in the European Union, Spain is the third largest consumer of products from Latin America, Southeast Asia, tropical Africa and the Pacific islands, which are all directly connected to the destruction of jungle and forest.

To be precise, the Spanish imports of soya, palm oil and beef, as well as the timber, cocoa and coffee originating from regions between the equator and the tropics, are responsible for the destruction of some 32,900 hectares of woodland ever year, which equates to an area three times the size of Barcelona.

The deforestation caused by EU imports equates to the emission of 116 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, more than the total annual emissions of Belgium, claims the organisation

Being the third largest contributor in Europe to this destruction, just behind Germany and Italy, says a lot, as only China consumes more products than the EU that devastate the rainforest. While the Asian nation is indirectly responsible for a quarter of all deforestation, European countries cause 16 per cent of it - the equivalent of some 203,000 hectares of forest, an area somewhat larger than the province of Guipuzcoa in the Basque Country. The eight principal economies in the EU, with Spain in the leading group, import the products responsible for 80 per cent of this destruction.

But the tragedy caused by the methods of production based on the devastation of rainforest and other ecosystems, such as grasslands and wetlands, is not limited to the often irreversible damage inflicted on virgin landscapes and the native communities that make a living off sustainable farming.

Tropical forests, together with oceans and seas, are the greatest natural carbon sinks on Earth, the cells that capture an important percentage of the CO2 generated by vehicles and industry. The deforestation caused by EU imports equates to the emission of 116 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, more than Belgiums annual total.

This ecological disaster compelled WWF and various non-governmental organisations to launch a campaign last year called #NoTeComasElBosque (DontEatTheForest), which over one million Europeans joined. They demand strong and ambitious legislation from the EU that protects tropical forests and prevents any product that has contributed to ecological destruction from entering the EU single market.

Ban imports that cause deforestation

"In the whole world, deforestation and the conversion of ecosystems are fuelling the climate and biodiversity crisis, destroying the means of life and threatening our health. In this moment, the EU is part of the problem, but with adequate legislation we could be part of the solution," said Enrique Segovia, director of conservation at WWF Spain.

Segovia sees Spain as obliged to act in this regard. "Spain is the third country in the EU with the largest impact on the planets forests and other ecosystems. We cannot look the other way. We have to assume our responsibilities and defend an effective European legislation that prevents the environmental destruction caused by our shopping baskets."

This legislation, WWF insists, should oblige the EU to ban imports that cause deforestation, and to that end it must guarantee "the traceability of basic products and the transparency of the supply chain." WWF also believes that Europe ought to "strengthen its cooperation with the producing countries in order to support global efforts to put an end to deforestation, the destruction of the environment and the violations of human rights."
Pakistani officials say at least three people have been killed in fresh clashes between police and supporters of a banned Islamist group seeking the expulsion of the French envoy over the publication of cartoons in France depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Police spokesman Rana Arif in the eastern city of Lahore said followers of the hard-line Tehrik-e Labaik Pakistan (TLP) party attacked the police headquarters with a petrol bomb on April 18 and took six security personnel hostage.

Asif said that 20 people, including 11 police officers, were wounded in the clashes.

The group had given the government an April 20 deadline to expel the French ambassador over last years publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet -- deemed blasphemous by many Muslims.

The authorities responded by arresting the groups leader on April 12, in a move that prompted supporters to hold protests and sit-ins across the country.

At least five people, including two police officers, have been killed in the anti-French rallies, which on April 15 prompted Frances embassy in Islamabad to urge French nationals to leave Pakistan. Islamabad banned the party after the violence.

Anti-France protests have erupted in several Muslim countries, including Pakistan, since October of last year after French President Emmanuel Macron defended the right to publish cartoons, including those deemed offensive by some Muslims.

The cartoons had been republished by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to mark the opening of the trial over the deadly 2015 attack against the publication for the original caricatures.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters
The mystery new owner of a $37million boatshed in Sydney's exclusive Point Piper is rumoured to be none other than media mogul Lachlan Murdoch.

The Fox Corp chief executive, his wife Sarah and their three children moved to Sydney in March, joining a host of high profile individuals who opted to ride out the coronavirus pandemic in relatively unaffected Australia.

He is expected to return home to Los Angeles in September.

During his brief sojourn, Sydney Morning Herald reports he snapped up a prime piece of real estate in the ritzy eastern suburbs.

The two-storey boatshed is a stone's throw from former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's home and was once the private playground of the wealthy O'Neil family.

It was sold on to Paul Scharrer, Scotts Honda Motors former owner and a local property investor, in 2017 before it sold again last month for the eyewatering price of $37million.

The Wunulla Road property on Sydney Harbour is certainly Australia's most expensive boatshed.

Sydney's property boom has reached ridiculous levels with a boatshed lacking a house selling for a record $37million

The Wunulla Road property on Sydney Harbour has a pool - and is certainly Australia's priciest-ever boatshed

The sale set a record for Sydney this year, but up until this point there were no indications of who the buyer was.

A caveat placed on the title after the sale - which occurred just three weeks after it was listed - confirmed a mystery buyer purchased the home through McCullough Robertson legal firm.

The 2,000sqm property has access to one of the largest private marina berths on Sydney Harbour.

There is accommodation on the top level of the boat shed, and Woollahra Council recently approved for it to be turned into a home.

A source told the publication Murdoch's new reported acquisition is the worst kept local secret.

'Everyone at Point Piper Yacht Club is talking about it,' the source reportedly revealed.

The Fox Corp chief executive, his wife Sarah and their three children moved to Sydney in March, joining a host of high profile people who opted to ride out the coronavirus pandemic in relatively unaffected Australia

Lachlan, the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, left Los Angeles for Australia amid claims that Joe Biden's election made things 'rough' for his family, given Fox Corp's reputation as catering to the GOP.

Things 'got pretty rough' for their children Kalan Alexander, 16, Aidan Patrick, 14, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 10, at school in their final weeks in Los Angeles, SMH reported at the time.

Spokesman John Connolly said Murdoch, who is also Fox's executive chairman, would return to Los Angeles in early September to reopen the company's operational head office there 'and will go back to working and living in the U.S.'

Fox last month told its 9,000 staff to return to their U.S. offices from September 7, after working at from home for several months.

It is not clear what plans he has for the expensive boatshed.
A man of many colours View(s):

My dear Wije,

I thought of writing to you because you have suddenly become the talk of the town, just when we thought that we will be spared of political cross talk, at least during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year when the entire nation appears to follow an extended nonagathaya for about a week or so.

That was not to be, and the controversy this time was not about the coronavirus either  although it was still something to do with the Chinese. It all began when you chose to publicly criticise the Port City project, claiming that when it is completed, Paradise will become yet another Chinese colony.

Then, the very next day, you are back telling the media that following your claims, Gota maama called you. You allege that he didnt use very polite language and that you had to reply in a similar manner. As a result of that alleged conversation, you are now claiming that you feel threatened.

Wije, it is very courageous of you to publicly criticise a project launched by the government of which you are a member. We admire you for that. However, if I am to be very honest with you, I am both surprised and confused at this turn of events  as I am sure many others are. I will tell you why.

You share more than just your surname with the R clan. You hail from Walasmulla in Hambantota which has been the home turf of the R family for generations. In fact, when Mahinda maama was once asked whether he would oppose you, he said he wont because you were a gamey miniha.

You began your political journey with Satellite, but when she offered you a ministerial post you declined that. You accepted a portfolio only when Mahinda maama offered you one a few years later. He put you in charge of state banks. You unearthed some unsavoury details and you had to quit.

Your stay on the government benches was short lived. You refused to vote for Mahinda maamas budget. Then, the Greens invited you to join them and you did so. In the Green camp, you were seen as a staunch supporter of the Green Man who was at that time being challenged by young Sajith.

We do remember that when the R clan impeached our first lady Chief Justice, you spoke against that as head of the lawyers association. We also recall that, while in the opposition, you once proposed that clergy from any religion should be banned from becoming MPs  though you werent successful.

The Green Man rewarded you for your support when he formed his government with Cheerio Sirisena by assigning you the subject of Justice. However, there were soon many whispers that it was you who was ensuring that the wheels of justice were turning very slowly for the R clan.

It was none other than the Field Marshall  who recently had a field day baiting old Chamal  who cast aspersions on your integrity. He produced photos of you and your family holidaying in Disneyland with that Avant Garde chap. As we all know, Avant Garde was Gota maamas brainchild.

Whatever the truth of those claims, you couldnt stay with the Greens for long. In what seems to be a now familiar pattern, you began criticising some of their decisions publicly. The Green Man tried his best to sort it out and asked you to apologise. You didnt, and again, you had to quit.

You went one step further. You told a newspaper  and later Parliament  that it was you, when you were Minister of Justice, who prevented Gota maama being arrested over the Avant Garde issue. Even if we did believe you, that raises a question as to why a minister was interfering with legal processes!

As a result, no one was really surprised when you hitched your wagon to Gota maamas star at the last elections. He won, and you thought you would be an automatic choice for a plum Cabinet post. We heard that you were offered a state ministers post. Miffed, you declined that too.

Although criticising governments and leaving them seems like a bad habit that you have developed, Wije, we are all wondering why you have suddenly decided to abandon the R clan who, by your own admission, you helped even when you were in the government and they were in the opposition.

You will tell us this is not about parties or people but principles. However, after seeing you cross over from one camp to another and then return to the first with hardly a murmur, and seeing your links to Avant Garde which havent been denied, most people will take that with a pinch of salt.

There is also nowhere for you to go if you leave Gota maama and the pohottuwa party. There is no Green party to return to. You cant surely rub shoulders with the Field Marshall in the telephone party. So, you may have to stay put at the Abhayaraamaya. Think about that, will you, Wije?

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: We know that Ranjan is in jail for insulting our courts, but you could have learnt a lesson from him. Just imagine, you could have followed his example and recorded the phone call in which you allege that Gota maama insulted you. That could have saved you from a lot of trouble, Wije!
As we sift through the rubble of a four-year blitzkrieg on the countrys air, water, wildlife and climate, were heartened to see the Biden administration articulating bold ideas about repairing the wreckage. Most impressive is his commitment to protecting 30 percent of the Earths landscape in nature reserves by the year 2030. In this spirit of building back better, we suggest adding one overlooked keystone to Americas reconstruction  mountain lions.

Americas reigning big cat, the mountain lion could start reviving ailing forests, slowing runaway climate change, saving lives  and maybe even restoring our faith in humankind. All for little more than us allowing the cat home, after driving them from half the country.

Once a commanding presence from coast to coast, Americas lion (aka cougar, puma, panther, catamount) was swept from the eastern forests on the European settlers tide of clearcuts, guns, and traps and puritanical fears of the unknown. While the cat has since reclaimed much of its native range in the West, there hasnt been a confirmed birth of a wild lion east of the Mississippi in the last century, beyond one endangered population of panthers stranded in south Florida.

The lions banishment from the East has contributed to unprecedented herds of forest-stripping deer that have some ecologists fearing the deer more than climate change. Not to mention the 200 of us dying each year in deer-related car accidents.

Mountain lions could start curing those ills  restoring wildlife-harboring, carbon-storing , climate-saving forests  much as the cats and their fellow apex predators have demonstrated around the world. Scientists have been amassing a burgeoning body of evidence from big cats, wolves and great sharks, revealing their inordinate powers to grow healthier forest and range, sea grass and reef.

The East holds great swaths of deer-bitten forests just dying for lions, from the Great Okefenokee Swamp of Florida to the Great North Woods of Maine. New Yorks Adirondack Park alone, at three times the size of Yellowstone, could support up to 350 mountain lions.

The East is lacking its lions, but not for their lack of trying. Over the last 30 years more than a hundred lone lions have been documented trekking eastward from their Rocky Mountain stronghold, crossing the Plains in search of mates. One of them made it to within 20 miles of Manhattan. All died without meeting a mate or leaving progeny.

That steady trickle of wanderlust lions from the West has been repeatedly met by a gauntlet of guns and speeding cars. On the plains of South Dakota, through which many of the eastward wanderers pass, citizens are welcomed to hunt them with dogs 365 days a year. Thus fall the Easts would-be pioneers across Americas self-described Heartland.

The anti-carnivore mantra used to justify such intolerance  that the beasts, if left unhunted, would slaughter all our livestock, shutter the deer-hunting industry, then start coming for our kids at the bus stop  is a toxic old canard thoroughly debunked by science and contradicted daily by the lions and people of California.

The only western state whose citizens have outlawed lion hunting, California remains one of the safest of states for its livestock, deer and humans. Every year, Californians by the thousands gather to celebrate a mountain lion who has famously taken up residence in the middle of Los Angeles. California cat champions have also donated $18 million and counting toward construction of whats slated to be the worlds largest wildlife crossing an earthen overpass for cougars, spanning the ten lanes of L.A.s notorious, cat-crushing 101 Freeway.

Welcoming Americas lion back home wont halt the roads and development incessantly whittling away its wild places. On the other hand, making room for lions to roam by preserving corridors of wildness could offer lifelines to many other species otherwise stranded in hostile new environs by the changing climate.

But what lions could do for this country goes beyond curbing the deer plague, mending tattered forests and mitigating climate chaos. In a time of billion-dollar walls and widening societal rifts, choosing to live with lions would be a defiant show of unity, a noble show of humanity  a way to begin rewilding ourselves on the way to rewilding the Earth.

This is not a moonshot. We could start today with little more than a teaspoon of political spine and an eastbound truck full of lions from the West. It is a movement we could start by simply relaxing our trigger fingers, and opening our arms to those wildest of neighbors we so wrongly fear.

Will Stolzenburg is the author of Where the Wild Things Were and Heart of a Lion. Tom Butler, author of Wildlands Philanthropy, is senior fellow at Northeast Wilderness Trust.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-19 06:06:48|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The South Pacific island nation of Fiji on Monday morning locked down its greater Nadi and Lautoka area after a 53-year-old woman, who is a first generation contact of the soldier who tested positive for COVID-19, registered a positive COVID-19 test result, according to a statement from Fiji's Health Ministry.

The ministry said that the greater Nadi and Lautoka area, about 200 km west of capital city of Suva, went into lockdown at 4:00 a.m. Monday and police have imposed a 24-hour curfew.

The 53-year-old woman, who resides in Nadi and had a travel history in Fiji's third largest city of Nadi and Fiji's second largest city of Lautoka, worked in a border quarantine facility but entered public spaces.

The woman's family members have been quarantined and are awaiting results of their COVID-19 tests.

The ministry said the lockdown in the greater Nadi and Lautoka area is to aid rapid contact tracing and reduce the likelihood of further transmission. Passenger travel out of the area has been halted by road, air and sea.

Passenger travel into the area will be permitted over the next 24 hours for Fijians who reside within the greater Nadi and Lautoka Area. However, those allowed to enter the area must head straight home and will not be allowed to come out of the lockdown area.

Fijians in the area are required to stay at home. Public gatherings should not happen. No services should run except for essential medical services.

Later on Monday, an announcement will cover when essential businesses, including banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other essential service providers, may safely resume operation with strict physical distancing measures.

For now, all schools and businesses are closed. For the rest of the island nation, schools, workplaces, businesses and inter-island shipping services may remain open.

However, the ministry is encouraging people to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings.

Outside the greater Nadi and Lautoka area, curfew hours will remain from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time.

The ministry will also re-activate fever clinics within the lockdown area.

The ministry urged all Fijians to adhere to the practices of good handwashing, strict physical distancing, and mask-wearing in public spaces.

Meanwhile, the ministry continues to run COVID-19 tests on the first- and second-generation contacts identified through its contact tracing effort stemming from the border quarantine case announced on Sunday.

On Sunday, a member of Fiji's security forces working within a border quarantine facility in Nadi was detected of COVID-19, which could pose a risk of transmission beyond the border.

The soldier contracted the virus anytime from one to six days prior and he interacted with other daytime staff in the quarantine facility during that time.

Fiji has recorded 74 cases of COVID-19 in total, with seven active cases, 65 recoveries and two deaths, since the first case was reported on March 19 last year.

Fiji maintains strict travel restrictions for foreign visitors alongside a nationwide curfew effective from March 30 last year to ensure safety on the island nation. Enditem
More of America was introduced to the talk in 2020, which is the conversation mothers have with their Black sons about police.

After Daunte Wrights killing in Minneapolis last Sunday, America needs to also know about the call. This is the phone call many Black men in this country make to their mothers when police lights flash in their rearview mirrors.

Ive dialed my mom while getting stopped in San Francisco for driving below the speed limit. And while being stopped for driving too close to a car in front of me in West Texas. The talk is why Black men make the call.

Wright was on the phone with his mother when Minneapolis police pulled him over. His sport utility vehicle had expired license plates, and the air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror violated a Minnesota law.

Police also discovered the 20-year-old had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. When the officers tried to arrest him, Wright panicked and jumped into his car. As they tried to wrestle him from the vehicle, former Minneapolis police Officer Kim Potter pointed her gun, shouted Taser, and fired a bullet into Wright.

His mother, Katie Wright, must now navigate her personal grief in the glare of an intense national spotlight.

The mother of Oscar Grant knows this burden intimately.

When Oscar died, we had attorneys knocking on our door as soon as it was on television. We hadnt even thought about him being dead yet, recalled Wanda Johnson, Grants mother. Being forced into this (activist) role is definitely a hard process to navigate.

Wrights parents have to remember they were parents first, Johnson continued. Right now theyre probably getting calls every few minutes to make a decision on what they want the community to do, and they probably have no idea right now. ... They need to find themselves first.

Johnson lost her son in 2009 under somewhat similar circumstances. The BART officer who shot Grant in the back claimed he, too, meant to use his Taser.

I see them saying the same thing (about Wright) that they said about Oscar  he was resisting arrest, the officer didnt mean to grab the Taser, Johnson told me. This Taser and gun confusion is an excuse officers have used for far too long.

Former BART Officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter of Grant in 2010 and sentenced to a two-year prison term. He served 11 months and was released in 2011. Last year, the Alameda County District Attorneys Office reopened a criminal investigation into the shooting.

Potter resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Tuesday, two days after killing Wright. She was charged with second-degree manslaughter on Wednesday.

As a Black man, its hard for me to believe a cop can confuse the feel of a Taser with the grip of a firearm. What I do believe is that an officers implicit bias makes them more afraid of  and likely to shoot  me more than if they were dealing with a white person.

In a 2020 study, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health examined 5,494 police-related deaths in the United States from 2013 to 2017. The data shows Black Americans are, on average, three times more likely than white people to be killed during a police encounter.

Based on the Harvard study, the more law enforcement officers stop Black men, the odds of them being killed increase. Its a concerning connection when looking at California Department of Justice traffic stop data.

In 2019, the San Francisco Police Department made 86,524 traffic stops. Black people account for only 6% of the citys population, but represented 24% of the stops that year. Most of the stops were a result of reasonable suspicion, according to the data.

In Oakland, a 2016 report found that Oakland officers were four times more likely to search Black men than white men during a traffic or pedestrian stop, according to The Chronicle.

Two years ago, the department took steps to cut down on racial bias in their policing by declining to stop people for small infractions like a broken taillight or windshield.

Bay Area cities must disentangle most traffic enforcement from their police departments. Black men shouldnt die over infractions.

The city of Berkeley is already having substantive conversations about using trained civilians to make most traffic stops. If enough cities do this, it might decrease the likelihood that more mothers like Johnson will be called into activism.

Johnson has spent the past decade crusading for police reform, including demanding anti-racism training for officers. The mothers of Antwon Rose, Botham Jean, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and of other slain Black children have been drafted to that cause. So, now, are Katie Wright and Elizabeth Toledo, whose 13-year-old son, Adam, was holding up empty hands when a Chicago police officer shot and killed him on March 29, according to body-camera footage released last week.

These women were thrust into this spotlight. Johnson doesnt wish it on other mothers.

When an officer shoots and kills someone, theyre not losing anything, Johnson said. The victims families have to grieve, they have to come up with money for a funeral, they have to figure out how to take care of a loved one the person killed left behind.

Five minutes after hanging up with Johnson, my own mother, Natalie, called me in tears. She was struggling with the senselessness of Wrights death. It made her wonder about the safety of myself and my two brothers in similar situations.

I wonder the same.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
The government must invest in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to lessen the health burden on the ordinary people, especially workers.



The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Mr Solomon Kotei, said the NHIS was beset with challenges that could threaten its very existence, and eventually take a toll on the people, especially workers.



Speaking at Tema Regional Council, Youth and Women's conference of the ICU yesterday, Mr Kotei mentioned, specifically, delays in payment to service providers.



He appealed to the government to handle that challenge with dispatch to ensure timeous payment to service providers.



Mr Kotei, who addressed the conference as part of a nationwide tour ahead of the ICUs 11th Quadrennial Delegates Conference scheduled for August, this year, said investment in the scheme was worth it to make it more sustainable and easily accessible to all.



Critical illnesses



The ICU General Secretary also called for the expansion of the NHIS to cover critical illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular and kidney cases, which were common among the population.



He indicated that the treatment of such diseases was costly and beyond the pockets of the ordinary worker.



Casual labour



The general secretary expressed grave concern about the activities of recruitment agencies who had turned themselves into employers and chose to pay employees anything they deemed fit.



He said successive governments had not responded to the issue of casualisation which, he said, was putting money in wrong pockets.



Casualisation of workers, Mr Kotei observed, was a big menace which must be addressed.



Consequently, he urged employers to ensure that the rights of workers were protected at various workplaces.



Mr Kotei endorsed a request by the Tema Regional Council of ICU to stage a sustained demonstration in Tema where the issue of casual labour was prevalent.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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According to information published by "The Hindu" website on April 13, 2021, India could receive the first Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system by the end of 2021. During the edition 2021 of Aero India that was held in February 2021, the Russian state defense agency Rosoboronexport confirmed the delivery of S-400, NATO code-named SA-21 Growler to India.

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Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile launcher unit. (Picture source Otvaga)

In 2015, India announced its plan to purchase Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air defense missile systems. A contract worth $5.43 billion was signed during a visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India in October 2018. In January 2021, Indian soldiers were in Russia to train and operate the S-400 missile system.

According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) arms trade database, India has purchased 20 S-400 missile systems as well as 650 48N6 missiles from Russia. The 48N6 is a Russian-made vertical tube-launched, solid fuel, single-stage, long-range, Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) used to destroy aerial targets as aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), and ballistic missiles.

The S-400 is one the most popular air defense missiles which is in service with Russia, Algeria, China, Turkey, and now India. In November 2015, it was reported that Russian armed forces had deployed the S-400 missile systems in Syria.

The S-400 entered service with the Russian army in 2007 to replace the old S-300P and S-200. A battery of S-400 consists of a mobile launcher unit, radar, detection and targeting systems and command control vehicle. Radar and command systems include the surveillance radar 64N6 Tombstone 3D or 96L6E 3D System, Low altitude radar 76NG Clam Shell, Fire control Radar with the 36N85 Flap Lid, Control System 86M6E, and operation station 54K6E.

The S-400 uses the 48N6 missile series. These missiles are able to destroy aerial targets at a maximum range of 250 km and are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles across a 60 km radius, using in both cases a 143 kg high explosive fragmentation warhead.

The S-400 Triumph can also destroy Tomahawk cruise missiles and other types of missiles, including precision-guided ones, as well as AWACS aircraft, at ranges of up to 400 km. It can also detect stealth aircraft and other targets at all altitudes of their combat employment and at maximum ranges. This air defense missile system can simultaneously engage 36 targets.
In the last few days, a total of seven top leaders of the militant outfit, and over 100 leaders and activists of the group, have been arrested in connection with the violence and rampage that rocked Dhaka, and and different districts across the country.

Junaid, the joint secretary general of Hefazat's central committee, has been arrested from Baridhara area in Dhaka on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the police arrested Jalaluddin Ahmed, an assistant secretary general of the militant outfit, from Mohammadpur area of the capital.

Junaid Al Habib, one of the top leaders of the Hefazat, also the principal of a madrasa in Dhaka, had allegedly played a key role in the violence that was witnessed during Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh government appears to have been taking a hardline on the umbrella group of several militant outfits and Qawmi madrasas, the breeding ground of the militants following a series of violence and atrocities on police and government establishments starting March 26, by the name of 'protest against the arrival of Narendra Modi' on a state visit.

During the violent protests with the police that continued till March 31 many government facilities, Awami League offices, temples, and houses of the Hindus and Awami league leaders and their relatives were damaged and vandalized and set on fire in Brahmanbaria, Chattogram and several other districts of the country.

Detectives said that Junaid would be interrogated to learn more about his involvement in the recent attacks.

Additional police have been deployed at the gates installing light machine gun posts following an order from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters.

Special security measures have been taken at police stations in the capital.

The precaution has been taken apprehending attacks on the police stations as a number of Hefazat leaders and activists were arrested.

--IANS

sumi/pgh


Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 22:57:35|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A contingent of 144 police officers from Nigeria have arrived in Somalia to boost stabilization efforts in the country, the African Union mission said on Sunday.

AMISOM Police operations coordinator Daniel Ali Gwambal said 30 police officers to serve under the AMISOM for a period of one year will be deployed to Beletweyne in HirShabelle State, while the rest will serve in various roles in the capital, Mogadishu.

"They are here in order to fulfill the mandate of AMISOM with regards to operational support to the Somalis and at the same time to mentor the Somali Police Force (SPF)," Gwambal said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

"There are certain specific duties that are also incumbent on them to perform while they are here such as regular patrols at checkpoints, guard static duties and other duties that involve general policing," he added.

Gwambal said the officers will work on providing VIP escort and protection services, training and assisting the SPF in public order management, conducting joint patrols with their Somali counterparts and securing key government installations and high-level events.

The AU mission said the arrival of the new contingent is a major boost to law and order efforts, as they will be working in concert with their Somali counterparts in ensuring improved security in liberated areas.

The commander of the newly deployed unit, Samuel Ita, said his officers were eager to begin discharging their duties, to help advance the mission's mandate. Enditem
UKs Lords send historic (war) crimes bill back to Commons By Our Diplomatic Editor View(s): View(s):

As the United Kingdom led a global offensive at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva to prosecute war crimes against Sri Lankan soldiers, a Bill put forward by its Government decriminalising torture and war crimes in prosecutions against its own military personnel serving overseas in respect of incidents more than five years old, was restricted in its reach by the House of Lords this Tuesday (April 13th).

The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill was amended to take out torture, war crimes and genocide from the list of violations covered. The Bill was approved by the House of Commons in November 2020 conferring an unprecedented statutory presumption against prosecution of British troops in regard to historic crimes, including war crimes. Strenuously defended as a measure to stop vexatious prosecutions of our brave soldiers by the UK Government, this came in the wake of claims brought by victims of gross human rights abuses by UK troops particularly in Afghanistan.

This was even as the UK spearheaded Resolution 46/1 against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC last month strengthening the powers of UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet to prosecute Sri Lankans for war crimes in relation to the ending of the countrys ethnic conflict in 2009. However, the Sri Lanka Government failed to draw attention to manifest double standards of the Resolutions key sponsor during the UNHRC sessions either with the UK or the UNHRC itself.

It was only a day before the House of Lords vote on the UK Bill earlier in the week that UNHRC High Commissioner Bachelet warned the Bill risked undermining the UKs key human rights obligations. Ms. Bachelet had not drawn attention to this fact before or immediately after it was passed by the House of Commons and the resolution against Sri Lanka was being voted at the UNHRC.

Amendments made thereafter by the peers were limited to taking out torture and war crimes from the offences covered, deleting a proposed six-year time limit on civil claims against the Ministry of Defence and refusing to assent to prevention of delayed and repeated investigations against military personnel. All other clauses of the Bill, which will now be sent back to the House of Commons for reconsideration, remain.
MOSCOW -- Washington has threatened "consequences" if hunger-striking jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny dies behind prison bars as his allies called for massive protests to pressure Russian officials to relent and allow the Kremlin critic to see an independent doctor after a group of physicians warned over his deteriorating health.

Navalny, 44, went on a hunger strike at the end of last month in protest of what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to allow him to receive proper medical care for acute back and leg pain, just months after he recovered from a poison attack that nearly took his life.

The health of President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic has rapidly deteriorated in recent days and he could suffer cardiac arrest at "any minute," according to his personal doctor and three other physicians, including a cardiologist, who pleaded for access to Navalny in a letter to Russia's Federal Prison Service.

Kira Yarmysh, his spokeswoman, warned at the weekend that the Kremlin critic could die within "days" if action wasn't taken soon.

"We have communicated to the Russian government that what happens to Mr. Navalny in their custody is their responsibility and they will be held accountable by the international community," U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview on CNN on April 18.

"We are looking at a variety of different costs that we would impose -- and I'm not going to telegraph that publicly at this point -- but we have communicated that there will be consequences if Mr. Navalny dies," he added.

Sullivan added that the White House was talking with Moscow "privately and through diplomatic channels," and noted that the United States and the EU had recently imposed sanctions over Russia's persecution of Navalny.

Navalny's allies moved up their plans for what they hope will be the largest mass protests in modern Russian history, calling on people to gather across the country on April 21 before Navalny is harmed "irreparably."

"Have you ever seen with your own eyes how a person is killed? You are seeing it right now. And no matter how much one wants to change the topic, it won't change the fact that Aleksei Navalny is being killed in a scary way in front of all of us," the protest announcement said.

"Whether we want it or not, the question has arisen: Are we ready to do something to save the life of a person who has been risking it for us for many years?"

Last week, Russian prosecutors asked a Moscow court to label Navalnys anti-corruption organization and its regional offices as "extremist" organizations, the latest move against the opposition movement.

The Navalny statement on April 18 accused President Vladimir Putin of being a "murderer" who "hates those who are fighting for freedom."

"If we keep quiet now...Russia will plunge into complete darkness. Peaceful political activity in Russia will become impossible," it added.

Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, said on April 13 that his weight was down to 76 kilograms, 17 kilos less than when he entered the notorious Correctional Colony No. 2, about 100 kilometers from Moscow.

The statement from the group of doctors said that blood tests showed that Navalny's potassium count had reached a "critical level," meaning "both impaired renal function and that serious heart rhythm problems can happen any minute."

The letter was posted on April 17 to the Twitter account of Navalny's personal doctor, Anastasia Vasilyeva, who said the team of doctors expressed their readiness to organize negotiations and a consultation. Navalny, a lawyer, and his legal team, have been demanding an independent doctor examine him, a right they say is provided for by Russian law.

"Allow a doctor to see my dad," Dasha Navalnaya, currently a student at Stanford University in California, wrote in a tweet in both English and Russian on April 17.

Navalny was arrested in January on his arrival from Germany where he was treated for a poisoning while in Siberia with what was defined by European labs as a nerve agent in August last year. He has accused Putin of ordering the poisoning, which the Kremlin has denied.

A Moscow court in February converted a 3 1/2-year suspended sentence on a charge that Navalny and his supporters call politically motivated to real jail time, saying he broke the terms of the original sentence by leaving Russia for Germany for the life-saving treatment he received. The court reduced the time Navalny must spend in prison to just over 2 1/2 years because of time already served in detention.

The European Union said it was "deeply concerned" about reports that Navalnys health in the penal colony continues to deteriorate and called on the Russian authorities to grant him immediate access to medical professionals he trusts.

"The Russian authorities are responsible for Mr. Navalnys safety and health in the penal colony, to which we hold them to account," the 27-nation bloc said in a statement on April 18.

Added Bernie Sanders, the U.S. senator from Vermont: "Make no mistake about what is happening here: activist Aleksei Navalny is being murdered in front of the world by Vladimir Putin for the crime of exposing Putins vast corruption. Navalnys doctors must be allowed to see him immediately."

Those comments echoed a New York Times editorial on April 17 that said the decision about whether to allow doctors to see Navalny "clearly rests with President Vladimir Putin," whom they urged to comply with the doctors' requests.

"Mr. Putin should understand that letting Mr. Navalny now perish in a labor camp would solidly confirm Mr. Putin as a 'killer,' a characterization President Biden recently said he shares, and as a vengeful despot willing to go to any lengths against his critics," the newspaper's editorial said. "Mr. Putin has been around long enough to know how that would play abroad, and among Russians already showing fatigue with his increasingly authoritarian and open-ended rule."

The editorial also noted that more than 70 prominent international writers, artists, and academics have signed a letter to Putin calling on him to ensure that Navalny receives the medical treatment to which he is entitled under Russian law.

The letter was published in British, French, German, and Italian newspapers. Among the prominent people who signed it are Nobel laureates in literature John Coetzee, Svetlana Aleksievich, Louise Glueck, Herta Mueller, and Orhan Pamuk; Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman; actors Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch, and David Duchovny; and authors Tom Stoppard, J.K. Rowling, and Michael Cunningham.

Following previous statements from some Russian politicians, Russia's ambassador to Britain accused Navalny of attention-seeking in a television interview with the BBC.

"He will not be allowed to die in prison, but I can say that Mr. Navalny, he behaves like a hooligan, absolutely," Ambassador Andrei Kelin said in the interview, which was recorded on April 16 and aired on April 18. "His purpose for all of that is to attract attention for him."

Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, wrote that she did not want mass protests expected to take place in the coming weeks to demand Navalny's release to attract large crowds only because he had died, and called on supporters to sign an online petition indicating they will attend in advance.

Saying that Putin only reacts to street protests, Yarmysh wrote, "This rally is no longer Navalny's chance for freedom, it is a condition for his life."

Navalny's arrest in January triggered some of the largest nationwide protests in years and a harsh crackdown, with police detaining thousands of people in the process.

With reporting by AFP and AP
New Delhi, April 18 : As the country grapples with the worst surge in Covid cases amid the lethal second wave, thousands of people across the country have flooded various social media platforms, requesting authorities and users to arrange or inform about where to find ventilator beds, plasma from recovered patients, oxygen cylinders and drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, among others.

People were posting pictures of relatives, friends and common people in dire need of ventilator beds, oxygen cylinders, plasma and life-saving injections meant for emergency use authorisation (EUA).

"Bangalore Tweeple.. Is there a bed available somewhere for a covid patient? My uncle is in dire need. O2 levels going down. Checked so many.. All beds full in Banshankari area. Anywhere in Bangalore would be fine," Saurabh Joshi said in a tweet.

Stuti Sardana from Delhi tweeted: "Urgent help needed. A bed and oxygen cylinder are required for a Covid positive young girl who is critical. Oxygen level is going down".

Several others asked users to inform about remdesivir, currently in short supply.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvid Kejriwal on Saturday admitted there is shortage of beds and oxygen amid exponential surge in Covid-19 patients in the national capital.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said that coronavirus is spreading exponentially, and nobody knows when it would reach its peak.

"Delhi is fast running out of beds, oxygen and the life-saving drug Remdesivir as Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours have reached 24,000. The situation is very serious and worrisome. The cases have gone up really fast," he said.

Sensing the shortage, the government has slashed the prices of the 'life-saver' Remdesivir injection by nearly 50 per cent, to Rs 2,450 per injection now, according to official sources.

In such difficult times, some came forward on social media to help those suffering from Covid infections.

"If you're in isolation in #Gurgaon or have elders living alone, I can do grocery/medicine runs for you or your family. DM me the things needed and the address. I'll get them, and leave the bag outside your door," tweeted Abhishek Baxi.

India has reported 2,61,500 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country's overall Covid tally to 1,47,88,109, according to the Health Ministry data released on Sunday.

This is the fourth consecutive day that the country has registered over two lakh Covid cases. India recorded 2,34,692 cases on Saturday, 2,00,739 and 2,17,353 cases on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Kabul, April 18 : At least eight members of a family were killed after unknown gunmen opened fire on them at a mosque in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, officials said on Sunday.

Provincial governor Ziaulhaq Amarkhail said the incident happened in police district nine of the provincial capital, Jalalabad, reports dpa news agency.

"Initial findings show the incident happened as a result of a dispute over a private land," Amarkhail added.

A police spokesperson said they were investigating the incident, but no one has been arrested yet.

Clashes about disputed land are common across Afghanistan.

Last April, at least six tribal members were killed and nearly 20 others wounded in armed clashes about disputed land in the same province.

The fighting lasted for several days.

Nangarhar, a stronghold of the Taliban and Islamic State terror group, is rich in plains and is one of the most important areas for agriculture in Afghanistan.
Guwahati, April 18 : Veteran Congress leader and former Assam Chief Minister Bhumidhar Barman died here on Sunday evening after protracted illness, Congress leaders said. He was 89.

He is survived by a son and a daughter. His wife had predeceased him.

Congress sources said that the veteran leader had been on ventilator support at the ICU of Dispur Hospital for the last 28 days.

Barman, a member of the Assam Assembly seven times since 1967, held the Chief Minister's chair twice - once between April 22, 1996, and May 14, 1996, after the death of then Chief Minister Hiteshwar Saikia, and then, again in 2010, when then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was on leave on medical grounds.

A graduate from Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh in 1958, Barman was a minister in the Saikia and Gogoi governments, holding important portfolios like Health, Education and Revenue. His son, Diganta Barman, is currently the Congress candidate from Barkhetry constituency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief.

"Anguished by the passing away of former Assam CM and senior politician, Shri Bhumidhar Barman. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of grief," he tweeted.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Pradesh Congress President Ripun Bora, Congress General Secretary-in- charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, among others, condoled the death.

Sonowal tweeted: "Saddened to learn about the demise of former Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Bhumidhar Barman. My sincere condolences to his bereaved family members and well-wishers. Om shanti." Sarma, in a tweet, said: "Today we lost a stalwart of Assam politics - former CM and 7-time MLA Late Bhumidhar Barman. I have fond memories of his guidance and affection, starting with my early political career. He leaves behind a rich legacy of good politics & work. We shall miss him." Bora, in a statement, said that Assam Congress would miss his vast repertoire of knowledge and guidance that he gave to the party.
On Monday, more than 200 Year 7 students in Brisbane will walk through a complex construction site to continue their first year of secondary schooling.

Work is not scheduled to be finished at the new Brisbane South State Secondary College in Dutton Park until late this year, despite opening to students in Term 1.

Heavy machinery is still being used at the new Brisbane South State Secondary College at Dutton Park, where more than 200 students are enrolled. Credit:Tony Moore

The high school is designed to combine secondary schooling with multi-disciplinary links to the University of Queensland, and to take the pressure off rising enrolments at Brisbane State High School in South Brisbane.

The school, which has 204 Year 7 students, opened on January 27  as the state government promised  even though it was incomplete.
via Library of Congress

On April 19, we will commemorateas well we shouldthe twenty-sixth anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. But April 19 is also the anniversary of another consequential, albeit lesser known, bombing: On that date in 1960, a bomb went off at the home of Alexander Looby, the Black lawyer representing students and other activists arrested in sit-ins aimed at integrating downtown Nashville. Looby and his family survived, but the bomb blew out 147 windows at a nearby medical college.

The sit-ins had been going on for several weeks. Leaders of the movement, brought together by the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith and trained in nonviolent direct action by James Lawson, included a whos who of future luminaries: John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel, and C.T. Vivian hailed from the American Baptist Theological Seminary; and Diane Nash and Marion Barry were from Fisk University.

The early morning bombing led these leaders to immediately organize a march. Within a few hours. some 4,000 people descended upon City Hall, where Nash and Vivian confronted Mayor Ben West. Less than a month later, an agreement to desegregate lunch counters was reachedthe first in a city below the Mason-Dixon line. Martin Luther King Jr. called the effort electrifying. The Nashville Movement, he said, was the best organized and most disciplined in the Southland.

Dr. Vivian, who would go on to play seminal roles in the Freedom Rides, Birmingham, and Selma (and then create the model for Upward Bound), had moved to Nashville from Peoria, Illinois, with his wife and two young children in 1954. By 1960, he had graduated from seminary and was serving as pastor of the First Community Church. With Rev. Smith, he had also formed the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference (NCLC), the first regional chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Why Well Always Need a Civil Rights Movement

Called by his good friend Dr. King, the greatest preacher to have ever lived, Dr. Vivian, who passed away last July at 95, was also a wonderful writer. I had the privilege of collaborating with him on his recently released memoir, Its in the Action: Memories of a Nonviolent Warrior. The following is an excerpt about the underappreciated Nashville Movement from the book.

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The headline in the Nashville Tennessean read: Negroes Served Without Incident: Downtown Lunch Counters Open to All. Think about this: In May 1960some 170 years after the ratification of the Constitutions Bill of Rights, almost a full century after the end of the Civil Warit was news that black-skinned people in a city that billed itself as the Athens of the South were for the first time afforded the same basic right to sit at a lunch counter as their white-skinned counterparts. Moreover, the Tennesseans editors found it equally newsworthy that this historic event passed without incident. An angry white mob didnt shout epithets at the Negroes. The police didnt drag the Negroes out. The world didnt stop turning.

How did this happen?

After forming NCLC, we determined that our efforts should be directed at desegregating downtown Nashville, beginning with the lunch counters. Why lunch counters? Blacks could shop in downtown stores, but we could not eat at their lunch counters. Eating is a basic need, right? So demonstratingthrough nonviolent direct actionthat such a basic need can be denied to a person because of his or her race provides a graphic illustration of injustice.

Jim Lawson, who had gone to India to study Gandhis philosophy and methods, began teaching nonviolent resistance to a group of us at SCLC/NCLC in late March 1958. Here we simulated attempts to integrate venues that were segregated. Jim stressed that if/when confrontation arose, we should respond with love and compassion.

Through these workshops we came to understand the philosophy behind the great religious imperatives so important in terms of understanding people. At the same time, we learned the tactics and techniques of nonviolent action. We learned how to take blows, how to resist fighting back when spit upon or when cigarettes were put out on us. Yes, cigarettes! We learned to respond with dignity and love because that was the righteous thing to do and the best way to realize the goals of our continuing struggle for respect and equality.

We actually practiced how to take these blows by knocking each other around. I remember an exercise where someone was instructed to put out a cigarette on one of the participating ministers. An ash fell and burned a hole in the brothers pants. He held his tongue and fists with his oppressor, but he did tell us that wed have to buy him a new suit!

Once our band of older activists, ministers, and students coalesced, we set about very deliberately to integrate downtown Nashville.

Step One. Pre-protest persuasion. In November 1959, we attempted to convince the major department stores, Harveys and Cain-Sloan, to integrate their lunch counters before we need demonstrate. In addition to making a moral argument, we said that opening up the counters would open up a whole new stream of revenue. The owners countered that the number of white customers they would lose would be greater than the number of Black customers they could gain.

Step Two. Test runs. A handful of students went into Harveys in late November and Cain-Sloan in early December. They bought a few things in the stores and then made their way to the lunch counters where they were denied service.

Step Three. Action.

A timeline:

Monday, February 15, 1960. The Baptist Ministers Conference, which represented about eighty congregations, throws its support behind the movement. Black religious leaders urged citizens of all colors to boycott stores that engaged in segregation.

Thursday, February 18. Upward of eighty students are denied service at four different stores. They sit for a while, then leave without incident.

Saturday, February 20. About 350 sit in at several stores for about three hours.

Saturday, February 27. Push comes to shove, literally. Whites attack those students sitting in at two stores. By the time the police get there, those who did the beating are gone. OK, you nigras, get up and leave, say the cops. When the studentseighty-one in allrefuse the police order to leave, they are arrested on charges of loitering and disorderly conduct.

Movements need more than a justifiable anger. There must be a strategy and a goal. What you want for yourself and your children and the next generation is more important than having some bad feelings. That is why we were able to enact nonviolent direct action as opposed to swinging back. You have to ask: What are you willing to commit to in order to make something happen? One group of students was arrested, but then a second wave took their place at the lunch counters. And when that group was arrested, in came a third wave.

When those opposing us realized we were coming back every day, they changed their response. The Klan types in the city began to frequent the lunch counters where we were sitting in. Thats when our training proved to be most helpfulbecause they began to attack, put out cigarettes on people, pull people off their stools and beat them, and pour things on people. Our students were ready, and they sat there.

Our efforts began to resonate in the larger Black community after the police started putting people in jail. Folks came forward to put up their houses as bail. A mass meeting started on a large scale. Now the movement was cooking.

The demonstrations created in many white people a fear of what was possible if Blacks united. Naturally, because of their own racism, they were afraid of anything that Blacks did, because they (whites) were oppressors. They were always afraid of the oppressed, which created a dynamic in the city. But you see, heres where nonviolence saves us again; because no matter what they said, the oppressed were moving against the oppression with nothing in their hands with which to destroy, but something in their heart.

Because there was nothing in our hands, they could not then react to us in the ways that the Old South normally did. They either had to accept this new loving Black man and woman, or reject themselves. Now they were caught in that kind of dilemma. Black people, on the other hand, had found a method whereby they could rejoice and yet not have any attempt to destroy the other, but only open up the society fully to everyone.

Monday, February 29. The trial of those arrested begins. Well over one thousand community members turn out to support the students. The lead attorney for the students is Alexander Looby. The judge dismisses the loitering charges, but the students are convicted of disorderly conduct and fined $50 each [about $440 today]. They choose to go to jail instead of paying.

Thursday, March 3. Mayor West forms the Biracial Committee, a group of city leaders (including local Black college presidents, but none of the students) to address the sit-ins and the overall racial divide in Nashville.

Tuesday, April 5. The committee issues its recommendations: Stores should have two kinds of lunch counters; one for Whites only and one for Blacks and any Whites who might choose to join them. We at the NCLC said, no thank you. So did the students.

We now complemented the sit-ins with an Easter Boycott of the downtown stores. This allowed us to show our desire to be fully integrated into the life of the city, to demonstrate many ideas of nonviolence, and to help create a reconciliation of all the forces in Nashville. Our theology taught us that those resources that God gave you could not be used to perpetuate an evil. So putting those resources in the hands of merchants who were perpetuating the evil of racism was against God, a misuse of that which was given, number one.

Along with Christmas, Easter was our most important time for buying. No matter how poor you were, everyone in the Black community had to have a brand-new outfit. You may start paying three months ahead of time for that outfit, and you may still be paying for it for three months later.

Of course, Easter was also the time of the cross, a time of sacrifice. Our people found they did not need new suits, new clothes, new shoes. As one woman said, I looked in my closet and found I had fourteen pair of shoes, and I said, I am so glad for the movement, cause I dont need to buy anything.

The merchants could no longer count on getting back the money that they had spent for Easter inventory. The two Nashvilles system wasnt going to work anymore.

Tuesday, April 19. A group of movement leadersstudents and ministers, including myselfwere to hold a morning strategy session near the Fisk campus. Before we got therearound 5:30 a.m.most of us heard a huge explosion.

We knew we had to respond to the bombing of Lawyer Loobys home. Such an act demanded that the city fathers come to terms with the moral bankruptcy of existing policyeven if they didnt countenance the bombing itself. Throughout our history, we have been compelled to view such heinous deeds as opportunities; as terrible as it was, this violent act could be very useful to our nonviolent movement. How could we channel the energy we were feeling to accomplish our goal of ending segregation in the city?

We decided to mobilize students as well as the community at large for a march to city hall. We prepared a statement to be read aloud when we got there. And we determined that Diane Nash and I would speak for us.

You see, we were prepared for this momentdidnt welcome it, but were prepared. This would be the first major march of the modern civil rights movement.

We began the march right after lunchtime at Tennessee A&I on the citys outer limits. Students came out from the lunchrooms, buildings, and dormitories as we started. We marched three abreast, with Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, and me in the first row. People along the way began to join us in small numbers. They knew this was serious.

When we got to 18th and Jefferson, Fisk students were waiting and fell right in. One block later, students from nearby Pearl High School joined us. Then people started coming out of their houses. Everyone was enthusiastic. At the same time, there was a certain seriousness, an undeniable collective sense of purpose. Eventually our line would stretch ten full blocks.

We had sent a telegram to Mayor West saying that our march would be nonviolent. When we arrived at about 1:30, he was waiting for us on the steps. A forty-nine-year-old former assistant district attorney, West was more progressive than most mayors in the South. But he had not exerted the moral authority of his office to effect the desegregation that we were demanding.

I recently discovered a copy of the April 20, 1960 Nashville Tennessean. The front-page story was written by a young reporter just beginning what would be an illustrious career, David Halberstam. Here are some choice excerpts of his piece, which ran under the bold headline: INTEGRATE COUNTERS-MAYOR.

Mayor Ben West told three thousand demonstrating Negroes yesterday he thought Nashville merchants should end lunch counter segregation, but the mayor standing in front of the courthouse, surrounded by a sea of Negroes which overflowed into the street added: Thats up to the store managers, of course, what they do. I cant tell a man how to run his business.

The Negroes then applauded the mayor. The applause contrasted sharply with the stony silence with which the crowd had watched the mayor moments before as he exchanged heated words with several of their leaders. The sharp words came as the Reverend C. T. Vivian, Negro leader and pastor of First Community Church, read a group statement sharply critical of West for what it termed his failure to lead.

West, his hat off and his voice carrying, said: I deny your statement and resent your statement and resent to the bottom of my soul the implication you have just read. He tried to continue speaking, but Vivian shouted in his ear: Prove it, Mayor, prove the statement is wrong.

Only a third of the line had arrived when Vivian started reading the Negro statement. That statement accused the mayor of several wrongs, including failing to use the moral weight of his office to speak out against the hatemongers, being difficult to reach, and trying to slow things down until the students went home for the summer.

Then Vivian read: Because he has failed to speak, we ask that he now consider the Christian faith he professes and the democratic rights of all our citizens and declare for our city a policy of sanity based on our common faith and our democratic principles. When Vivian finished, the Negroes burst into prolonged applause.

Then West spoke. First he said he deeply resented the implications of the statement. Vivian, by his side, seemed to argue with him several times. Vivian was later restrained by another Negro minister. I intend to see that order is maintained, West said. As God is my helper, if anything can be done to find the man who bombed my good friend Loobys home, well do that.

The crowd was still gathering. West was pocketed among a group of the Negro leaders. Vivian started the questioning. He asked the mayor if segregation were moral. No, the mayor said. It is wrong and immoral to discriminate.

Then, Miss Nash asked West to use the prestige of your office to appeal to all the citizens to stop this racial discrimination.

West answered: I appeal to all citizens to end discrimination, to have no bigotry, no bias, no hatred.

Miss Nash asked: Do you mean that to include lunch counters?

West answered, Little lady, I stopped segregation seven years ago at the airport when I first took office, and there has been no trouble there since.

But Miss Nash asked one more question: Then mayor, do you recommend that the lunch counters be desegregated?

That is when West answered: Yes, turned slightly and added, Thats up to the store managers, of course.

(I couldnt stay silent. Halberstam would later write: More than any of the other Nashville ministers, Vivian seemed able to provoke the anger of his adversaries. He was intense and outspokenC. T., his wife, Octavia, once said, in a masterpiece of understatement, gave long answers to short questions.)

Then Vivian asked, Do you realize that this goes deeper than the lunch counter, that it can destroy us?

West answered: You also have the power to destroy. I want you students to realize this . . .

Vivian then asked: Is segregation Christian?

West told Vivian to look at his past record. What a fellow does often speaks so loud you cant hear his words.

Vivian said he was not asking about the past record.

A postscript is required.

via Amazon

Tuesday, May 10. At 3 p.m., groups of two or three Blacks, mostly students, enter six Nashville department stores and take their seats at the lunch countersthe lunch counters that had previously only been open to white patrons. Among the items they order: club steaks and hamburgers. As the Tennessean would report, one store official said, There was no reaction whatsoever from our white customers.

Over the previous weekend, we had finally reached an agreement with the store owners. It was far different from the earlier plan proposed by the Biracial Committee. Blacks would come to the counters in small groups at slack hours for several days so that integration could be introduced gradually, in a less threatening fashion, to avoid confrontation or violence.

The plan worked. And then, as John Lewis put it, we began a march through the yellow pages to integrate other public venues. The march took time. A year passed before we achieved another major milestone: integrating the downtown theaters.

I remember that because the victory was celebrated with a picnic on Mothers Day in 1961the same day that Klansmen attacked the Freedom Riders in Anniston, Alabama.

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Canada will funnel additional health staff and equipment into virus-hit Ontario as the province battles a worrying spike in Covid-19 infections, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday.

The government will mobilize health professionals from different federal departments and deploy them to Ontario, particularly the Toronto region, where "the situation is most critical," Trudeau said in a video posted on Twitter.

Ontario, Canada's most populous province with 14 million people, has for several days struggled with record coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and intensive care patients, all of which are threatening to overwhelm its health system.

On Sunday, the province reported 4,250 new cases, 18 new deaths and 2,107 new hospitalizations.

The government is in discussion with multiple provinces, including Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, to free up personnel, equipment and resources "over the coming days," the prime minister said.

Ottawa will cover the transport costs and coordinate the transfer of caregivers to Ontario, he said.

The federal government will also send rapid Covid-19 tests to the areas of Ontario that have been the most affected by the pandemic.

"Canadians are watching surging cases, driven by more contagious variants in places across the country, including in our largest province and Canada's largest city," Trudeau said in his video message.

"Things will get better. And until they do Ontario, Canadians, we have your back. Together, we will get through this," Trudeau added on Sunday.

On Friday, Ontario announced it was tightening its lockdown orders to curb the pandemic, including closing its inter-provincial borders to non-essential travel.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford lengthened the lockdown now in effect by two weeks until May 19, and ordered Ontario residents to go out only for their basic needs.

The provincial government is also limiting capacity at essential businesses, such as pharmacies or supermarkets, as well as at weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies.

Story continues

After a slow start, Canada's vaccination campaign has picked up. Nearly 24 percent of the population has received at least one vaccine dose, according to the site Covid-19 Tracker Canada.

To widen access, the minimum age to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine will be lowered from 55 to 40 in Ontario, a spokesperson for the province's health ministry told AFP Sunday.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) had recommended at the end of March to suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people under 55 to evaluate the risk of blood clots.

But Health Canada said Wednesday that its analysis indicates there is no need to restrict the jab's use. NACI is reviewing its position, Health Canada said.

Canada has recorded more than 1.1 million cases since the start of the pandemic and about 23,600 deaths.

om/ial/jm/mdl/to/lb
Bindi Irwin has just celebrated daughter Grace Warrior turning three-weeks-old.

And the newborn is already helping to raise money for her mother's biggest passion - wildlife conservation.

On Sunday, Bindi, 22, shared an adorable photo to Instagram, showing Grace in a wildlife warrior outfit, which has been designed to raise funds for conservation.

Sweet: Bindi Irwin has just celebrated daughter Grace Warrior turning three weeks old. And the newborn is already helping to raise money for her mother's biggest passion - wildlife conservation. Bindi is pictured with baby Grace and husband Chandler

Grace looked cheeky as she stuck her tongue out, while laying on her back dressed in the baby t-shirt.

'Our gorgeous girl in her new Wildlife Warrior outfit supporting conservation,' Bindi captioned the photo.

'Chandler and I worked with our amazing team for months to create these cute clothes.'

Good cause: On Sunday, Bindi, 22, shared an adorable photo to Instagram, showing Grace in a wildlife warrior outfit, which has been designed to raise funds for animal conservation

Bindi welcomed baby daughter Grace, who is her first child with husband Chandler Powell, 24, last month.

On Saturday, the new mother celebrated her precious newborn reaching three weeks of age.

She wrote in her caption: 'Happy three weeks, Grace Warrior. Your dad and I love you beyond description. Thank you for being the most beautiful light in our lives.'

Aww! On Saturday, the new mother celebrated her precious newborn reaching three weeks of age with a cute video

So sweet! On Wednesday, Grace Warrior was pictured smiling for the first time, in photos shared by her uncle Robert Irwin (pictured)

On Wednesday, Grace Warrior was pictured smiling for the first time, in photos shared by her uncle Robert Irwin.

Robert, 17, posted a gallery of pictures on Instagram of himself bonding with his baby niece on the grounds of Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Bindi and Chandler announced the birth of their daughter on March 26, one day after welcoming the child at Buderim Private Hospital on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Lucknow, April 18 : In a major relief to people who have tested Covid negative but are still showing symptoms, the Yogi Adityanath government has directed all the medical facilities to treat them as presumptive Covid-19 cases.

The order, issued by additional chief secretary, heath and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad, said that the suspected symptomatic cases who test negative in the RT-PCR method but show physiological changes like positive patients, corroborated and co-related on basis of blood test, CT scan or doctor's opinion, should be treated as a positive case and given treatment be given as per protocol.

The order further said that such patients will be treated at designated Covid-19 hospitals but they may be kept separate from the clearly positive cases.

Physicians in particularly Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and King George's Medical University, have noticed cases of Covid symptoms but had tested negative. They could not be treated as per protocol as they did not belong to either of the existing category - Covid or non-Covid.

As a result, RT-PCR negative persons with mild-moderate symptoms had to resort to self-medication or depend on informal advice of their doctors.

Abhishek Shukla, geriatric physician, one of the first ones to flag the issue, said, "Many such patients turned to us for help. We proceeded only after explaining the risks involved and also taking clear consent." Official sources said that the treatment regimen for such patients is also being worked upon and will be released by the state medical education department shortly.

The move was lauded by the doctors and scientists' community.

The order speaks for the fact that inputs from the field are being attended. It will contribute in checking non-Covid deaths.

Community epidemiologist Dr Vishwajeet Kumar said on the reason for samples testing RT-PCR negative, "First of all, RT-PCR is not fail-safe. There is a chance of getting 20-30 per cent false negative cases. Then, the virus could have mutated. Thirdly, the system is under deep stress and the chances of human errors cannot be ruled out."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Travellers will fly from Australia to New Zealand on 30 flights on Monday as the trans-Tasman bubble officially began overnight - marking a massive milestone in Australia's roadmap out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For the first time in more than a year, Australian travellers can fly to New Zealand without the need to quarantine for a fortnight.

The 30 flights will operate between Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth, Sydney, and Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Air New Zealand has opened its Sydney lounge to all of its trans-Tasman travellers at no extra cost and has set aside 24,000 bottles of champagne to celebrate the occasion.

Qantas has reopened its first class international lounge to business class, Qantas Cub members and Gold status frequent flyers.

The first quarantine-free flight - a Jetstar service to Auckland - started its journey across the ditch from Sydney at 6.15am local time.

Kiwi traveller Sarah-Jayne Montgomery said the start of quarantine-free travel finally meant she and her other half Matt could be together in New Zealand.

Passengers check-in for Air New Zealand flight number 246 to Wellington. The Australia-New Zealand trans-Tasman bubble opened at midnight on Monday morning

Kiwi traveller Sarah-Jayne Montgomery was separated from her other half Matt for 13 months during the border closure between Australia and New Zealand during the height of the pandemic

Ms Montgomery enjoys a glass of sparkling wine as she prepares to fly across the ditch. Air New Zealand has opened its Sydney lounge to all of its trans-Tasman travellers at no extra cost and has set aside 24,000 bottles of champagne to celebrate

'It's definitely been a long journey that's finally coming to an end,' she told the Today show.

'I made the decision to come over four weeks ago and thankfully got to miss quarantine (as part of the one-way travel bubble). Now he gets to come home with me.'

Before she arrived in Australia a month ago, the couple had spent 13 months apart.

A welcome party including a large banner and live music will greet the first Air New Zealand flight when it lands in Wellington at 1pm.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's relaxation of border rules comes six months after Australia started opening up to Kiwi travellers - a move started by NSW and the Northern Territory which now extends to all states and mainland territories.

In a joint statement, Ms Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the wider Pacific region was the next goal for quarantine-free travel.

'Australia and New Zealand are also exploring opportunities to extend quarantine-free travel to other countries in the Pacific, when it is safe to do so, reflecting our close ties to the Pacific and our commitment to supporting their recovery,' the statement read.

Passengers Cini Tuwairua and Sam Boyajian prepare to take Air New Zealand flight number 246 bound for Wellington

Passengers check-in for Air New Zealand flight number 246 to Wellington - scheduled to leave Sydney at 7.45am on Monday. The first quarantine-free flight from Australia took off from Sydney but is understood only to have had crew on board

Passengers check-in for Air New Zealand flight number 246 at Sydney Airport. The Australian and Kiwi government said they were looking at expanding quarantine-free travel to the wider Pacific region 'when it is safe to do so'

A Qantas flight earlier touched down in New Zealand just 41 minutes after the trans-Tasman travel bubble opened at 11.59pm on Sunday.

The first quarantine-free flight from Australia took off from Sydney on Sunday night and was initially due to land at 12.05am in Auckland.

The Qantas flight is understood to have been repositioned in New Zealand and only had crew on board.

Flight Radar 24 listed a Qantas A330 arriving at 12.05am - six minutes after the border opened. However the flight wasn't displayed on Auckland Airport's arrivals, and arrived 35 minutes after schedule.

A Qantas flight touched down in New Zealand just 41 minutes after the trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia opened at 11.59pm on Sunday

A different plane, a Qantas 737, was seen leaving Sydney Airport for New Zealand's North Island late on Sunday evening, but Flight Radar 24 didn't have a destination listed.

Meanwhile, airlines across Australia and New Zealand are preparing for chaos when the first passenger flights take off across the ditch on what's been dubbed 'Massive Monday'.

National cabinet is now faced with the task of plotting how international borders can ease further in the coming months.

But Scott Morrison is in no rush to lift international restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world.

The global death toll from coronavirus has now topped three million people and the prime minister said issues around borders and how they are managed will be handled very carefully.

'But the idea on one day that everything just opens, that is not how this will happen,' Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday.

'It will be happening cautiously and carefully, working very hard on the medical and health protections in place because I'm not going to put at risk the way that Australians are living today.'

The national cabinet will meet on Monday, the first of twice-weekly gatherings following the vaccine rollout being thrown into disarray after health authorities recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to people over the age of 50 after blood-clotting was linked to younger people.

From April 19, Kiwis and Aussies can travel freely between the two nations without being required to quarantine

Included in discussions will be changes to Australia's vaccination policy, including state vaccination implementation plans, in the wake of the new advice around the AstraZeneca vaccine and additional supplies of Pfizer doses.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the vaccine rollout has been a 'debacle'.

'Scott Morrison has had more than a year to prepare for the rollout of the vaccine but what we have is him giving up on the timetable, giving up on telling Australians what they want to know,' he told reporters in Hobart.

'Australians want to know when they'll be vaccinated.'

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week.

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to get jabbed at a vaccine centre without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout

He said GPs continue to be the cornerstone of the program but national cabinet will consider ways states and territories can assist with larger vaccination clinics.

From Wednesday, Victorians aged over 70 will be able to get jabbed at a vaccine centre without an appointment as the state prepares to scale up its rollout.

'We've worked around the clock to find solutions to get vaccines in people's arms as quickly and safely as possible,' Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, who is in the heat of an election campaign, is concerned about the delays and lack of communication from the federal government about the vaccine rollout at disability and aged care residential facilities.

'We are in a good place but we cannot afford to go backwards,' he said in a statement.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia is approaching 1.5 million vaccinations after some 330,000 jabs were completed in the past week

Scott Morrison is in no rush to lift international restrictions when the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world

A woman who died from blood-clotting last week was the third case linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The first two cases are still in hospital.

The nation's chief nurse Alison McMillan recognises there could be hesitancy in being vaccinated, but encourages anyone with concerns to talk to their health professional, GP or nurse practitioner.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who was until recently the minister for science and technology, did offer some hope for vaccine support in the future.

She says Australia has the capability to manufacture an mRNA type COVID-19 vaccine like Pfizer's, but is currently not able to produce it at scale.

The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for people under 50, a treatment which the government has secured a further 20 million doses, but they won't arrive until late in the year.

Ms Andrews said it is 'absolutely' possible Australia could manufacture an mRNA vaccine, and that work is already under way to try and make possible its production at scale.
Investors, however, thought otherwise, and in the time leading up to legalization, a green rush swept the Toronto Stock Exchange. Money poured into companies starting up to service not only the Canadian market, but also eyeing other opportunities, particularly the U.S. market, where more states were embracing legalization.

Long dormant greenhouses were renovated and sold for record prices like the one in Exeter, and new indoor growing facilities popped up across the nation. Newspapers that had been cutting back on staff hired journalists to cover new marijuana beats. Like plastics in the film The Graduate, marijuana seemed destined to become Canadas next big thing.

The investment craze produced a strong echo of the dot-com stock boom of the late 1990s. And it ended with the same collapse.

Even with a slight recovery propelled by the spreading legalization in the United States  New York legalized marijuana last month, and voters in four states backed legalization in November  one marijuana stock index is still down about 70 percent from its peak in 2018.

Two and a half years after legalization, most marijuana producers in Canada are still reporting staggering losses.

And a major new competitor is looming: Mexicos lawmakers legalized recreational pot use last month. So the business climate for Canadas growers could become even more challenging.

Theres probably going to be a series of shakeouts, said Kyle B. Murray, the vice dean at the University of Alberta School of Business in Edmonton. Things were way overblown. Its very similar to the dot-com boom and then bust.
Hospital staff prepare to evacuate patients on stretchers at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg, on April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Ali Greeff)

Patients Evacuated As Fire Blazes in Johannesburg Hospital

JOHANNESBURGNearly 700 patients are being evacuated Saturday from Johannesburgs Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where a fire blazed overnight through parts of the facility in South Africas largest city.

No injuries or casualties have been reported. The fire has been contained but the hospital has been closed for seven days, said David Makhura, premier of Gauteng province where Johannesburg is located.

Four hundred patients have already been moved to other public hospitals in the metropolitan area and an additional 270 patients will be moved y the end of Saturday, Makhura said.

Early Saturday morning the fire caused the third floor of the hospitals parking garage to collapse.

Sixty firefighters have been battling the blaze through the night. The fire started Friday morning and had been doused by the afternoon but then it reignited in the evening and continued burning overnight.

The fire has caused extensive damage to the hospital, which has more than 1,000 beds and serves Johannesburg, a city of 6 million people, and the surrounding Gauteng province. It is one of the biggest public hospitals in the country.

It is also a designated treatment center for COVID-19 in Gauteng. According to Makhura, the hospital had 13 COVID-19 patients, two in ICU and 11 in general wards at the time of the fire. They have all been transferred to other hospitals.

The fire has been contained into some areas. We are shutting down the hospital as a precautionary measure because there is a lot of smoke that went into other areas, including wards, said Makhura.

The fire started in a storeroom for dry surgical supplies, according to officials.

Firefighters reported that the blaze re-started from smoldering medical supplies, including supplies of personal protective equipment used by staff treating patients with COVID-19, Makhura said. An investigation into the fire will be launched, he said.

Our firefighters have been receiving help from others in neighboring municipalities. It has been a tedious process trying to move patients. At first, we moved them to wards that were far away from the fire but we started to evacuate them, said Gauteng health spokeswoman Kwara Kekana. That is still a process that is ongoing, we are now referring all patients to other hospitals.

By Mogomotsi Magome
Lockdown is over and the shops have reopened their doors but Vogue Williams was still the biggest attraction on Leicester Square as she made her way to work on Sunday morning.

The Irish presenter, 35, caught the eye in another stylish outfit as she prepared to sign on for her latest shift at London's Global Radio studios, where she hosts Sunday Breakfast on Heart FM.

Opting for a sweeping printed skirt over a black fitted top, Vogue ensured she turned heads while making her way inside.

Looking good: Lockdown is over and the shops have reopened their doors but Vogue Williams was still the biggest attraction on Leicester Square as she made her way to work on Sunday

The presenter added to her look with a pair of smart stiletto heels, while heavily tinted sunglasses rounded things off.

Vogue's appearance comes after she explained that she 'didn't want to make anyone else feel bad' about how she'd lost weight following the birth of her second child with husband Spencer Matthews.

Speaking with The Sun, the mother-of-two also discussed how she plans to have 'definitely four' children with the former Made In Chelsea star.

Here she comes: The Irish presenter, 35, caught the eye in another stylish outfit as she prepared to sign on for her latest shift at London's Global Radio studios

Stylish: Opting for a sweeping printed skirt over a black fitted top, Vogue ensured she turned heads while making her way inside

Vogue said: 'There is so much pressure put on women about this and I didn't want to add to that when, instead of worrying about losing the baby weight, we should be worrying about where our pelvic floor is at and how our mental health is doing.

'It's purely down to my body type that I went back to how I was before without too much effort, and I did find myself trying to hide that for the first few months.

'I just didn't want to make anyone else feel bad by being all, 'hey, look at me after having a baby,' because the last thing anyone wants to see is someone who's lost the weight quicker than you.'

Shady: The presenter added to her look with a pair of heavily tinted sunglasses

Vogue added that it's impossible to win online as people will always comment on posts, whether it's saying she lost weight fast or carried the baby weight.

Elsewhere in her interview, the doting mum-of-two chatted about how she's finding motherhood with her second child, admitting that she's more laid-back with Gigi.

Vogue, who also revealed she and Spencer would like 'definitely four' children, praised her daughter saying the tot is very easy going and happily settles herself.
Toto Wolff thinks Lewis Hamilton will stay at Mercedes beyond 2021 - and then never switch to a rival Formula 1 team.

"I think this will be his last team," the Mercedes team boss told DPA news agency at Imola.

Seven time world champion Hamilton, 36, signed only a one-year deal for 2021 at the end of delayed and reportedly difficult negotiations with Wolff.

However, Wolff said: "There is no better place for him than at Mercedes and our wish is also that he continues with us.

"The symbiosis between us is good and we have celebrated so many successes together that from today's perspective everything speaks in favour of continuing to race together," the Austrian added.

(GMM)
Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban voiced on Saturday his appreciation and support for Prime Minister Florin Citu, pointing out that the latter's decision to sack Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu was "indispensable and appropriate, laying the groundwork for an enhanced performance of the government in health care".

Orban also assured that despite this decision, the coalition carries on and the PNL is a responsible party, fully committed to Romania's development process and to the responsibility of governing, agerpres.ro confirms.

"The decision on the nomination for Prime Minister belonged to the coalition, I would even say that USR-PLUS was partial for my colleague and friend Florin Citu's taking over as Prime Minister. One cannot replace the Prime Minister just because the sacking of an evidently poorly performing minister doesn't sit well with a coalition party. (...) I was extremely delicate and refrained from criticism of one or another of the ministers, because there is a coalition spirit and we must discuss these matters among ourselves," Orban told a press conference in Baia Mare.

He added that PNL is waiting for this "bout of anger and pride" to subside and for USR-PLUS to quickly nominate a minister capable of "setting health care on track" and putting into practice the objectives set out in the governing program, including the completion of the three regional hospitals, of the severe burn hospitals and the elaboration of the national health strategy.

The PNL leader also emphasized that "it's the Prime Minister's obligation to remove from office any minister who attacks" the head of the Executive.

"Every minister must be aware that before attacking their Premier, they must write their resignation. Anyway, they must know that they will be sent home, just like Voiculescu. In no democratic country in the world does a minister allow themselves to attack the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the leader of the government. The moment you attack the Prime Minister, you no longer belong in the governing lineup. I therefore warn the ministers that this is not a whim. It is practically the Prime Minister's obligation to remove from office any minister who attacks the Premier," Ludovic Orban said.

Regarding the allegations by the recently sacked Health Minister, that the numbers of COVID deaths in official reports are kept lower than the real figures, the PNL leader said that Vlad Voiculescu is simply rambling, as he produced no argument for his statements and that he behaves as if he were in the opposition.

The PNL Chairman emphasized that the Prime Minister's decision to dismiss Voiculescu implied "courage, responsibility, but also risks" and asked the USR-PLUS partners, whom he considers to be "inexperienced" in terms of governance and especially coalition government, to objectively analyse this decision and admit that it was the correct thing to do.

Ludovic Orban also said that at this moment he sees no viable political formula other than the one at rule, as PSD "has trampled on Romania", and AUR is just a "political concoction".
New Delhi, April 18 : Amid the weekend curfew imposed in the national capital since 10 p.m. on Friday, in addition to the night curfew, as an attempt to break the chain of coronavirus, Delhi continued to see a surge in daily Covid-19 cases.

Delhi registered 25, 462 new cases and 161 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the health bulletin issued on Sunday.

Daily positivity rate was 29.74 per cent, while the active cases in the city stand at 74,941, of which 34,938 are in home isolation.

Delhi's cumulative death toll reached to 12,121 and the cumulative fatality rate was reported at 1.42 per cent.

Meanwhile, 20,159 patients recovered till Sunday night taking the total recovery from Covid-19 so far in the capital to 7,66,398.

Amid continuing surge and the number of beds running out while supplies of oxygen and other medical facilities dipped, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, terming the situation at a critical stage, dialled Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking help.

Later, he wrote to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, requesting uninterrupted supply of oxygen on a daily basis to Delhi.

"I would request you to kindly look into the matter personally and give appropriate instructions to all concerned and ensure uninterrupted supply of 700MT of oxygen to Delhi for effectively managing Covid-19 situation," he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A tech transparency group released a report on Friday that human smugglers utilized Facebook to advertise services to migrants.

Human Smugglers Advertised Services on Facebook

Facebook is the leading social media platform in the world and it can reach billions of people from different cultures and countries. It is supposed to be a tool used to socialize and meet new friends but this has become the main tool of illegal business to some people.

According to a recently published article in CNN News, human smugglers utilized Facebook to offer services to migrants who want to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. This is after the report was released by a tech transparency group.

In a report from the Tech Transparency Project, they identified 50 Facebook pages, and more than half were created during mid-November. Meanwhile, the group also added that a dozen popped up last month, according to a published report in WISH TV.

President Joe Biden Strikes International Deal To Reduce Migrants Arriving At the Southern Border

The report said that most of the pages used terms or descriptors like "coyote," a commonly used term used for human smugglers, to signal the service being offered, or even categorizing the page as a "travel company."

Moreover, the content of each page, however, was consistent: selling the trip to the United States. The pages were titled "Cruse Seguro," which translates to "Secure Crossing," as well as "Viajes an Estados Unidos," which translates to "Trips to the United States," and "Cruse a USA," which translates to "Cross to the United States," according to a published report in Local News 8.

Facebook Released a Statement

A Facebook spokesperson told a news outlet "We prohibit content that either offers or assists with human smuggling. We have removed this content and will continue to do so. We will review this report once we see it and take action against anything that violates our policies."

Meanwhile, director of the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project Katie Paul said "In the related pages, at least a third of the pages we identified, Facebook was serving up to us in the related pages, especially ones on travel. Facebook would recommend other travel pages, but they were smuggling pages."

Biden Thinks of Building Border Walls, Walks Back from His Previous Proclamation

Incidents of Human Smuggling in the Southern Border

A human smuggling activity made a headline recently after a Border Patrol officer released the video of two young Ecuadorian sisters who were illegally dropped in the border wall in an attempt to reach the United States.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that "The inhumane way smugglers abuse children while profiting off parents' desperation is criminal and morally reprehensible," He shared an incident earlier this month where a six-month-old was thrown into the river and a young girl drowned and died.

Moreover, the U.S. Customs Border and Protection also confirmed the increase of illegal migrants who attempted to cross the Southern Border. According to their report, they apprehended more than 172,000 migrants in March, or an increase of 71 percent compared to their apprehensions in February.



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MELBOURNE, Fla.  A World War II-era plane taking part in the Cocoa Beach Air Show made an emergency landing in the ocean near Patrick Space Force Base beaches Saturday afternoon.

No one was injured, emergency officials said.

A video posted to Twitter showed the single-engine TBM Avenger making a "soft" landing in the shallow water south of Cocoa Beach.

In the footage, the plane descends low in a controlled fashion before coming to a skidding halt in the ocean, sending up spray and foam.

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In another video captured by Melanie Schrader of Melbourne, the plane's single propeller can be seen no longer spinning as it glides toward the shallow water. Dozens of people in the water look up as it passes close overhead, and bystanders express shock as they watch the small aircraft make its descent.

The plane landed safely on the surface of the ocean.

He was sputtering down the beach and I was like, 'Oh he doesnt sound good,' and I just started filming," Schrader said.

It looked like (the pilot) pulled up at the last moment and avoided any spectators, there were loads of people on the water, and then I saw him on top of the plane. It looked like he was OK," she said.

The pilot declined medical treatment after the incident, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue officials.

"The TBM Avenger performing in the warbird parade had a mechanical issue and the pilot was able to bring the plane down close to the shore. Rescue personnel were immediately on scene and the pilot is OK," according to Cocoa Beach Air Show officials in a prepared statement.

Officials did not identify the pilot.

The TBM Avenger is a torpedo bomber that was used by the U.S. Navy during World War II.

According to the Cocoa Beach Air Show website, the plane in Saturday's incident underwent extensive restoration before being returned to flight last year.

After retiring from Navy use, the plane was used as a U.S. Forestry Service fire bomber from 1956 to 1964 in Davis, California. The warbird also saw use as a Georgia Forestry Commission fire bomber, according to the Valiant Air Command website.

Story continues

The 1945 TBM Avenger was restored over an 18-year span by the Titusville-based Valiant Air Command, which returned the vintage torpedo bomber to flight in January 2020.

I saw a video of it  and it just made me think of what Sully did in the Hudson River, said Air Show Chairman Bryan Lilley, referring to the 2009 emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York by pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. Both engines were disabled by a bird strike and all 155 people aboard survived.

It was incredible. What skill by that pilot, Lilley said of the ocean landing near Cocoa Beach.

I feel really bad for them. They just got done restoring that (plane). They put so much time into it, Lilley said of the Valiant Air Command.I'm very happy the pilots OK, but I'm really sorry that the aircraft ended up in the water."

Follow Tyler Vazquez on Twitter @tyler_vazquez.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Cocoa Beach Air Show vintage plane makes emergency water landing
India is running out of Covid vaccines amid a brutal second wave that has seen both cases and deaths in the country soar to record levels.

At least five Indian states are now reporting shortages of jabs and are urging the government to meet domestic demand, which it has previously done by restricting jab exports.

If exports are restricted further then it would harm global supplies - including 5million doses of AstraZeneca bound for the UK - as India typically produces 60 per cent of vaccines used worldwide and is home to the world's largest vaccine-maker, the Serum Institute of India (SII).

COVAX, the programme which is response for delivering jabs to poorer countries, has now warned that deliveries of jabs from SII will be delayed until at least the end of the month due to 'increased demand in India'.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the UK's Department of Health was unable to say when 5million AstraZeneca doses due to arrive this month will actually turn up - but added that the UK is not expecting any doses from India after that.

The country's second wave is thought to be driven by a double-mutated version of Covid - now present in the UK - which scientists believe makes the virus both more infectious and may reduce the effectiveness of current vaccines.

Today, India reported more than 261,000 new cases of Covid, its highest one-day toll of the pandemic so far - coming off the back of four straight days of record rises.

Five states in India have reported shortages of Covid vaccines amid a second wave that has pushed cases and deaths to record levels (pictured, people queue for jabs in Mumbai)

India is vaccinating some 3million people per day, topping most other countries, but its huge 1.3billion population means only a tiny proportion have been protected (pictured)

State leaders in India are now calling on the government to give them more supplies, raising fears that international exports will be restricted further (pictured, vaccine queues in Mumbai)

A policeman who is among priority groups invited for vaccination in India receives a jab in Mumbai, which has been hit hard in the second wave

Meanwhile its one-day death toll hit 1,501, also a record aside from one day in March last year when more than 2,000 deaths were added due to a data error.

UK 'reviewing' whether India should be added to travel red list The UK government is reviewing whether India should be added to the UK's travel red list as cases soar, driven by a new variant that has already arrived in Britain. Environment secretary George Eustice told the BBC's Andrew Marr that the travel red list is kept under 'constant review' - but gave no indication that guidance might be changed. Scientists fear that India's brutal second wave of Covid is being driven by a double-mutated version of the virus that makes vaccines less effective and the disease more infectious. Danny Altmann, a professor of infectious disease at Imperial College London, has warned that the country should immediately be added to the travel red list to protect Britons from the variant. But on Sunday, Mr Eustice said: 'We're allowing people in from India provided they have had a pre-departure test, provided they then quarantine - albeit not in a hotel or a designated facility, but quarantine at home - and then have a test at two and eight days. 'But we keep this under regular review. We take the advice of the scientific experts on this. If the advice is we should change that and move to the red list we would.' Separately, he told Sky News that it is 'appropriate' for Boris Johnson to go ahead with a visit to India later this month, saying measures will be taken to ensure it is 'Covid secure'. Advertisement

Maharashtra state, India's second-most populous and home to the commercial capital of Mumbai, has been hardest hit by the second wave - with local lockdowns now in place in an effort to keep cases down.

That has caused concern among scientists because Mumbai was thought to have achieved natural herd immunity after being hit hard in the first wave.

If the new mutant virus can breach natural immunity then there are fears it could also evade or weaken the protection offered by vaccines.

India's rapidly increasing case total has also led to the belief that the new variant is also more infectious than previous versions of the disease.

Studies are now underway, including in the UK, to determine whether those two assumptions are in fact true.

India's vaccine drive is reliant on two jabs, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine that is also being widely used in this country, and the domestically-produced Bharat Biotech/Indian Council of Medical Research jab - known as Covaxin.

The country is currently administering around 3million doses of vaccine per day, well ahead of most other nations, but it has a population of 1.3billion - meaning only a tiny share of the total has been protected.

Around 105million people have been given at least one dose of vaccine, according to government data, which is just 7.5 per cent of the total population.

Some 15million people have been given both doses of vaccine, or just over 1 per cent of the total.

State leaders in Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha, and two other states have now warned that they do not have enough vaccines to cover the number of appointments handed out, according to CNN.

They are now requesting more supplies from the federal government, but ministers have so-far pushed back - insisting that supplies are plentiful and that the situation is under control.

The country's health minister and home minister both accused state leaders of trying 'to divert attention from... repeated failures to control the spread of pandemic.'

India's Covid cases have sky-rocketed to record levels with more than 260,000 reported Sunday, thought to be driven by a new double-mutated form of the virus

Deaths in India have also began soaring, with hospitals warning that they are already running short of key supplies such as oxygen to keep patients alive

Nevertheless, news of shortages have raised fears that vaccines meant for export are likely to remain in India, after the government began holding back supplies in March.

One of the hardest-hit programmes is likely to be COVAX, a combined international effort to get jabs to low and middle income countries.

The initiative was supposed to receive 200million doses of AstraZeneca from India bound for 92 countries, but has so far received just 28million.

COVAX is now in talks with the Indian government to try and get hold of two deliveries - one of 40million doses and another of 50million - that were due to be completed in March and April.

India is now leading the world in terms of the number of new cases with more than two million in the past month, as the international Red Cross warns the speed at which cases are rising across South Asia is 'truly frightening'.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was impossible to know when the virulent new surge would peak.

'The situation is grim and worrisome,' he said, highlighting shortages of oxygen and hospital beds.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a special pandemic meeting late Saturday to discuss the rapidly-deteriorating situation, ordering new measures to find beds and speed up the delivery of oxygen and drugs such as the anti-viral Remdesivir.

After a national lockdown last year ago led to an economic slump, the Indian government is desperate to avoid a second stoppage. But Delhi has now joined Mumbai in ordering all but essential services to close.

Landmarks such as the historic Red Fort where tens of thousands of people would normally gather were deserted.

Police checked many of the few cars that strayed onto the streets of the city of more than 20 million people where restaurants, malls and gyms were all closed.

'Don't panic. All essential services will be available through the weekend,' Kejriwal said.

Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, Gujarat and IT hub Bangalore's home state Karnataka have also imposed restrictions on movement.

Uttar Pradesh state, home to some 240 million people, has ordered a one-day lockdown on Sunday.

The northern state of Uttarakhand has restricted gatherings to 200 people.

A health worker in the Indian capital of Delhi prepares bodies for cremation after the city was plunged into a weekend lockdown to keep Covid cases down

Doctors at a hospital in Delhi treat a Covid patient amid warnings that healthcare systems could be overrun by a second wave of virus

It exempted the huge Hindu Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar but pressure has grown to halt the ritual bathing that has drawn up to 25 million people since January, including some 4.6 million this week alone.

More than 1,600 people tested positive for coronavirus in barely three days this week and one of the leading Hindu sects announced that it considered the festival now finished.

The latest round of voting also went ahead in the West Bengal state election with long queues forming outside polling stations. Rival parties have been holding huge rallies in recent weeks again fuelling super-spread fears.

In the state capital Kolkata, railway employee Samaresh Tapna fell sick after attending one such gathering and was hospitalised.

'I felt angry with myself... I cursed my fate,' the 42-year-old told AFP.

Hospitals across India have reported growing shortages of oxygen and widely prescribed medicines, prompting desperate people to pay exorbitant black market rates.

Social media is full of horror stories of desperate calls to help a loved one needing hospital treatment for Covid-19 or other complaints.

'I lost a cousin on Saturday. He was not admitted after a stroke. Tried 4 hospitals,' read one message on a Delhi neighbourhood WhatsApp group this week.

India's drive to vaccinate its 1.3 billion people has also hit obstacles, with just 117 million shots administered so far and stocks running low, according to some local authorities.

'This is a wake-up call to the world. Vaccines must be available to everyone, everywhere, rich and poor to overcome this terrible pandemic,' said Udaya Regmi from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), describing the surge across South Asia as 'truly frightening'.

'We must redouble our efforts to contain this disease as too many lives are at stake,' Regmi added.
With the second wave of Covid-19 rampaging across India, former prime minister (PM) in an open letter to PM has strongly advocated ramping up vaccine supply by providing funds and concessions to the private sector and adopting a more transparent and flexible policy in distribution of vaccines to states.

Singh in his five-point prescription also advocated compulsory licensing provisions for vaccines as in the case of HIV/AIDS drugs, so that more companies can produce vaccines under a licence.

I believe this is the time to invoke the compulsory licensing provisions in the law, so that a number of companies are able to produce the vaccines under a licence. This, I recall, had happened earlier in the case of medicines to deal with HIV/AIDS, he said.

Singh said since domestic vaccine supply is limited, any vaccine that has been cleared for use by credible authorities, such as the European Medicines Agency or the US Food and Drug Administration, should be allowed to be imported without insisting on domestic bridging trials.

We are facing an unprecedented emergency and, I understand, experts are of the view that this relaxation is justified in an emergency. The relaxation could be for a limited period during which the bridging trials could be completed in India, he said.

The veteran Congress leader said one must not look at absolute numbers but the total percentage of the population that has been vaccinated.

ALSO READ: India records highest single-day rise of 2,61,500 coronavirus cases

The key to our fight against Covid-19 must be ramping up the vaccination effort. We must resist the temptation to look at the absolute numbers being vaccinated, and focus instead on the percentage of the population vaccinated, he said in his letter.

Noting that India currently has vaccinated only a small fraction of its population, Singh said he is certain that with the right policy design, we can do much better and very quickly.

The former PM also suggested that states should be given some flexibility to define categories of frontline workers who can be vaccinated even if they are below 45 years.

Currently, people above 45 years of age are eligible for vaccination.

He said some states may want to designate school teachers, bus, three-wheeler and taxi drivers, municipal and panchayat staff, and possibly lawyers who have to attend courts as frontline workers, and they can then be vaccinated even if they are below 45 years.





ALSO READ: Less than 100 ICU beds vacant in Delhi, situation worsening: Kejriwal

Singh also said that the Centre should publicise what are firm orders for doses placed on different vaccine producers and accepted for delivery over the next six months.

That apart, the government should also indicate how this expected supply will be distributed across states based on a transparent formula, Singh said in his letter.

Sources said Manmohan Singhs suggestions come a day after the Congress Working Committee met and discussed the efforts required to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.



If we want to vaccinate a target number in this period, we should place enough orders in advance, so that producers can adhere to an agreed schedule of supply, he noted.

ALSO READ: Maharashtra: Negative RT-PCR report must for train passengers from 6 states

He suggested that the central government could retain 10 per cent for distribution based on emergency needs, and states should have a clear signal of likely availability, so that they can plan their roll-out.

Citing Israels example, which has already invoked the compulsory licensing provision, he said there is an overwhelming case for India to do so as well quickly.

Concluding his letter, Singh said he is forwarding his suggestions for consideration in a spirit of constructive cooperation in which he has always believed and acted upon.

I hope the government will accept these suggestions immediately and act on them promptly, he said.

Singh recalled how over the year, the world and India have been grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, with many parents not seeing their children in over a year.





ALSO READ: Covid-19 LIVE: Over 68,500 new cases in Maharashtra, another record spike

Many have lost their source of livelihood, and several millions have been pushed back into poverty, he said, noting that with the second surge being currently witnessed, people are beginning to wonder when their lives will get back to normal.

India has seen a massive surge of Covid-19 cases, with over 200,000 cases being reported every day in the past four days.

Senior Congress Leader P Chidambaram and Mammohan Singhs former Cabinet colleague have expressed the hope that the government will adhere to the suggestions.

Whether the government is open to good suggestions will be known from the action taken on the letter. Also, whether the government is serious about containing the spread of the pandemic will also be known from its response, he said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th April, 2021) Warships of the UK Royal Navy will sail for the Black Sea in May in solidarity with Kiev amid an escalation of the Ukraine crisis, the Sunday Times reports.

Senior naval sources told the newspaper that a Type 45 destroyer armed with anti-aircraft missiles and an anti-submarine Type 23 frigate will separate from the Royal Navy's carrier task group in the Mediterranean and head through the Bosphorus into the Black Sea next month.

RAF F-35B Lightning stealth jets and Merlin submarine-hunting helicopters will stand ready on the task group's flag ship, the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, to support the warships in the Black Sea, the Sunday Times said, specifying that putting the ships off the coast of Ukraine will be meant to demonstrate solidarity with Kiev and NATO allies in the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Joe Biden, spoke over the phone about Ukraine on Tuesday. Biden said he was concerned about Russia amassing troops near the border and asked it to ease tensions with its neighbor.

Russia maintains that the troop movement is aimed at ensuring national security in response to NATO's own build-up near Russia's borders.

On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that the US had canceled the passage of its two warships through the Bosphorus strait into the Black Sea.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2021 ) :US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Sunday that Russia will face "consequences" if hunger-striking Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny dies.

Jailed opposition leader Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most prominent opponent, was arrested in January upon returning to Russia after recovering from a near-fatal poisoning attack he says was orchestrated by Moscow.

"In terms of the specific measures we would undertake, we are looking at a variety of different costs that we would impose, and I'm not going to telegraph that publicly at this point," Sullivan told CNN.

"But we have communicated that there will be consequences if Mr. Navalny dies." The 44-year-old Russian began a hunger strike on March 31 to demand proper medical treatment for back pain and numbness in his legs and hands.

On Saturday, Navalny's doctors said his health had rapidly deteriorated and demanded prison officials grant them immediate access.

"Our patient can die any minute," cardiologist Yaroslav Ashikhmin said, pointing to Navalny's high potassium levels and saying he should be moved to intensive care.

Both France and Germany on Sunday joined a growing international chorus of protest at Navalny's treatment.

Sullivan said the White House had told the Kremlin that Moscow would be "held accountable by the international community" for what happens to Navalny while in Russian custody.

US President Joe Biden said Saturday that Navalny's situation was "totally unfair," but he is facing criticism for not bringing up the dissident's treatment in a phone call to Putin last week or being more forthright in his public comments.

Sullivan said the White House had already made its position clear to Russia directly and that "the best way to deal with this issue is privately, and through diplomatic channels direct to the uppermost levels of the Russian government."
A modified version of AstraZenecas Covid-19 vaccine tailored to combat a variant first documented in South Africa could be ready by the end of 2021, an official in Austria said in an interview published on Sunday. Sarah Walters, AstraZenecas Austria country manager, told the Kurier that studies, so far, indicating the existing vaccine was less effective against the more infectious variant first documented in South Africa were too small to draw final conclusions. In the meantime, and Oxford University have started on modifications to the vaccine for the South African variant and we expect it will be ready by the end of the year, should it be needed, Walters said. Walters blamed challenges  including delivery delays for the AstraZeneca shot in the European Union  on the complex process of producing a vaccine, coupled with the extremely high demand arising from the pandemic. We had to work without keeping a supply in reserve. As a result, we couldnt make up for unexpected events, she said. We are confident that we will fulfill our commitment to deliver 300 million doses to the European Union this year. The Kurier interview did not directly address ongoing investigations into health concerns over the AstraZeneca shot.

The EU has put a warning label on the vaccine over its possible linkage to extremely rare blood clots, Denmark has completely halted use of the vaccine and Britain has advised people under 30 to get another brand of vaccine. Asked about thousands of people in Austria who are cancelling their appointments for AstraZeneca shots, Walters said the companys plan was to continue to transparently provide information about efficacy and safety to doctors, so that they can adequately inform people of benefits and risks.
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Some events took place today to promote service across the Wabash valley.

We all know it's important to help keep our environment looking its best.

April is national volunteer month and students at Indiana state university got their hands dirty for a good cause.

Several students from ISU took part in a service day called spring Donaghy day.

This was at Griffin bike park.

Students assisted with trail maintenance.

They helped digg trails so folks can enjoy biking, running, or walking.

This was all to give back to the place they call home.

"We know that Terre Haute is our home we know that so many people come from the region and want to give back to their home," says volunteer William Ganis.
Hailey Bieber pulled out all the stops on Saturday evening as she appeared on Instagram in one of her most sizzling outfits to date.

The 24-year-old model wowed in a mirrored Prada mini shirt and bright white crop top, which her stylist Maeve Reilly curated and later shared to Instagram.

Hailey is currently in Atlanta, Georgia with husband Justin Bieber, who is slated to perform during tonight's highly anticipated Jake Paul vs Ben Askren fight.

Hailey gave her followers a peek at her glam process by documenting her transformation on her Instagram Story.

First, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin showcased her flawless, makeup-free complexion, while sitting in a beauty chair with her and Justin's beloved up Oscar.

Hailey, donning a robe and wearing her hair in a half up half down style, zoomed in on the darling dog's face, writing: 'Cute lil guy'

Sizzling: Hailey Bieber pulled out all the stops on Saturday evening as she appeared on Instagram in one of her most sizzling outfits to date

High fashion: The 24-year-old model wowed in a mirrored Prada mini shirt and bright white crop top, which her stylist Maeve Reilly curated and later shared to Instagram

Shortly after sharing, Bieber reappeared with a fully made up face, complete with a glossy mauve lip and glittery brown eyeshadow.

In the background of her video, Hailey's go-to hairstylist Danielle Priano could be seen delicately curling Hailey's golden blonde hair.

Also featured in the close-up clip was Bieber's bright white crop, which put her midriff on display, and the slew of custom necklaces around her neck.

Full glam: Bieber rocked a fully made up face, complete with a glossy mauve lip and glittery brown eyeshadow

Finishing touches: In the background of her video, Hailey's go-to hairstylist Danielle Priano could be seen delicately curling Hailey's golden blonde hair

One of the choker-style chains featured a diamond-riddled letter 'B' charm, as an homage to her married name.

Before heading to the venue, Hailey indulged in an impromptu shoot in the hallway of her hotel.

The full-length shots revealed the stunner's mirrored skirt and tie-wrap black heels that wound up her calves.

Behind-the-scenes: Hailey gave her followers a peek at her glam process by documenting her transformation on her Instagram Story

Natural: First, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin showcased her flawless, makeup-free complexion, while sitting in a beauty chair with her and Justin's beloved up Oscar

She also had on an oversized jacket, which she wore off the shoulders.

The Biebers have been in Atlanta the past several days in anticipation of the Triller Fight Club: Jake Paul v Ben Askren event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

On Friday, Hailey appeared to work out any kinks in her glam routine as she endured a practice run with her squad.

Fight club: Hailey and her husband Justin have been in Atlanta the past several days in anticipation of the Triller Fight Club: Jake Paul v Ben Askren event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Hailey pictured Friday

Getting ready from the comfort of her luxe hotel room, the BFF of Kendall Jenner opted for a swept back hairstyle and an ultra glowy complexion.

Never one to miss out on a chance to showcase her washboard abs, Hailey threw on a bright yellow, beaded top and a pair of skintight black leather trousers.

Hailey slipped her feet into a pair of black open toed heels and carried her essential belongings in a designer purse with a silver strap that matched the rivets on her trousers.

Testing, testing! On Friday, Hailey appeared to work out any kinks in her glam routine as she endured a practice run with her squad
leader on Sunday expressed his condolences to the families of people who were killed in a fire incident in Chhattisgarh's Raipur.

Taking to Twitter, the leader wrote: "The news of a fire incident in the ICU of a hospital in Raipur is sad. My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones."

He also made an appeal to the state government that all assistance should be given to the bereaved families during this difficult time.

At least five persons were killed after a fire broke out in Raipur's Rajdhani hospital on Saturday. Other patients have been shifted to other hospitals.

The police officer added that an investigation will be done into the cause of the incident.

Further details are awaited.

(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.)
Diyar Al Muharraq, a leading real estate development company in Bahrain, has started construction of the new Khonji Mosque located on the northern end of its Deerat Al Oyoun project.

Spanning a total area of approximately 1,000 sq m of land, the mosque is set to receive 615 worshippers upon completion.

The addition of the new mosque to the masterplan comes in line with the real estate developers commitment to serve its residents holistically, as a fully integrated modern city.

Complementing the lifestyle offered by the Diyar Al Muharraq masterplan, the mosque will include the necessary facilities to serve a neighbourhood of more than 500 homes, offering ample parking spaces, and an adjoining hall for social events and gatherings, said the Bahraini developer in a statement.

Characterised by its design, the mosque is distinguished through a seamless blend of Islamic architecture and contemporary style, making for a truly unique space for worshipers to congregate at.

Additionally, the Khonji Mosques dome and minaret will feature geometric motifs that reflect its simultaneously modern and Islamic character, standing as a visual landmark in the Deerat Al Oyoun community, the statement added.

CEO Engineer Ahmed Ali Alammadi said: "We extend our sincere gratitude to the generous benefactors who contributed to this initiative, making the construction of this mosque possible during Ramadan. We look forward to unveiling the Khonji Mosque in April 2022, which will ultimately serve the residents of Diyar Al Muharraq, delivering on our promise to cater to every aspect of their lifestyle needs."

Commissioned to local contractor, Adaa Building Solution, construction on the mosque has begun, thus standing testament to Diyar Al Muharraqs promise to deliver ample worshipping facilities throughout the city, serving residents and visitors alike.

Diyar Al Muharraq is one of the largest integrated cities in the kingdom, offering a variety of housing solutions and a luxurious modern lifestyle while persevering the core family values in Bahraini society.

It offers a unique, balanced mix of residential, commercial, recreational, and healthcare facilities, creating a fully integrated and futuristic model city.-TradeArabia News Service
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When celebrity events were halted because of the coronavirus pandemic last March, Hollywoods clothing stylists, hairstylists and makeup artists were put out of work. The return of awards shows and virtual events has fostered a fashion resurgence.

In March 2020, stylist Ilaria Urbinati  whose client roster of Hollywood men includes Rami Malek, Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson and John Krasinski  was working on numerous press tours. Rami had Bond coming out, the Rock had Jungle Cruise and Red Notice, she recalls. Aaron Paul had movies, then Cannes was coming up, and Venice, and we were in the middle of A Quiet Place II press tour. And everything came to a grinding halt.

Each day, more of her jobs were canceled due to COVID. It was so surreal, says Urbinati. Im used to working so much. Because I dress all men, I have like 40 clients.

Urbinati appreciated having more time with her newborn twins, but when it appeared work wouldnt be returning soon, she launched a passion project. Her mens lifestyle website, Leo, features style, food, travel and culture  with advice from her celebrity clientele, including Casey Afflecks guide to Boston.

Now stylings full-on coming back, says Urbinati, who didnt work until August. It started to get busy again in the fall.

Shes mainly styling brand campaigns, commercials and cover shoots, but virtual awards shows enabled her return to red-carpet work. We had Sacha Baron Cohen, whos in Australia, so weve been virtually dressing him. And we did Karamo Brown [for the Globes], but thats two people. Normally we do like 17 people. Not to mention Id be dressing a nominee for every tiny press event, for like 100 things instead of 10.

At first, Urbinati was careful her style choices reflected the moments gravity. I felt like it would be tone-deaf to make people feel overly glam, says Urbinati, who put Charlie Puth in a white Prada sweatsuit for Novembers CMA Awards. I wanted people to look like they dressed themselves when they were at home and people were not ready for glamour. Now theres been a full-circle thing where I think people are looking for a little escapism.

Come the new year, her clients felt ready to get more dressed up. Were putting trousers on people again, but with an elastic waist or drawstrings, everything is a little more relaxed. Mens fashion was going that way, anyway  the pants were getting looser, the skinny pant is dead. We were already going in a more 90s, relaxed style, so the pandemic really exaggerated that.

The Ami Paris suit in which Krasinski hosted SNL was the first suit shed done all year. But notice, no tie, she says. For the Globes, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Borats Cohen wore a custom three-piece Dolce & Gabbana suit. He does a lot of these over-the-top comedic situations, she says. So we wanted him to be a little more classic, and take him out of that slightly more goofy persona. She sought something cool and timeless, in a more understated color than his bright blue from last year. Green can be really beautiful on camera.

This years undefined Oscar dress code is befuddling to stylists, who dont want their clients to be overdressed. However, Urbinatis planning to celebrate Cohens nominations. I want him to look elegant, she says. I want him to look back on this moment and he was in a tux. So we are going for the whole look. Bow-tie TBD.

Though the Oscars will be held in-person, virtual events have meant more traveling for artists, who normally style attendees in L.A. Clients who were filming couldnt leave locations because of quarantining, so I was traveling an hour and a half to one client to get her ready and then back to Los Angeles for the other, says hairstylist Gregory Russell, whose clients include Lily Collins, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chloe Grace Moretz. The other difference is now were in charge of getting our photos. Because of the lack of red carpet, we have to make sure to get the shot, which has been really fun but another thing to add to the list.

Russells press day jobs were likewise canceled when the pandemic hit, and he didnt work for four months. When he returned, it was with new obstacles. We always sanitized our tools, but now we have the masks that are such a challenge, he says. Not to mention having to be conscious of socially distancing on set when youre trying to remain in your creative flow.

Minus the travel, things almost feel back to usual for Russell, who looked to past icons in styling clients for the Globes. My inspiration for Lily [Collins] was Marisa Berenson, he says. Marisa is so chic and timeless to me, like Lily. My inspiration for Anya [Taylor-Joy] came from Jerry Hall. She had the long length and often did the 70s interpretation of Veronica Lake. Looking at the dress, this felt appropriate, elegant and timeless. He relished the return of awards events, even virtually: It was emotional to be able to have some creativity and fantasy to channel in my life. Having to sit in all of the depressing news, it was such a blessing of an outlet and gave me a whole new appreciation for what I do.

Makeup artist and groomer Autumn Moultrie, whose clients include Viola Davis, Rege-Jean Page and LaKeith Stanfield, feels fortunate for the recent work shes had. The first job I did after a few months of being down due to the pandemic was the iconic Vanity Fair cover with Viola. I think I was one of the first glam squad members back in the saddle, says Moultrie, who returned with both enthusiasm and trepidation. I worked with my client Naomi Osaka and wore a hazmat suit!

Moultries tightened her cleanliness and safety measures. I took certified sanitation classes online and bought a sanitizing device that I use to prep my brushes, tools and powder puffs, says Moultrie, who now works off a palette rather than her hand. Despite being vaccinated, she still must undergo mandatory rapid testing on sets. Theres been an added 30 minutes to our workday because you cant just drive up and start your job anymore. You have to get tested, wait for the results and then proceed.

Davis nominations have made for a thrilling awards season. I am so excited that there are more people of color being nominated for their work, says Moultrie, whose glam squad cohort Jamika Wilson became one of the first Black women to be Oscar-nominated in makeup and hairstyling, for Ma Raineys Black Bottom. The camaraderie with her community is whats powered Moultrie through the past year.

One of the silver linings of COVID-19 has been the solidarity thats occurred between people who do what I do, she says. We all have been doing a lot of Zoom calls and virtual chats to learn from each other, uplift each other and keep everyones spirits up during this tenuous time for a lot of artists.

Urbinati is grateful awards events have gotten Hollywood artists back to work. Fashion is a huge industry that employs millions of people, she says. In an awards show, there are thousands of people involved, then all the stylists, groomers, hairstylists, makeup artists. You can have the viewpoint that its silliness compared to other things going on in the world, but entertaining people is uplifting. I think that art is important.

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Its hard to miss Sen. Alex Padilla lately. Californias junior senator has been a relentless media presence since he was sworn into office Jan. 20 to replace Vice President Kamala Harris.

Padilla has done 89 interviews since then, including 46 with California-based outlets. Its a Swalwellian pace of interviews that included an emotional appearance on my Its All Political podcast in February.

And then theres Californias other Democratic senator, Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Californians are more likely to see a unicorn than their senior senator being interviewed on their favorite media outlet or answering questions at a virtual town hall meeting.

Her office doesnt keep count of interviews, but her spokesperson assures that she regularly chats with reporters in the halls of Congress and has held countless video- and tele-conferences with California groups throughout the pandemic.

Padilla has to be out there because he faces election next year, and a March poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 1 in every 3 likely voters surveyed didnt know enough about him to form an opinion.

That explains why he has sat down with HBOs Bill Maher and Los Angeles hip-hop DJ J Cruz. Hes done interviews with the Black News Channel and Univision  in Spanish. He even chatted with actor Chris Captain America Evans, co-founder of a civic organization called A Starting Point. Earlier this month, Padilla held a town hall meeting that was broadcast on TV stations around the state.

Feinstein hasnt done any tele-town halls, has none scheduled and isnt up for re-election until 2024. She could use some positive publicity, as a growing number of California voters disapprove of how shes doing her job.

The March poll found that 44% of likely voters surveyed approved of her job performance and 47% disapproved  lackluster support in Democratic-dominated California. In February 2020, 50% of likely voters surveyed by the Public Policy Institute approved of Feinsteins performance.

The March survey indicated that 42% approved of how Padilla was doing in his first weeks in office and 25% didnt.

Padilla is scheduled to speak this month at the California Democratic Party convention, which is being conducted virtually. Feinstein declined an invite, party officials say. Perhaps shes holding out for Captain America.

Coming soon to your door: Californians are excited that schools, restaurants and offices are opening again. Democratic Party leaders are looking forward to the return of another familiar sight: a party activist knocking on your door to talk about politics.

They say in-person campaigning in California could be key to Dems holding their small majority in the House, in part by flipping a Central Valley seat that Republican Rep. David Valadao won by less than one percentage point in November and a Southern California seat that GOP Rep. Mike Garcia took by just 333 votes.

Pavitra Abraham, national organizing director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told me that her party lost four House seats in California last year in part because, unlike the GOP, it suspended door-to-door campaigning when the pandemic hit.

Democrats put public health over politics and ceased in-person organizing events to keep our volunteers, staff and voters safe, Abraham said. Were on course to be able to resume our highly effective face-to-face organizing program for the midterms to mobilize our voters and protect our majority. When? As soon as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says its OK.

California Republican Party chair Jessica Millan Patterson is skeptical that Democrats will have more luck by going door to door.

Thats a complete joke, Patterson told me. The reason the GOP turned those four seats, she said, is because we bumped up our game last year.

California exit interview: Alison Grady and Ernest Brown made a spreadsheet of places they wanted to live a few years ago, and Oakland came out on top. Within a day of moving to the Town, Brown found a salsa dance class near Lake Merritt that he said was truly diverse, not hashtag diverse.

The politically active couple, who grew up in the South, fell in love with the city. But they knew they were living on borrowed time.

You cant go to a party or a house or a bar with 20-somethings without the high cost of housing coming up, said Brown, who chairs the board of the pro-housing YIMBY Action organization. Because however much fun people are having, theres a low sense of dread constantly that this party can end at any moment if theres a rent increase.

Same goes for people who need more space to start a family. Thats where Grady and Brown are now.

Both are 30 years old and hold solidly paying health care jobs, but felt the financial pressure of living here. They were paying $1,500 a month to split the bottom unit of a two-story duplex in downtown Oakland with another couple. They love the location and their roomies, but Grady said, Were 30, and its so silly to be living with housemates.

Brown is African American and Grady is white, and Brown said part of the appeal of staying in Oakland would be that they could raise a child in a place with a meaningful Black population.

But ultimately, they couldnt make it work. They just moved to Atlanta, where they can buy a bigger place in a similar downtown neighborhood for half as much.

They said the final straw came last year when California voters rejected Proposition 15, which would have raised property taxes on commercial property to help schools and local governments. Its rejection made the couple wonder whether the public school system would ever improve.

The decision to underinvest in the public infrastructure that is particularly important to families raising children in California makes (living here) such a hard bargain, Brown said.

Other young, middle-class couples are facing the same decision, he said.

What that leaves behind are just people who couldnt afford to move, or who have so much money that they can ride it out, kind of no matter how bad things get, Brown said.

We are not a sob story, said Grady, a former head of East Bay Young Democrats. Like, Im genuinely excited to be moving to Atlanta.

But they wanted to stay.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
An IT specialist from the Department of Health and Human Services was identified Sunday as the federal employee who reportedly collapsed and later died at a since-closed Houston facility for unaccompanied migrant children.

The employee, whom the Washington Post identified as Mary Brodie-Henderson, was based at the HHS headquarters in Washington, D.C., but was working recently at the emergency shelter for several hundred migrant children. She died at a local hospital, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the reported email to employees.

A LinkedIn page for Brodie-Henderson states she joined HHS in December 2019 and lived in Maryland.

HHS officials on Sunday did not respond to a request for comment.

Federal officials said the death on Friday was unrelated to the chaotic transfer of the children that unfolded the next day. Mayor Sylvester Turner said, after speaking with White House and other federal officials, that 500 girls were removed from the Houston-based National Association of Christian Churches warehouse.

The evacuation followed Brodie-Hendersons death and concerns by Houston immigrant advocate groups of crowding and other unsafe conditions at the shelter.

Turner said about 30 percent of the migrant children were expected to be reunited with family or placed with sponsors. The rest would be taken to shelters with vacant beds in Texas and elsewhere. He was scheduled to tour the church-run facility over the weekend but the surprise closure halted those plans, he said Sunday.

They decided to go on and put the young women in those other places where there was ample space, Turner said.

A spokesperson for Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said that HHS needs to explain how it is making housing decisions during the migrant surge and what prompted the facility closure. Sen. John Cornyns office said he was unavailable Sunday and did not provide comment on the facility closure.

The warehouse operated for about two weeks, growing from 300 to 500 girls  ages 13 to 17  who were then removed Saturday from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport-area facility. The opening, officials said, was part of a government plan to manage a surge of minors arriving at Mexico border. U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, who voiced worries that the warehouse lacked the space for the teens, said most of the girls had a parent or another relative in the states.

Jose Ortega, the church groups founder and president, on Saturday condemned HHS amid the shuffling of migrant children and contends Becerra rushed him into a federal contract to house the unaccompanied minors. And the federal government has yet to reimburse him, he said.

The National Association of Christian Churches for years has been associated with disaster relief but had never created a shelter for migrant children.

The pastor did not respond to requests for comment Sunday and could not be reached on his cell phone  which was disconnected. A lawyer whom Ortega said he had retained did not return a phone call.

Ortega on Saturday said he was put in touch with HHS officials through U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who asked him to help with the surge in migrant children. Becerra called him the night of March 31, he said, and that their last communication was April 1.

Buses of children arrived at the facility two days later, and Lee welcomed the facility for its potential to house 500 minors.

The congresswoman could not be reached for comment Sunday. In earlier remarks, she said she was notified Saturday morning that the children would be transferred. She did not address allegations of poor living conditions at the facility.

The girls were treated with respect during their stay at Houston emergency intake unit, she said in a statement.

Among the reasons for the closure, Turner also said the federal contract with NACC was still in the works.

Federal records show NACC Disaster Services, a branch of Ortegas church group, started registration paperwork related to a government contract April 5 and that their account activated about nine days later. The amount slated for the church group was not immediately available.

Ortegas wife, Angelica Ortega, is listed as the contracts point of contact on the federal System for Award Management database.

The National Association of Christian Churches last year received a pandemic-related disaster assistance loan of $150,000 from the Small Business Administration.

nicole.hensley@chron.com

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz attends a cabinet meeting of the new government at the Chagall Hall in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, May 24, 2020. (Abir Sultan/Pool via Reuters)

Israel and Greece Sign Record Defence Deal

JERUSALEMIsrael and Greece have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal, which Israel said on Sunday would strengthen political and economic ties between the countries.

The agreement includes a $1.65 billion contract for the establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force by Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems over a 22-year period, Israels defence ministry said.

The training centre will be modeled on Israels own flight academy and will be equipped with 10 M-346 training aircraft produced by Italian company Leonardo, the ministry said.

Elbit will supply kits to upgrade and operate Greeces T-6 aircraft and also provide training, simulators, and logistical support.

I am certain that (this programme) will upgrade the capabilities and strengthen the economies of Israel and Greece and thus the partnership between our two countries will deepen on the defence, economic and political levels, said Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz.

The announcement follows a meeting in Cyprus on Friday between the UAE, Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli foreign ministers, who agreed to deepen cooperation between their countries.

By Ari Rabinovitch
The powerful lobby group representing clubs will drop its legal bid to force the states gambling regulator to hand over information from a whistleblower who raised concerns about money laundering in poker machines.

ClubsNSW earlier this year issued a subpoena to Liquor and Gaming NSW in a bid to obtain any information it received from Troy Stolz, its former anti-money laundering compliance auditor turned whistleblower.

ClubsNSW will no longer pursue the states gaming regulator in the Federal Court. Credit:John Woudstra

The subpoena said ClubsNSW believed Mr Stolz may have disseminated confidential information to Liquor and Gaming NSW contrary to his post-employment restraints.

However, lawyers for ClubsNSW last week said they would withdraw the subpoena. The matter was listed in the Federal Court for April 28.
Patna: Firefighters carry out a sanitisation drive at the premises of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly amid the biweekly COVID-19 lockdown in Kolkata on Sep 7, 2020. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, April 18 : Municipal authorities in Hyderabad on Sunday took up intensive sanitisation drive and sprayed sodium hypochlorite at several places in the city in view of the massive surge in Covid-19 cases.

On the direction of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) took up sanitisation on war footing.

Spraying of sodium hypochlorite was taken up at 636 places in the city by 453 teams of the Entomology Department. In a single day, they sprayed 900 litres of disinfectant. The teams used 840 sprayers, seven jet machines, 63 big fogging machines, and 302 small fogging machines for spraying in over 16,000 habitations.

Spraying of sodium hypochlorite was taken up twice in a day in areas where more number of Covid cases were being recorded. The authorities have made available 3,000 litres of the chemical in every GHMC zone. Emergency teams have been constituted at the zone and circle levels.

The spraying operations were mainly focused urban health centres, basti dawakhanas, places of worship, markets and other public places.

Mayor Vijayalaxmi Gadwal conducted a surprise visit at few places in the city to review the sanitisation drive, which will continue for three days.

The GHMC officials deployed additional vehicles to remove the garbage from garbage dumping points, roads and public places.

The Mayor also made a surprise visit in Khairatabad and Charminar zones to inspect the special sanitisation drive.

She was shocked to see garbage littered up to one kilometer on a road in Vijayanagar colony, summoned the Deputy Commissioner and directed him to immediately get the garbage cleared. She also spoke to the Zonal Commissioner over phone to convey her unhappiness. She directed that garbage be cleared immediately from all the places.

Telangana on Sunday reported over 5,000 cases during 24-hour period, the highest single day spike since the outbreak last year. Hyderabad alone accounted for more than 700 cases.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
What are the keys to turning Slovakia's brain drain into brain gain?

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In recent years, brain drain has become a very topical issue in Slovakia, exemplified mainly through students who leave Slovakia to study abroad. However, media coverage revealed that it was a larger and more complex topic and helped to draw attention to it.

Lets start with a few important facts. According to surveys, more than 300,000 people live outside Slovakia (IFP) and when it comes to studying abroad, this trend is still growing. The Institute of Educational Policy of the Ministry of Education of SR estimates that from 12% of graduates in 2012 who went to study abroad, the number increased to 18% in 2018, putting Slovakia second place in the OECD behind Luxembourg. In addition to the demographic effect, it also has economic consequences, and it is appropriate to address the issue in a broader context.

The interest of state institutions to address the topic actively has been on the rise, specifically through dialogue with partners in the private and non-profit sectors. In addition to the organizations that have been dealing with it for a long time (LEAF), AmCham and business entities also perceive the importance of the topic. Efforts to find a solution culminated in the creation of a working group at the level of the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad, which is currently preparing a new concept of state policy in relation to Slovaks abroad, and in which AmCham is also represented. For the first time, it also deals with return policy. The functioning of communities is changing as they are no longer tied only to expatriate organizations. An important element of the functioning of communities, according to the survey, is that the more often Slovaks meet other Slovaks abroad, the stronger their will to return.

The statistics also show us that the group of the most talented and best students (evaluated according to study results) studying abroad remains there after completing their studies. The departure of talents and specialists subsequently causes companies a problem in finding quality people on the Slovak labor market. Initiatives by the private sector, such as Cisco Networking Academy, which since its inception in Slovakia helped almost 50 thousand Slovak students in acquiring skills most needed in the tech industry, can only solve a part of this problem.

At the same time, Slovakia is one of the countries with the lowest immigration rates. The lack of talent is reflected, for example, in the decision-making processes of private companies, which then move organizational units with higher added value (such as development centers) to other countries. In the long run, Slovakia is in danger of being dependent on the automotive industry. Combined with unpredictable events such as the current Covid crisis, this can have a very significant impact on economic performance.

Companies can easily calculate the efficiency of production in a country, and when there is no added value, the decision to move to another country can be made very quickly. Better conditions in other countries will suffice. In addition, there is a significant decline in other sectors and we have an economic problem. Diversification and focus on innovative value-added industries can significantly strengthen the economy during potential turbulent periods. The innovative environment has a multiplier effect, and will attract other companies and talents, that will expand the whole ecosystem. Fortunately, there are great examples of innovation coming from Slovakia, like the tech company Slido recently acquired by Cisco. One can hope that this is a sign of new things to come.

But for now, a lot of talent is leaving Slovakia and so far there is no comprehensive strategy how to prevent it. However, the situation is changing thanks to the cooperation of various sectors. Among the working groups of the draft concept, one is reserved for return policy. However, it is necessary to note openly that return policy has not yet clearly established its position and now is the best time to do so. At present, the policy of Slovaks living abroad is primarily represented by the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad, which is also responsible for return policy. However, return policy spans several departments and the question arises as to whether it should not be coordinated at the level of the Government office of the Slovak republic. That could help unite all departments within state policy and at the same time connect the private and non-profit sectors.

One of the most competent non-profits in the field of return policy and the general formation of civil society in Slovakia is LEAF. LEAF is also behind the Vrat sa project, which is also supported by AmCham. Currently, LEAF is also actively involved in the preparation of a platform with the working title Slovak Global Network, which aims to further advance and actively address the topic of brain drain. The platform also aims to map the community of Slovaks abroad and give them the opportunity to actively participate in the formation of their home country. Cooperation is a key factor which can bring a multiplier effect. Only joint coordination can reach the community through various communication channels.

The world is becoming more and more globalized and new generations already perceive Slovakia and patriotism in a different way than their compatriots who left Slovakia decades ago. Meetings within expatriate communities are gradually disappearing and with the exception of a few traditional and strong expatriate communities, it can very quickly happen that if we do not create a comprehensive strategy, we will lose contact with Slovaks abroad.

Despite the clear benefits of living in the European Union where borders are disappearing and the possibility of realization becomes increasingly independent of where we are, we still see our nationality, building civil society and a sustainable and innovative economy as one of our key priorities. That is why it is important to give people the opportunity to gain experience, but on the other hand, to create the conditions of a modern society in Slovakia, where our citizens will want to return and fulfill their dreams and ambitions at home. The issue of brain drain is important because the quality of life ultimately affects everyone who leaves, but also those who remain.

Martin Mastalir is Area Manager at CISCO Systems Slovakia and AmCham Board Member

Originally published in Connection, the magazine published by AmCham Slovakia

6. Apr 2021 at 12:00
Australian travellers who want to fly overseas before all Australians have received their Covid vaccinations could be made to wear ankle bracelets to ensure they are remaining in home quarantine when they return.

With Australians banned from travelling overseas since March 2020, officials have been brainstorming ways to get at least some essential travel back on the agenda by the end of 2021.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Aussies who have had the jabs will be the first to go abroad when the borders open, with the option of quarantining at home for two weeks upon return instead of spending $3,000 staying at an approved hotel.

When responding to questions about how officials would ensure returned travellers were isolating at home, Employment Minister Stuart Robert revealed the government hadn't ruled out introducing ankle bracelets - like those worn by criminals on parole.

Pictured: Travellers in Sydney in December 2020. International borders could open for vaccinated travellers by the end of 2021

Pictured: Employment Minister Stuart Robert at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on March 23

'What sort of ideas would there be for this? Regular visits, inspections to make sure they're home, ankle bracelets, some sort of monitoring, how do you do it?' ABC Insiders host David Speers asked on Sunday morning.

Mr Robert said he wouldn't rule anything out, but added that allowing fully-vaccinated people to travel overseas would be a 'logical first step' in reopening borders.

'All of that will need to be worked through before a policy prescription goes live,' he told the program.

Mr Robert also pointed to a series of measures that were in place when he quarantined for 'three or four months' in 2020.

'The police would turn up at random times to our house, they would call,' he said.

'The Department of Health from various jurisdictions would call. They were some of the things put in place to deal with that exact issue.'

On Monday, health minister Greg Hunt said home quarantine systems developed to deal with Victoria's second wave last year was the 'perfect' model.

He said the system included random police checks, phone calls and a daily messaging service asking about resident's physical and mental health.

Mr Robert was asked whether returned travellers would have to wear ankle bracelets (stock image pictured) to ensure they were quarantining at home

Scott Morrison said vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas and skip hotel quarantine by the end of the year. Pictured: Travellers at Sydney domestic airport in December

The comments came after Mr Morrison on Sunday said vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas and skip hotel quarantine by the end of the year in certain circumstances.

Mr Morrison said he hoped the greater freedoms would be available to residents who needed to travel for 'important purposes' like work or medical reasons.

'If we can get in a position in the second half of the year to have Australians for essential purpose travel and return to the country without going into hotel quarantine, if they have been vaccinated, it is a good incentive to get vaccinated,' he said.

Scott Morrison says vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas and skip hotel quarantine by the end of the year

The prime minister said on Sunday he hoped the greater freedoms would be available to residents who needed to travel for 'important purposes' like work or medical reasons

But Mr Morrison admitted he would not reopen the international border without heavy consideration.

'I assure Australians that I will not be putting at risk the way we are living in this country which is so different to the rest of the world,' he said.

He said the plan was still 'some time away' from becoming reality but was the next step in relaxing the country's strict border closures during the pandemic.

'What I'd like to see happen next, and this is what I've tasked the medical experts with, is ensuring we can know when an Australian is vaccinated here with their two doses, is able to travel overseas and return without having to go through hotel quarantine,' he told 6PR Perth.

'Now, I think we're still some time away from that.

'The states, at this stage, I'm sure wouldn't be agreeing to relaxing those hotel quarantine arrangements for those circumstances at this point in time.'

He had earlier told a community forum in Perth home quarantine could be used if it did not lead to a significantly higher number of cases than isolating in a hotel.

Mr Morrison admitted he would not reopen the international border without heavy consideration

Mr Morrison told media on Thursday he had tasked medical experts with coming up with a framework to give travel freedom to Australians who have received both doses of the jab

'[If] the data was showing that home-based quarantine was not creating any additional, scaled risks, that could lead to something more significant,' he said.

'That is how we move to the next step.'

He said the plan would have to receive the support of the state premiers to become a reality.

Mr Morrison said the total re-opening of Australia's borders was still some way off.

He said Australians had become used to recording days of zero community transmission but that would need to change if restrictions were lifted too quickly.

'If we were to lift the borders and people were to come, then you would see those cases increase,' he said.

'Australians would have to become used to dealing with a thousand cases a week or more.'
Addressing the launch, Deputy Minister of Information and Telecommunications Hoang Vinh Bao said this marks a start of a series of events of this years Vietnam Book Day, a day to celebrate the reading culture nationwide.

Via the events, the organisers want to inspire a love for books among people around the country, encourage them to read more and make reading their habit, he said, adding that it will help spread the reading culture among the community.

A host of events, including a display of books about Ho Chi Minh City, a launch of books on digital transformation, and talks with renowned writers and poets, are scheduled on the Book Street from April 18  22.

Meanwhile, an online book fair is underway at book365.vn, featuring more than 70 domestic publishers and over 20,000 book titles. An online festival on book copyright will also take place from April 19  26, attracting around 50 domestic and international publishing houses.

Then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued Decision No 284/QD-TTg on February 24, 2014, designating April 21 as Vietnam Book Day, in order to encourage a reading culture among the public.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- For responding with innovative solutions during the pandemic, developing solar cell and hydrogen research technology, and creatively working with companies, Sandia National Laboratories won six prestigious regional 2020 Federal Laboratory Consortium awards.

The awards for the Mid-Continent and Far West regions put a spotlight on Sandia successes in transferring technology, partnerships and licensing. In addition, Sandia was honored with the Regional Laboratory Award for rapidly responding to COVID-19 challenges in order to help mitigate threats to the U.S. and its economy.

"During this unprecedented year, Sandia was able to demonstrate our continued commitment to developing innovative technology and partnerships that help secure our nation's future," said Mary Monson, senior manager of technology partnerships and business development at Sandia. "While some of the awards recognized years-long partnerships and progress, Sandia was also recognized for our ability to step up in a time of crisis to deploy licenses quickly during the pandemic, and work with companies on COVID-19 projects. We are very proud of the work we do at the labs and we are pleased the consortium celebrated our efforts."

The consortium recognized Sandia for:

Developing a new Rapid Technology Deployment Program for licensing Sandia intellectual property and assisting companies working on COVID-19 projects through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance program.

A continued partnership with the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, which continues to focus on bringing more reliable electricity to remote communities.

Deploying technologies developed at Sandia to companies with the guidance and creativity of licensing expert Bob Westervelt.

Transferring technology to BayoTech, a New Mexico company that envisions local production of hydrogen as a way to reduce the costs and help the country transition to hydrogen fuels which are better for the environment.

Transferring small solar cell research to mPower, a New Mexico company that continues to advance the technology for use in homes, everyday objects, and most recently a small satellite.

Developing a technology called ducted fuel injection that could reduce soot emissions coming from diesel engines.

The Federal Laboratory Consortium is a network of more than 300 federal laboratories, agencies and research centers. The awards are ranked as some of the most respected honors for federal laboratories and partners that demonstrate outstanding technology transfer achievements.

Sandia is being recognized at virtual awards ceremonies this week during the consortium's Far West/Mid-Continent Regional meetings.

Sandia partnerships group, researchers addressed COVID-19 challenges

When the country faced the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandia created solutions to help companies through licenses and projects, Monson said. For these efforts, the consortium awarded Sandia with the Regional Laboratory Award.

Right after a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic was declared on March 13, a new employee came up with an idea for the Rapid Technology Deployment Program, which made Sandia patents freely available to U.S. companies through a speedy process. The program opened about 75% of Sandia's intellectual property portfolio, and free licenses can be issued in two days.

"Other national laboratories have since adopted Sandia's program and licenses continue to be available," Monson said. "There have already been 14 licenses, including 29 patents, signed in the months since the program began."

The New Mexico Small Business Assistance program also rapidly mobilized to provide assistance to companies with COVID-19-related product development challenges, and the projects were fast-tracked through the system. Researchers helped a Santa Fe distillery test hand sanitizer when the product was in short supply in stores everywhere.

Sandia also helped Albuquerque medical device manufacturers test materials used in N95-like respirators, and another team worked on ways to extend the shelf life of a vaccine candidate which would provide benefits to parts of the world where refrigeration is not always available.

"Our researchers really stepped up to address challenges in a critical time of need," Monson said.

Decadeslong partnership, new agreements lead to award

Sandia received a Partnership Award for its collaborative research with the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, over the last two decades. In 2016, collaboration was strengthened with the establishment of a summer internship program and subsequently a faculty fellowship program that the university participates in. Late last year, Sandia and the university signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. The partnership's focus has been on developing safe, secure energy and environment projects for resiliency and reliability.

Specific areas of collaboration include re-electrification of remote communities and development of next generation microgrids for rural and vulnerable communities. An additional research focus will examine the life cycle of energy components and systems from production to use and final disposition.

Sandia expert provides valuable assistance, creativity in licensing process

The consortium honored Westervelt, a Sandia licensing expert, with an Outstanding Technology Transfer Professional Award. Westervelt brought unique experience to the labs as he has been on both sides of licensing, Monson said. With a doctorate in nuclear physics and experience in the private sector, his skills are ideal for understanding the value of intellectual property and negotiating complex licenses.

Westervelt develops creative licensing solutions which have led to a license focused on enabling technology for medical isotopes, a licensing plan for New Mexico company BayoTech to sell on-site hydrogen production units, and a license to allow companies to provide training for free emergency response software. He has also developed licensing templates used for Sandia's technology transfer program and trained staff on best practices. A Sandia concept called High Value Licensing can be attributed to Westervelt; it helps staff analyze and articulate the value of licensing efforts.

"Value is not only measured as income," Westervelt said. "Benefits to the public and the U.S. economy are also important."

Sandia hydrogen generation technology used for on-site production

Sandia received an Excellence in Technology Transfer Award due to the success of licensing high-efficiency hydrogen generation technology to BayoTech, a New Mexico company that developed a solution for on-site production of low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen.

BayoTech's modular, scalable and rapidly deployable generators produce hydrogen at the point of use, eliminating the cost and carbon emissions associated with liquification and transportation.

"Hydrogen will be a key enabler for the global energy transition," said BayoTech Director of Research and Development Robert Moore. "BayoTech's high-efficiency hydrogen generation technology provides a consistent, cost-effective supply of low-carbon hydrogen that can power zero-emission transportation, decarbonize industry and accelerate the transition to a clean energy future."

DragonSCALES moves into space sector

Sandia received an Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for developing microsystems enabled photovoltaics, a technology that was transferred to mPower. The invention uses micro design and microfabrication to make miniature solar cells.

Former Sandia scientist Murat Okandan left the labs to start mPower and licensed the technology to commercialize it as DragonSCALES, now being manufactured for national security and energy applications. Its small size reduces material costs while enhancing cell performance, potentially in buildings, homes, clothing, portable electronics, vehicles and more.

The company is currently engaged in the space solar power market. According to Okandan, DragonSCALES has been integrated on a small satellite for an in-orbit demonstration scheduled to launch in December.

New technology dramatically reduces diesel engine emissions

Sandia won an Outstanding Technology Development Award for its work on ducted fuel injection, a patented technology that slashes emissions of soot and nitrogen oxides from diesel engines by about 80% and is synergistic with sustainable liquid fuels like biodiesel.

According to Charles Mueller, who leads the project, ducted fuel injection is a simple, mechanical solution that involves installing tubes inside a diesel engine's combustion chamber. Passing each fuel spray through a tube enhances entrainment and mixing, leading to lower soot production than when fuel is sprayed unconfined into a chamber. The lower soot levels enable the use of an existing, cost-effective approach to simultaneously attenuate emissions of nitrogen oxides.

Sandia was awarded a Department of Energy Technology Commercialization Fund project in 2018 to advance research on ducted fuel injection. The Sandia team is currently seeking commercial partners to further develop the technology.

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For all his continued popularity, at least as shown in the opinion polls, the fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been at the head of an incompetent administrative response to the pandemic. (Photo: PTI)

There are many versions of Murphys Law. The most popular one states that if something can go wrong, it will. Among the many versions the oldest one is attributed to a British merchant, engineer and owner of ships, Alfred Holt, who told his fellow engineers in 1877: It is found that anything that can go wrong at sea generally does go wrong sooner or later. That proposition became popular as Murphys Law when an American aerospace engineer, Edward Murphy, declared: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. From the sea to space, engineers devised systems that could be as failsafe as possible, forewarned by Murphys Law.

As an analyst of Indian political, economic, social and governance systems I have long held the view that in India Murphys Law works with a vengeance. Anything that can go wrong, invariably goes wrong. The unfortunate downside to that reality is that most Indians have come to accept a certain degree of incompetence in most systems. Given the generally high level of citizens tolerance for incompetence, it rarely becomes an election issue.

Politicians are voted in and voted out for a variety of reasons, ranging from their charisma, caste, community, money power and so on, but rarely have they been voted out for incompetence. The Indian voter has come to live with power outages, limited access to drinking water, uncollected garbage in the neighbourhood, inadequate law and order, difficulty in securing access to education and healthcare, and so on. Rarely have any of these become issues that determine the outcome of elections. I cannot recall the last time a politician went to the polls campaigning on a platform of competence, rather than loyalty or grievance based on caste, community or some other identity.

So, why should it surprise anyone that the voter has come to terms with the incompetent management of the Covid-19 pandemic and that this is not a defining issue in the ongoing elections to state legislatures? Caste and communal identity, allegations of corruption and nepotism seem to ignite political passions more during elections than the competence or incompetence of contending candidates in handling a pandemic.

India is no exception. Consider the fact that in the United States, Donald Trump secured more votes in the 2020 election compared to the 2016 election even though every medical professional in the United States will vouch for the fact that his administrations response to the Covid-19 pandemic was incompetent. Mr Trumps incompetence did not defeat him. The unity of non-white voters finally did.

For all his continued popularity, at least as shown in the opinion polls, the fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been at the head of an incompetent administrative response to the pandemic. One can argue about the relative responsibility of the Centre and the state governments and which of the states have responded more competently, one can differ on how one would define competence, but what is very clear is that the question of competence or incompetence in governmental response to the pandemic has not yet become a political issue.

In part this could be because, as the old adage goes, iss hamaam mein sab nangey hain. In short, all political parties in government across different states have been equally guilty of an incompetent response. Many public health experts believe Kerala is an exception, but it is interesting that the Left Fronts competence in dealing with the pandemic has not been an overt political issue in the recent elections.

As more and more evidence mounts up of administrative and political incompetence in dealing with the pandemic, it remains to be seen if Indian voters will just shrug their shoulders, throw up their hands, point to the gods above and quote Murphys Law. Or, will they hold their elected representatives and governments accountable? In the last two years more doctors and nurses have died fighting the pandemic than soldiers in fighting the nations enemies. While politicians become all patriotic when it comes to the death of soldiers and demand votes in the name of nationalism, why dont the deaths caused by incompetence stir voters emotions?

There have been many examples of competent crisis management in the past and they stand in contrast to the present incompetence in dealing with the pandemic. As chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi took great pride, and rightly so, in his governments handling of the Kutch earthquake in 2001. Why has the same Gujarat state been so incompetent in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic? Will Gujarats voters now punish their government for its incompetence?

The Indian administrative system was built on the assumption that a meritocratic and technocratic bureaucracy would compensate for the lack of experience in governance of an elected political leadership. This assumption worked as long as the civil service was willing to speak its mind and politicians in power were willing to listen to them. When civil servants and professionals in government are either scared to speak their mind or have little to contribute and politicians imagine they know everything on anything, one ends up with incompetent response to administrative challenges.

For all its lack of democracy, the Chinese Communist Party has created an internal merit-based bureaucracy that allows political leaders to rise to the top only after proving their administrative and governance credentials at every step of the power ladder. The Chinese people have sacrificed democracy at the altar of meritocracy and the Communist Party of China has for long functioned like the Indian Administrative Service, creating a mandarinate, so to speak. This has made Chinas response to Covid-19 crisis more professionally competent.

In India, the gap between political power and administrative competence has widened with an increasing number of elected politicians taking charge of day-to-day functioning of the government and an increasing number of civil servants either abdicating their responsibilities or doing the bidding of politicians in office without consideration for the merits of a policy or a decision. All this gets revealed in times of a crisis. Covid-19 mismanagement reveals either administrative incompetence or the fear of professionals to speak their mind to politicians in power. Either way, the citizen pays the price.
Primaries Voters will choose the Democratic Party candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates in an open primary election on June 8. Because Virginia does not register voters by party, any registered voter is eligible to cast a ballot in the primary. The state Republican Party committee opted for a convention model to choose its candidates for statewide offices; in this model, delegates chosen by local Republican Party committees vote to select candidates. The convention will be May 8.

Lieutenant governor's race Much like the U.S. vice president, the Virginia lieutenant governor has little formal power unless they are called upon to step into the governors role if the elected governor dies, resigns or is otherwise incapacitated. Also like the U.S. vice president, the Virginia lieutenant governor serves as the deciding vote in the case of tie in the Virginia Senate. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, D- Annandale is the current lieutenant governor in Virginia. Fairfax is running for governor in 2021, leaving the lieutenant governors office with no incumbent for this years election. Six Democrats and six Republicans are running to replace him.

Candidates for governor Democratic Party:  Former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, of Woodbridge, who was elected to two terms in the House of Delegates;  Del. Lee Carter, of Manassas, a two-term member of the House of Delegates;  Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, of Annandale, the current lieutenant governor of Virginia;  Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, of McLean, who served as Virginias governor from 2014 to 2018 and  State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, of Richmond, a one-term state senator who served in the House of Delegates from 2006 to 2017. Republican Party:  State Sen. Amanda Chase, of Chesterfield, a two-term state senator;  Del. Kirk Cox, of Colonial Heights, a member of the House of Delegates since 1990 and a former speaker of the house;  Sergio de la Pena, of Fairfax County, a former deputy assistant U.S. secretary of defense;  Peter Doran, of Arlington, the former head of a Washington, D.C. foreign policy think tank;  Octavia Johnson, of Roanoke, a former sheriff of Roanoke;  Pete Snyder, of Charlottesville, an investor and entrepreneur and  Glenn Youngkin, of Great Falls, the former chief executive of a private equity firm. SOURCE: Virginia Public Access Project

Candidates for lieutenant governor Democratic Party  Del. Sam Rasoul, of Roanoke, a four-term member of the House of Delegates;  Del. Mark Levine, of Alexandria, a three-term member of the House of Delegates;  Del. Hala Ayala, of Woodbridge, a two-term member of the House of Delegates;  Paul Goldman, of Richmond, a former chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia;  Andria McClellan, of Norfolk, a Norfolk City Council member since 2016;  Sean Perryman, of Fairfax, an attorney and president of the Fairfax County NAACP, and  Xavier Warren, of Arlington, a lobbyist for nonprofits and an agent for professional football players. Del. Elizabeth Guzman, of Woodbridge, dropped out of the race April 17. Republican Party  Former Del. Tim Hugo, of Clifton, who served in the House of Delegates from 2003 to 2020;  Del. Glenn Davis, of Virginia Beach, a four-term member of the House of Delegates;  Former Del. Winsome Sears, of Winchester, who served one term in the House of Delegates beginning in 2002;  Puneet Ahluwalia, of McLean, a Washington, D.C. lobbyist and a member of the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia;  Lance Allen, of Marshall, an Air Force veteran and employee of a federal defense contractor.  Meave Rigler, of Alexandria, the chief executive of a financial capital firm. SOURCE: Virginia Public Access Project

Candidates for attorney general Democratic Party  The incumbent, Attorney General Mark Herring, of Leesburg, who is seeking his third term and  Del. Jay Jones, of Norfolk, a two-term member of the House of Delegates and an attorney in private practice. Republican Party  Del. Jason Miyares, of Virginia Beach, a three-term member of the House of Delegates and an attorney who has worked in both the private sector and as a prosecutor;  Leslie Haley, of Midlothian, a member of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors since 2015 and an attorney in private practice;  Chuck Smith, of Virginia Beach, an attorney, a former commander in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps and a former chair of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach and  Jack White, of Fairfax County, a Northern Virginia attorney and a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. SOURCE: Virginia Public Access Project
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According to seller Blackstar Motors, the last time we can see the pickup was licensed was in the early 1990s. The dealership acquired the half-ton workhorse four years ago, and since then, very minor upgrades were done.The list of mods includes a new fuel tank, a rebuilt carburetor, and the addition of electronic ignition. Blackstar Motors then changed the steering wheel to a white steering wheel from a 1960s Chevrolet , tinted the windows, spruced up the seats and door cards in houndstooth, and cleaned the floors.Now rolling on 20- by 8.0- and 20- by 9.5-inch American Racing VN506 Rally Wheels and Toyo Proxes ST rubber shoes, the pickup sits lower to the ground and brakes better as well, thanks to power rotors up front. New plugs and wires, a new fuel filter, and hand-painted pinstriping also need to be mentioned, along with the factory odometer that shows 41,882 miles.Thats 67,403 kilometers on a 52-year-old engine, which drives the rear wheels with the help of a three-speed manual transmission. This C10 still has original hoses stamped with GM in white ink, and the engine starts with ease and is exceptionally quiet and smooth, according to the selling dealer.In addition to the 307-cu in (5.0-liter) V8 and column-shifted transmission, the Knee Knocker under-dash air conditioning is just as original as the heater. All the lights, including the one for the license plate, still work to boot. Better still, this pickup truck is gifted with real patina instead of a patina-like paint job.Finished in Chevrolet Red orange, chassis number CE149S849096 is advertised on eBay by seller blackstarmotors with a buy-it-now price of $25,500. At the moment of writing, the highest bid stands at $9,100 after no fewer than ten bids.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 01:13:11|Editor: huaxia

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People wearing face masks walk past a banner of COVID-19 tests in Casablanca, Morocco, on April 17, 2021. Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 505,447 on Saturday as 600 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. (Photo by Chadi/Xinhua)

RABAT, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 505,447 on Saturday as 600 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours.

The death toll hit 8,944 with 10 new fatalities, while 432 people are in intensive care units, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health.

The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 491,537 after 616 new ones were added, the statement said.

The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 percent while the recovery rate is 97.2 percent.

Meanwhile, 4,655,007 people have received so far the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, and 4,186,449 people have received the second dose.

The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Enditem
Film Critic

Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski).
LOW COUNTRY: A Memoir. By J. Nicole Jones. Catapult. 240 pages. $26.

Operating under the theory that if there are family skeletons in the closet you may as well make them dance, J. Nicole Jones sets them to jangling across the generations of a family beset with misogyny, dysfunction and dashed dreams.

Reading Low Country, the South Carolina natives first book, is like listening to a country music song written by Dostoyevsky (lots of crime, but the wrong folks getting punished), with Tom Robbins as his side man. And a little Tennessee Williams thrown in.

Theres no doubt this talented young woman can write, often brilliantly. Many a passage of this familial strife and personal coming-of-age chronicle fairly hums on the page, amplified by sharp observation, razor-edge emotion and a delicious turn of phrase.

The authors love-hate relationship with her family and her hometown of Myrtle Beach is understandable, given Jones traumatic experiences and resentments. Her distaste is not only for the Grand Strand area, where her clan made a pile in hotels and seafood restaurants then lost it chasing a rainbow, but for the region in general.

I am no longer a resident of the Low Country and dont reckon to be again in this life, writes Jones, who today splits time between the Brooklyn borough of New York City and Tennessee.

The book opens on a mournful tenor which is generally sustained throughout, though with a magma chamber of rage just below the surface. Jones eccentric use of language, while arresting, could have used judicious cutting, the digressions particularly. Editing can be a tightrope walk between retaining the authors distinctive voice and reining in her more self-indulgent impulses. And sometimes Jones overplays her hand, extending a delightful phrase past the breaking point. Wonderful descriptions, metaphors and similes compete with strained ones.

But she also peppers the text with jaunty lines: What is tradition if not a truce with the unknown? or Come take a ride on the Ferris wheel that spins like a prayer at the edge of the world.

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However, this product of the 1980s and '90s sometimes seems stuck in a 1950s frame of the mind. Either that or her fathers side of the family never emerged from a time when husbands were autocrats, sometimes violent, and wives kept silent. If she is unrelentingly hard on men, some of it is richly deserved.

I come from a line of women for whom being walked all over and jumped on for the fun of cruelty was progress. The ironing out of accent was a way to fool myself into believing that I could be different than those women who suffered to make me.

It seems the only good thing Jones has to say about the opposite sex is reserved for her beloved Grandpa, her mothers dad  Santa Claus to her paternal grandfathers Torquemada. Still, that she comes from a family of storytellers and songwriters is obvious. And the smatterings of history, ghost and pirate stories she offers lend leavening to the gloom (though the specters slide into silliness).

Still, she knows her part of the country all too well.

The South does not own tragedy, but it sure seems to have taken a liking to the region, said Jones, who received her Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction from Columbia University. And why not? The climates pleasant, and the folks are nice enough to your face. ... Its true nobody minds her own business, but why would you want to keep quiet when gossip comes with a fat slice of pound cake and a blessing offered to offending hearts.

At its best, her debut effort exhibits some daring experimentation, rich character sketches (especially of her father and grandmother), and a lot of heart.

Jones memoir is as much a triumph of style as of substance, but this Southern gothic never flags. Just be prepared for a pinch of arsenic in the shrimp 'n' grits.
The annual report of the Human Rights Defender has been released, and there are nearly 2,000-page reports due to the increase in the number of human rights violations during the novel coronavirus pandemic and the war. This is what Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan told reporters today.

According to Tatoyan, the priority objective is to ensure an atmosphere of solidarity and tolerance. Unfortunately, the level of intolerance is at a level that is very troubling. This is further deepening polarization, which is inadmissible. The political system needs to serve human rights protection. The primary objective of the Office of the Human Rights Defender is to enshrine, in the current post-war situation, the violations of human rights with professional principles and approaches and the procedures that are used to analyze the violations of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, he said.

Tatoyan emphasized that the Azerbaijani authorities are leading a policy with fascism and extreme hatred. One of the primary issues is related to the rights of borderline residents, and these are issues related to properties, as well as social and economic rights, he said. Talking about the report, Tatoyan said the Office of the Human Rights Defender has sent the report to the parliament, NGOs and government agencies and that proposals follow the presentation of every issue. There are issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, admission to kindergartens during the pandemic, medical services at hospitals, places of detention for those who are deprived of liberty, and we have paid special attention to childrens and the rights of persons with disabilities, he added.

Tatoyan also touched upon border-related issues and stated that there are problems with the protection of the rights of borderline residents since there have been gross violations upon the arrival of Azerbaijani soldiers and border guard troops in Syunik Province following the war. This is also why I state that there needs to be a buffer zone. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces and border guard officers must leave with their panels and flags, he said, adding that the territories in which the soldiers and officers are deployed need to be free and safe, starting from grazing fields.

Tatoyan mentioned that the Azerbaijani authorities are currently trying to create an impression that rights havent been violated. I dont accept the alleged claims that its the Azerbaijanis territory since there hasnt been any demarcation between the two sovereign states of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has made a statement on this, and the President of Armenia has also made a statement on the uncertainty of borders, Tatoyan stated.

Touching upon the return of Armenian prisoners of war, the Human Rights Defender stated that Azerbaijan is clearly politicizing the issue and is speculating it on different platforms. Azerbaijans goal is to take advantage of the fact that our compatriots are captives and maintain the tension. The country doesnt have the right to act like this. It had to return the captives as soon as the war ended, without any preconditions. The Azerbaijani authorities are violating international and human rights principles. If international organizations arent going to respond, it means they encourage this, and this is creating a dangerous precedent. The military conflict continues, just like it existed before November 9, 2020 and after that, he stated and added that here it is necessary to work with large-scale international organizations.
Kabul, April 18 : Three police constables were killed when one of their colleagues turned his gun against them in Afghanistan's Badghis province, the latest in a string of insider attacks, an official confirmed on Sunday.

The incident occurred at a police checkpoint in Muqur district, in the north of the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw on Saturday evening, deputy provincial police chief Khwaja Murad Khan told Xinhua news agency.

The shooter took weapons and ammunition from the post and fled the scene presumably joining Taliban militants, he said.

The local police have launched an investigation into the case and details will be released soon, he added.

On April 14, three police personnel were killed in an insider attack in Kunduz province.
Wave of legal challenges against Port City Bill; petitioners say Constitution undermined By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s):

A host of petitions filed against the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill claiming that the proposed Commission violates Sri Lankas Constitution will be taken up tomorrow for hearing by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Jayanatha Jayasuriya.

The other judges are: Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Priyantha Jayawardena, Murdu Fernando and Janak de Silva.

Among the 18 petitioners are the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the United National Party, the Smagi Jana Balawegaya, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the Centre for Policy Alternatives, the President of the IT Professionals Association, and several other civil society members, including former LECO chairman Bandula Chandrasekara.

The petitioners have cited various clauses in the Bill which has been gazetted and are seeking a Supreme Courts determination that one or more provisions of the bill require to be passed by a special majority in Parliament and approved by a referendum.

The moves came as concerns were expressed by political parties, professional organisations, civil society and the public regarding the bills clauses giving sweeping powers to a commission.

The BASL Executive Committee appointed a committee to study the provisions of the Bill. One of the concerns of the Committee was that the Bill was placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on April 8, giving only one week for those intending to challenge the constitutionality of the Bill to do so.

The Executive Committee of the BASL is extremely concerned about the limited time given for scrutiny and discussion of this important Bill, as well as the timing of placing the Bill on the Order Paper of Parliament, which was after the suspension of sittings of the Supreme Court, a time when many members of the legal profession are unavailable, the BASL said in a media release .

It also highlighted the Bills provisions that directly affect the judiciary and the legal profession.

Among the recommendations of the Committee is that the BASL should request the Government to defer any further action on the proposed Bill for a reasonable time to enable the BASL to consult the relevant stakeholders.

In his petition, BASL President Saliya Peiris says the Bill is inconsistent with one or more of articles of the Constitution and several provisions will affect the administration of justice and adversely impact on the judicial power of the people exercised through courts.

BASL Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya in his petition says one of the clauses of the Bill imposes an obligation of courts to give priority to civil and commercial cases of businesses carried from the Port City and the provision interferes with the judicial discretion and judicial sovereignty thereby violating the Constitution.

Also describing the bill as inconsistent with the Constitution is the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Its General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara says that among other clauses, they are challenging those which prescribe local assessment rates, other levies and provisions to regulate gaming which comes under provincial councils.

The SJB petition notes that the Bill empowers the President to appoint even non-citizens as members of the Port City Commission and it enables an arbitrary appointment of a body comprising solely of foreigners to administer, regulate and control all matters connected with businesses and other operations within a part of Sri Lankas territory.

The petition also states the Bill prevents Sri Lankan citizens who have foreign currency deposits in an account maintained or operated in Sri Lanka or who have the capacity and capability to invest in Sri Lankan rupees from making any investment in the Port City.

SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna in his petition states the clause which requires the accounts of the Commission to be audited by an international firm of accountants and the clause that grants power to appoint an international firm of accountants to audit the Commissions Fund was inconsistent with the Constitution.

United National Party General Secretary Palitha Ranga Bandara, another petitioner, says the Bill is in violation of the peoples legislative powers, judicial powers, executive powers, the constitutional provisions that guarantee fundamental rights of the people and right of franchise of the people.

He also states that the Bill is inconsistent with the doctrine of the public trust and the concept of checks and balances while it leaves room for corruption and abuse of power, besides undermining Parliaments control over public finances.

UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena in his petition says the Bills clauses are contrary and/or repugnant to the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and are in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

It also suspends the operation of the Constitution or several parts of it and abdicates and alienates the legislative power as the Bill seeks to set up an authority with legislative power.

Boralesgamuwa Urban Cuoncil member Bandula Charasekera, a former Chairman of Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), in his petition says he sees the Bill as inconsistent with the Constitution as it seeks to empower the Commission to establish a fund parallel to the Consolidated Fund established under Article 149 of the Constitution, undermining the role of the Consolidated Fund. It also seeks to establish off-shore banking institutions outside the purview of the Monetary Board established under the Finance Act and takes away the Auditor Generals financial oversight power as stipulated in Article 154.

He says the Bill also seeks to empower the Commission to raise foreign debt and negotiate foreign grants without the concurrence of the Treasury and thereby Parliament. If the Bill is passed, he says it will empower the commission to collect taxes, rates and levies through self-imposed regulations which do not get the sanction or concurrence of Parliament. Therefore, the Bill violates the Constitutions Article 3 while undermining the peoples legislative power exercised through Parliament.

Engineer Kapila Renuka Perera, Chairman of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), in his petition states the Bill will threaten Sri Lankas economy and national security.

He say the Bill permits the transfer, sale, and lease of property within the Colombo Port City to another party, while it also has the power to permit another party to approve visas for those employed in the Colombo Port City.

Among the petitioners is Wasantha Samarasinghe, a JVP Political Bureau member and Convener of the Inter Company Employees Union.

The Attorney General has been cited as the respondent in the petitions.
Margaret Finlayson, 83, of North Fitzroy, who came to see the Triennial with daughter, Anna Finlayson, 52, and granddaughter Eva Delouche, 11, said she didnt expect to see as many people at the NGV. You feel a slight apprehension when you see a lot of people together, I think, after a year, she said. Family day: Margaret Finlayson, right, with granddaughter Eva and daughter Anna at the NGV. Credit:Penny Stephens You keep your fingers crossed that everything will be OK. But it is nice to see everybody out again. Its lovely. In Bourke Street Mall, Amarjeet Sharma, from Mount Waverley, was happy about buying a pair of long leather boots from David Jones department store for $224  a 25 per cent discount.

She and her husband, Vishal Sharma and daughter Kheyaira, 12, had a lovely time at the NGV and having lunch at Melbourne Central, although Ms Sharma was fasting for the Hindu festival of Navratri. Mr Sharma said: We feel blessed to be here and it makes sense because theres no COVID around. Amarjeet Sharma, right, of Mount Waverley, in Bourke Street Mall with husband, Vishal Sharma, and daughter Kheyaira. Credit:Penny Stephens Melbourne deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece said every extra person in the city represented another opportunity for CBD businesses that had done it tough throughout the past year. The increase in pedestrian numbers proves more people are returning to the city and the buzz is coming back to Melbourne ... after so much anguish and devastation caused by the pandemic, he said.

Loading Cr Reece said he went to a comedy festival gig on Friday night and had to stand in a queue to get into a city restaurant afterwards. Ive never been so happy to stand in a line in all my life, he joked. Theres nothing more heartwarming to me than seeing lines outside bars, restaurants and cafes of people waiting to get in and be served. At the Arts Centre, foot traffic was up 187 per cent at 6pm on Saturday compared to the four-week average. There were 2857 pedestrians at the centre, which is 93 per cent of 3064, the average amount of people there on Saturdays at that time in April, 2019.

More than 520,000 people have visited the NGV Triennial, which closed on Sunday, including 12,674 on Friday and 9271 on Saturday, up from the previous week. Director Tony Ellwood AM said the gallery was delighted to have been at full capacity during restrictions throughout the entire season. He said the gallery had been able to welcome more visitors in its final weeks when its capacity numbers were increased. It was really the perfect exhibition to welcome people back to the gallery and we couldnt be happier with how many people have seen and enjoyed the experience, he said. At the Town Hall, there were 187 per cent more pedestrians at 6pm on Saturday compared to the four week average. There were 2720 people at the hall, which is 92 per cent of 2949, the average amount of people there on at 6pm on Saturdays in April, 2019.

Loading Comedy festival director Susan Provan said its final weekend had seen an incredible number of sell-out shows, with many comedians putting on extra ones to meet demand. Weve seen audiences come out with enthusiasm across the last three and a bit weeks of the festival, she said. People are definitely keen to get out and see live shows. The City of Melbournes pedestrian counter at the northern side of the Bourke Street Mall at 3pm on Saturday showed foot traffic was up by 78 per cent compared with the average on Saturdays in April 2019. There were 3139 pedestrians logged pounding the pavement compared to 4047.
tweeted on April 6, 2021, that 5,213 Naxal incidents and 1,416 civilian deaths have been reported since became the Union Minister for Home Affairs. This claim is false.

made this claim after 22 security personnel were killed and 31 suffered serious injuries in a gunfight between security forces and LWE's in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur on April 3, 2021.

At 578, Chhattisgarh reported the highest number of LWE-linked violence incidents in the country in 2019 and 2020. The state saw a 20% increase in LWE incidents  315 in 2020 from 263 in 2019. This was followed by Jharkhand (399), Maharashtra (96) and Odisha (95), and Bihar (88).

Chhattisgarh also reported 130 civilian deaths in the two years, followed by Jharkhand (80), Bihar (24), Maharashtra (23) and Odisha (17). No incidents or deaths were reported in West Bengal and UP.

A total of 95 security forces' personnel and 248 left-wing extremists were killed in the last two years in the country.

Ninety districts in 11 states are considered as affected by such extremism, according to a 2019 government report. Jharkhand (19) has the highest number of LWE-affected districts, followed by Bihar (16), Odisha (15), Chhattisgarh (14), Telangana (8), Andhra Pradesh (6), Maharashtra (3), Uttar Pradesh (3), Kerala (3), Madhya Pradesh (2) and West Bengal (1).
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

View Results
She always accentuates her figure in eye catching ensembles.

And Eve Gale was at it again on Saturday as she left little to the imagination in a tiny ensemble for a night on the town with her twin Jess and pal Demi Jones in London.

The Love Island star, 20, almost spilled out of her minuscule white blazer dress and flashed a glimpse of her peachy posterior in matching hotpants.

Goodness! Eve Gale was at it again on Saturday as she left little to the imagination in a tiny ensemble for a night on the town with her twin Jess and pal Demi Jones in London

Eve knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm in the daring and plunging number.

The reality star paired the skimpy ensemble with a pair of wrap around strappy stilettos that accentuated her toned legs.

And Eve looked flawless as she flicked her blonde tresses over her shoulder in a neat ponytail.

She went full glam for the occasion and donned a full face of makeup with lashings of lipgloss and bronzer.

Oops! The Love Island star, 20, almost spilled out of her minuscule white blazer dress and flashed a glimpse of her peachy posterior in matching hotpants

Work it: The twins were joined by former co-star and pal Demi Jones who wowed in a mini dress

Her twin Jess looked just as chic as she posed alongside her identical sister in central London.

Jess flashed a smile to onlookers as she worked her angles in a skintight nude bodysuit.

The Love Island star toted an enviable Louis Vuitton clutch bag for the outing and completed her outfit with a pair of perspex heels.

Cheeky: Eve knew how to work her best angles as she posed up a storm in the daring and plunging number

Chic: Her twin Jess looked just as chic as she posed alongside her identical sister in central London

Double trouble: Jess flashed a smile to onlookers as she worked her angles in a skintight nude bodysuit

Last month, Eve told fans that she was pining for sunnier climes as she shared a throwback swimsuit snap, before slipping into tiny hot pants.

The blonde beauty flaunted her ample cleavage and underboob in a skimpy orange swimsuit. She captioned the snap: 'Oh to be this tanned again #June2020.

Jess and Eve recently returned to the UK following their 'work' trip to the UAE.

They were also joined by their pal and Love Island co-star Demi Jones for the outing.

And the auburn haired beauty sizzled as she posed for cameras in a bodycon white dress.

She completed the evening look with a metallic pair of strappy stilettos, a chic gold necklace and a pair of large matching hoops.

Glamorous: Eve went full glam for the occasion and donned a full face of makeup with lashings of lipgloss and bronzer

Love Island: Jess and Eve rose to fame on the first ever series of winter Love Island back in 2020

The TV twins were just two of many celebrities who jetted to Dubai throughout the pandemic.

They joined many other Love Islanders including Joanna Chimonides, Hayley Hughes and Francesca Allen.

After Dubai joined UK's travel ban list, celebrities then began flocking to Mexico's bars and beaches as it established itself as the next COVID getaway destination.

Squads all here: The twins were also joined by their pal and Love Island co-star Demi Jones for the outing

Many stars insisted their trips were for 'work purposes' after criticism from Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Several influencers were forced to hit back at fans after they were criticised for jetting off on holiday during the global pandemic.

Jess and Eve rose to fame on the first ever series of winter Love Island back in 2020.

While Eve was booted off after less than a week, Jess made it to the final with Ched Uzor - with the pair going their separate ways shortly afterwards.
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A decision on whether to end a US pause in vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot is likely by Friday, top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci said Sunday.

A government-convened expert panel has been assessing the vaccine's possible links to a clotting disorder seen in a half-dozen relatively young women, none with previously known clotting disorders.

Meantime, the European Medicines Agency said Friday it expected to rule on the safety of the Johnson & Johnson's shot on Tuesday after evaluating data on blood clotting.

Fauci, in an interview on ABC's "This Week," said that by Friday "we should have an answer as to where we're going with it. I would think that we're not going to go beyond Friday in the extension of this pause."

While saying he did not want to get ahead of the expert panel convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fauci noted that the clotting disorder was "an extraordinarily rare event."

"I believe we'll get back with it," he said, though possibly with some restrictions or warnings on its use.

Vulnerable groups

US health authorities have reported six cases of women developing brain clots along with low blood platelet counts, including one death, within two weeks of getting the one-dose vaccine. All the women were between 18 and 49.

The shot has been given to some 7.2 million Americans.

Some experts have opposed continuing the pause, fearing it might disproportionately impact vulnerable groups that are easier to reach through a single-dose vaccine that can be stored in fridges.

But most felt that given the highly serious nature of the clots, and given the abundance in the United States of other vaccines that do not have the same safety concern, further study was necessary.

CDC director Rochelle Walensky has said that the symptoms in the women suffering clotting disorders were consistent with rare side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine seen in Europe.

Some European officials have hinted that the European Union might not order the AstraZeneca shot again after questions about side effects and delays in its delivery.

Both the J&J and the AstraZeneca vaccines are based on adenovirus vector technology, as are Russia's Sputnik V and China's CanSino.

The clotting problem has not been linked to the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

US officials have emphasized that they have ordered more than enough supply of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to cover the adult population by the end of July.

While the US has become a world leader in vaccinations, Fauci said the country remained in a "precarious position," with too many people ignoring health precautions.

"We're having a seven-day average of over 60,000 new infections per day. That's a place you don't want to be," he said.

Some 30 million people are being vaccinated every week in the US.

But Fauci warned: "We also have to make sure that people don't throw caution to the wind and declare victory prematurely. That's not the time to do that."

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

 2021 AFP
[April 18, 2021] CREDIT SUISSE SHAREHOLDER ALERT by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Credit Suisse Group AG - CS

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until June 15, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between October 29, 2020 and March 31, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased ADRs of Credit Suisse and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by June 15, 2021.



About the Lawsuit Credit Suisse and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

The lawsuit alleges that during the Class Period the Company issued materially false and misleading statements regarding its business metrics and financial prospects. Specifically, the Company concealed material defects in its risk policies and procedures and compliance oversight functions and efforts to allow high-risk clients to take on excessive leverage, including Greensill Capital ("Greensill") and Archegos Capital Management ("Archegos"), exposing the Company to billions of dollars in losses. Subsequently, as the Company disclosed billions of dollars in losses tied to the collapse of its Greensill-linked funds and the implosion of total return swap positions it had entered into with Archegos, the price of Credit Suisse ADRs to plummeted. The case is City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System v. Credit Suisse Group AG, 21-cv-03385. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210418005038/en/

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Connecticut is still struggling to talk about race and racism.

This could not have been clearer during the debate that ensued after New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker unapologetically asserted that places like Greenwich and Woodbridge and New Canaan and other towns are using zoning to keep out communities of color ... in a way that is more creative than in the past. The response from local and state officials to Elickers statements was swift and defensive, particularly from those in Greenwich, demanding proof of his claim.

Once again, the fear of being labeled racist served as a barrier to examining and changing policies informed by past and even present-day racism created intentionally and unintentionally. When people, especially those with institutional and positional power are unable to consider that racism might be a factor, progress and opportunity are sacrificed. Furthermore, racism becomes more deeply embedded.

Looking at data is often a telling exercise that reveals racial inequities, which may result from racism.

Seventy-three percent of Greenwich residents identify as white, according to the U.S. Census. However, the largest representation of people of color and foreign-born residents living in Greenwich is concentrated in Byram and Chickahominy, two communities in the southwest corner of the town. While 25 percent of the population in Greenwich are Asian, Black, and Latinx, a Greenwich United Way 2020 needs assessment shows these racial and ethnic groups represent approximately 43 percent and 47 percent the residents in Byram and Chickahominy, respectively. Residents in these two communities have an average household income of less than $140,000 annually, and 8-9 percent of residents live below the federal poverty line.

It is no surprise that housing costs are a burden for many in Greenwich, but the weight is greater for Black and Latinx residents. Data from Afford CT shows that about 60 percent of Black and Latinx residents are cost burdened or severely cost burdened because they spend more than 30 percent of their household income on housing and in some cases more than 50 percent. We know this kind of financial burden forces people to forego other necessities like food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.

These racial inequities are not produced overnight, nor do they happen by accident. It is designed over time by a collection of ideas and policies. Author Richard Rothstein reminds us in The Color of Law that racial zoning was just one tactic used by the U.S. government to segregate the country. By the early 1900s, local and federal officials pivoted from creating zoning ordinances explicitly designed to keep African Americans out in favor of those that created middle-class neighborhoods with single-family homes that lower-income families of all races could not afford. The result was the same, Black Americans were kept out. Racial zoning and redlining became a powerful combination for sustained segregation across the country. It is no surprise that redlining maps existed for several Connecticut towns, including Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien.

When elected leaders balked at Elickers statement and demanded an apology, I was unsurprised but disappointed by what I didnt hear. No one said: We recognize there is a long history of racist policymaking in the country, and we expect Greenwich is not exempt from that. Based on our new understanding of the pervasiveness of racism, we need to look at all of our ordinances on zoning and housing to see how they are creating and/or contributing to the racial inequities we are seeing in Greenwich.

Being explicit about how racism is showing up in our institutions helps decision-makers develop and rethink policies, priorities, and culture through the lens of racial equity. At YWCA Greenwich and YWCAs across the country, we are interrogating our organizational cultures to shine a light on where racism exists to do the work to dismantle it. We know that anything that provides or denies access, safety, resources, and power based on race categories and produces and reproduces race-based inequities must be examined. Zoning and housing are two such domains in our community that we know deserve to be more critically examined through the lens of race and racism. On Wednesday, April 21, at 7 p.m., YWCA Greenwich will bring together a panel of experts to explore zoning and housing as tools for past and present-day segregation, and to discuss the impact of the two on health outcomes.

The disparities we see in health, education, and quality of life outcomes between People of Color and Whites demand that everyone, and especially leaders, spend less time fearing the label of racist and more time being anti-racist.

Erin O. Crosby is the Director of Womens Empowerment and Racial Justice at YWCA Greenwich.
The tiny bungalow above Ashlands Lithia Park is called the Raggedy Ann House because author and illustrator Johnny B. Gruelle lived there in the 1920s after he had created the collectible, red-headed rag doll and a series of books about her adventures.

Since 2017, the century-old bungalow has been elevated off the ground and ready to be relocated, but where?

The owners believed they were buying an odd-shaped patch of city-owned land on a corner of Granite Street where the Raggedy Ann House has sat since it was moved from the adjacent property.

Today, the mint-colored bungalow, with a dozen wheels underneath it, is being hauled away from that patch and down sloping Nutley Street to settle into a new spot, at the bottom of its original lot, and finally off city property.

The 100 foot change is a big deal: The owners had to scramble, they said, to excavate a new site and move the clapboard structure in 30 days to adhere to an order from the city issued on March 23.

The hurried move to private land also dampers other Ashland residents ambitious dreams to set the historic home inside the park, or somewhere in the city, and open it up to the public.

Its a sweet addition to the community and lets see what can happen to it, said Tom Moulder, who with his wife, Susan, has been paying attention to the fate of the bungalow, which Tom calls the Johnny Gruelle House, for more than 40 years.

Moulder, a landscape contractor, would like a museum explaining Gruelles presence here. He and his wife, an educator, would also like to get the Oregon Shakespeare Festival involved, in a meaningful way, to connect the arts in Ashland and engage young people, he said.

What they dont want: Someone taking the bungalow to another city. We cant lose this historic piece, said Tom Moulder.

Around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 18, a house-moving crew will start navigating a truck as it pulls the 540-square-foot bungalow off its temporary corner and into a new driveway area to owners Mardi Mastain and Robin Donaldsons backyard.

If everything runs smoothly, the move could take two hours.

Afterward, Mastain and Donaldson can breathe easy that the bungalow is no longer under threat of being removed. They plan to preserve the exterior and continue to improve the simple floor plan.

But that wont settle other controversies.

The bungalow and Raggedy Ann have come to represent more than just a home and a toy.

Some see the bungalow as a refuge for a grieving father. Gruelle crossed the country to reach Ashland after his only daughter, Marcella, 13, died from an infection related to a smallpox vaccine.

Some mistakenly believe the limp doll represents Marcella and is an intentional message against vaccinations.

What is true: Gruelle came to Ashland eight years after his daughters death. And although he was granted final approval by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for his doll within a day of Marcellas death, he applied for the patent in May 1915, six months earlier.

His original patent drawings do not have Xs over the eyes, as some people claim, and neither did any version of the bestselling doll.

Raggedy Ann doll, 100th anniversary edition.Prisencolinensinainciusol

Bungalow history

Gruelle arrived in Ashland from his home in Connecticut in 1923 with his wife and two sons after driving across the country in a Larrabee six-cylinder bus, with images of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy painted on the outside.

The family moved into the bungalow owned by fellow spiritualist Emma Oeder, who lived next door, wrote Joe Peterson in Hidden History of Ashland, Oregon, who added, They often held seances together.

In early 1924, Gruelle completed writing and illustrating a new Raggedy book, his first in four years, Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees.

The famous illustrator also painted murals in a downtown soda parlor and ice cream shop, signed autographs, and hung out with Western writer Zane Grey, who lived in the Rogue Valley.

After Gruelle and one of his sons recovered from serious illnesses, the family saw it as a sign to return to Connecticut in 1924, according to Peterson.

Oeder sold the property, which included her house and the bungalow, in 1935 to Nicholas and Rachel Lisle.

In 1948, the property was purchased by Verl G. and Carmel Barnthouse, who later passed it on to their daughter, Margarette Miller. She divided the lot. Her family continues to own Oeders former house.

In 1998, Mary and Dick Mastain bought the bungalow lot and in 2004, their daughter, Mardi Mastain, and Donaldson moved in. They became the owners and made improvements of the small home with a laundry room underneath.

Demolish or Relocate

Around 2016, Mastain and Donaldson, who are now both 62, decided they wanted to live on the property forever but needed a single-level home with wide doors and no steps.

We didnt want to destroy the bungalow by modifying it, said Mastain, who made plans with Donaldson to build a new house.

They had the option, according to a city council memo, to demolish or relocate the bungalow, which was built sometime between 1911 and 1920.

They decided to move the Raggedy Ann House to the lower end of their 8,276-square-foot lot. They paid the city $3,372 for an easement to add a driveway from Nutley Street.

The City of Ashland approved the plans in 2017 and the bungalow was moved out of the way of construction to the temporary spot, the city-owned corner. Construction on the new home began in 2018 and was completed in 2019.

The small, triangular lawn area, as the city described the Granite Street corner it owns, is not large enough to be a standalone parcel but could be sold as a lot line adjustment to an abutting property. The only adjacent land is the Mastain-Donaldson property, as noted in the city memo.

City-owned land on Granite Street, Nutley Street and Winburn Way: A total of 0.75 acres includes a parking lot, seasonal ice rink and the chiller apparatus for the ice rink.City of Ashland

Or, as a city map shows, the small lawn area on Granite Street links to city-owned land on Nutley Street that also connects to city-owned land on Winburn Way: A total of 0.75 acres includes a parking lot, seasonal ice rink and the chiller apparatus for the ice rink.

Residents are concerned a developer might want the entire 0.75-acre parcel, which is managed by Ashland Parks and Recreation.

The property is not currently for sale, but could be sometime in the future, said Mike Gardiner, chairman of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission.

Mastain said she has been paying the city $500 a month to rent the corner lot and she offered to buy it at the citys appraised amount of $170,000, even though she had hired an appraiser who said it was worth less than half that, at $77,000.

On March 23, Mastain was informed she could not buy the lot and would need to move the house within 30 days, or the parks department would take possession of it, she said.

Gardiner said Mastain originally requested to temporarily move the bungalow on to adjacent parks property while building her new home and the bungalow would then be moved to the lower portion of the property, near Lithia Park.

The change: Mastain said roots from century-old redwood trees planted on her property by Oeder would need to be cut, possibly damaging the trees, to accommodate the bungalow. She then tried to buy the corner lot.

Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission declined, stated Gardiner, who added, We are happy that the property owner has followed through with her original plan [to move the bungalow to the back of her lot] and that park property can be restored to its original status as an entrance to the iconic Lithia Park.

Ashland historian Terry Skibby is also grateful the bungalow has been saved. The history of Ashland has always been important to the residents of Ashland and others since it was first settled in 1852, he said. Saving historic buildings and sites helps to preserve this. It also supports tourism and our local economy.

For now, the bungalow will be moved. What else happens to the Raggedy Ann House, Mastain can predict only this: Once the dust clears, Im putting up a plaque.

 Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
One big win for the union in the proposed plan was the agreement to aid vaccine access for CPS students 16 and older and their families. Priority would be based on ZIP code, and access would be based on vaccine availability, with CPS providing students and families with codes for vaccine registration and blocks of appointments being reserved for them.
A cabinet minister defended embattled David Cameron yesterday as details emerged of how the former prime minister had lobbied the NHS for staff data on behalf of Greensill Capital.

Mr Camerons one-time press secretary George Eustice said his old boss had not broken any rules in his work for the controversial finance firm and said former politicians must be allowed to start new careers.

Mr Eustice, now the Environment Secretary, also insisted that the UK had quite robust rules governing ministers behaviour but signalled that some tweaks could be made in response to the swirling scandal over lobbying and business interests.

It came after The Sunday Times published emails showing that Mr Cameron had tried to get access to doctors and nurses details for Greensills early payment service.

A cabinet minister defended embattled David Cameron yesterday as details emerged of how the former prime minister had lobbied the NHS for staff data on behalf of Greensill Capital

He told the NHS digital boss Matthew Gould that Earnd would be much slicker if it could use the Employee Staff Record but the app was a flop.

Mr Eustice told the BBC: I think the key thing is that he has not broken any of the rules. It is acceptable, because it was within the rules. The point I would make is that ministers, when they leave office, including prime ministers, arent allowed to take any such paid roles for two years  these are rules David Cameron himself brought in. He left office some five years ago and you cant begrudge people moving on to another career.

Mr Cameron has faced weeks of damaging revelations about how he used his contacts and influence to try to get Greensill Capital  which collapsed last month  access to the Covid Corporate Financing Facility when the pandemic struck. Last week a photo emerged of Mr Cameron and Lex Greensill, the firms founder, sipping tea inside a tent during a desert camping trip in Saudia Arabia in January last year.

Greensill was planning to open an office in the Saudi capital Riyadh and during the trip the former PM and Mr Greensill met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was accused of approving the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Mr Cameron, who worked for the firm, said he raised human rights concerns with the crown prince during the trip.

Mr Camerons one-time press secretary George Eustice (pictured) said his old boss had not broken any rules in his work for the controversial finance firm and said former politicians must be allowed to start new careers

Mr Eustice pointed out that despite Mr Cameron texting Chancellor Rishi Sunak in an attempt to get Greensill access to Covid support loans, his bid was rejected by the Treasury. He said: The real question here is what did the Chancellor do when he was contacted?

Well, he flagged the conversation with his officials, he asked them to look at it, the answer came back that No, nothing can be done and the company didnt fit the criteria.

On Sky News, Mr Eustice said Mr Cameron had admitted he should have written a formal letter instead of messaging the Chancellors mobile, but went on: The real point is has he done anything wrong? Well, on the face of it, no. He meticulously observed the rules. Asked if changes to the rules were now needed, Mr Eustice said the current system was fundamentally... a pretty good one. He added: But that is not to say you couldnt make tweaks or changes, and also there will be a time and a place for that after these reviews have concluded.

He suggested the review into the Governments dealings with Greensill and Mr Cameron, to be carried out by City lawyer Nigel Boardman by June, might not make any policy recommendations although the terms of reference show it can.

Mr Eustice, now the Environment Secretary, also insisted that the UK had quite robust rules governing ministers behaviour but signalled that some tweaks could be made in response to the swirling scandal over lobbying and business interests

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said: Having failed to deflect the blame, the Governments latest approach appears to be to shrug their shoulders and say, Scandal? What scandal?. We dont need the tweaks Eustice said they might consider today, we need to tackle Tory sleaze with a full, independent, transparent inquiry  and we need stronger measures to put integrity and honour back into heart of government.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron said of his NHS lobbying: These discussions were about the mechanics to ensure Earnd was delivered for NHS workers in a smooth and efficient way.

Give sleaze-buster more power

By Martin Beckford for the Daily Mail

A new Government sleaze-buster is to be appointed today and could be handed the power to launch investigations into ministers accused of cronyism.

Boris Johnson is due to announce the name of the next Independent Adviser on Ministers Interests, five months after the last one quit in protest at being overruled.

The new watchdog will face demands to investigate several ministers over alleged overly close links to business and involvement in the Greensill lobbying scandal.

Boris Johnson (pictured) is due to announce the name of the next Independent Adviser on Ministers Interests, five months after the last one quit in protest at being overruled

Currently, the ministerial interests watchdog can only look into allegations when asked to do so by the Prime Minister.

But the public sector ethics chief has called on No10 to give the adviser the power to launch investigations where, in their judgement, this is necessary in order to establish the facts surrounding allegations that the ministerial code had been breached.

Lord Evans of Weardale, the former MI5 director-general who chairs the Committee on Standards in Public Life, told Mr Johnson in a letter that the adviser should be able to publish a summary of their findings into allegations, stating whether or not... the Ministerial Code had been breached, and the advisers view on the severity of the breach.

The PM should retain the power to decide on the punishment for any breach, he added.

Lord Evans of Weardale (pictured), the former MI5 director-general who chairs the Committee on Standards in Public Life, told Mr Johnson in a letter that the adviser should be able to publish a summary of their findings into allegations

It could avoid a repeat of the debacle last November when the previous adviser, Sir Alex Allan, concluded that Priti Patel had bullied her staff  but the PM stood by the Home Secretary so Sir Alex quit instead.

Meanwhile, senior Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Commons liaison committee, warned in The Observer that Mr Johnson risks losing the trust of the red wall of ex-Labour voters who helped him win the last election unless he tackles growing sleaze claims.
Kristelle Siarza is the owner of Siarza Social Digital and is a member of the board of directors of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. This essay is part of FOGs Democracy Project focused on transparency and accountability as the basis for democracy. Accountability ensures government is held responsible to the citizenry; transparency gives the public the right to access government information and requires that decisions and actions made by the government are open to public scrutiny and occur in the light.
U.S. has long way to go in cracking down on anti-Asian hate crimes

09:28, April 18, 2021 By huaxia ( Xinhua

-- Too many Asian Americans have been attacked, harassed, blamed, and scapegoated since the pandemic erupted in the United States early last year.

-- Besides rising anti-Asian sentiment, Asian Americans have to grapple with the country's highest rates of long-term unemployment as the pandemic has shuttered hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, beauty salons and other sectors of the economy for more than a year, said a USA Today report.

-- "The important thing to remember is that this is really not an exceptional moment by any means," said Courtney Sato, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard's Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History. "It's really part of a much longer genealogy of anti-Asian violence that reaches as far back as the 19th century."

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- "There has never been a situation during my lifetime that I've felt this level of fear," U.S. House lawmaker Andy Kim, a Korean American, said about the local skyrocketing anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

He confessed that even his five-year-old son had encountered anti-Asian discrimination.

This is a historic moment right now for the United States to "determine the next few decades of how Asian Americans are treated and understood and accepted in this country," the congressman told a press conference here earlier this week.

LEGISLATION

The U.S. Senate will likely vote next week on an anti-Asian American hate crimes bill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday, one day after senators voted 92-6 to open debate on the legislation with sweeping bipartisan support.

Under the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, the Justice Department will assign an official to expedite reviews of COVID-19-related hate crimes, as well as coordinate with local law enforcement and community-based groups to facilitate and raise awareness about reporting on hate crimes.

The legislation would also call on the federal administration to offer guidance on "best practices to mitigate racially discriminatory language" describing the coronavirus pandemic.

People march to protest against anti-Asian hate crimes on Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the United States, April 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"Words matter," said Senator Mazie Hirono, who introduced the bill together with House Democrat Grace Meng. "When you have a president who deems the virus to be the 'China virus' or to have members of his administration refer to it as 'kung flu,' you create an environment where people will be motivated because of whatever reasons they have to commit these kinds of crimes," the senator said, referring to former President Donald Trump, who frequently used such phrases to describe the coronavirus.

The Senate has a "moral imperative to take action," Schumer had told reporters previously, noting that he is "open to strengthening the bill."

Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have started negotiating a potential amendments deal, including measures to improve the reporting of hate crimes, beef up related training for law enforcement and set up a hotline where hate crimes can be reported.

President Joe Biden met with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus on Thursday and voiced his support for passing the legislation.

Meanwhile, the White House announced new actions last month, including additional funding and a cross-agency initiative to battle anti-Asian violence and discrimination.

CRISIS POINT

The legislation came after eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were shot dead in the Atlanta area last month. Protesters of different colors and ages took to the streets in more than 60 U.S. cities in the weeks after the shootings, calling to stop anti-Asian violence which has stoked widespread fear and anger among people of Asian descent in the country.

People attend a "Stop Asian Hate" candlelight vigil in a city park of Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California, the United States, March 20, 2021. (Xinhua)

"The Asian American community has reached a crisis point that cannot be ignored," Judy Chu, a Democratic lawmaker from California, said after the Atlanta shootings.

"For more than a year, the Asian American community has been fighting two viruses, the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Asian hate," Meng said during a press conference on Tuesday. "We've heard about and seen videos of both young and elderly Asian Americans being shoved to the ground, stomped on, being spat on and shunned. These heinous acts have been outrageous, unconscionable and they must end."

Too many Asian Americans have been attacked, harassed, blamed, and scapegoated since the pandemic erupted in the United States early last year.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based nonprofit social organization tracking incidents of violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the pandemic, it received nearly 3,800 reports of attacks or abuse against people of Asian descent between March 2020 and February 2021 and the real number of such incidents is believed to be far more than that.

An analysis of police data by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, found that in the 16 largest U.S. cities in 2020, overall hate crimes fell 7 percent but those targeting Asian Americans surged nearly 150 percent.

Besides rising anti-Asian sentiment, Asian Americans have to grapple with the country's highest rates of long-term unemployment as the pandemic has shuttered hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, beauty salons and other sectors of the economy for more than a year, said a USA Today report.

Police officers patrol in Chinatown in New York, the United States, March 19, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 48 percent of estimated 615,000 unemployed Asian Americans were without work for six months-plus through the first quarter of this year, surpassing the portion of long-term unemployed among jobless workers in the African American population (43 percent), white population (39 percent) and Hispanic population (39 percent).

LONG WAY TO GO

During his first week in office, Biden issued a memorandum to condemn coronavirus-related racism. But anti-Asian violence has continued to be rampant and showed no signs of abating despite nationwide attention and weeks-long protests in the wake of the Atlanta shootings, reflecting long-term challenges for the White House to crack down on anti-Asian hate crimes.

The long history of discrimination against Asians, the deepening political divide, as well as bigotry and stereotypes like regarding Asian Americans as "perpetual foreigners" who never assimilate, all play a role in the surge of anti-Asian violence in the United States during the pandemic, local analysts have noted.

"The important thing to remember is that this is really not an exceptional moment by any means," said Courtney Sato, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard's Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History. "It's really part of a much longer genealogy of anti-Asian violence that reaches as far back as the 19th century."

On Capitol Hill, the Congress's response has mostly fallen along party lines. When the House passed a non-binding resolution in September 2020 to denounce anti-Asian racism, 164 Republicans voted against it and only 14 voted in favor, said Caitlin Chin, a research analyst at the Brookings Institution.

People march to protest against anti-Asian hate crimes on Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the United States, April 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Biden has also been criticized over the lack of Asian American and Pacific Islanders serving in top roles in his administration.

As for law enforcement, Robert Boyce, a retired chief of detectives from the New York Police Department, told ABC News that law enforcement officers tasked with investigating a crime's motivation face many obstacles in finding evidence of hate. As a result, hate crimes are hard to prosecute.

The good news is that Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial demographic in the United States and are becoming an increasingly important electorate, Chin noted, suggesting both Democratic and Republican parties could benefit from protecting the Asian American community.

However, changes may not come soon. Asian Americans represent a population of 21 million people in the country with the highest income inequality of any racial group. There is still a long way to go before Asian people can break the bamboo ceiling in the U.S. political and economic fields.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
She's the world-famous Instagram sensation who turns 27 on Thursday.

But Tammy Hembrow's new man Matt Poole helped the model ring in the occasion early with a surprise adventure getaway over the weekend.

The influencer flaunted her dangerous curves in a series of picturesque snaps from the celebrations.

Spoiled: Tammy Hembrow's new man Matt Poole helped the model ring in the occasion early with a surprise adventure getaway over the weekend

One image showed Tammy cuddled up to the shirtless hunk who she has dated since late last year.

Another showed the blonde bombshell playing with dolphins in the shallows.

And yet another snap from the weekend escape showed a table setup for a beachside picnic between the lovers.

A new start: One image showed Tammy cuddled up to the shirtless hunk who she has dated since late last year

Picnic time! A snap from the weekend escape showed a table setup for a beachside picnic between the lovers

Clowns of the sea: Another showed the blonde bombshell playing with dolphins in the shallows

A video chronicled the duo's helicopter ride over their tropical oasis.

She captioned the post, 'Scuba Steve I snorkelled w turtles & played w wild dolphins guysss I'm a happy gal. Theee most unexpected surprise'.

Hembrow first launched her fashion line, Saski Collection, in 2017.

And on Saturday, the social media star revealed the brand's new line of tracksuits in a series of photos on Instagram.

She modelled the lemon yellow sweat shirt with black font along the sleeve.

Getaway: A video chronicled the duo's helicopter ride over their tropical oasis

Her own best advertisement! Hembrow reveals her new line of tracksuits that features her brand's name printed across the derriere

Her outfit also featured baggy tracksuit pants that featured Saski written in a cursive font, which she accentuated as she flaunted her famous backside.

The blonde bombshell wore her hair up in a high ponytail and opted for a glamorous makeup look.

She styled her cosy look with a trendy Air Jordan sneakers and yellow Prada re-edition purse.

Trendy! The blonde bombshell wore her hair up in a high ponytail and opted for a glamorous makeup look

The Instagram influencer kept her caption simple, writing: 'Soon', along with a lemon emoji.

Tammy's trendy look comes after she showed off her incredible gym-honed figure in a skimpy white bikini.

Over the top, the mother-of-two wore a sheer cover-up, which was knotted at her waist below the high-cut straps of her swimwear bottoms.

White hot! Tammy's trendy look comes after she showed off her incredible gym-honed figure in a skimpy white bikini

The off-the-shoulder top was knotted at the bust, and flaunted the blonde beauty's assets.

Earlier in the week, Tammy and boyfriend Matt Poole proved they are still clearly still in the honeymoon phase of their fledgling relationship, with the couple unable to keep their hands off each other in a new Instagram post.

Their Thursday social media appearance showcased the genetically blessed duo in matching outfits.

Pretty pair: Earlier in the week, Tammy and boyfriend Matt proved they are still clearly still in the honeymoon phase of their fledgling relationship, with the couple unable to keep their hands off each other in a new Instagram post

Tammy debuted her new relationship with surf lifesaver Matt in September during a trip to the Whitsundays.

That same month, Matt also made his debut in a video on Tammy's YouTube channel, in which he confessed to saying 'I love you' first.

The pair met at an event in Bali in 2019.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday, however, no meeting has been planned between the two leaders, the Ministry said on Saturday. Shortly after Qureshi began a three-day tour to the UAE, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced on Twitter that Jaishankar would also visit Abu Dhabi on April 18 at the invitation of his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

At the invitation of his counterpart, EAM @DrSJaishankar will be visiting Abu Dhabi on 18th April 2021. His discussions will focus on economic cooperation and community welfare.  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 17, 2021

The announcement triggered speculation about a meeting between Jaishankar and Qureshi, especially after the Gulf nation's diplomat acknowledged that his country was playing a role in helping India and Pakistan improve ties. In the last few years, UAE has emerged as a key strategic partner of India in the Gulf region. In December, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited the UAE in the first-ever visit by the head of the Indian Army.

As per reports, Jaishankars Sunday visit is purely bilateral and his engagements are only with UAE dignitaries. He will be discussing some pressing economic and community welfare issues related to Covid-19. His Abu Dhabi visit comes amid evolving geopolitical developments in the Gulf region, particularly in Afghanistan.

'No such meeting is scheduled with Jaishankar': Pakistan

In Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said: No such meeting is scheduled during foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshis ongoing visit to the UAE. It said Qureshi will meet his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other UAE dignitaries.

In a significant move, the Indian and Pakistani armies in February recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire on the Line of Control. The return to the ceasefire was seen as an indication by the two countries to move forward in their ties which were under severe strain since India announced its decision in August 2019 to withdraw the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir.
As the country grapples with a stronger second Covid wave, states want the Centre to urgently convene a meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, which has not met for the last six months. This comes after the chorus for rate cuts on key medicines and equipment grows louder.

Besides, states also want to discuss extension of the compensation period, under the GST regime, beyond July 2022 in the council meeting as uncertain times cast a shadow over state finances.

States are demanding exemption of key Covid drugs like Remdesivir, medical grade oxygen used in oxygen cylinders, and related supplements, which currently attract 12 per cent tax.

Other decisions piled up include rationalisation of GST rate slabs, correction of inverted duty on certain items and inclusion of petroleum products, among others.

The law mandates the council to meet at least once a quarter, but the long gap this time has given rise to apprehensions.

Chhattisgarh health minister, T S Singh Deo, who represents the state at the council, told Business Standard that the state is going to write to the Centre for GST exemption on Remdesivir, and related supplements. We are demanding a GST exemption on Remdesivir and some other items. But, the GST Council needs to meet for that. It should certainly have had a virtual meeting, said Deo.

Amid shortage of the Remdesivir drug across the country, Chhattisgarh has placed an order for 90,000 Remdesivir injections with pharma major Mylan Laboratories worth Rs 14.11 crore. We have placed the order with Mylan Laboratories for 90,000 injections at the rate of Rs 1,400 plus 12 per cent GST. Around 2,000 injections will come in two days and another 28,000 within a week, which makes it 30,000 injections a week said Deo.

Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal said that states need to discuss extension of the issue beyond July 2022 in the council as economic uncertainty continues. Rules require the GST Council to meet once in a quarter. This is the time to repair the GST regime. Unless it is done in the formative stages, that is, less than five years, it will not get repaired. We need to discuss extension, but first we need to meet, said Badal.

States were promised a compensation for five years since GST implementation in July 2017 to make up for revenue shortfall, if any, since states lost autonomy over indirect taxes. Compensation cess is levied on a few items in the 28 per cent GST slab, such as automobiles, cigarettes, and aerated drinks. The GST Council met last on October 12 last year as it finalised contours of borrowing by states to meet compensation requirements for the shortfall.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said that the council must meet on an urgent basis to discuss how states would cope with finances in the post compensation period. The Centre must convene the meeting and seriously consider increasing and extending the compensation period to beyond July 2022, said Isaac.

Finance ministry officials have attributed the delay to elections in key states and waiting for governments to be formed. We would like representation from all states in the council. So, it is better that it takes place after new governments are formed in the poll-bound states, said a key finance ministry official.

The issue of correction of inverted duty structure in certain items such as textiles, footwear and fertilisers, among others, is pending. The decision on correction was deferred in June last year due to Covid.

The council had to correct the inverted duty structure on mobile phones and specified parts by increasing the rate to 18 per cent from 12 per cent. An inverted duty structure arises when the rate on inputs is higher than that of the final product. Besides, merger of 12 per cent and 18 per cent slabs for a leaner rate structure is to be discussed also.

The 15th Finance Commission, headed by N K Singh, has suggested rationalisation of GST into a three-rate structure, comprising a 5 per cent merit rate, a rate by merging 12 and 18 per cent and 28-30 per cent de-merit rate.

Rajya Sabha member and former minister Jairam Ramesh tweeted recently that many vital decisions impacting the welfare of states and taxpayers are pending as the council has not met for six months.

Pratik Jain, partner, Price Waterhouse & Co. LLP, said that several critical issues need to be discussed at the council besides rate rationalisation. Industry would expect Covid-related relaxations as well, both in terms of compliances and working capital support...



MS Mani, partner, Deloitte India, said, A discussion on rate rationalisation, inclusion of some petro products, correction of inverted duty structures and introduction of new returns have been on the anvil for some time now.
(Newser)  Charles Geschke, the Adobe co-founder who helped develop the PDF, launch desktop publishing and was once kidnapped and held for ransom, had died. He was 81, the BBC reports. "Chuck instilled a relentless drive for innovation in the company, resulting in some of the most transformative software inventions, including the ubiquitous PDF, Acrobat, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and Photoshop," Adobe chief executive Shantanu Narayen wrote to employees. Geschke "sparked the desktop publishing revolution," Narayen said. In 1982, Geschke and John Warnock left their Xerox jobs at the Palo Alto Research Center to start Adobe. Adobe PostScript was their first product, per the Verge. 'I could never have imagined having a better, more likable, or more capable business partner," Warnock said in a statement.

story continues below

In 1992, two men grabbed Geschke at gunpoint as he arrived at work and held him in a ransom attempt in Hollister, California. The FBI freed him, unhurt, after four days. "He always called himself the luckiest man in the world," his wife, Nancy, said. He told employees that they could work in the evenings if they had to, she said, but that they should first "go home to dinner with your family," per the Mercury News. In 2009, President Obama awarded the two co-founders the National Medal of Technology. Narayen called Geschke's death a loss for the company and the technology industry as a whole, "for whom he has been a guide and hero for decades." (Read more Adobe stories.)
Researchers at the University of Luxembourg conducted a representative survey to find out what we can learn from people aged over 60 in dealing with the crisis.

The participants in the study were interviewed twice, once last June and then a second time in October 2020.

Psychologist Isabelle Albert and her colleagues Anna Kornadt, Josepha Nell and Elke Murdock from the University of Luxembourg and Martine Hoffmann from the RBS-Center fir Altersfroen wanted to find out how members of the 60+ generation, considered to be at risk due to their age, have been coping with the Covid- 19 pandemic.

The team investigated, among other things, how the classification of the over-60s into the risk group influences both their own perception and their behaviour, how they themselves perceive this risk and how they perceive the entire situation, both personally and socially. More than 600 people were questioned in a representative manner, including residents from senior citizens' facilities.

Concerns about loved ones

An overwhelming number of seniors (almost 95 percent) felt that they were largely well informed about the virus at the time of the surveys. Many participants also expressed the opinion that the government reacted well to the virus and did everything it could to fight the pandemic as successfully as possible.

According to the study, participants classed the risk of contracting the virus themselves as fairly low last summer and autumn (27 percent). However, a large part of the over-60 generation was concerned primarily about others. We found that respondents were less concerned about themselves than about their loved ones, says Albert. According to this, 72 percent were afraid that members of the family would become ill, while the fear of contracting Covid-19 themselves was just under 43 percent.

A third considered Covid measures to be excessive

A good 90% of participants felt that older people were particularly at risk from the virus and should therefore be protected. However, a third of those questioned said they considered the health measures in place to be excessive.

A similar result emerged when assessing the financial and economic consequences of the pandemic. Four out of five respondents said they were not worried about their own financial situation, while more than three-quarters of participants said they were concerned for the country's economic future.

Albert explained that the responses mentioned both social and personal resources used to cope with the crisis. Many stated that family and friends, but also positive thinking, belief or life experience help them in the crisis. Some of them said that they had already experienced much more difficult times in their lives, she said.

Age discrimination?

Overall, the study's results showed that one can certainly learn from the elderly when dealing with the pandemic, according to Albert. However, she also emphasised that many over-60s did not cope so well. During the second survey in October, around a fifth of respondents stated that they had difficulties coping with the pandemic. Albert said it is vital we do not lose sight of them.

Around a fifth of all participants reported at least some degree of age discrimination. "In media coverage, medical care and in everyday life, the feeling of being treated unfairly because of their age was somewhat higher than was the case in social relationships with family and friends," said Albert.

"It is very important to communicate the meaning and purpose of each measure as well as possible," she continued. "If the elderly have the feeling that, with their limitations, they are making an important contribution to overcoming the crisis, then that also increases their well-being."

Author: Uwe Hentschel
New Delhi:

After taking cognisance of chargesheet, Patiala House Court on Wednesday summoned former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi and others on December 20 in connection with Agusta Westland case.

The Patiala House Court also issued non bailable warrant against 3 foreign nationals, namely GR Heshke, CV Gerosa and CM James.

Earlier in September, former IAF Chief S P Tyagi was on Friday chargesheeted by the CBI in a Delhi Court along with nine others in connection with a bribery case in the Rs 3,500 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.

72-year old Tyagi is the first chief of the Indian Air Force to be chargesheeted in a corruption or a criminal case by the CBI.

Besides him, the agency has also chargesheeted retired Air Marshal J S Gujral along with eight others, including five foreign nationals, in the charge sheet filed before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar.

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Pastor Who Fled Communism Fears Canadians Are Losing Their Freedom

Artur Pawlowski fled communist Poland in 1990. More than 30 years later, he found video fame for evicting police from his Calgary church on the Easter weekend. The event rounded out Pawlowskis full-circle journey of faith under oppression, to doubts about a land of freedom, to faith amid oppression again.

Pawlowski first learned what it meant to take a stand when he lived under communist oppression in his native Poland.

It was about 50,000 communists that were ruling over 36 million Poles, he recalled in an interview.

They could come into your house [at] five in the morning, beat you up, torture, even murder. A number of clergymen were murdered, he said, adding that he saw the power of solidarity with Lech Walesa, who led the solidarity movement against the communist regime in Poland in the 1980s.

In 1981, I watched it with my own eyes the power of a unified voicepeople coming together and saying to the government, No more, we will not allow you to do this to us anymore, and to our children and our grandchildren. They wanted their freedom.

Pawlowskis father was an engineer who worked in the coal mines, while his mother was an architect who became a restaurant owner and also studied law. His home library had 5,000 books, and the young Pawlowski read most of them.

When the government said something, I always looked to find out if thats the truth, because I grew up in a country that pretty much the government and the mainstream media always were feeding you lies, pretty much non-stop. So you learned to find out the truth for yourself, he said.

His father fled to Greece in 1989 and his family followed a year later, when Pawlowski was only 17.

We were extremely poor. We escaped pretty much with nothing from Poland, and we ended up with nothing in Greece, and we started from scratch. So I remember moments in my life that we didnt have food, we didnt have enough. I didnt know how Im going to pay the next bill. They were trying to put foreclosure on our home, Pawlowski remembers.

Artur Pawlowski with his wife, Marzena, in July 1998. (Courtesy of Artur Pawlowski)

Pawlowskis faith was also at its lowest. Then he met his wife Marzena, a Polish ex-pat in Greece who worked at a museum.

She was a Christian, a devoted Christian, and I was a little bit anti-Christian. I was anti-establishment. I was anti-corruption. I didnt like the corruption that I saw in the church, but she led me back to God. She led me back to Christ, to faith. It was a long process, but here I am, a pastor.

Pawlowski, now an evangelical, has pastored for over 2o years. His church is named the Cave of Adullam, a biblical name for a place of refuge from persecution.

People are losing hope. There are lots of people that are suicidal, turning into drugs and alcohol. So we have a church in the poor neighbourhood of Forest Lawn, trying to help as many as we can, he said.

He also runs Street Church four times a week at Olympic Plaza, near Calgary City Hall, which provides food and clothing for the poor and homeless.



Artur Pawlowskis Street Church service provides food for the poor at Olympic Plaza in Calgary, in March 2021. (Courtesy of Artur Pawlowski)

Pawlowski came to Canada in 1995 for the promise of freedom, but he says that has not always been his experience.

On April 3, Pawlowski was fined $1,200 for allegedly holding a public gathering of more than 15 people at his Street Church, in violation of COVID-19 health orders.

He has also been fined repeatedly for violating public health orders by holding church services. He had stern words for police and COVID bylaw enforcement officers who entered the lobby of his church during Passover service on April 3.

Please get out. Get out of this property.  Out! Out! Out of this property immediately until you come back with a warrant, he said. I dont care what you have to say.  Gestapo is not allowed here!

He filmed the incident and posted it on social media, and it immediately went viral.

I just did it for my own protection, he said. And when I posted it I said well, maybe a couple thousand people will watch it and thats it. But what happenedit looks like it sparked some kind of hope in peoples hearts that its OK to fight, its OK to stand up, he explains.

I got probably 40,000 emails and texts and messages from all over the world [saying things like] Ive lost hope, and you restored that hope. Thank you. Thank you. I mean, its overwhelming, unbelievable. I would never expect that theres so many people so hungry for anyone that is willing to stand up for them.

He notes the closure of GraceLife Church in Edmonton, whose pastor has been jailed and is facing charges for violating public health orders, and says he fears people are losing their rights and freedoms amid ever-expanding COVID restrictions.

When they are telling us right now, social distance, physical distance, dont meet together, dont pray. I mean, youre talking about family, youre talking about the structure that keeps us all sane, all together and strong. But they want to destabilize that, they want to separate us, they want us to be miserable alone, he says.

Thats the state telling the people what they can do, what they cannot, with whom they can, and how.  Seeing what theyre doing, which is a repetition of history in front of my eyes, it scares me. Very scary stuff, what is happening.
Showcasing Sri Lankas jewellery to the world View(s):

The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) recently hosted their second Key Persons Forum for the industry, with the objective of facilitating the industry during this pandemic period and boosting overall tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism.

The forum was conducted with Tourism Minister Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga, State Minister of Gem and Jewellery related Industries Lohan Ratwatte, SLGJA Chairman Ahsan Refai and Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Kimarli Fernando.

The event, created a platform for a two-way discussion between the gem and jewellery industry and Ministry of Tourism and was attended by executive members of the SLGJA, the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) and many local gem and jewellery traders, the SLGJA said in a media release.

The collaboration between the gem and jewellery industry and the tourism sector will be capable of maximizing an influx of tourists to the country, especially attracting the up-market tourists. With the potential to be one of the largest foreign revenue earners, by generating around $500 million foreign exchange through the sale of gems and jewellery to foreign travelers, the gem and jewellery industry will be an immense support to uplift the tourism sector, it said.

In his opening remarks by SLGJA Chairman Refai spoke of Sri Lankas rich heritage of producing high quality gemstones is a unique opportunity to promote and market gemstones to the world. A concentrated marketing campaign together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority would greatly benefit the promotion of gem and jewellery trade. This will encourage more tourists to visit our island to experience our gem mines that are set against the backdrop of the beautiful paddy and mountain landscapes, he said.

Tourism Minister Ranatunga acknowledged the need to marry the efforts of the two industries, saying It is our responsibility to protect and expand the brand recognition we have for our gem and jewellery industry.

Tourism Chairperson Fernando assured the promotion of the gem and jewellery industry through the SLTPB in all future campaigns. She positively emphasized the significant impact that can be achieved through this association. She also spoke of a tourism travel app, currently in the development stages with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. Accordingly, it was offered to add the names of all the gem and jewellery traders, who are licensed by the authority, on the app, that will help tourists locate the shops as places to visit.

State Minister Ratwatte assured the support of the Ministry in industrial growth and in promoting the industry in a larger scale through providing ease of support for business operations and creating a conducive environment for the sector to grow.

The possibility of holding Facets International Gem and Jewellery Show in January 2022 was also discussed. As the main event that draws a large number of foreign buyers, Facets is one of the campaigns that can truly leverage tourism to the country. The need for further promotion of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination with the inclusion of the Gem and Jewellery associations in the promotional campaigns, the increase in foreign exchange earnings and the overall quarantine process for tourists coming into the country were also highlighted.
 Flash

China on Saturday urged the United States and Japan to immediately stop meddling in China's domestic affairs and harming Chinese interests.

"We urge the U.S. and Japan to take China's concern seriously, abide by the one-China principle, and immediately stop meddling in China's domestic affairs and harming Chinese interests," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. "China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."

The spokesperson made the remarks when asked to comment on a U.S.-Japan joint leaders' statement, which was released after their meeting, expressing concern over issues relating to Taiwan, the Diaoyu Islands, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the South China Sea.

The spokesperson said that Taiwan and the Diaoyu Islands are both Chinese territory, adding that issues relating to Hong Kong and Xinjiang are purely China's internal affairs, and China has indisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and waters around them.

The spokesperson stressed that the U.S.-Japan joint leaders' statement has grossly interfered in China's domestic affairs and severely violated basic norms governing international relations.

"China deplores and rejects it. We have stated our solemn position to the U.S. and Japan through the diplomatic channel," said the spokesperson.

The U.S. and Japan are actually ganging up to form cliques and fanning bloc confrontation while talking about "free and open," the spokesperson said. "This anachronistic move runs counter to the aspiration for peace, development and cooperation shared by the overwhelming majority of countries in the region and beyond."

It will only enable the world to see with increasing clarity the detrimental nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which attempts to undermine regional peace and stability, the spokesperson said.




Three people were killed and three more were hospitalized after a shooting at a bar early Sunday in Somers, Wis., near Kenosha, the latest instance of gun violence in a nation where such bloodshed has grown wearyingly commonplace.

The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department said on Sunday afternoon that a person of interest had been located and would be charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide, with additional criminal charges to follow after further investigation.

It did not identify the suspect or provide details about a possible motive.

The shooting took place at 12:42 a.m. at the Somers House tavern, according to the sheriffs office, which said that it had appeared to be a targeted and isolated incident.

The authorities said that they did not believe the community was in danger.

We believe our suspect knew who he was targeting, Sheriff David Beth said during a news conference early Sunday, adding that it appeared that the gunman had been asked to leave the bar and later returned. He said that a handgun had been used, and that it was not clear whether there had been more than one person shooting.
A terrifying video of a child being dragged under a $US4,000 Peloton treadmill has been released as authorities warn consumers to stop using the equipment after another child was killed and dozens injured.

The graphic video shows a young boy being sucked beneath a Peloton Tread+ and grappling to free himself from the exercise machine.

Peloton fitness equipment, which as a cult following, isn't available in Australia yet, but the company is planning on entering the market later this year.

The footage was released Saturday by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as part of an urgent warning to consumers about the dangers of the popular home fitness equipment.

The CPSC said it has so far learned of 39 incidents involving small children and a pet being injured beneath the Peloton Tread+ machines, including the death of one child.

Despite the safety concerns, Peloton is fighting a federal safety recall and has allegedly delayed an investigation into the potential safety problems.

Federal regulators have released a terrifying video of a child being dragged under a $4,000 Peloton treadmill as they warned consumers to stop using the equipment after a child was killed and dozens have been injured

In the harrowing video, a little girl is seen walking on the treadmill which is turned on.

A little boy then walks behind the exercise machine and picks up a big pink ball.

He holds the ball toward the back of the treadmill and the ball is seen being pulled under the machine, dragging the boy's arms with it.

This appears to cause the treadmill to stop moving as the boy's arms lift the machine slightly off the ground.

The little girl gets off the treadmill and dashes off out of view, while the boy appears to be stuck.

The treadmill moves again, slowly at first as it appears the boy is trying to resist it moving and pulling him further under the equipment.

At this point, the power of the machine appears to cause the little boy to shake and suddenly the treadmill resumes a faster speed, dragging the boy further underneath to his head.

He continues to be pulled under more and more until only his legs are sticking out as he appears to thrash his legs in an attempt to free himself.

The boy manages to pull himself back out from underneath the treadmill which continues to move and he is seen walking out of view away from the machine.

The CPSC said it needed to 'warn the public quickly of the hazard' after dozens of incidents have come to light of children becoming 'entrapped, pinned, and pulled under the rear roller' of the treadmill.

'It is believed that at least one incident occurred while a parent was running on the treadmill, suggesting that the hazard cannot be avoided simply by locking the device when not in use,' it said.

The graphic video shows a young boy being sucked beneath a Peloton Tread+ and grappling to free himself from the exercise machine

In the harrowing video, a little girl is seen walking on the treadmill which is turned on. A little boy then walks behind the exercise machine and picks up a big pink ball

He holds the ball toward the back of the treadmill and the ball is seen being pulled under the machine, dragging the boy's arms with it

'Reports of a pet and objects being sucked beneath the Tread+ also suggest possible harm to the user if the user loses balance as a result.'

The machine poses 'serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death', it said.

Consumers are being urged to stop using the Peloton Tread+ immediately if there are small children or pets at home.

If consumers do continue to use the product, they should keep it in a locked room, out of reach of children and pets and keep all objects away from it, the commission said.

The CPSC said the machine should be unplugged and stored safely away when not in use and any incidents reported to CPSC.

Peloton fired back at the commission's notice claiming in a statement that the warning is 'inaccurate and misleading' and that the Tread+ is safe so long as safety instructions are followed.

'The Consumer Product Safety Commission's unilateral press release about the Peloton Tread+ treadmill is inaccurate and misleading,' the statement read.

'The Tread+ is safe for Members to use in their homes and comes with safety instructions and warnings to ensure its safe use.

He continues to be pulled under more and more as he appears to thrash his legs in an attempt to free himself

The boy ends up with only his legs sticking out from under the machine. He then manages to pull himself back out

'Like all motorised exercise equipment, the Tread+ can pose hazards if the warnings and safety instructions are not followed.'

The company said the machine is 'not for children under 16' and that it warns users to keep children and pets away from it.

'Peloton warns Members not to let children use the Tread+ and to keep children, pets, and objects away from the Tread+ at all times,' said Peloton.

'Any owner of a treadmill  whether made by Peloton or not  should follow these warnings, as they are included in the applicable safety standards, which the Peloton Tread+ meets.'

The urgent warning comes less than a month after Peloton announced a child had been killed by a Peloton Tread+ and federal investigators announced a probe into the incident.

Federal regulators told the Washington Post this week that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an administrative subpoena requiring Peloton to name the child with family contact information within 24 hours so the agency could continue investigating.

Jessica Kleiman, a spokesperson for Peloton, said that the company did not provide personal information about the child to the agency because it 'respects its customers' privacy,' the outlet reported.

The child's family 'asked us not to provide the information to the CPSC,' she said. However, officials claimed that the company complied.

Peloton is fighting a federal safety recall and has allegedly delayed an investigation into potential safety problems it was revealed that a child died

Federal regulators said the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an administrative subpoena this week

The subpoena required Peloton to name the child with family contact information within 24 hours so the agency could continue investigating

Peloton, which is worth $34 billion, had been negotiating with regulators on the wording and timing of the alert to consumers regarding possible dangers posed by the Peloton Tread+, officials told the Washington Post.

An official familiar with the case told the outlet: 'This doesn't happen with other treadmills.'

The official said regulators were concerned that the Peloton treadmill seemingly has a 'different hazard pattern than is typically seen.'

Regulators were 'alarmed' that people allegedly had injuries including broken bones and head trauma after they were pulled under the exercise equipment, the Washington Post reported.

Peloton 'does not believe a recall is necessary,' Kleiman told the Washington Post.

The company said its treadmills are 'safe for use when the warnings and safety instructions we provide are followed'.

Kleiman also noted that the company has issued 'repeated safety warnings' to its customers since reports of incidents regarding the treadmills.

'Peloton is still seeking to jointly work with CPSC to urge [its customers] to follow all warnings and safety instructions,' Kleiman said in the statement.

Peloton co-founded and CEO John Foley shared news of the fatality in a letter addressed to owners of Tread+

Foley speaks on stage during 'Peloton Gears Up' at Vanity Fair's 6th Annual New Establishment Summit in Beverly Hills in October 2019

Peloton CEO John Foley revealed that the company was raising safety concerns regarding its treadmill in an email to consumers last month.

'While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving the Tread+ where children have been hurt, each one is devastating to all of us at Peloton, and our hearts go out to the families involved,' Foley wrote.

Foley, who is also a co-founder of Peloton, went on to share the company's standard safety warnings, among them keeping children and pets away from exercise equipment at all times, and removing the safety key from the treadmill at the end of a workout.

'We design and build all of our products with safety in mind,' Foley stated.

'But in order to help ensure that you and your family members stay safe with Peloton products in your home, we need your help. This is especially true during what I hope is the final stretch of the pandemic where everyone is still at home.'

Last October, Peloton issued a voluntary recall on pedals for 27,000 of its bikes after consumers reported pedals breaking off and causing more than a dozen injuries, including some that required stitches.

Peloton bikes range in price from $1,895 to $2,495, and the treadmills cost from $2,495 for the basic model to $4,295 for Tread+.

The Tread+ was called 'Tread' from August 2018 to September 2020, when it was renamed.
A file photo from 2019 of Nicaraguan and Costa Rican schoolgirls in a group hug during recess at a school in Upala, Costa Rica.  UNHCR/Flavia Sanchez

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling on the international community not to turn a blind eye to the plight of Nicaraguan refugees and asylum-seekers, as the pandemic exacerbates their vulnerabilities and needs.

More than 108,000 Nicaraguans have been forced to flee their country since 2018, with two thirds of them seeking refuge in Costa Rica. UNHCR commends the steps taken by the government to give them protection and assistance. But since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, the capacity of refugees to cope with the situation has been undermined.

Assessments in the country showed that pandemic-related restrictions have forced many Nicaraguan refugees and asylum-seekers to go hungry, eating only once a day or sometimes not at all. Unemployment has soared, leading many to borrow money or work informally in exchange for food.

While the needs of the Nicaraguans continue to grow, the worlds attention span seems to shorten, said Milton Moreno, UNHCR Representative in Costa Rica. Without a prompt and adequate response, we risk yet another situation of completely preventable and unnecessary suffering.

UNHCR has strengthened its programmes for Nicaraguan refugees and asylum-seekers, stepping up the provision of financial assistance to the most vulnerable. With UNHCR support, Costa Ricas national health service has also expanded insurance coverage to 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers in need of life-saving health care.

However, funding for the response is falling short. UNHCRs operation in Costa Rica has received only 11 per cent of the US$32 million needed to help refugees meet their most basic needs and support the authorities to expedite processing of asylum claims.

Costa Rica and UNHCR cannot address these challenges alone. We call on the international community to help us help the refugees, added Moreno.

In the three years since large-scale protests in their country triggered a complex social and political crisis, more than 85,000 Nicaraguans have sought protection in Costa Rica. During the height of the pandemic (April-Nov 2020), the registration of asylum claims almost ground to a halt, dropping to 22 on average per month. Meanwhile, pending appointments to lodge asylum applications were re-scheduled for 2021, resulting in severe delays.

Since December 2020, when the Migration Authoritys Refugee Unit resumed in-person activities, new asylum claims have averaged 1,237 per month. UNHCR supports the authorities to ensure bio-safety measures and equipment are in place during registration, to reduce processing times and ensure the quality of decisions on asylum claims.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
HYDERABAD: At long last, the BJP and the Jana Sena have come under one roof to fight elections. On Sunday, leaders from both parties met and discussed a pre-poll alliance for the elections to the Khammam Municipal Corporation (KMC).

On sunday, Jana Sena former legislator Chinthala Ramachandra Reddy and Jana Sena Telangana in-charge Shankar Goud discussed their respective strengths in Khammam.

BJP sources said that they offered 10 to 15 seats to the Jana Sena, which has been seeking 20-25 seats. In all there are 60 divisions in the KMC. However, there is uncertainty on whether the alliance was only for Khammam or for the entire state: Elections are also due to the Warangal Municipal Corporation and five other civic bodies. It is believed that the decision has been left for a later meeting between key leaders from both parties.

Recently, Jana Sena supported TRS candidate Surabhi Vani Devi for the recent Legislative Councill elections and not BJP nominee N. Ramchander Rao. Party leaders opined that this was because BJP did not take the Jana Sena cadre seriously.

It may be recalled that during the GHMC elections, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay had announced that they would not have an alliance with any party in Telangana. Ironically, two days later, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy and the partys OBC Morcha president Dr K. Laxman met Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and sought his party support in the GHMC elections. The actor-politician agreed and gave a call to his candidates to withdraw their nominations.

There is confusion over the alliance and none is sure how firm it is in Telangana.
A dire economic crisis and the "subversive" nature of the internet were on the agenda Saturday and Sunday as a historic congress of the Communist Party of Cuba meets ahead of longtime leader Raul Castro's departure from power.

Some 300 delegates from across the country are gathered in Havana for the congress, which began Friday and is being held behind closed doors.

Castro, 89, will step down as the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) first secretary -- the most powerful position in Cuba -- ending a near six-decade family hold on power that started in 1959 under his revolutionary brother, Fidel, who died in 2016.

The official handover of power to the first non-Castro is expected on the fourth and final day of the congress on Monday.

In the meantime, the delegates have been divided into three working committees to focus on the economy, "ideological activity," plus the party and leadership promotion.

Most urgent on the agenda is the economy, which plummeted by 11 percent in 2020 -- the worst decline since 1993 -- thanks in no small part to recent strengthening of the US embargo and the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, in his last major speech as party head, Castro called for "revitalizing the process of updating the economic and social model," an initiative he began in 2008 with the cautious opening of the private sector and foreign investment.

Cuba, with a population of approximately 11.2 million, faces recurrent shortages and must import 80 percent of what it consumes for lack of sufficient local production.

Nonetheless, Castro warned Friday that "there are limits that cannot be crossed" as the economy opens "because the consequences would be irreversible and would lead to strategic errors, to the very destruction of socialism."

- Social network 'subversion' -

Another touchy subject in Cuba is the mobile internet, which arrived on the island at the end of 2018 and has strengthened citizens' demands for civil society and is even used by some to encourage demonstrations, previously unheard of in the country.

Story continues

On Saturday, some 20 activists, independent journalists and artists said on Twitter that they had been prevented from leaving their homes by police, a technique commonly used by authorities to prevent dissident gatherings.

Slamming social networks for "subversion" and the propagation of what he called fake news, Castro said the platforms spread "a virtual image of Cuba as a dying society with no future, on the point of collapse, giving out under a social explosion."

The notion, which he said was favored by the United States, demands "urgent transformation... on the ideological front."

Ties with the United States, after a historic but temporary easing of tensions under president Barack Obama between 2014 and 2016, worsened under Donald Trump, who reinforced sanctions.

Castro will pass the reins to 60-year-old Miguel Diaz-Canel, who has already served as Cuba's president since 2018.

rd-ka/bfm/acb
RTHK: Moscow hits back at Czech expulsion of envoys

Moscow reacted furiously on Sunday to Czech allegations that two Russian spies accused of a nerve agent poisoning in Britain in 2018 were behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump four years earlier, which killed two people.

Prague on Saturday expelled no fewer than 18 Russian diplomats, prompting Russia's Foreign Ministry to vow on Sunday to "force the authors of this provocation to fully understand their responsibility for destroying the foundation of normal ties between our countries".

Late on Sunday, Moscow expelled 20 Czech diplomats in retaliation and said they must leave the following day.

The Czech Republic said it had informed Nato and European Union allies that it suspected Russia of causing the blast, and European Union foreign ministers were set to discuss the matter at their meeting on Monday.

The United States strongly backed Prague on Sunday, with the State Department commending its firm response to "Russia's subversive actions on Czech soil."

The row is the biggest between Prague and Moscow since the end of decades of Soviet domination of eastern Europe in 1989.

It also adds to growing tensions between Russia and the West in general, raised in part by Russia's military build-up on its Western borders and in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, after a surge in fighting between government and pro-Russian forces in Ukraine's east.

Russia said Prague's accusations were absurd as it had previously blamed the blast at Vrbetice, 300 kilometres east of the capital, on the depot's owners.

It called the expulsions "the continuation of a series of anti-Russian actions undertaken by the Czech Republic in recent years", accusing Prague of "striving to please the United States against the backdrop of recent US sanctions against Russia".

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the attack was aimed at a shipment to a Bulgarian arms trader.

"According to information, which has also been in the media, this was an attack on ammunition that had already been paid for and was being stored for a Bulgarian arms trader," he said on Czech Television.

He said, without naming the individual, that there was later an attempt to murder the arms trader.

Bulgarian prosecutors charged three Russian men in 2020 with an attempt to kill arms trader Emilian Gebrev, who was identified by Czech media as the same individual. Reuters was unable to reach Gebrev.

Czech police said they were looking for two men who travelled to the Czech Republic days before the blast under the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

Those names were the aliases used by the two Russian GRU military intelligence officers wanted by Britain for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. The Skripals survived, but a member of the public died.

The Kremlin denied involvement in that incident, and the attackers remain at large.

Czech interior and acting foreign minister Jan Hamacek said police knew about the two people from the beginning, "but only found out when the Salisbury attack happened that they are members of the GRU, that Unit 29155."

Hamacek said Prague would ask Moscow for assistance in questioning them, but did not expect it to cooperate.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted that the Czechs "have exposed the lengths that the GRU will go to in their attempts to conduct dangerous and malign operations".

A Nato official said the alliance would support the Czech Republic as it investigated Russia's "malign activities", which were part of a pattern of "dangerous behaviour".

"Those responsible must be brought to justice," added the official, who declined to be named.

The United States imposed sanctions against Russia on Thursday for interfering in last year's US election, cyber hacking, bullying Ukraine and other actions, prompting Moscow to retaliate.

On Sunday, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington had told Moscow "there will be consequences" if Alexei Navalny, the opposition figurehead who almost died last year after being given a toxin that Western experts say was Novichok, dies in prison, where he is on hunger strike.

The 2014 incident has resurfaced at an awkward time for Prague and Moscow.

The Czech Republic is planning to put the construction of a new nuclear power plant at its Dukovany complex out to tender.

Security services have demanded that Russia's Rosatom be excluded as a security risk, while President Milos Zeman and other senior officials have been putting Russia's case.

In a text message, Industry Minister Karel Havlicek, who was previously in favour of including Russia, told Reuters: "The probability that Rosatom will participate in the expansion of Dukovany is very low." (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Q1: What is the biggest issue the city of Orange faces, and how do you address it?

Q2: Why did you decide to run for mayor, and what makes you the best candidate?

Q3: Orange has made great strides in economic development. Whats the key to continue that momentum?

Larry Spears Jr. (I)

Age: 40

Occupation: Environmental Technician for Dow Chemical

Highest level of education: Graduated from Lamar Institute of Technology with an Associates Degree in Applied Science

Volunteer work, endorsements or previously elected office (up to three):

1. Orange City Council member

2. Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce board member

3. United Way of Orange County board member

A1: One of the biggest issues is for us as citizens is realizing how blessed we are and knowing that we achieve all of our goals by working together. To counter that, since Ive become mayor, Ive publicly proclaimed that we put God in everything we do. My job is to unify and enlighten the people so they know that if everyone contributes their talents, we grow and prosper. We have all the gifts we need, but we have to be a unit, a family to use our talents to bring forth our dreams.

A2: I have unfinished business. My slogan for this year is Purpose driven about my fathers business. At the end of 2019, I lost my father. In the middle of 2020, I lost my mother. My parents raised us with morals and showed us the way that God intended for us  our purpose in life. As Ive been in this position, Ive wanted to do things in God's will. With that, I know that I have unfinished business to complete his purpose for me.

A3: I firmly believe that the growth we see is because we put God first in everything we do. My job and council and staffs job is to love people where they are for who they are, and God does the rest. Thats why Orange is growing  we love people. Its not about left wing or right wing.

Related: Voter Guide: Orange Place 1

Charles Thomas

Age: 62

Occupation: Pastor, Bishop and Chief Apostle of One Way Outreach Ministries

Highest level of education: GED

Volunteer work, endorsements or previously elected office (up to three):

1. Food distribution in Port Arthur and Orange

A1: The biggest thing I hear people are concerned about is the water. I have to sit at the table with the drainage district. What do we have to do to drain the swamp, get all the things cleaned up so the drainage system runs. We also have a problem with our water. My wife was telling me our water is rusty and looks yellow. I didnt believe it (at first). The water condition has to be addressed.

A2: Im taking what I learned in Illinois, and I want to make Orange great again. It can happen, but everybody has to come together. Im running as a full-time mayor. Right now, you can go to the City Hall and pay your water bill, and I haven't seen the mayor's light on. Im going to break that. Ill be there. Ill be reachable, talkable. I want to show that we can make a difference. We can make a change, and the peoples concerns can be addressed.

A3: My whole perspective running for mayor is theres a lot of people that dont have jobs. You have all this infrastructure being built, but none of my brothers and sisters, niece and nephews have jobs in the city of Orange. I have a problem with that. I would have to see what we can do to put some of our residents to work. Im going to do every thing I can to help our city grow. Right now, when people pass through Orange, they pass right through. Theres no signs on I-10. Id like to talk to people about a big sign that says, Welcome to Orange.

Compiled by Kaitlin Bain

Read The Beaumont Enterprise's endorsement in this race here.
This is the moment a California cop shot dead a dangerous fugitive from 30 yards after he opened fire on the officer and tried to steal his motorcycle during a highway chase.

Dramatic body camera footage shows Fremont police officer Brian Burch, rolling down an embankment to escape a hail of bullets fired by attempted homicide suspect Joshua James Gloria, 34, before stumbling to his feet and returning fire.

Burch fired five shots at Gloria, from Oakland, before the suspect collapsed to the ground and died just before 2.50pm on March 24.

Police had wanted to question him about an armed robbery in San Francisco.

The video starts with Officer Burch, a six-year veteran who was on traffic duty, driving his motorcycle towards Gloria's car after being informed that it had activated a license plate reader camera nearby

Burch followed the car into a shopping center parking lot and asked him to pull over outside a Ross discount store, before the driver, identified as Gloria, drives off before eventually pulling over on State Route 84

Garcia was 34 and from Oakland

The video starts with Officer Burch, a six-year veteran who was on traffic duty, driving his motorcycle towards Gloria's SUV after being informed that it had activated a license plate reader camera nearby.

The silver SUV was reported stolen and allegedly used in an armed robbery in San Francisco, police said in a press release.

Burch followed the car into a shopping center parking lot and asked the driver to pull over outside a Ross discount store.

Video shows the officer approaching the SUV and saying, 'Hey pull in, stop, pull over man.'

Just seconds after Burch reaches the highway Gloria pulls over at the right-hand shoulder and begins to run away on foot. After Burch stops, Gloria (in red) turns his gun on him from just yards away and opens fire

'Oh s*** - shots fired!' Burch shouts as he rolls onto the ground as at least two gunshots are heard

The officer then gets back onto his feet and points his pistol at Gloria

Instead the driver, identified as Gloria, takes off through the lot with Burch in pursuit before pulling out onto the road outside and dramatically speeding up.

Burch follows at speed as other officers join the pursuit along an on-ramp up onto State Route 84.

Just seconds after Burch reaches the highway Gloria pulls over at the right-hand shoulder and begins to run away on foot.

After Burch stops, Gloria turns his gun on him from just yards away and opens fire.

'Oh s*** - shots fired!' Burch shouts as he rolls onto the ground as at least two gunshots are heard.

Burch fires two bullets at the suspect as he tries to steal the officer's bike

Burch fires a further three shots at Gloria as he runs away from the police bike

The suspect then falls to the ground, where he died. The San Jose Police Department had an arrest warrant for Gloria for attempted homicide and for illegally possessing a firearm while a felon

The officer then gets back onto his feet and points his pistol at Gloria, with Burch firing two bullets as Gloria tries to steal the officer's bike and then a further three shots as Gloria runs off and falls to the ground. He died at the scene.

The San Jose Police Department had an arrest warrant for Gloria for attempted homicide and for illegally possessing a firearm while a felon.

He was wanted for allegedly shooting someone several times at an illegal gambling hall. The victim survived, despite being hit in the back of the head while on the ground, CBS Local reported.

An investigation of the shooting by the California Highway Patrol and the Alameda County District Attorneys Office is ongoing.
This morning was one of the scariest moments of our entire lives. Im so grateful to be here still.

Im in excruciating pain because part of my back is broken and I have vertebrae fractures on my spine.

My doctor said it will take a few months but I should make a full recovery.  Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) April 17, 2021

This was hard but I had to go see my car today. Thank God a #RollsRoyce is built with highly reinforced steel because it saved our lives ???????? Time to heal and let my body repair. pic.twitter.com/5YY5CVpl1V  Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) April 17, 2021

Jeffree Star is in the makeup business, but hes also somewhat of a fixture in the auto community given his recently discovered passion for car collecting. His auto fleet is truly among the most impressive  and definitely the pinkest  in showbiz. It is also, as of the other day, one Rolls-Royce short.Star and his friend Daniel Lucas were involved in a severe accident near Casper, Wyoming, where the makeup mogul owns a ranch. According to his social media posts, the crash occurred when he hit a patch of black ice and lost control, flipping the vehicle down an embankment three times and hitting a mound of snow.Police say that drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the accident, but an investigation is still underway to determine if speeding may have played a part. Star was released from the hospital, though hes in for an extended recovery after partially breaking his back. Lucas, a cancer survivor, is still being kept for observation.Initial reports said Star was driving the custom Rolls-Royce Cullinan he took delivery of earlier this year. At over $500,000, it was described as the time as the most custom Black Badge Cullinan ever. For Star, it was only the latest pink car to add to his pink fleet, which includes a pink McLaren 570S and a pink BMW i8 Roadster, both by West Coast Customs, a pink Lamborghini Urus, and a pink Aston Martin Vantage, among others. He also owns a baby blue McLaren Senna in Tiffany & Co. custom paint.In his most recent social media post, Star reveals that it wasnt the pink Cullinan that got destroyed. He credits Rolls-Royce for building such impressive cars, which ultimately ended up saving his life. Photos of the wreck are included, and it looks like another, more stock Cullinan, was totaled. Not even Jeffree Star, the most eccentric appearance in showbiz in recent years, is in the mood for driving pink cars all the time.
Kangana Ranauts tweets always give daily fodder to the public who have been waiting to put her under the scanner. She shared a thought of the day but it backfired at her. She wrote, Who isnt loyal to parents will never be loyal to the nation or to love, disloyalty becomes an inbuilt trait and starts to feed on our confidence like termites. Loyalty isnt something others need, it is the fuel of our own integrity, most important to live well #thoughtoftheday.

Who isnt loyal to parents will never be loyal to the nation or to lover, disloyalty becomes an inbuilt trait and start to feed on our confidence like termites. Loyality isnt something others need it is the fuel of our own integrity, most important to live well #thoughtoftheday  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) April 18, 2021

People slammed her for this tweet as well as they were reminded of her not-so-old tweets about her father. She had written that her father owned a licensed rifle and guns and that her 'ribs trembled' when he'd scold her, as it was like he 'roared.' However, despite his aggressive nature, Kangana fought with him at the age of 15 and left home, becoming the 'first Baaghi Rajput woman at 15'. She added that her father wanted to make her the 'best doctor in the world and thought he was being a 'revolutionary papa' by giving her education in the best institutions. However, Kangana was not keen on it and revealed that he once tried to slap her when she refused to go to school. She shared that she famously told him 'if you slap me I will slap you back'.

My papa he wanted to make me the best doctor in the world, he thought he was being a revolutionary papa by giving me education in best institutions, when I refused to go to school he tried to slap me I held his hand and famously told him  if you slap me I will slap you back pic.twitter.com/5nU6x6iQtL  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 20, 2021

People werent quite convinced with her piece of advice and gave it back to her by sharing screenshots of her own tweets and even went on to ask if she was high when she tweeted about her own father.

Oh behanji, nobody has forgotten your tweet where you said, if your father slaps you, you will slap back. And now you talk about being loyal to parents. Which weed do you smoke?  Geethapriya Iyer (@sangeet7580) April 18, 2021

Ok Didi pic.twitter.com/wd80PserAm  Pranay Kumar Nayak (@Pranaywaaaa) April 18, 2021

Aren't you the same who once told her father "If you slap me I'll slap you back" ???



CBI Update On SSR Case  N!sth@ (@Its_Nistha) April 18, 2021

How her fictitious personality is falling apart... Recently she was proudly flaunting her rebellious behaviour against her father.. now calling such intents as antinational.. Take some rest mam.  @Opinion (@Opinion1999) April 18, 2021

We wonder how Kangana would react to this.

Meanwhile, Kangana has completed her ambitious biopic, Thalaivi. Based on the life of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, the film was slated for a theatrical release this month. However, it had to be postponed in wake of the recent surge in coronavirus cases. She also has two action films - Tejas and Dhaakad in the pipeline.
(Newser)  Dr. Anthony Fauci said Sunday that the pause on the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine could be lifted as soon as Friday. Restrictions on its use could be imposed, however, USA Today reports. The nation's top infectious disease expert made the rounds of the Sunday TV talk shows, addressing a series of pandemic issues. Here's a roundup:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration probably won't "just cancel" use of the vaccine over the fear of blood clots. "My estimate is that we will continue to use it in some form," Fauci said on NBC's Meet the Press. There could be "some sort or warning," he said, per CNBC, or guidance to be along the lines of, "OK, we're going to use it but be careful under these certain circumstances."

Americans should learn whether they'll need another vaccine dosea booster shotby late summer or early fall, per the Hill. Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have all indicated a booster probably will be required six to 12 months after a person has been fully vaccinated. The decision will depend on when immunity begins to fade, Fauci said on ABC's This Week.

story continues below

Masks are going to be a good idea for a while, given that vaccinated people could still pass the coronavirus to others without knowing it. Masks should be worn until the level of confirmed coronavirus infections falls significantly or more people are vaccinated, per the Hill. Vaccination doesn't eliminate the risk of becoming infected, Fauci said on Meet the Press, but "you dramatically diminish it." The CDC also recommends continuing to wear a mask, avoiding large crowds, and maintaining social distancing after vaccination.

"This is a public health issue," Fauci said. "It's not a civil liberties issue." He said he found Rep. Jim Jordan's claims to the contrary when questioning him during a hearing last week frustrating, per the Hill. Jordan said the pandemic restrictions backed by Fauci have trod on First Amendment rights. "I don't enjoy those kind of confrontations," he said on CNN's State of the Union. COVID-19 has killed more than a half-million people in the US. "That's the issue," Fauci said.

(Read more Anthony Fauci stories.)
A giant tower crane arrived Friday at the site of Harrisburg Universitys future Health Science Education Center and was assembled throughout Saturday.

A smaller crane also arrived on the site on Friday. Chestnut Street between South Second and South Third streets will be closed until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

What this means is construction on the 11-story, 210-square-foot facility at South Third and Chestnut streets has moved to its next phase - vertical construction. Baltimore-based Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., is the construction manager for the project, and Stantec, based in Butler County, is the architect and engineer. The construction project is expected to employ 150 people over the next two years.

Its expected to cost $100 million to complete.

Those driving or walking downtown shouldnt have any problem seeing the crane, which will be 255 feet at its highest point, taller than the Pennsylvania State Archives Building and the Kissing Tower at Hersheypark. Its maximum capacity of 35,275 pounds at its strongest point is the approximate weight of 14 Honda Civics.

READ MORE: 28 construction projects planned for Harrisburg

The building, slated to open in 2023, will accommodate at least 1,000 additional students. When completed, the facility will have nearly 170,000 square feet of educational space and 40,000 square feet of unfinished shell space.

The facility will include student service offices and spaces, advanced manufacturing educational and experiential learning spaces, health sciences educational and experiential spaces, interactive media educational and production spaces, as well as general-purpose education offices.

When it was first proposed, a 36-story building was planned. In 2019, Harrisburg City Council approved a smaller 17-story tower with a hotel. But when plans for the hotel were scrapped, the design had to be updated. Harrisburg City Council approved land development plans for the 11-story building in September 2020.

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
Apr. 18In April 1979, Amy Banks, then 17, had the strange, painful experience of picking up a copy of the Bangor Daily News to see two stories about her family.

One, headlining the sports section, was an article about Banks, a star basketball player for Brewer High School, being named to the Maine Girls' All-State Basketball Team for that year.

The other, on the front page of the paper, was a news story about how her father, University of Maine history professor Ronald Banks, had been murdered on April 12 in a robbery attempt outside a hotel in New Orleans, where he was attending an academic conference.

As grief washed over her and her family, Banks, now 59, recalls the numbness that set in, even as New Orleans police said they had arrested a suspect, a 17-year-old boy named Isaac Knapper. Knapper was tried as an adult and convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, one of the most notorious prisons in the country.

"I couldn't muster up any anger toward [Isaac]. It felt remote and distant," Banks said. "It always felt kind of off to me, when I thought about him, even when I thought he'd killed my father."

Banks' gut feelings were right. After 12 long years in prison, Knapper was released in 1991 after an array of prosecutorial misconduct was uncovered, including the fact that exculpatory evidence and police reports were improperly withheld by the prosecution during the trial.

With their lives inextricably linked by trauma, more than 40 years later, Banks and Knapper and their families have found within each other a path to healing and redemption. Together, Banks and Knapper have written a book, "Fighting Time," due for a November release, which details their shared struggles and how they have come to understand and heal from them.

"I hope that people will read this book and they will see how two people, from two different worlds, can come together and have a beautiful relationship, and not have any bad feelings in their hearts," said Knapper, 59. "I want people to understand the problems of systemic racism in this country. And I want people to understand that a person can be forgiven."

Story continues

Two lives, inextricably linked

Knapper, a New Orleans native, was at the time of his arrest a promising young boxer, winning a Golden Gloves championship at just 15. Though his career was stolen from him due to his wrongful conviction, he held the Louisiana Department of Corrections boxing title for 11 of the 12 years he was incarcerated, and after leaving Angola in 1991, he restarted his amateur boxing career, narrowly missing a spot on the U.S. boxing team at the Barcelona Olympics. From 1992 until 1998 he boxed professionally all over the U.S. and the world, and today he is the head trainer at the Crescent City Boxing Gym in New Orleans.

Banks had similarly high aspirations, in both athletics and in education. Her father grew up in a working-class family in Camden, and put himself through college, eventually getting a doctorate in history at the University of Maine. As a professor at UMaine, he was a favorite among his students, and became known statewide as a leading Maine historian, eventually publishing the book "Maine Becomes a State: The Movement to Separate Maine from Massachusetts."

As a child, Amy Banks excelled at school, though her passion lay with sports  softball, field hockey and eventually basketball. She was planning to play college ball for the University of Virginia, but after her father's death, she chose to attend the University of New Hampshire instead, to be closer to her family.

"My dad was also a student-athlete. He definitely straddled both worlds, in both academics and sports," Banks said. "He took me to try out for Bangor Little League, I remember, though they wouldn't let me play because I'm a girl."

Knapper and Banks were the same age when Ronald was murdered. Losing her father at such a young age changed the trajectory of Banks' life, and led her to change her field of study in college. She eventually attended Tufts Medical School in Boston, and she is now a psychiatrist and trauma specialist based in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Knapper's life was robbed from him, as prosecutors in Louisiana pinned the murder on him despite a lack of evidence and the fact that he wasn't even in the vicinity of the hotel when the killing occurred. He spent the rest of his youth in prison, until his mother and his lawyer, Laurie White, now a judge, filed a petition to release a previously withheld police report that exonerated him. To date, no one has been arrested for Ronald Banks' murder, though New Orleans police did have other suspects at the time of the killing.

Time waits for no one

Knapper was released from prison in 1991. Somehow, nobody involved in Knapper's release thought to contact the Banks family, who did not find out that he had been freed until 2004. Though he was exonerated from the murder, Knapper went back to prison in 1998 on drug charges, and served 17 years of a 20-year sentence, again at Angola.

Learning that Knapper was exonerated from the murder charges brought back a flood of emotions for Banks, and she and her family tried to do research to figure out what happened. Many of the official documents were sealed, however, so much of their understanding of the situation came from reporting done by the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

"We had to do a lot of soul searching, and studying what documents we could find," Banks said. "It took us a long time to really understand what had happened."

As part of the process of understanding the situation, Banks began to learn about the problem of wrongful convictions in the U.S.

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, since 1989, more than 2,700 people in the U.S. have been exonerated after wrongful convictions. Of that number, just over half are Black, and 12 percent are Hispanic. According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one out of every three Black boys born today can expect to be sentenced to prison, compared with one of every 17 white boys.

"I think, even in the midst of a renewed national focus on systemic racism, people still have a hard time pulling out the specifics of what it is in our society that allows things like this to happen," Banks said. "As a white person, I have to own that. I have to understand the roots of this. I have to do the work."

After publishing her first book, "Four Ways to Click: Rewire Your Brain for Stronger, More Rewarding Relationships," in 2015, Banks found herself at a crossroads in her life. She knew that even decades later, she still had not fully come to grips with the trauma of losing her father in such a horrific manner.

That summer, after many long, meditative bike rides through the mountains in Pennsylvania, she began to realize what she needed to do.

"It became clear that I had to reach out to Isaac. I was frozen, emotionally. I needed to try to unfreeze. And I knew opening up a dialogue with Isaac would help," she said.

An emotional story

White, Knapper's former attorney, arranged for a meeting between Banks and her sister, Nancy, and Knapper, at her judge's chambers in New Orleans back in 2015. Knapper was open to meeting, though he was a little nervous about how it would go.

When they met, Knapper could feel the emotional release. He asked if he could embrace Nancy, the youngest of the Banks children, who was just 8 when her father was killed.

"I could feel her pain. I thought about her so much, when she was just a little child losing her father," Knapper said. "When we hugged, I felt chills in my body. We didn't want to let go. All that pain and frustration just flooded out. I appear to be a hard person, but there were tears streaming down my face. We were all crying. It was very emotional."

Over the next few days, Knapper showed the Banks sisters around New Orleans. He showed them the Ninth Ward, the neighborhood devastated by Hurricane Katrina. And, he arranged to take them to Angola.

"They met the people I was best friends with. They got to sit and eat with them, and talk to them, and learn from them," he said. "It was an interesting journey for all of us. When we left the prison and we took them to the airport when it was time to leave, I didn't want to let them go."

Amy Banks and Knapper have maintained a close relationship ever since. Not long after their first meeting, they began to discuss the idea of writing a book about their shared experiences  something Knapper had already started while he was in prison. He had been in solitary confinement for nearly two years when White suggested he start writing his life story, as a way to use his time.

"I started writing about when I was 9 years old, when I first started boxing, and worked my way up from there," Knapper said. "It took me a long time, because they would only give me so many sheets of paper, and they gave me a pencil the size of my little finger, because you're not allowed to have anything bigger in the hole."

Eventually, Knapper had 400 pages of a manuscript. Banks then began writing her own tale, and over the course of several years, began to interweave both stories into what became "Fighting Time."

"We connected over our trauma, but over the course of writing this book and learning about each other, we came to realize our similarities as people," Banks said. "We are both caretakers. We both want to take responsibility for people, whether it's our family, or for him, the guys he works with that are getting out of prison and helping to transition into life outside."

Writing the book, Banks said, was liberating, for both her and for Knapper.

"Our lives are interconnected. And looking at that really deeply was incredibly cathartic," she said. "It's something that I hope resonates with people. Because it was incredibly meaningful for us."
is targeting no earlier than Monday, April 19, for the first flight of its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at approximately 03

in a press release said that data from the first flight will return to Earth a few hours following the autonomous flight.

"A livestream will begin at 6:15 am EDT , as the helicopter team prepares to receive the data downlink in the Space Flight Operations Facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)," the release said.

If the flight takes place April 19, a postflight briefing will be held at 2 pm EDT, the release added.

The original flight date of April 11 shifted as engineers worked on preflight checks and a solution to a command sequence issue. The rover will provide support during flight operations, taking images, collecting environmental data, and hosting the base station that enables the helicopter to communicate with mission controllers on Earth.

This technology demonstration is supported by NASA's Science, Aeronautics Research, and Space Technology mission directorates. JPL, managed for by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations for Ingenuity and the Mars 2020 rover.

(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 GF Value





The stock of Erie Indemnity Co (NAS:ERIE, 30-year Financials) appears to be modestly overvalued, 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 $227.31 per share and the market cap of $11.9 billion, Erie Indemnity Co stock gives every indication of being modestly overvalued. GF Value for Erie Indemnity Co is shown in the chart below.





Erie Indemnity Co Stock Appears To Be Modestly Overvalued

Because Erie Indemnity Co is relatively overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be lower than its business growth, which averaged 14.4% over the past five years.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

It is always important to check the financial strength of a company before buying its stock. Investing in companies with poor financial strength have a higher risk of permanent loss. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great way to understand the financial strength of a company. Erie Indemnity Co has a cash-to-debt ratio of 1.68, which is in the middle range of the companies in Insurance industry. The overall financial strength of Erie Indemnity Co is 6 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Erie Indemnity Co is fair. This is the debt and cash of Erie Indemnity Co over the past years:

Erie Indemnity Co Stock Appears To Be Modestly Overvalued

It is less risky to invest in profitable companies, especially those with consistent profitability over long term. A company with high profit margins is usually a safer investment than those with low profit margins. Erie Indemnity Co has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $2.6 billion and earnings of $5.61 a share. Its operating margin is 0.00%, which ranks in the bottom 10% of the companies in Insurance industry. Overall, the profitability of Erie Indemnity Co is ranked 7 out of 10, which indicates fair profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Erie Indemnity Co over the past years:

Story continues

Erie Indemnity Co Stock Appears To Be Modestly Overvalued

Growth is probably the most important factor in the valuation of a company. GuruFocus research has found that growth is closely correlated with the long term performance of a company's stock. The faster a company is growing, the more likely it is to be creating value for shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. The 3-year average annual revenue growth rate of Erie Indemnity Co is 14.4%, which ranks better than 83% of the companies in Insurance industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 5.2%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Insurance industry.

Another way to evaluate a company's profitability is to compare its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted 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 ROIC is higher than the WACC, it indicates that the company is creating value for shareholders. Over the past 12 months, Erie Indemnity Co's ROIC was 22.29, while its WACC came in at 4.26. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Erie Indemnity Co is shown below:

Erie Indemnity Co Stock Appears To Be Modestly Overvalued

In conclusion, the stock of Erie Indemnity Co (NAS:ERIE, 30-year Financials) is believed to be modestly overvalued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks in the middle range of the companies in Insurance industry. To learn more about Erie Indemnity Co 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.


KYODO NEWS - Apr 18, 2021 - 09:29 | Feature, All, Japan, Coronavirus

Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. has launched policies to cover people who take so-called "workations," permitting companies to allow their staff to combine work and pleasure while ensuring they are protected against various mishaps.

The policies, which went on sale earlier this month, consist of two products -- one for small and medium-sized companies and the other for individual customers -- that have become much more relevant as the coronavirus pandemic changes the way people work.

They cover medical expenses for injuries, repair costs for personal computers and theft while workers are away from home.

The government has been promoting the workation concept in the hope it will revitalize local economies hit hard by the pandemic.

Some local governments have been luring workationers by setting up special organizations to promote and communicate the benefits their regions have to offer, but many companies are reluctant to introduce the practice due to difficulties in managing labor issues and handling complications.

The major Japanese insurer said it developed the policies to address these problems.

The insurance for small and medium-sized companies covers repair costs for personal computers loaned by firms to their employees, for any loss of data or programs on the computers and medical expenses for the treatment of any injuries sustained by employees at workation destinations.

The premiums for corporate customers vary depending on the type of business and the companies' sales figures.

The individual insurance cover, meanwhile, includes medical expenses for all injuries and damage from theft.

The premium for individuals is just 500 yen ($4.60) per trip.

Related coverage:

Half of Japan's 30 nominated buzzwords for 2020 coronavirus-related

Tokyo added to travel subsidy program as discount raised to 50%

FEATURE: Japanese campsites draw crowds as people look to escape pandemic
LAMPUNG, Indonesia, Apr 18, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir was at the Port of Semangka Bay, Kota Agung, Tanggamus Regency to inaugurate the PERTAMINA PRIDE, the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) commissioned by Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), the shipping sub-holding of PT Pertamina.





Handover of PERTAMINA PRIDE VLCC model replica to SOE Minister Erick Thohir with PT Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati and Board of Directors of Pertamina and Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) at the inauguration, Semangka Bay, Lampung (4/15).





The ceremony was held onboard, the Minister joined by Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati and Director of Logistics and Infrastructure Mulyono, PIS President Director Erry Widiastono and PIS President Commissioner A. Junaedy Ganieand, and representatives of Pertamina management in Lampung.



Minister Erick said state-owned enterprises must contribute to maintaining Indonesia's energy security, with its natural wealth and natural products, while Pertamina was expected to help transform its units amid rapid ongoing changes, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Pertamina must remember its heyday in the 70s, become a global player and be ready to compete based on good corporate governance," said the Minister.



As a consumer-oriented shipping company, PIS continues to strive to meet energy needs by continuing to produce various breakthroughs. One of these is the PERTAMINA PRIDE. Built at the Japan Marine United (JMU) Shipyard since 2018 and sailing since February 9, 2021, this giant tanker was handed over, able to carry out its duties to distribute energy in Indonesian waters.



The tanker, which has a capacity of 2 million barrels, is a tangible form of PIS's commitment to improving quality and service. The PERTAMINA PRIDE aims to simplify the flow of energy distribution and secure the supply of captive crude to the Pertamina refinery FOB Ras Tanura to Cilacap more efficiently so that it is ready to become the lifeblood of the national energy distribution.



PIS also supports ambitions to become the leading integrated logistics company in Asia, centred on petroleum with new growth industries, integrated logistics and services, and green energy business segments. PIS formed a roadmap strategy of 3 phases, emphasizing the integration of PIS with other Pertamina subsidiaries, becoming an integrated logistics company in Indonesia, and becoming a sustainable and leading energy transportation company in the region.



President Director Nicke said investment in the two new vessels, PERTAMINA PRIDE and the PERTAMINA PRIME (under construction), were in line with shareholder directives to 'go global'. As a shipping company, Nicke continued, PIS was transforming into a globally integrated logistics solution provider as it not only had the ships, but facilities and storage at the port as well. "Thus, the value chain managed by PIS will also get larger," she said.



Energy Needs in Indonesia



There is an upward trend in consumption of the various energy and fuels, with Indonesia's total energy consumption increasing by a 3.5% CAGR from 100.1 million mtoe in 2000 to 185.5 million mtoe in 2018. PIS sees this energy consumption growing each year, from increasing demand for transport fuel to the widespread use of LPG for household needs.



"We see a significant increase in energy consumption in Indonesia, but we are optimistic that we can continue to meet energy needs for the country. The presence of PRIDE in Indonesian waters shows our determination to be a leading shipping company, regionally and internationally. Let's move towards the future together, 'Shipping The Energy Worldwide, Energizing The Nation With Pride, PT PIS Delivering Promises,'" said PIS President Director Erry Widiastono.



About PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS)



PT PIS, a sub-holding company of PT Pertamina (Persero), was established with a vision of becoming the leading shipping company in Asia, and driving economic growth in Indonesia. To realize this vision, PIS is aiming to be an agent of Indonesia's economic development with safe and sustainable operations, to become a trusted and reliable maritime partner, as well as creating value for stakeholders in running their business.



Media contact:



Roberth MV Dumatubun

E: roberth@pertamina.com

Manager, Stakeholder Relations

Pertamina International Shipping (PIS)

https://www.pertamina-pis.com



Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
Whats in a name? Apparently plenty for the members of the Sackler family, who plastered their surname on prestigious galleries and institutions while taking care to keep the source of their riches under wraps.

For years, their company Purdue Pharma had been in the news for creating OxyContin  the powerful painkiller whose introduction in 1996 ushered in a new era of both pain management and opioid addiction  while the Sackler name remained better known for philanthropy than for pharmaceuticals. I dont believe Purdue has a legal responsibility, one family member insisted in a deposition two years ago, when asked about the companys role in the opioid crisis. I mean, its very, very, very complex.

Taking cover under complexity has been a common strategy for tobacco companies and big oil  entities that have profited from disaster while seeking ways to avoid moral opprobrium and expensive accountability. Since 1996, 450,000 Americans have died from opioid overdoses, making them the leading cause of accidental death in the country. In Empire of Pain, Patrick Radden Keefe tells the story of how the Sackler family became a decisive force in a national tragedy. Prior to the introduction of OxyContin, America did not have an opioid crisis, Mr Keefe writes. After the introduction of OxyContin, it did.

In Empire of Pain, Mr Keefe, a staff writer for The New Yorker, traces the fortunes of the family dynasty at the centre of it all. What starts out as a humble origin story in 1913  the year of Arthur Sacklers birth in Brooklyn, to immigrants from Central Europe  becomes an engrossing (and frequently enraging) tale of striving, secrecy and self-delusion.

The first third of the book revolves around Arthur, who fulfilled his immigrant parents dreams by becoming a doctor. But as someone who had juggled multiple jobs in high school, Arthur was never content to practice medicine and simply leave it at that. He tried his hand at  and turned out to be extremely good at it. One of his inspired creations was a weekly paper for doctors called The Medical Tribune, which featured articles that were favourable to his clients. Arthurs imprint on the paper was everywhere, Mr Keefe writes, but initially his name could not be found anywhere on the masthead.

Arthur maintained that he wasnt trying to influence physicians, just to educate them. Among his biggest triumphs as an adman was the marketing of the tranquilisers Librium and Valium, beginning in the 1960s. The drugs manufacturer, Roche, insisted they werent addictive  even though the company had evidence showing they were. Once the patents on the tranquilisers were about to expire, Roche relented to government controls. By then, 20 million Americans were taking Valium, and Arthur was rich. The original House of Sackler was built on Valium, Mr Keefe writes, but Arthur would spend the rest of his life trying to downplay the connection.

Mr Keefe nimbly guides us through the thicket of family intrigues and betrayals  how Arthur purchased the patent medicine company Purdue Frederick for his brothers, Mortimer and Raymond, in 1952, before he grew apart from them; and how Arthurs heirs sold their shares to the surviving brothers after he died in 1987.





Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty Author: Patrick Radden Keefe Publisher: Doubleday Price: $32.50; Pages: 535

It was Raymonds son Richard who would push Purdue into the field of pain management. Mr Keefe portrays Richard as ambitious, arrogant and almost comically impatient. One of Purdues reliable if unglamorous best sellers was a laxative; a restless Richard leaned on his staff to get it to work more quickly.

But OxyContin was different. Its innovation resided in its time-release coating, intended to slow down delivery of its chief ingredient, oxycodone  an opioid twice as potent as morphine, even if physicians back then assumed it was weaker. Purdue decided it wouldnt correct this misapprehension; instead, the company instructed its salespeople to target family physicians, whom the company called opioid naive.

The Sacklers themselves were shrewd  insisting all along that they had no idea that an alarming number of Americans were getting addicted to their product. They also continued to obscure their family name behind the banner of Purdue Pharma. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanour charge for misleading regulators in 2007, the company perversely doubled down on opioids by developing a painkiller patch. But the Sacklers otherwise slashed spending on R&D, choosing instead to start siphoning off more and more money for themselves.

This strategy came in handy in 2019, when Massachusetts became the first state to sue Sackler family members by name, and their response was to declare Purdue Pharma bankrupt, which allowed them to obtain an injunction on any lawsuits; by then the family had looted its own company, Mr Keefe writes. Last month, the Sacklers offered to pay $4.275 billion from their personal fortune in an attempt to end thousands of lawsuits that have been filed against the company. Whether their bid is accepted remains to be seen.

Amid all the venality and hypocrisy, one of the terrible ironies that emerges from Empire of Pain is how the Sacklers would privately rage about the poor impulse control of abusers while remaining blind to their own. Mr Keefe describes a moment during congressional hearings last year, when Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi questioned Richards son, David, who tried to distance himself from a $22 million mansion his family had acquired by saying it was merely an investment property  as if that was exculpatory. But Mr Krishnamoorthi was having none of it: I would submit, sir, that you and your family are addicted to money.
on Sunday reported its highest single-day spike this year with over 6,000 new cases and about 149 deaths, as the country struggled to speed up its vaccination programme.

The previous highest surge was recorded last year on June 20 when the country reported 6,825 infections and 153 deaths.

The country on Sunday reported 6,127 new cases, pushing the country's infection tally to 756,285. The death toll rose to 16,243 with 149 more fatalities.

As the new cases shot up, the government announced that it will start vaccinating people in the 50-59 age group from April 21.

Previously, the immunisation drive was restricted to people above 60 years.

More than 1.3 million people have been vaccinated so far, which is just a fraction of the over 220 million population of

The vaccination drive in the country began on February 2 but it remains slow due to vaccine availability issues.

Covid Vaccine Global Access (COVAX), an international initiative aimed at equitable access to vaccines, was to supply around 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine by end of March.

However, COVAX later told the government that the vaccine would be supplied by June 30.

Now, is expecting to get 15 million doses from COVAX next month.

Following my meeting with Foreign Minister @HeikoMaas, I am happy to announce that Pakistan will receive 15 million doses of the #COVID vaccine under COVAX, with a commitment for these to be delivered by May, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted.

Currently, the country is mostly dependent on China for the COVID-19 vaccine. Some private companies have imported a limited number of Sputnik V vaccines from Russia.

(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.)
ARISS contact with school in Blue Mountains, Australia

An ARISS educational school contact is planned for Victor Glover KI5BKC with students at the Winmalee Public School, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia.

The contact is scheduled on Tuesday April 20, 2021 at approximately 08:28 UTC, which is 10:28 CEST.

The link to the ISS will be operated by the amateur radio telebridge station ON4ISS, located in Belgium.

School Information:

Winmalee Public School is situated in the town of Winmalee (approximately 7,860 residents) within the beautiful Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Winmalee Public School is one of 5 local primary schools and has an enrolment of 360 students. Winmalee Public is a Kindergarten to Year 6 School.

Winmalee Public School staff, students and the community work together to deliver a rich and diverse learning environment that nurtures the whole child. Our aim is to provide diverse educational experiences and opportunities that will engage and challenge all students to learn, discover and critically examine their world in order to become creative, informed and resilient individuals.



Students First Names & Questions:

1. Erin (10): What is the best way to describe the feeling of microgravity?

2. Indiana (6): How long does it take to travel to the Space Station from Earth?

3. Valentino (8): Have you ever seen a meteor pass through Earths atmosphere from the ISS?

4. Ivy (7): What experiments do you do at the International Space Station?

5. Ayva (9): Has anything ever gone wrong or required you to take emergency action while you have been on board the International Space Station?

6. Alberto (5): What happens if space junk hits the International Space Station?

7. Asher (11): What personal items would you take into space if allowedand why?

8. Charlotte (8): How many times a year do you get supplies delivered to the ISS?

9. Erin (10): What is the most difficult thing about being in space?

10. Indiana (6): What do you do for fun up there?

11. Valentino (8): As the ISS orbits the earth, can you see weather patterns like cyclones?

12. Ivy (7): Do you grow plants in the space station? If so, how?

13. Ayva (9): What is your daily routine on the ISS?

14. Alberto (5): How are crew members chosen to go out on a space walk?

15. Asher (11): Which animal species are currently on board the ISS and what is their purpose?

16. Charlotte (8): Does seeing Earth from a distance give you and your crew a different perspective on life?

17. Mrs B (Science teacher): What do you enjoy most about linking up with students from across the world as part of this amazing ARISS program?

18. Mrs B (Science teacher): Many of my students have talked about their dream to become astronauts. What would be your greatest advice for them?

ARISS CALENDAR

The ARISS Operations Team meets weekly by telephone conference and much more frequently via e-mail and telephone. Activities coordinated by the ARISS operations team will be announced in this public Google Calendar. These are the ARISS school contacts, HamTV activities (other than blank transmission) and SSTV activities.

Calendar integration features

On this page we show the ARISS contacts calendar in a Google Calendar format.

This calendar allows you to share ARISS contacts with other calendars or it allows you to integrate info about ARISS activities into your own calendar.

https://www.amsat-on.be/ariss-calendar-with-scheduled-contacts-by-the-ariss-operation-team/

About ARISS

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.



Gaston Bertels ON4WF
GOOD JOB! NEEDS WORK ... Fire response, shooting down Bird, road repairs

Good job! Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue crews will be able to reach structure fires, downed power lines and medical emergencies quicker when it completes a 3,500-square-foot addition to its station in the Village of Flat Rock. The addition will house bays for two fire trucks and two other emergency vehicles while the current garage space will be renovated for firefighter quarters, allowing Chief Will Sheehan to station a crew there 24-7. The change will shorten response time and improve our presence in the community, he said. Well be a little more available to the folks that live in Flat Rock. Blue Ridge covers most of the Village of Flat Rock, with Valley Hill and Green River fire departments covering smaller parts. We are the busiest department in the county and that doesnt show any signs of stopping anytime soon, Sheehan said. The chiefs at Valley Hill and Green River have expressed their excitement they will have additional personnel closer to them. Well actually shorten our response time to mutual aid calls.

Good job! State Sen. Chuck Edwards joined around a dozen colleagues, including three high-ranking Republican senators who are primary sponsors, as a cosponsor of Senate Bill 355, which would vastly improve public records law in North Carolina. The bill would require local and state agencies to keep a record of the reasons for hiring, firing, promotions, demotions and terminations and make the information a public record. Too often, the reasons for disciplinary actions for misconduct are never made public because under state law personnel files are kept secret from the public. Legislative support for the bill is not for the faint of heart. Edwards and the other sponsors can expect heavy pressure from state employees, teachers, law officers and other public employee lobbies to oppose it. Heres to standing strong for good public policy.

Needs work  The City Council did not give Bird a fledglings chance before shooting it down. The rideshare company last month asked the city for permission to place around 50 electric scooters around town. The council and its Downtown Advisory Committee said no without any formal public input or scarce open-meeting discussion. Its a missed opportunity to offer a fun and useful amenity that would appeal to young families, tourists and  yes  adventurous retirees looking for an enjoyable way to zip from shop to shop.

Good job! The NCDOT is finally getting around to replacing a culvert that washed out a section of Kanuga Lake Road almost year ago. A heavy rainstorm in May caused the damage, which has kept the road closed.

Needs work  The DOT is only now beginning to move toward a repair of a sinkhole on the U.S. 25 Connector northbound on-ramp to I-26. That job involves a deep dig to replace pipes, DOT engineer Lonnie Watkins told the Lightning. No word on when crews will replace the collapsed culvert at Appledore Avenue, which has also been closed since last spring.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said in an interview with the media that at present there is no need to put a hasty lockdown in India. Amit Shah said that the situation with complete lockdown has not yet arisen in the country. "Like last year, can the lockdown control covid and it is needed now?", Amit Shah said in response to this question, discussing the current conditions of covid in India with several teams of experts. The purpose of the lockdown last year was different. We were planning for infrastructure and treatment at that time. We wanted to prepare a plan to fight against Corona. We had no medicine or vaccine. But now the situation is different. Nevertheless, we are discussing with CM. Whatever the consensus, we will proceed accordingly. But at present, the situation is not visible in the country like putting a lockdown on the pits'.'

Coronavirus growing among election rallies and campaigning? In response to this question, Amit Shah said, "See what elections are going on in Maharashtra right now, but 60 thousand cases are coming out there every day." Here (West Bengal) there are 4 thousand cases. I am also kind to Maharashtra. And for whom (West Bengal) is also compassionate. It is not right to associate covid with the election. In the states where elections were held, there are not many cases. Where elections were not held, there have been more increases. Now, what will you say about this? People come to your election rallies and roadshows without a mask? On this, Amit Shah said that all people should be cautious during the covid period. I also follow the Corona guidelines. Elections are an important part of democracy. When elections are announced, we have no choice".

You are the home minister of the country. Last time, when covid grew in Delhi, you worked with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, what are you doing this time? Amit Shah said, "The Prime Minister of this country (Narendra Modi) has taken three-four decisions. To accelerate vaccination, foreign vaccines have been permitted. Corona vaccines have been approved for use in the US, the UK, the European Union and Japan, to allow rapid approval here. Steps have been taken to increase vaccine production. We are taking steps to improve the facilities. This epidemic (by its nature) spreads rapidly. The government is ready to fight against it on every front. We are sending ventilators, new covid-19 hospitals are being set up.

This year will be worse than last year, Corona wreaks havoc in India

P Chidambaram slams PM Modi says, "Thank you for leaving the Bengal war and..."

Surat: 6 arrested for black-marketing of Remdesivir
LONGUEUIL, Quebec, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX-V: RGD) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") has opted to include the NW Extension Project in Suriname in the Strategic Alliance. The 925 square kilometres NW Extension Project area sits within the Northern Greenstone Belt of Suriname, 60 kilometres to the west-southwest of the capital, Paramaribo, and 70 km northwest of the Rosebel mine (Figure 1).



The interpretation of available geophysical data indicates that the large, greenstone belt-scale geological structures associated with gold mineralization at the Rosebel gold deposit extend to the northwest under cover of recent sediments, underlying the project area footprint. To refine this observation and generate targets, the Alliance partners are planning to conduct a detailed airborne magnetic survey in the first quarter of 2021. Targets generated by the survey may be tested by drilling later in 2021.

As per the Strategic Alliance Agreement, the exploration costs spent on the project will be funded on a 50:50 basis between the Company and Barrick.

The mineral rights related to this project are under option from a Surinamese company for an initial period of 11 years. Upon exercise of the option to acquire 100% of the project, the rights holder would retain a 0.25% net smelter royalty.

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Carlos. H. Bertoni, P.Geo., the Company's Acting CEO. Mr. Bertoni is a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the TSX Venture Exchange policies) accept responsibility for this press release's adequacy or accuracy.

Cautionary statement

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements about the conduct of exploration work on the NW Extension Project and other statements relating to technical data. Although we believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of our management on the date the statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

About Reunion Gold

Reunion Gold Corporation is a leading gold explorer with a portfolio of projects in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, all located in the Guiana Shield, South America. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'RGD.' Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and the Company's website (www.reuniongold.com).

For further information, please contact:

REUNION GOLD CORPORATION

Carlos Bertoni, Acting CEO

Paul Fowler, Manager, Corporate Development

Telephone: +1 450.677.2585

Email: info@reuniongold.com

Figure 1: Location map of the NW Extension Project permits, showing the greenstone belts of eastern Suriname (green) with interpreted geological structures related to gold mineralization in the region (dashed grey lines). Also shown are the Rosebel, Saramaca and Merian gold deposits.
Iran releases Christian convert imprisoned for membership in evangelistic group

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Authorities in Iran have released a 37-year-old Iranian Christian convert four months early after he tested positive for COVID-19, according to a report.

Majidreza Souzanchi, who was arrested in 2017 for his association with a house church and being involved in evangelism, was released from Tehran Greater Prison on April 8, about four months before he was to be released after he contracted COVID-19 in that prison, International Christian Response reported on Friday.

In April 2018, Judge Ahmed Mashallah at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced the convert to five years in prison  the maximum possible sentence for the charges he faced, which were membership of evangelistic groups and conducting evangelism, Article 18, a United Kingdom-based watchdog group that promotes religious freedom and tolerance for Christians in Iran, previously reported.

In December 2018, Judge Hassan Babaei at Branch 54 of the Tehran Regional Court of Appeals reduced Souzanchis sentencing to two years. However, he was also accused of theft  a charge he denies  and sentenced to two additional years.

After serving the sentence related to Christianity, Souzanchi was transferred from Evin Prison to Tehran Greater Prison to serve the sentence for theft.

He was arrested and sentenced alongside a 19-year-old woman, Fatemeh Mohammadi, who was sentenced to six months in prison for membership of an evangelical group. She was released after sentencing as she had served her time in the womens ward of Evin Prison.

Christians in Iran witnessed an unprecedented wave of raids on house churches toward the end of 2018 in which more than 100 Christians were arrested, according to Article 18. Most of them were released after a few hours after they wrote down details of their Christian activities and were ordered to have no more contact with other Christians.

Last January, a 21-year-old Iranian Christian convert, Fatemeh Mohammadi, who prefers to go by the name Mary since her spiritual conversion, was arrested during an anti-government protest in Tehran.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that Mary was detained near Azadi Square in Tehran, where protests occurred after the Iranian military shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane and killed 176 people. She published a series of tweets on the day she was arrested, saying that the Iranian people faced soft repression in Iran as the regime creates false beliefs through selective coverage of the news.

The Iranian government uses Articles 489, 499 and 500 of the countrys Penal Code to prosecute Christians for their peaceful religious activities. The country has consistently been labeled by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for egregious violations of religious freedom.
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The day after the recent Atlanta murders at Asian-run massage parlors, my 87-year-old Cuban mother called me. Im worried about you, she said. Be careful where you go and dont tell anyone your last name.

I reassured her Im safe. Santa Fe, where Im currently staying, is far from my home in New York City where anti-Asian attacks, such as the recent vicious assault on a woman in midtown Manhattan, take place.

My mother was still skeptical. Finally, I found myself saying, Dont worry, Mami, you know I dont look Chinese. A second later, I was horrified when I realized I was trying to comfort her by negating my father and his lineage.

How could I have said that? I am an artist whose work delves into my multiracial heritage. I write about immigration and my family histories. I consider myself a proud Cuban-Chinese American. Yet, in that moment, my safety was in my ability to pass.

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................................................................

Whats wrong with that, you may ask. Passing as white is a luxury that my generic olive skin tone often affords me, but it comes at a price. When others assume racial similarity, Im basically remade in their image, and I allow it. Why? Because not being seen as similar enough can lead to anything from uncomfortable micro-aggressions (What kind of name is that?) and racist outbursts (Youre not American enough to tell me what to do.) to bodily harm. Ive experienced the first two many times, and my mother fears the third.

This kind of self-negation is invisible except to those who are potentially affected by it. When Black parents have the talk with their children, when a Muslim woman calculates its safer not to wear her hijab, when my mother urges me not to tell people my last name  these are examples of a system that, instead of protecting the vulnerable, makes them prioritize their safety above identity.

I dont say this to point fingers, but instead to underscore the insidiousness of racism. As long as it is safer for those who are thought of as other or different to pass, we will continue to ignore the fear that simmers in our society, which easily infects so many of us  those who hate, those who are hated, and those who think they are immune.

Since the start of the pandemic, for example, hate crimes against Asian Americans have soared 150% across the country. Thanks to the former president, we can see a through-line from so-called jokes about the China virus and other anti-Asian rhetoric directly to hateful and even murderous actions.

In the face of such violence, I applaud President Joe Bidens statement that we cannot remain silent and appreciate such celebrities as Shonda Rhimes, Daniel Dae Kim and Lin-Manuel Miranda speaking out. Its also extremely important to support such organizations as Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and #StopAsianHate that fight against Asian American racism. But I worry this isnt enough.

We can begin dismantling this system only by shedding light on the subtle ways we are preserving it. Its not enough to say, Im not a racist. We must, as individuals and as a country, work towards being anti-racist. We need to recognize the ways we equate someones worth with their job, education, neighborhood, societal status or appearance.

Building a truly anti-racist society begins by educating ourselves on our blind spots. In doing so, we can better see the extent of an insidious system that advantages some and renders others vulnerable. It wont be easy, but unless were willing to do it, we will continue to tolerate this cycle of violence against others and ourselves.

Katarina Wongs artwork has been shown nationally and internationally, and her writing has appeared in numerous publications.
International travel has been on the back burner for most people since the coronavirus pandemic first hit, but vaccinated Americans may soon have the opportunity to stroll along the Seine in Paris once again.

French President Emmanuel Macron appeared on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday. During the interview, he told host Margaret Brennan that France is looking to "progressively lift" travel restrictions at the beginning of May, and U.S. citizens are part of that plan, though they will likely have to carry a "special pass" as proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Macron said there's been discussions with the White House about how the formal process will work, though It sounds like it's still too early to pinpoint a specific target date. But if things move forward as planned  the strategy could certainly change depending on the course of the virus  it likely won't be too long before folks can hop on a plane.

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Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low around 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low around 65F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
(Newser)  You'll recall that famous scene in Titanic when Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack, clinging to a wooden door in the frigid ocean, lets go. His companion, Kate Winslet's Rose, eventually gets the attention of rescuers in the lone lifeboat that had returned to the scene to search for survivors. The true story, however, happened differently. A single lifeboat was searching for survivors of the April 1912 disaster when it came upon a man holding tight to a wooden door, "shivering but still alive," per the BBC. It was Fang Lang, one of six Chinese survivors of the sinking. Unfortunately, those survivors were in for more hardship, as told in new documentary The Six. Within a day of arriving at New York's Ellis Island, Lang, Lee Bing, Chang Chip, Ah Lam, Chung Foo and Ling Hee were expelled from the US under the Chinese Exclusion Act, which blocked Chinese immigration.

story continues below

Amid anti-Chinese sentiment, media outlets suggested the six had disguised themselves as women to get in lifeboats, or had hidden under seats. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle referred to them as "creatures" who'd concealed themselves "at the first sign of danger." But British director Arthur Jones found no evidence of this, with his team even constructing a replica of the lifeboat to establish that it wasn't possible to hide unseen on it. The men, thought to be professional sailors seeking work in the Caribbean, were sent to Cuba, then made their way to the UK, where discrimination reared its ugly head again. Fang eventually became a US citizen but never told his wife and son he'd been on the Titanic, something his son attributes to trauma and stigma. The BBC notes the filmdebuting Friday in China, per NBC News"has taken on particular resonance today following recent anti-Asian abuse in the US." (Read more Titanic stories.)
The Czech Republic has blamed a series of mysterious 2014 explosions at Czech ammunition depots on an elite unit of Russias military intelligence service  a group that Britain has linked to a 2018 attack with a nerve agent on a former Russian spy in Salisbury, England.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said at a Prague news conference on Saturday (Sunday AEST) that his government would respond by expelling 18 Russian diplomats, whom it had identified as spies. He said there was clear evidence, assembled by the Czech intelligence and security services, showing reasonable suspicion that the Russian group, known as Unit 29155, had been involved in the blasts in late 2014, which killed two Czechs.

A policeman watches in front of The Russian Federation embassy building on April 17, 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic. Credit:Getty Images

The announcement underscored the breadth of Russias efforts to expand its influence and pursue aggressive actions around the world, including military-style operations, assassinations and cyberattacks.

The elite Russian unit has operated for at least a decade, focusing on subversion, sabotage and assassination beyond Russias borders. It first came to light after the March 2018 attack in Salisbury, England, on a turncoat Russian ex-spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, using the nerve agent Novichok. Both fell gravely ill but recovered.
An event on the exchange between Vietnamese and Chinese folk music culture was held Saturday in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

Hosted by the Confucius Institute at Hanoi University, the event featured performances by Vietnamese students of the two countries' folk music, including adaptations of famous Chinese and Vietnamese folk songs and Quan Ho singing, a traditional Vietnamese music style that entered the Intangible Cultural Heritage list of the International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2009.

During the performances, Vietnamese experts also illustrated the characteristics of folk songs from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Quan Ho singing.

"In the time of global integration, there is a greater need for young people to learn and promote the folk songs and culture from different ethnic groups," said Dinh Thi Thanh Nga, head of the department of Chinese language at Hanoi University, at the event.

Such an exchange of Vietnamese and Chinese folk songs would help the peoples of the two countries know each other better, deepen the friendship between the countries, and facilitate the multi-dimensional cooperation within the region, Nga said.

Peng Shituan, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, attended the event.

The event was part of a program initiated by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on cultural exchanges between young people from the six countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, namely China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.




Reaffirming its commitment to fast-tracking the localisation of Saudi industry, Arabian Power Electronics Company (APEC), a subsidiary of Eram Group, inaugurated its new, state-of- the-art production facility on February 1. This regional expansion will enable the transfer of power electronics technology to the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 to grow and diversify the economy.

The production facility advances the companys intent to become a pioneer of power electronics in the Middle East.

The focus of companies in the industry must be on localising technologies and create promising job opportunities for young people in the country, especially Saudi engineers, said Eram Group Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Siddeek Ahmed.

Located in Dammam 3rd Industrial City, APECs new 9,600 sq m facility will manufacture a wide range of products that contribute to a robust supply chain. The facility contributes towards the domestic economy by focusing on local products and talent development, using an advanced power electronics training institute created in-house.

The extensive product range covers industrial and commercial UPS systems, industrial battery chargers/rectifiers, frequency converters, system integration capabilities of variable frequency drives, solar projects and customised product development for client-specific requirements.

Jacob Thomas, APEC Chief Executive Officer, opened proceedings in the presence of Saudi Aramco and Eram Group representatives, tracing the exceptional growth of APEC since its inception and highlighting its reputation as a market leader in its field in Saudi Arabia and exporting products to GCC and other countries.

Salem Al Huraish, General Manager of Procurement at Saudi Aramco, highlighted that APECs facility is an important validation of Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudi Aramcos localisation programme, iktva, which is helping to drive it.

Bringing sophisticated technologies to the Kingdom is one component, being able to export products with a 'Made in Saudi Arabia' stamp on them will be another.

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic illustrated the significance of a robust local supply chain. The new manufacturing facility for critical products takes the Kingdom one-step closer to a sustainable economy, contributing to a world-class supply chain and enabling a generation of highly skilled local talent.

Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman & Managing Director of Eram Group, expressed his gratitude to Saudi Aramco for its focus on localisation and setting standards for other companies.

He complimented the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (iktva) programme and its support for locally-manufactured products, adding that Eram Groups other verticals in the manufacturing and services sector had increased their localisation scores.

"iktva intends, over the decade, to drive the supply chain and increase localization levels across the Kingdom, he said. The opening of this world-class facility is a real feather in Eram Groups cap, and we are grateful for the continuous support from organizations in the industry to help us expand our footprint in the Kingdom."

At the event, the Saudi Aramco representatives also launched two new 'Made in Saudi Arabia' Battery chargers, SCR and explosion-proof types, illustrating the potential for local manufacturers to compete at the global level. --Tradearabia News Service
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Two school friends have died on their way to a party in a car carrying seven teenagers, including two in the boot.

Buckley Spicer, 16, and Luke Hopkins, 15, died after the grey Ford Falcon sedan they were passengers in went around a bend and then crashed into a tree in Kalgup, near Busselton, Western Australia on Saturday night.

All passengers in the car attended Cape Naturaliste College in Vasse and are believed to have been on their way to a party.

Buckley Spicer, 16, died while in the back seat of a Ford Falcon sedan that crashed into a tree

Luke Hopkins, 15, died after the car accident

'It appears a grey Ford Falcon sedan was being driven east on Doyle Road, when it failed to negotiate a bend in the road, left the carriageway and struck a tree,' WA Police said.

'At the time of the crash it is believed there were seven people in the vehicle, including two people travelling in the boot of the vehicle.'

Police said they were advised of the crash at 8.50pm on Saturday and the two decreased teenagers were in the back seat of the vehicle.

The female driver, 17, was taken to Royal Perth Hospital by helicopter to treat serious injuries.

The four remaining passengers  one girl and three boys all aged between 15 and 16 years old - were taken by ambulance to hospitals in Busselton and Bunbury.

They are all in still hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police are reportedly not ruling out alcohol as a factor in the incident, reported the West Australian.

Luke Hopkins (pictured) and the other teenagers in the cat attended Cape Naturaliste College

South West Superintendent Geoff Stewart said the tragic deaths had affected the regional community and police force.

'Once again we have a country community that is going to suffer ... as a result of some road trauma. We have police in contact with the families ... you can imagine how everyone must be feeling,' said South West Superintendent Geoff Stewart.

'The worst thing about being a copper in the country is when people in the country lose their lives, we always know who they are or who they're connected to.

'It's a shocking thing and it's something now this community is going to have to support, with love and affection, all those families involved.'
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 01:00:15|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, receives interview after a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Georges Schneider/Xinhua)

China believes that the Joint Commission should continue to focus on the "more substantive work" of sanction-lifting through the two major processes -- the nuclear implementation and sanctions-lifting working groups' work, and the "proximity talks" with the United States.

VIENNA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Saturday urged all parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to immediately start negotiating the specific formula of sanction-lifting.

Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, made the appeal here after attending a new round of meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission.

"China has drawn much encouragement that the Joint Commission has, over the two days, come back to its normal track with productive and constructive work," he said.

"China maintains that all U.S. sanctions should be lifted immediately," be it sanctions against Iran, or its long-arm jurisdiction measures on third-party entities and individuals, including those on the Chinese, he noted.

China believes that the Joint Commission should continue to focus on the "more substantive work" of sanction-lifting through the two major processes -- the nuclear implementation and sanctions-lifting working groups' work, and the "proximity talks" with the United States, said the envoy.

According to him, China will continue to work with all parties concerned to push the U.S. and Iran to resume negotiations on the implementation of the JCPOA for early and tangible results.

Saturday's talks were chaired by Enrique Mora, the deputy secretary general and political director of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran attended the meeting, according to a press release from the EEAS.

Photo taken on April 15, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)
A mourner was killed and another five were injured after a gunman opened fire at a vigil for a man shot dead last week.

A group had gathered in the parking lot of a Dollar General in Truro Township near east Columbus Saturday night for the vigil to honor someone killed in a Columbus Police Department homicide last week.

Shortly after 7.30pm, a gunman opened fire at the event, killing one person and injuring five more, according to a Columbus Police Department spokesperson.

A mourner was killed and another five were injured after a gunman opened fire at a vigil for a man shot dead last week

A group had gathered in the parking lot of a Dollar General in Truro Township near east Columbus Saturday night for the vigil to honor someone killed in a Columbus Police Department homicide last week

Shortly after 7.30pm, a gunman opened fire at the event, killing one person and injuring five more, according to a Columbus Police Department spokesperson

Both Columbus Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene

Local resident Jacqueline Smith was horrified at the mass shooting while people were trying to mourn for another shooting victim.

'I mean, it's sad,' she told Fox8.

'For you to even a person already, a family lost a person already, and for someone to come and do something like that, it's just sad.'

Both Columbus Police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene.

The police have not released any information about the suspect or victim.
This is Peter Hitchenss Mail on Sunday column





At last we are to get out of Afghanistan, a country to which we should never have sent a single soldier. I am still full of fury at the shallow and ignorant politicians of all the main parties who sent young men and women into that futile war, to die or to be maimed, for absolutely no purpose.

But as this long-overdue moment arrives, a frantic lobby in this country and in the USA wants to get us into a new and equally pointless war against Russia. As I know a bit about Russia, and once lived there, I'd like to warn against this.

Yes, Russia is ruled by nasty, sinister despots. But it is not a major threat to us. We have no disputes about territory or trade. Its leaders and people care little about us. It is a defeated, poor country with an economy about the same size as Italy's, which has been in headlong retreat and decline since the 1980s. Once it ruled a vast empire that began at Marienborn in the middle of Germany, less than 500 miles from Calais. Now it is almost 1,500 miles from the Channel to Russia's western frontier. It controlled a vast military alliance and an economic bloc, now both very dead.

It maintained a global navy, most of which was long ago turned into fridges and washing machines. Much of the rest is so decrepit it can barely leave harbour. It was the headquarters of a stupid dogma, now finished and gone, which it tried to spread throughout the world. All this is over. Moscow has abandoned control of tens of thousands of square miles of territory in Europe and Asia and knows it lacks the power to get it back. Let me explain how this feels to Russians by asking you to imagine a mirror image. Imagine that the USA had lost the Cold War and the USSR had won it.

Think how it might be if Moscow had then treated the USA as Washington has treated Russia. This is what you might have seen: Instead of Ukraine being detached from Moscow rule, and slowly reeled into Nato and the EU, imagine that an equally huge, fertile, productive and strategic chunk of the USA, including Texas and California, was encouraged to declare independence and form a new Spanish-speaking nation hostile to the USA. Impossible? Hardly. This part of the US was seized by armed force from Mexico in the 1840s, and it is only the USA's superpower status which prevents this grab from being questioned in the same way that Russia's former hold over Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Baltic states was questioned after 1989.

Imagine constant efforts to get this new North American nation to join the Warsaw Pact military alliance, and Comecon, Moscow's economic and trading bloc. And picture at the same time the spread of the Warsaw Pact and Comecon into most central and South American countries, along with major gifts of modern Soviet weapons and aircraft. Imagine that Nato has been abolished under Soviet pressure, as the Warsaw Pact was wound up under US pressure. And imagine also that almost all of Nato's non-US members have not stayed neutral, but have been gathered into the Warsaw Pact under the ultimate command of Moscow. The permanent stationing of large numbers of well-armed Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops and warships in Cuba would undoubtedly follow. And to add to the mix, think how it might be if Quebec finally broke away from Canada, with Moscow's encouragement, and allowed Warsaw Pact troops to be based along the USA's northern border.

At 335 miles from New York City, this is nothing like as close as Nato troops (often to be seen in Narva, Estonia) now are to Russia's second city St Petersburg, 99 miles from the Estonian frontier. I think the people of what was left of the USA, and its political leaders, would chafe quite a lot at such an arrangement. In fact they would be fearful and angry and perhaps inclined to lash out. Militant American nationalists would sweep to power in the Capitol and the White House.

They might even re-annexe Texas, if they got the chance, in the face of international disapproval. They would ask which country the Warsaw Pact was aimed at. They would object to every move which brought Moscow's military power and alliances closer to the borders of a diminished USA. They would wonder what the ultimate aim of these actions was. And they would be quite within their rights to do so. The best test of whether your own policy is good or bad is to imagine how it would feel if your foes did the same thing to you.

On this basis, our policies towards Russia are dangerous and aggressive. If we want a peaceful and friendly Russia, then our actions are stupid, ignorant and counter-productive. Vladimir Putin could turn out to be mild compared with what we get if we stir up the true spirit of Russian nationalism. Please don't be seduced into supporting this folly. A war on European territory could be a truly terrible thing.

Kind Shirley's cruel legacy

The long, bad legacy of Shirley Williams will continue to blight the country for decades after her death. As it happens, I liked her and knew her to be a kind and thoughtful person. But her part in destroying good state education, by abolishing grammar schools, cannot be forgotten or forgiven. Nice people can do bad things. Those few hundred academically selective schools, which favoured talent over wealth, kept our whole education system honest. They rivalled or beat the expensive 'public' schools at their own game. Once most of them closed, our entire exam system had to be watered down and weakened, because the new comprehensive schools couldn't cope with proper standards. And now, with many universities openly abandoning the requirement that work should be done in good English, we see the depth and strength of this damage. These are universities, supposed to be nurseries of excellence.

But increasingly they are nothing of the kind. Education is about authority. People with knowledge, and a clear idea of what it is important to know, pass this on to the next generation. The process starts with reading itself, and such things as times tables. Both of these require hard learning and the marking down of mistakes. When the time comes to take responsibility, and to think critically, people who have never learned the basics properly will not know where to begin. And we now see this in so much of our daily life and politics. In the end, even people such as Shirley Williams will not be insulated from the dire results.

*****

Much as it delights me to see David Cameron in trouble over his lobbying, I have to ask why it is that we have to wait for sleaze to bring such people down. Why do they so seldom fall because of their political bungles and wrongdoing? Sleaze may sweep away individuals, but it does not undo their policies nor replace them with anyone better.

Mr Cameron was one of the worst Prime Ministers we ever had. His Blairite takeover of the Tory Party (which has not been reversed, whatever they may tell you) robbed conservative-minded people in this country of any true voice at Westminster. His foolish war in Libya turned that nation from a stable tyranny into a pit of fire and blood, which will end up as a tyranny again but after countless avoidable deaths which are Mr Cameron's fault. It also breached a major defence against people-trafficking and helped to destabilise the whole of Europe.

That's what matters. If he hadn't done these things, a bit of cronyism wouldn't really trouble me all that much.

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Dhaka, April 18 : Mirza Abbas, a leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has urged the expulsion of some "snakes" from the party who he held responsible for the 2012 disappearance of another senior member M Ilias Ali.

"A night before Ali disappeared, he was locked in an altercation with a man in the party office. Ali hurled abuse at him during the argument. The 'snakes' are still in the party. If they are not expelled from the BNP, then the party will not be able to move forward under any circumstance," Abbas said on Saturday while virtually addressing the party's Secretary General, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, regarding the disappearance.

Without mentioning any names, Mirza, a member of BNP's Standing Committee, said many were already aware of the "faces of those people hiding inside the party".

He also claimed the ruling Awami League (AL) government did not abduct Ali, the then organising secretary of the BNP.

"I know the AL government did not abduct him. So who abducted him? I want to know this from the government. A political leader went missing from the country. One of our leaders, Salauddin, was trafficked out of the country. Our Chowdhury Alam was a victim of forced disappeared. I convinced myself that this government did not do it. So who actually did it? Couldn't the government bring those criminals to book?" he queried.

Ali with his personal car driver were reported missing on April 18, 2012, from Dhaka.

Later that day, local police recovered his abandoned car near his residence in Banani neighbourhood and found the driver's mobile phone inside.

They have not been seen since.
On April 5, a 27-year-old Kyrgyz woman named Aizada Kanatbekova was kidnapped in broad daylight by three men in Kyrgyzstans capital, Bishkek.

The kidnapping was caught on CCTV. Kanatbekova's family quickly phoned police. And yet almost nothing was done to find her. Two days later, Kanatbekova and her abductor were found dead: she from strangulation and he from suicide, in a car outside of Bishkek.

Days later, a group of women in Bishkek demonstrated against gender violence, only to have their rally broken up by a group of violent men.

A few days earlier, on April 1, the body of 19-year-old Muhlisa Adambaeva was found in Uzbekistans western Khorezm Province. She had hanged herself after being beaten by her husband and mistreated by her husbands family.

Kanatbekovas attacker had a history of violence that was known to police. And many people knew what Adambaeva had been going through, but local traditions prevented anyone, including hers immediate family, from intervening.

On this week's Majlis podcast, RFE/RL media-relations manager Muhammad Tahir moderates a discussion about gender violence in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and why officials in those two countries seem unable to effectively combat it.

This week's guests are: from Kyrgyzstan, Kamila Eshaliyeva, a Bishkek-based journalist and author of a recent report about violence against women in Kyrgyzstan; from Uzbekistan, Samrin Mamedova of the NeMolchi.uz organization, which works to end violence against women in Uzbekistan; and Bruce Pannier, the author of the Qishloq Ovozi blog.

Listen to the podcast above or subscribe to the Majlis on iTunes or on Google Podcasts.
On Saturday, Carolyn Woods told her astonishing story about how she fell for serial conman Mark Acklom's lies about being a MI6 spy and gave him her 850,000 life savings.

Today, in the final part of a gripping serialisation from her book, she recalls the devastating moment she discovers the truth  and finally faces the fraudster in court . . .

Soaring high in the skies above the Cotswolds in an aeroplane, I felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration I had not known for months.

It was August 2012 and my fiance, Mark, had phoned me that afternoon and asked if I fancied going flying.

Thirty minutes later he picked me up and drove me to the small airfield at Kemble, Gloucestershire, which is where he kept his collection of classic aircraft.

Among the 20 or so planes stored in a vast hangar there were two Spitfires but I was to go up in a 1936 Ryan STA, a silver monoplane with two cockpits.

Author of Sleeping With A Psychopath Carolyn Woods recalls the devastating moment she discovered the truth about serial conman Mark Acklom

It was beautiful and romantic-looking but I was surprised to learn that I would be flown by Mark's business associate, James Miller, even though Mark claimed to be an experienced pilot himself.

I didn't question it at the time but, as I would later discover, this was one of the many lies he had told me as part of his elaborate plan to drain my bank account of the temporary 850,000 surplus I had between selling my house and buying another.

None of the aeroplanes belonged to him and James was another of his victims.

A mining engineer by training, he was a genuine vintage aircraft enthusiast who was hoping to buy an airfield with money promised by Mark, but would soon find his reputation in tatters as a result of his dealings with him.

Bringing us together on that August day was typical of the cleverness with which Mark conducted both his business and romance scams.

Then in his late 30s, he had been conning people since he was 16 and had served several jail sentences as a result.

To provide 'evidence' of his wealth and connections, he liked to use real people and play them off against each other, as he did with James and me.

How could I doubt that he would one day pay back my money when he operated in a world where impromptu treats like that flight were possible?

My money was supposed to cover a temporary cashflow problem he had relating to renovations of Widcombe Manor, a Grade I-listed Georgian manor house on the outskirts of Bath.

This was supposedly the home we were to share once we were married, but the truth was that he never owned it and when he suddenly announced one day that he no longer planned for us to live there, the reason he gave was that it could never be made secure enough.

This was an issue because, as he had begun pretending early in our relationship, he falsely claimed he worked for the Swiss bank UBS and that the job was cover for being an MI6 spy.

'Don't forget, I infiltrated the IRA,' he said when I questioned why we couldn't live in the manor house. 'They tortured me but I got away, and they don't forget.'

While we looked for somewhere else, I was happy to continue living in my rented cottage in the Cotswold town of Tetbury, but Mark insisted I give it up.

Instead, we would move into a beautiful Georgian townhouse in Brock Street in Bath, a road which leads up to the Royal Crescent and is one of the city's most prestigious addresses.

Fraudster Mark Acklom lied about being aN MI6 spy and was given 850,000 of Ms Woods' life savings

He told me that he had bought this magnificent 3 million property, but in fact he had forged my signature on the tenancy agreement and paid a year's rent upfront using some of the money I'd given him for the supposed renovations at Widcombe Manor.

For him, the Brock Street house served two purposes; keeping me on board by convincing me that he was a man of means, and enabling him to impress other potential victims with his taste and wealth.

To that end, he needed to get me out of the house every now and then, engineering events so that he could use the house when necessary.

On one occasion, he promised to take me flying for a second time and asked me to meet him at Kemble airfield.

He never showed up and I was away for three hours, giving him plenty of time to use Brock Street for a business meeting or other assignations.

As I later learned, these once included a shoot with a young model who was offered a 60,000 contract by Mark but never received a penny. When she arrived she discovered that she was to pose in lingerie with Mark as the photographer.

He was meant to be living at Brock Street with me but, according to him, secret agents were not supposed to be in relationships and MI6 were doing their best to sabotage ours by sending him on missions all around the world.

Twice he claimed to have been shot during undercover operations in Syria, the first time turning up with a bandage on his arm and the second claiming that the bullet wound was in his leg. In truth, he was living in a village less than three miles away with his Spanish wife and their two daughters.

Worried for him as well as about what would happen to my money if something happened to him, I also began to fear for my life.

When he first told me of his espionage work, Mark had promised that our relationship would never put me in any danger, but now he didn't seem so sure.

Ms Woods said her money was supposed to cover a temporary cashflow problem that Acklom had relating to renovations of Widcombe Manor, a Grade I-listed Georgian manor house

Towards the end of that summer he sent his assistant, Paul, to take my car in for servicing and told me that the brakes appeared to have been tampered with.

'I wouldn't put anything past MI6,' he said, telling me to keep the shutters closed so that surveillance cameras could not see in and ordering Paul to check some chairs delivered to the house for listening devices.

Once, when we were there together, he drew my attention to two police officers walking in nearby Victoria Park.

'Good', he said. 'They've put extra officers on duty while I'm here. They said they would.'

The police presence in Bath that day was no doubt exactly the same as on any other, but Mark was highly skilled at painting pictures in people's minds, a talent typical of psychopaths, which is what I now believe him to be.

I couldn't talk to anyone about his work as a spy and its impact on our relationship.

Even if I had been able to, I was increasingly isolated from friends whose well-meaning concerns about the speed with which I had given up my old life to be with him were interpreted by me as an attack.

I felt I was teetering on the edge of reason. I had always thought that whatever happened, however much I lost, nobody could steal my mind. Now, however, I wasn't sure. I felt I was losing my grip on everything  and it frightened me.

Increasingly introverted, I lost all my confidence and spent much of my time alone and miserable, waiting for phone calls and texts with news of when we might see each other again.

That autumn Mark told me a tumour had been found on his brain and that he needed an urgent operation.

He showed me photographs of his scans on his phone, but said I couldn't accompany him to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital for his surgery because MI6 feared what state secrets he might reveal to me as he came around from his anaesthetic.

The real reason he didn't want me there was that he never really had a brain tumour but he kept up the pretence, ringing me while he was still supposedly an in-patient and telling me he had found a way of seeing me.

Early that evening I drove to the car park near the neurology unit as requested and he opened the passenger door and got in for a few minutes.

His head was heavily bandaged and some sort of tube was coming out of the side of his head. I was worried sick for him, but now I suspect that his bandages were expertly applied by a doctor I have since discovered he was in a relationship with  and whom he was also fleecing for money.

I have no idea whose scans he showed me, but the fake brain operation lent weight to one of his many stories about why he was unable to pay me back.

He claimed that his assistant, Paul, had taken advantage of his poor health to siphon money from his accounts.

'Now I know what's been going on I can sort things out,' he told me and I reasoned that if he could get his money back, maybe I could get mine. But for now I was stuck with nothing and by Christmas I was approaching the limit on my overdraft and credit cards.

The bills on the house were all in my name so, in the New Year, with Mark still away on missions and my debts mounting, I moved out of Brock Street and began relying on the goodwill of friends to put me up for short periods.

Increasingly worried, I felt the 'black dog' of depression overtake me. Everything was a massive battle and I didn't want to live.

I spent hours on the internet researching how I could commit suicide. But part of me still clung to the hope that I was overreacting and that my new life with Mark would be all that he kept promising.

He had told me that he was planning to sell Brock Street and that it would complete on April 3, so I cashed in my small pension to pay off my debts and thought that everything would be resolved if I could just keep going until then.

In the meantime, there was no hope of seeing him. MI6 were forcing him back to Syria and he told me that he had been shot again. This time he had sustained heavy blood loss and was recovering in a military hospital in Athens.

April came and there was still no money.

Now he claimed it was because his lawyers believed wrongly that he hadn't paid outstanding fees and were withholding the proceeds of the Brock Street sale until it was sorted out.

He rang me every day, telling me that he had escaped from the Greek hospital and was on the run from the British authorities who were trying to punish him for his relationship with me. He claimed to be hiding out in Italy but hoped that we could be together soon.

In the meantime, he told me that I must come out to be with him. He would book the tickets  but every day they failed to appear.

That June I reached the limit of my tolerance when he rang to say that a planned trip to see him in Italy was on hold once again.

In desperation, I rang James Miller. I had only met him a couple of times, once when he took me up in that vintage aeroplane, but I hoped he might be able to provide some information about Mark and reassurance about what I should do. Instead, I found myself stunned by what he said.

'Carolyn, I'm really sorry but I've been having a difficult time with him myself. I've found out quite a bit about him that I think you should know.'

I was then staying with an old school friend in Twickenham, South-West London, and two days later I met James in a cafe there. Over breakfast he told me that his business had almost gone down the pan because of Mark and revealed what he had discovered about his criminal past.

That night, I went to my daughter Lara's flat in Islington, where my younger daughter Emma joined us. I told them everything and we tried to grapple with the enormity of it all. Later that evening I lay on Lara's sofa, thinking about Mark and what he had done.

I wanted to die. I felt myself being sucked into the vortex of a black hole as three words spooled around my mind, louder and louder, until I thought I was going to pass out.

'You f*****g b*****d.'

By morning, I still hadn't moved from the sofa. Lara and her boyfriend were cooking breakfast when my phone rang.

'It's him,' I told them, as I put my phone on speaker.

'Baby, I love you so much,' he said. 'We'll be together very soon.'

'Just give me my money,' I replied, in a voice that sounded strange to me.

'You'll have your money. Everything's going to be OK.'

'Just give me my money.'

The line went dead and I never heard from Mark Acklom again.

I went to the police as soon as I could following my meeting with James, but it took six years to bring Mark to justice in a British courtroom.

During the first six months of 2013, when I'd believed him to be in a military hospital and then on the run in Italy, he was, in fact, in Spain where he had been trying to do more shady business deals.

There he was jailed for fraud, but finished his sentence early before a European Arrest Warrant could get him brought back here.

With his name on the list of the UK's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, he was finally arrested and extradited back to the UK in February 2019. That August he appeared in court and pleaded guilty to five charges of fraud.

When I saw him in the dock I was taken aback. He was thinner than when I knew him, wearing a grey hoodie and sporting facial hair, but not the closely trimmed 'designer stubble' of 2012. He looked totally unkempt.

In his chameleon-like way he was adopting the persona of an ordinary guy, wearing street clothes to make himself look as young as possible, mumbling as though he was downtrodden and lacking in confidence.

It was all a cold, calculated performance designed to convince the court that there was no way that he could ever be taken for a suave multi-millionaire, thereby persuading people that I, not he, was the liar and the fantasist.

The judge was not taken in, sentencing him to five years and eight months. My statement made a difference of an extra four months.

I was glad that Mark would have to spend a few more days behind bars because of it, but more importantly I was pleased that I had let people know the effect that my relationship with him had on me.

I'm sure that as soon as he is released he will return to his old tricks but I just want to forget about him. And while I will never get back my money  I lost every penny of my 850,000  my life will always be much richer than his.

That's not least because my meetings with James Miller to discuss the case developed into something more romantic at the end of 2013.

Over the seven years that we have been together, life has been a struggle, but we support each other as best we can and we are now renting a truly lovely house in a beautiful part of Scotland.

We have enjoyed many happy times together and we're looking forward to many more. Our match may have been made in hell, but we have managed to find our own little corner of paradise and we count our blessings every day.

Adapted from Sleeping With A Psychopath by Carolyn Woods, published on April 29 by HarperCollins at 8.99.  Carolyn Woods 2021.

To order a copy for 7.91 (offer valid until May 1, 2021; UK P&P free on orders over 20), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193.
Health advocates say New Jerseys temporary coronavirus-related ban on smoking in the Atlantic City casinos should be made permanent, and some state legislators said Thursday they will push to make that happen.

But the casinos say permanently banning smoking once the pandemic has ended will drive away customers, leading to job losses and lower tax revenue for the state. They say the gambling halls have invested heavily in air filtration equipment that renders the workspaces safe.

According to the American Nonsmokers Rights Foundation, casinos in 20 states are smoke-free, and three additional states  New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan  have enacted temporary virus-related smoking bans.

On the 15th anniversary of a state law that exempted Atlantic City casinos from a sweeping indoor smoking ban, opponents of smoking called for New Jerseys temporary ban to be made permanent.

Casinos are learning to do business differently, Bronson Frick, an official with the nonsmokers rights group, said in an online news conference. In the year 2021, we take for granted that airplanes and restaurants should be smoke-free, even though that change took place relatively recently.

He said 1,100 casinos in the U.S. do not allow smoking. Smoking is allowed in Nevada, but companies are free to set their own policies and some ban it.

Weve seen its possible for casinos to operate with smoking bans because they had no choice, said New Jersey Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle.

She said the law passed in 2006 that exempted casinos prompted bills that would ban smoking in casinos in many subsequent years, but they went nowhere in the state Legislature.

This time is definitely different, she said. For over a year, weve been battling with a respiratory virus, one that disproportionately impacts smokers.

But the Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group representing the Atlantic City casinos, said a permanent ban would do great harm to the industry.

Banning smoking permanently would have long-term financial implications for the industry and the region, the group said in a statement. Going completely nonsmoking would place Atlantic City casinos at a competitive disadvantage with other nearby casinos that allow smoking.

Such a ban would lead to fewer customers, fewer casino jobs and lower tax revenue, it said.

We also understand that air quality is extremely important to the health and safety of our valued employees and guests, which is why we have invested in state-of-the-art air filtration systems that circulate fresh air, the group said. With the onset of the pandemic, independent experts reviewed our air filtration systems, confirming their effectiveness in exchanging large volumes of air and keeping the air quality fresh and clean.

Atlantic Citys nine casinos continue to operate under capacity restrictions due to the pandemic. And even before it hit, they were struggling with ever-increasing competition in the Northeast.

Atlantic City tried a partial smoking ban in Oct. 2008 that lasted less than three weeks. Several casinos said they saw double-digit declines in revenue during that time. The Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts said the smoking ban led them to $1 million monthly losses at both properties.

But Karen Blumenfeld, executive director of Global Advisors on Smokefree Policy, said the Atlantic City casinos still increased their revenues that month, despite the partial ban.

And that was when the stock market tanked from the mortgage-backed securities market crash, she said. You cant choose to breathe, so the air needs to be clean, and free from carcinogens known to cause cancer.
A senior Morrison government minister says Australia has the capability to manufacture a mRNA type COVID-19 vaccine like Pfizer and Moderna, it just doesnt have the capability to produce at scale at the moment.

The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for people under 50 by Australias health authorities after the AstraZeneca treatment that is being produced domestically was linked to blood-clotting, throwing the vaccination program into disarray.

The government has secured a further 20 million Pfizer vaccines but they wont arrive until late in the year.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, who was until recently the minister for science and technology, says it is absolutely possible Australia could manufacture a mRNA vaccine.

We do have capability in Australia to manufacture mRNA vaccines. We dont have the capacity to produce at scale at the moment, she told Sky News Sunday Agenda program.

She said work is already under way to try and make that happen.

Meanwhile, the national cabinet will meet on Monday to discuss the vaccine rollout, as well as how to open up the economy in the future and perhaps moving to home quarantine.

What we need to do is look sensibly at how we are going to bring people into Australia so that we can reopen our economy, Ms Andrews said.

What we shouldnt be doing is leaping into solutions now without having all the evidence in front of us.

In the meantime, authorities will continuously review all vaccines in use following the death of a 48-year-old woman considered linked to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab.

A safety group convened by the Therapeutic Goods Administration has concluded the NSW womans case of blood clots with low platelet count was likely to do with her vaccination on April 8.

Government advice surrounding the use of the AstraZeneca jab was changed later on the same day Genene Norris was inoculated, with Australians under 50 urged not to take it.

She was admitted to hospital four days later and died last week.

TGA secretary John Skerritt said her case was atypical and further review of her underlying conditions and other blood tests and samples would be taken.

The case is likely to be the subject of an inquest.

It is the third in Australia involving blood clots with low platelet count post-vaccination, with the first two cases still in hospital.

Some 885,000 AstraZeneca doses have been administered in Australia so far.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly confirmed some Australians have been reluctant to receive a vaccine since the medical advice on the AstraZeneca jab was updated.

However he stressed the vaccines were safer than the alternative, quoting a Oxford University study which found the risk of blood clots in the brain is eight times more likely after a COVID-19 infection than an AstraZeneca jab.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 appears to have jumped between neighbouring rooms in hotel quarantine in Sydney after seven cases from two family groups were revealed on Saturday to have the same viral sequence.

They may have to be reclassified as locally-acquired.

By Colin Brinsden
US President on Saturday said the situation with Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, who is currently serving a two-and-a-half prison term, is "totally unfair."

Biden was asked to comment on Navalny's detention conditions on Saturday. In response, the US president told reporters that it is "totally unfair" and "totally inappropriate."

Navalny, who has been complaining about severe back and leg pain, went on a hunger strike at the end of March, after being denied a visit by a doctor of his own choice. Olga Mikhailova, his lawyer, says the 44-year-old is suffering from two spinal hernias. He has refused the treatment offered by the prison authorities.

According to the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, Navalny's health has been assessed as stable and satisfactory by medical professionals and he has been receiving all necessary care.

In January, Navalny returned to Moscow from Berlin after receiving medical treatment for his alleged poisoning. The 44-year-old was arrested on arrival and referred to a court, which in early February rescinded his suspended sentence in the 2014 Yves Rocher fraud case over multiple probation breaches and replaced it with a 3.5-year term behind bars. A Moscow city court reinstated the ruling but reduced the sentence to 2.5 years.

Navalny has been found guilty of defrauding the Russian subsidiary of French cosmetics firm Yves Rocher of 26 million rubles ($340,500).

Last week, Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that the United States is making up "stories" about Navalny's detention conditions while the US itself continues to violate the rights of prisoners.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SAINT CLAIR  Fourth-generation members of the Rich family hope Saturdays job fair will encourage people to work for their companies in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collectively, the companies were looking for openings, said William Rich, who serves many roles with the Rich Family of Companies. They all needed workers. They couldnt find anybody.

John Rich III, another family member with multiple roles, said he had faced the same situation when looking for workers.

Wed run an ad and get two applications, he said.

As a result, the companies, which include 150-year-old Reading Anthracite Co. and at least seven others, combined to hold the job fair at the Coal Creek Commerce Center.

I was really happy there were people here before 10 a.m., which was the fairs posted starting time, William Rich said. He said he had hoped for 30 applicants and had reached that mark by 12:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the posted finishing time.

In addition to Reading Anthracite, the Rich Family of Companies includes Bear Ridge Machine & Fabrication Inc., Gilberton Power Co., Jack Rich Inc., JMB Ltd., Lehigh Engineering LLC, Schuylkill Energy Resources and Waste Management and Processing Inc. The combined companies have approximately 500 employees now, William Rich said.

John Rich said he is concerned that rather than looking for work, too many people are content to collect unemployment compensation, especially with the increased amounts the federal government is paying due to the pandemic.

William Rich agreed.

I think a lot of the issue (of finding workers) is collecting unemployment, he said.

Michael Rich, who also does many jobs with the companies, said an additional factor is one that has benefited a great many county citizens, competition for workers from regional distribution centers located along Interstate 81.

Applications received at the fair will be pooled among the companies, William Rich said. He said the fair did help, as do the reputations of the companies and the family.

Were just lucky to have people who showed up and wanted to work, he said. The reputation of the Rich family has given us unilateral respect across the board.
International students have been an important part of Australia for decades and will continue to be so. They are part of our community, they build important people-to-people links, they boost our economy, and many go on to become outstanding Australian citizens. Our decision to close our borders has been critical in keeping Australians safe from COVID-19, but it has obviously meant no international students entering the country.

The challenge to our universities from this is clear: less revenue. But with every challenge comes opportunity. Here we have a great opportunity: to strengthen our approach to international education, to grow new markets abroad, but also to ensure our universities are delivering for Australian students. After all, the primary role of our publicly funded institutions is to educate Australians.

International students now account for a quarter of university revenues. Credit:The Age

The government will be exploring this opportunity, with the sector, over the next few months. The starting point is to consider the core purposes of enrolling international students in Australian institutions. Unfortunately, it looks to many like some institutions think there is just one purpose  to bring in dollars. This is important, as international students now account for a quarter of university revenues. But this financial objective must be balanced against at least three others.

First is to enhance the classroom and learning experience of Australian students. International students create more diverse classrooms and bring valuable experiences and insights from around the world.
MEDFORD, Ore-- On Saturday, one million people officially become fully vaccinated against coronavirus in Oregon. That's according to data collected by the Oregon Health Authority.

In the last four months since vaccinations began in Oregon, 1,007,603 people have completed their vaccination series in Oregon, while 560,316 Oregonians still have their vaccination series in progress.

Oregon has also now administered a total of 1,292,612 first and second doses of Pfizer, 1,109,671 first and second doses of Moderna and 88,104 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

The Oregon Health Authority is also reporting that another 44,308 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 27,728 doses were administered on Apr.16 and the other 16,580 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry yesterday.

The seven-day running average in Oregon is also now at 37,507 doses per day.

In southern Oregon, almost 70,000 people in Jackson County have received at least one shot of a coronavirus vaccine, with 43,099 people fully vaccinated against the virus.

In Josephine County, nearly 25 and a half thousand people have been vaccinated, with 17,497 people now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Klamath County has vaccinated 19,749 people. Curry County has vaccinated 8,376 residents and in Lake County health officials have vaccinated 2,028 people.
Highlights OneDrive now incorporates Chromecast support.

Microsofts search engine Bing has added several new features like Covid Tracker.

Bing also allows you to customise your homepage.

Microsoft looks like it has been investing more time and energy into some of their Android apps. Both the OneDrive and Bing apps have recently received updates.

OneDrive

The major highlight in the OneDrive update is the addition of Chromecast support. It works in the usual way - just open up a photo or a video from your OneDrive and a Chromecast icon should appear on the title bar if there are any Chromecast-enabled devices in your vicinity. There are some other smaller tweaks in OneDrive like the Home tab, for instance, now prominently features the recent view with the last files you interacted with, so you can quickly pick up where you left off.

Bing

The Bing Android app has basically received a visual overhaul. You can check it out in the screenshots. Many of the features are now easier to access from the Home page and there are also some new additions to the list some of which are listed below:
WASHINGTON  In May, Phil Trowbridge, a farmer in Ghent, watched his first-ever virtual cattle auction with fear in the pit of his stomach.

I was scared to death, Trowbridge said. All I was thinking was that I have to tell my wife weve got to sell the farm. How do you tell your kids that we were done?

Trowbridge makes the majority of his familys income from two cattle auctions a year. With COVID-19 prohibiting his usual in-person sales, he moved his event online and had to sell more bulls to make his usual revenue.

READ MORE: How the Times Union used the Freedom of Information Act to report this story

Bulls, of course, are both the product and a key element in the manufacturing line: It was like selling part of our factory, Trowbridge said, noting that this year will be even harder now that his herd is smaller.

To help farmers like Trowbridge financially endure a pandemic that upended agricultural markets, supply chains and labor practices, Congress created a special relief program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Trowbridge received a few thousand dollars in grant money, but most farmers in the U.S. were not so lucky.

While the USDA distributed more than $20 billion through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) last summer and fall, the money only went to 43 percent of farmers across the country, a Times Union investigation found.

The program was a major boon for Corn Belt farmers in the Midwest, but in 19 states, including New York, less than 25 percent of farmers received a payment.

The numbers are glaring: In Nebraska, 99.7 percent of farmers received at least one CFAP payment, according to USDA data analyzed by the Times Union. In Connecticut, just 8 percent of farmers benefited.

In Illinois, 92 percent of farmers received a payment. In New Jersey and New Hampshire, just 9 percent of farmers benefited. In Kansas, 90 percent of farmers got money. In Maine and Rhode Island, just 13 percent did.

In New York, agriculture is a $6 billion industry with 33,400 farms, according to the USDA. But just 23 percent of Empire State farmers received a CFAP payment.

Other major agricultural states also saw small percentages of their farmers benefit: 19 percent of Florida farmers got a payment, along with 28 percent of farmers in California and Texas, and 34 percent in Georgia.

Asked about the numbers, the USDA said it had identified gaps and disparities in assistance both by the commodity being produced and by the type of production or farmer.

On March 24, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced changes to the program and plans for additional outreach to minority farmers, underserved producers, and smaller and medium-sized operations.

The pandemic affected all of agriculture, but many farmers did not benefit from previous rounds of pandemic-related assistance, Vilsack said. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to helping as many producers as possible, as equitably as possible.

Since the pandemic struck, Congress directed an unprecedented flood of federal aid to prop up American farms and the food systems they supply. In addition to the USDA relief program, the federal government took the unusual step of opening the Small Business Administrations pandemic programs to agriculture businesses, although these programs are usually closed to farms.

A Times Union analysis found American farms have received over $23.8 billion in direct pandemic farm relief payments through CFAP and over $14 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Just as bigger, well-connected companies gobbled up large amounts of PPP loan money before Main Street shops could get in line last spring, the USDA program disproportionately favored certain types of farmers.

Until recently, CFAP favored row-crop producers  like corn farmers  and big operations that already had a relationship with the USDA, according to seven agriculture experts interviewed by the Times Union.

Many specialty crop producers  like fruit and vegetable growers  do not typically receive USDA subsidies and were initially left out of the program. When they were later added in September, some may not have known they were eligible.

"Entire segments were excluded, like biofuels; or even within livestock producers, there was no compensation for farmers that were forced to euthanize animals while processing facilities were closed," the USDA told the Times Union.

The sad reality is that, despite direction and resources from Congress, many of Americas family farms and specialty growers have been left to fend for themselves during this ongoing global public health crisis, said U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam. Even as help poured into big corporate agricultural operations in the Midwest, small independent farms in New York and elsewhere were being overlooked. I raised this issue with USDA myself a few weeks ago to find out what went wrong and how they plan to fix it.

For smaller farmers in particular, completing paperwork to attest for each row of onions or carrots was not worth the smaller payout compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars received by large monoculture operations, experts said.

People who do specialty crops or even dairy, traditionally there has been less money for them than anyone else, said Anne Schechinger, a senior agriculture economics analyst for the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that specializes in agriculture research. (An) apple grower might not even think this applies to you. Or the payment rate is so low that its not worth your time.

USDA made some changes with a second round of the program that launched last fall, making more crop types eligible and simplifying the application process. But many small farmers and some farm types were still left out.

The USDA reached out to many farmers through their newsletters, emails and other announcements, as did other agricultural groups, but farmers who dont usually have contact with the agency may have been less likely to hear about it.

In New York, about half of farms produce under $10,000 in sales and may not be involved in the USDA system, the New York Farm Bureau said.

I guess I wasnt even aware of it, to tell you the truth, said Mike Nally, president of the Schenectady County Farm Bureau, who has a small cattle farm and raises honeybees in Glenville. He said he saw no outreach about the program, and based on what he did hear he didnt think it applied to him.

You see the word 'grant' and you say, Yeah right  I cant satisfy the grant, he said. You see loan and you say, I cant take more loans because Ive got to pay them back. The whole COVID thing was I was going to hunker down and do the best I can.

The pandemic had varying impacts across agriculture markets at various times. Early on, some dairy farmers were forced to dump milk and some farmers plowed crops under because COVID-19 disrupted their supply chains. With virus outbreaks at meat processing plants, some farmers struggled to get their livestock to market.

Produce, like apples and onions, that could be stored for a time fared better than items that had to go to market quickly after closures of schools and restaurants disrupted demand. Meanwhile, some farmers who sold through farm stands and other local means saw an uptick in demand from customers at home.

Many farmers had new costs  from personal protective equipment to extra marketing.

It was pretty much across the board, said New York Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball of how the pandemic influenced farming in the state. No one has escaped the impact of COVID-19.

The objective of CFAP was to mitigate actual production and marketing losses. Farmers didnt have to prove any personal losses to get a payment; they just needed to fit into a category that the USDA determined was eligible based on a variety of factors.

Farmers could get up to $250,000 in the first and second rounds of the program, while corporations could get up to $750,000 under certain conditions. You generally qualified if you made up to $900,000 a year in income. The payment was taxable.

Some smaller farmers said they did not apply although they were eligible because they personally had decent sales during the pandemic. Elizabeth Higgins, a business management specialist who works with fruit and vegetable growers at Cornell Cooperative Extension, said she had to coax some skeptical farmers to apply.

I did have farmers who were saying they were having a very good year  so were soybean farmers in the Midwest, and they are lining right up (for aid). This program is not about whether you personally are having a good year, Higgins said. Commodity crop farmers are more used to that.

In contrast, she added that she knew of farmers in the Midwest who made sure to maximize their CFAP payments by applying for each owner in their general partnership or jointly owned business to receive a payment  something permissible under the program's rules in some circumstances.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), a nonpartisan government entity that studied the program, reported to Congress that its implementation methodology failed to incentivize participation by all affected agricultural sectors and all injured producers in those sectors  in particular, among small farmers, processed food commodities and aquaculture producers.

Moreover, CRS found even after changes were made to the program, the USDAs formulas and eligibility criteria resulted in producers of row crops like corn and soybeans receiving the largest share of the payments, a share that greatly exceeds their average national output value.

In New York, dairy farmers received the most benefit from CFAP by far, followed by corn and cattle in round one of the program, according to a data dashboard compiled by the USDA. In round two, less money flowed to New York dairy farmers, while sales commodities  like fruit and vegetables and aquaculture  edged into second place for funding, the USDAs dashboard shows.

In New York, the Times Union found that the farmers left out of the program  more than 25,000  fit a few profiles. The state is home to thousands of small family farm operations, which may not have been eligible due to their commodity type or may have been less likely to hear about the program or know they could apply.

New York is also home to thousands of horse farms and breeders, who were not eligible for the relief program.

The equine community is isolated in many ways from all of these programs, said Marion Gaigal, owner of a Morgan horse breeding farm in Steuben County. With horse shows and races canceled, the pandemic basically shut the industry down."

In addition, roughly 10 percent or less of New York farmers are Amish or Mennonite and do not accept any forms of government assistance, said Judson Reid, a specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension who has studied those communities' farming practices for decades.

Other New York farmers told the Times Union they also prefer not to participate in USDA programs.

I just dont need the government in my back pocket, said Don Bikowicz, who owns a 25-acre vegetable farm in Glenville. He said his biggest concern was the paperwork that would be required. It is just not worth it to me.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said she'll fight for resources for New York farmers from the USDA.

Many farms across New York state were financially strained before the pandemic, and they need robust federal support to recover from the economic crisis, the Democrat said. While the CFAP program was designed specifically to keep our farmers afloat, it is clear that inequities in distribution need to be investigated, and corrected, as the program continues.

On March 24, USDA announced it would reopen the program for more applications and focus on getting the payments out to farmers who had been missed.

The agency said it would spend $2.5 million to improve outreach to farmers who had been overlooked. It also announced it would direct $6 billion to develop new programs or modify existing ones to offer further assistance to dairy farmers, specialty crops, beginning farmers and organic farmers, among other measures.

Their recently announced plan to tailor outreach to smaller farms and better ensure independent operations can get the help they need is encouraging, but I will remain unsatisfied and continue to demand answers until the problem is fixed and our lifeline to Americas small farmers and specialty growers is established as Congress intended, Tonko said.

The Environmental Working Group's Schechinger put it more bluntly: Well be watching.

Kyle Ogilvie is a volunteer data consultant with the non-profit DataKind DC who supported this investigation through a partnership between DataKind and the National Press Foundation.
Vietnam recorded three new cases of COVID-19, all imported, in the past 12 hours to 6pm April 18, according to the Health Ministry.

Vietnamese citizens receive certificates of completing their concentrated quarantine period in Bac Lieu province





The new patients raised the national count to 2,784.

The number of recovered patients now stands at 2,475 and the death toll remains at 35.

Among patients still under treatment, 11 have tested negative for the novel coronavirus once, 16 twice and 18 thrice.

A total 40,150 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined across the country, with 531 at hospitals, 24,361 at concentrated facilities and 15,258 at home or accommodations.

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92-Year Old Li Ka-Shing Receives First Dose of BioNTech Vaccine

By Bloomberg / Apr 16, 2021 11:48 PM / Society & Culture

Hong Kongs richest tycoon Li Ka-shing has received his first dose of the BioNTech SE vaccine for Covid-19, as the city ramps up efforts to get more people vaccinated.

The 92-year-old billionaire got the shot on Friday at Hong Kongs Sanatorium & Hospital, according to a representative for his charity, the Li Ka Shing Foundation. In a post on Facebook, Li asked others to do the same: I have taken the vaccine shot today. What about you?

Hong Kongs Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip thanked Li for taking action to support vaccinations in a separate Facebook post. Nip urged Hong Kong people to get vaccinated as soon as possible to restart economy and resume traveling.

The government on Thursday expanded eligibility for Covid-19 vaccines to all residents aged 16 and older, in its latest attempt to boost the financial hubs inoculation rate by making the shots more widely accessible.

Li founded CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd., one of Hong Kongs largest conglomerates, with businesses spanning ports, retail, telecommunications and infrastructure. The group last month posted its first annual profit decline since 2015 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Looking back on his first store, opened in Perth suburb Innaloo in 1971, Hungry Jacks founder and rich lister Jack Cowin can recall some aspects of his $1.5 billion burger chain hes rather glad were left in the 70s.

That first store, in Innaloo, was across the road from the pub. And customers would stagger out of the pub, go to Hungry Jacks and get the blotting paper to soak up the alcohol so they could make it home, he laughs.

That was in addition to the Friday night fights which used to break out in the parking lot. It was a different sort of business.

Hungry Jacks founder Jack Cowin at the companys first store in Innaloo, Perth. Credit:James Campbell

Today, while the chain may still be a favourite for the inebriated, 50 years has wrought significant change on Hungry Jacks and the broader fast-food industry.
To nurture his small but sturdy congregation of fewer than 100 over the past year of COVID has not been without its challenges for the Rev. J. Willard Cofield.

Each and every member of the First Baptist Church of Agawam, though, provides him inspiration, none more so perhaps than Vivian E. Roberts.

Roberts turned 103 on Friday, and Cofield, with help from the entire congregation and the Agawam community, delivered birthday greetings by the hundreds. Literally.

It was the first time Cofield had been able to visit Roberts in person since she moved last September from the home where shed lived alone since the death of her husband, Norman, in 2006 to Heritage Woods assisted living. For a man of the cloth who thrives on in-person ministry, not having the personal contact has been his greatest challenge of the pandemic, Cofield says.

He says he thinks about Roberts each day as he passes the lamp and small table that now sit in the living room of his home, gifts to him by Roberts when she was moving in the fall.

Roberts birthday provided a perfect reason to see her again and resume some sense of normalcy. Because hes fully vaccinated, Heritage Woods welcomed the pastor to deliver in person the birthday greeting cards created by the children, faculty and staff of the Benjamin Phelps Elementary School. Members of the congregation have been mailing their personal greeting cards to Roberts over the past few weeks.

Some of the scores of birthday cards 103-year old Vivian Roberts received on her birthday during a surprise visit by Rev. J. Willard Cofield, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Agawam. Cofield collected the cards from congregants of the church and students from the Phelps School in Agawam where Vivian used to teach. She lives at the Heritage Woods assisted living facility in Agawam. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

Theres a whole lot of love for Roberts at Phelps school. She began teaching there when it first opened in the 1930s and taught fourth- and fifth-graders for more than 30 years.

Though her sight is diminished by macular degeneration and she has difficulty with her hearing, Roberts says she was overwhelmed by her birthday celebration that began with Cofields visit in the morning and continued with an afternoon party and time with her family.

Cofield has only known Roberts a little over two short years since he came out of retirement in February 2019 to lead a new flock. He had for years been pastor of Springfields Alden Baptist Church.

The pastor recalls being amazed to learn the lively, active woman who came to church each Sunday dressed to the nines, sang with vigor and regularly volunteered weekly in the churchs second-hand consignment shop was over the age of 100.

Oh my God, this woman is a model church member, he says. Vivian was always right there (before the pandemic). She not only comes on Sundays but is (at the church) during the week at the Trading Post (consignment shop) and she goes out to breakfast with her friends. She is just a lovely member. I couldnt believe her age. For 102 years old to come to church every Sunday is wonderful. Until COVID-19 arrived, of course, and changed everyones world.

Roberts says she misses the community of her religious life and looks forward to a time when she will be able to return to the church on Main Street for Sunday services. My church is my second family, she explains. My church means everything to me because my daughter lives in Maine and my son in Florida.

Vivian E. Roberts shows one of the scores of birthday cards she received from students at the Benjamin Phelps Elementary School in Agawam on Friday during a celebration of her 103rd birthday. She got a surprise visit from Rev. J. Willard Cofield, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Agawam, who delivered the cards. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

Thankfully, First Baptist had already been sharing some of its services via videos posted to its Facebook page. So, when the pandemic-imposed shutdown took hold last spring, every Sunday service entered the virtual world. And, while Cofield has adjusted, he says hes grateful to now be greeting small numbers of congregants as they return to worship in person.

Cofield says Roberts is the most senior of his congregation, although there are other stalwarts in their 80s and 90s. One of those is 91-year-old Nancy Daniels. Daniels is both friend to and an admirer of Roberts: Shes a very smart lady. She remembers everything. Her mind is sharp as a tack, says Daniels.

Vivians very much an inspiration to me, she adds. If I dont feel well, I say to myself, Well, Vivvie would do it, so I can do it. In fact, Daniels has started returning to in-person Sunday worship and hopes Roberts will soon be there with her again.

Cofield is confident todays service will be just as warm a reunion for members of the First Baptist congregation as others have been in recent weeks. Its different. We dont have (paper) bulletins anymore. The bulletins projected on the wall. And, we dont take collection any more, he explains. We take precautions. Everyone wears a mask. But, then, nobody wants to go home. Everyone enjoys seeing their friends.

103-year old Vivian E. Roberts celebrated her birthday at Heritage Hall assisted living facility in Agawam with a surprise visit from Rev. J. Willard Cofield, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Agawam, where she's worshiped for more than 80 years. Cofield delivered a box filled with birthday cards from congregants of the church and students from the Phelps Elementary School where she used to teach. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

While hes promised Roberts he will now be able to visit her more regularly at Heritage Woods, Cofield yearns for the time when Roberts will be sitting in a pew on a Sunday morning again in the church where shes worshiped for now more than 80 years.

Thats been the hard part, says the reverend. With members in the hospital, I couldnt go there to have prayer with them. Id have to do it over the phone. Its just not the sameIm not really a phone person. Thats the part I miss, the in-person contact with members. Until now.

Cynthia G. Simison is executive editor of The Republican. She may be reached by email to csimison@repub.com.
The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed NATO and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion and the matter would be addressed at an EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday.

The central European country expelled 18 Russian embassy staff on Saturday over the issue and said investigations had linked Russian intelligence to the explosion, which killed two people.

Responding to the expulsions, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian media on Saturday: Prague is well aware of what follows these types of games.

Russias Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper houses international affairs committee, as saying Pragues assertions were absurd and Russias response should be proportionate.

The expulsions and allegations by the Czechs have triggered its biggest dispute with Russia since the 1989 end of Communist rule, when Prague was under Moscows domination for decades.

The incident comes amid Western concern over a huge Russian military build-up on Russias Western borders and in Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, following an increase in fighting between Russian-backed separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine.

On Sunday, the EUs executive commission confirmed remarks by acting Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek on Twitter that the dispute with Russia would be addressed during a previously scheduled EU foreign ministers video conference on Monday.

Separately, Czech police said they were searching for two men in connection with serious criminal activity who were carrying Russian passports in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and that the men were in the country in the days leading up to the 2014 explosion.

Those were the aliases used by two Russian military intelligence (GRU) officers who British prosecutors charged with the attempted poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with the nerve agent Novichok in the English city of Salisbury in 2018. Moscow denied involvement in that incident.

The United States and Britain said they stood in solidarity with the Czech Republic in the dispute with Russia.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter the Czechs have exposed the lengths that the GRU will go to in their attempts to conduct dangerous and malign operations, referring to Russias military intelligence agency.

The U.S. Embassy in Prague said in a statement on Saturday that Washington appreciated the Czech Republics significant action to impose costs on Russia for its dangerous actions on Czech soil.

The United States imposed sanctions against Russia on Thursday for interfering in last years U.S. election, cyber hacking, bullying Ukraine and other alleged malign actions, prompting Moscow to retaliate.

Last month U.S. President Joe Biden said he thought his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was a killer and Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations.

NUCLEAR POWER DEAL

The incident surfaced unexpectedly at a time that is sensitive for Czech-Russia relations.

The Czech government is planning to open a tender worth billions of euros to build a new nuclear power station, and security services have demanded that Russia be excluded from bids as a security risk.

President Milos Zeman and other senior officials have been arguing for keeping Russia in. The industry minister said on Saturday the incident could affect the process.

The head of the countrys upper house of parliament, Milos Vystrcil, said the incident would amount to state terrorism.

If confirmed, we have to consider it as a very serious act of aggression and hostility, which can be labelled as an act of state terrorism, Vystrcil, member of the centre-right opposition, told a news conference on Sunday.

SOURCE: REUTERS
NEW MILFORD  Sometimes, when Saun Ellis peeks out her window, she can see cars pulling up next to the driveway of the farm she owns with her husband, Francisco Drohojowski, on Upland Road. The curious visitors get out of the car and crane their necks to look up at the large quilt square attached to the carriage house barn.

Ellis barn is now one of 19 throughout New Milford that boast these colorful, imaginative, historical quilt squares, making up the states first Barn Quilt Trail. The patterns, chosen by the owners with input from local artists, are hand-painted on large 8 foot by 8 foot squares and put on display at some of the most beautiful and historic barns in the town.

I have never worked on a project in town that has brought so much joy to residents, said Julie Bailey, a member of the New Milford Barn Quilt Trail committee. So that really delights all of us.

The project began in 2013 after then-Mayor Patricia Murphy, an avid quilter, received a state economic development grant for the project. In 2017, the town installed the first phase of quilt blocks, and the project was completed this past winter after 11 more barns, including Ellis, were added.

Bill Devlin, another committee member, has researched and written about each barn, explaining their historical significance and a bit about the pattern selection, which is displayed on the trails webpage. Devlins extensive research has helped unearth some of New Milfords agricultural roots, including its heavy involvement in Connecticuts dairy markets and the early days of the broadleaf tobacco trade.

Each barns quilt square carries some of the family or farms history, has its own name, and is made in the traditional New England or modern original style.

A small team of artists, led by Jayson Roberts, co-founder and studio director of the Village Center for the Arts, Inc. painted the majority of the quilt squares, and took care to make them realistic. The result  mimicking the puffed edges of a real quilt  meant investing more than 25 hours of work into each one.

For Susan Bailey, who is also on the trail committee but no relation to Julie, the Andy Warhol-ish cows that adorn the familys barn represent some of the first brown Swiss cows imported into the US by her great-grandfather.

For Ellis and her husband, the colorful quilt block encapsulates their appreciation for the culturally universal tree of life symbol, Drohojowskis Mexican heritage, and an iconic maple tree on their property.

Ellis and her husband were so eager to put their own quilt pattern up that they submitted their own design, created by Ronnie Maddalena, and were accepted.

We combined the elements of my husbands childhood in Mexico and the love of that symbol, the tree of life, which is a universal symbol, and the love of the maple tree, Ellis said.

Were thrilled to be a part of that and were thrilled to acknowledge the heritage of this farm.

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

New visitors to old farms

Julie Bailey said they dont yet have a good way to monitor trail usage or quantify visitors. But barn owners say they frequently see people stopping by. The outdoor activity seemed to be a good pandemic-friendly one.

I had absolutely no idea how viral this thing would go, Julie Bailey said. I mean, this really gives an identity to New Milford and really raises the profile of our surviving family farms and really lets people know the extent to which this town has been defined by its agricultural history.

Since one requirement is that the barn be publicly accessible, owners have seen bikers, walkers and vehicles come down their roads, checking out the trail.

The committee has created a QR code as a way to track engagement but hasnt always been able to get accurate numbers since some dont click on the link, Julie Bailey said. Many use the code to access more information about the barns.

Thanks to Devlins careful research of all of the barns and his discussions with their owners, the local stories will be preserved.

I think other people will add to it and people will use it as a jumping-off point for other research, said Devlin of his contributions to writing some of New Milfords history. This fills, to me, a need.

His favorite part of the process was the funny details he would find: old tobacco cultivation machinery, the old age of some foundations, the timbers that held up a roof.

Theres just all these little surprises in these barns, he said.

Even without exact numbers, the trails reputation and popularity has spread, according to Julie Bailey. She said theyve received calls from neighboring counties and towns about starting their own trails. Residents and officials in Bridgewater, Washington, and Brookfield have all expressed interest, so Julie Bailey thinks the trend may very well spread.

Its also been a pleasant opportunity for barn owners to celebrate the living history of the land and, in some cases, their ancestors.

Its been very fun and positive experience. Weve had a lot of good feedback from the town, as far as town officials, said Susan Bailey. During COVID, it was a nice outside thing for people to drive around and see.

But more than anything, Julie Bailey said the Barn Quilt Trail is helping re-brand the New Milford of today.

New Milford, for many, many years was known as really the site of Route 7 big-box stores and as a rapidly proliferating bedroom community, she said. And what we have done with this is really bring back, to the fore, what really sustained it through its history.
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - As Zimbabwe celebrates its 41st independence anniversary on Sunday, the United States has expressed support to all Zimbabweans who aspire to a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future
Time to adopt new policies after Cabinet reshuffle



President Moon Jae-in conducted a Cabinet reshuffle Friday in a desperate bid to regain public support following his party's crushing defeat in the April 7 mayoral by-elections. The shakeup is also aimed at helping him avoid becoming a lame-duck president with about one year left before the end of his term.



Moon nominated Kim Boo-kyum, a former four-term lawmaker and interior minister, as his new prime minister. The nomination reflects Moon's determination to win back the hearts and minds of voters who have turned their backs on his administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Kim, a non-mainstream moderate politician, is widely regarded as a figure who can promote social cohesion and national unity. He has been lauded for easing regional antagonism between the southeastern Gyeongsang provinces and the southwestern Jeolla provinces.



After being tapped for the country's second-most powerful post, Kim has promised to make efforts for inclusion and unity. He has also pledged to go all-out to boost collaboration with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) which won a landslide victory in the mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. He should mobilize all his experience and expertise to help develop bipartisanship with the conservative opposition.



Kim, if confirmed and appointed, should make concerted efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and stabilize people's livelihoods. It is equally important to create more jobs and speed up the country's economic recovery. Kim also needs to work with the new Cabinet lineup to increase the supply of affordable homes and stabilize the overheated housing market. He knows better than anyone else that the Moon administration's repeated housing policy failures and the simmering land speculation scandal involving state-run Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) employees were mayor reasons for the election defeat. The government cannot regain public trust without addressing these issues.



The Cabinet shakeup is more than necessary, given the present political deadlock and waning public support for the administration and the ruling party. President Moon's approval rating hit a record low of 30 percent in an opinion poll conducted last week by Gallup Korea. Yet the big question is whether the reshuffle is good enough to meet growing calls for drastic changes in a wide range of government policies, from housing and the pandemic to job creation and economic revival.



It is disappointing that the Moon administration is still balking at changing its ill-conceived and half-baked policies. The government is firm in maintaining its direction despite a series of mistakes and failures. This trend is manifest in Moon's nomination of five new ministers mostly with bureaucratic experience, signaling that he prefers stability to change. One of the nominees is Noh Hyeong-ouk, minister for government policy coordination at the prime minister's office, who was chosen as the new land minister. He is a budget strategist without any knowledge of housing; so it is questionable whether Noh, if appointed, will be able to bring runaway housing prices under control.



Another problem is that the DPK elected Yun Ho-jung, a hardline lawmaker belonging to the pro-Moon faction, as its new floor leader. His election indicates that the governing party will not change course despite the election loss. What the ruling bloc should do first is to reflect on its arrogance, self-righteousness, hypocrisy and unilateralism. The Moon administration and the DPK cannot restore public trust unless they adapt themselves for survival in the rapidly changing political landscape.


New Delhi, April 18 : With an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases in the last few days, the national capital is facing shortage of beds and oxygen as daily positivity rate has jumped to 30 per cent, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said this in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

"Covid-19 situation is at a very critical stage. There is a shortage of beds and oxygen in Delhi hospitals, almost all ICU beds have been occupied by Covid-19 patients. We are trying our best, we seek your help," Kejriwal said in his letter to PM Modi.

Kejriwal thanked the Prime Minister for providing 500 ICU beds through the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

According to the CMO, the DRDO is set to reopen its Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Covid Hospital in Delhi Cantt to deal with the massive spike in infections and will provide 500 ICU beds in the national capital.

Kejriwal has requested Modi to direct the DRDO to increase the number of ICU beds from 500 to 1,000.

"There are around 10,000 beds in Centre-run hospitals, of which only 1,800 are reserved for Covid-19 patients. Observing the situation of the national capital at present, I would request you (PM) to direct to reserve at least 7,000 beds for Covid-19 patients," Kejriwal wrote in his letter.

Kejriwal told the media that he has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan and told them about the critical situation Delhi is facing due to the increasing Covid cases.

"Yesterday, I spoke to Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan and told him about the critical situation of Delhi. I also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah this morning regarding lack of beds and informed them that we are in a dire need," Kejriwal told the media on Sunday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
With the return of peace in insurgency-affected Assam, the army has started pulling out of areas where normalcy has returned.

" has been a hotbed of over the last few decades. Various parts of the state have been under the strict vigilance of the However, with continued efforts over time, many of the affected districts are gradually returning to normal," army press office said in a statement.

With incidents of violence at their lowest in nearly three decades, deployed troops of the Red Horns Division are being withdrawn from active (CI) operations from some districts of western

The Army has vacated the large Hatsingimari camp in South Salmara.

Camps in Mankachar has also been vacated.

"The camp has been successfully handed over and will now be administered by the local civil administration and the security forces," an army officer in Western said.

The camp's area of responsibility has seen no incidents in the recent past, the officer said.

"Local populace and Ex-servicemen were also present at the time of troops moving out of Company Operating Base. The moving out of the troops was welcomed by the local populace and they thanked the Army for their contribution towards achieving peace and restoring normalcy in the district," they added.

This area has witnessed high pitch insurgency by the ULFA and the Bodo rebel groups in the past.

"When Bangladesh sheltered northeast Indian rebels, these districts were the favourite ingress-egress route of the rebels. But after Hasina government cracked down against them, the area became less volatile," said retired IN official Benu Ghosh who has served in the area.

--IANS

subir/skp/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (WTHI)

The tragedy in Indianapolis marks the 45th mass shooting in the last month. That is according to CNN reporting. News 10 spoke with several Indiana University professors on how we can come together as a country and prevent shootings like this going forward.

Forty-five mass shootings over a thirty-day span is hard for many to comprehend. On top of this, according to an analysis by the Gun Violence Archive, the nation has seen at least 147 mass shootings in 2021 alone. Local experts believe there are two main reasons as to why this is an ongoing problem in the United States.

"Good mental health care that so many of us need just to be the best humans we can be is just out of reach for us," Dr. Jody Madeira, a Law Professor at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University, said. "And the second, of course, is the United States has a higher rate of firearms per capita than any other developed country."

According to BBC News, the United States is by far the highest gun-owning country in the world with over 120 firearms per 100 residents. This is more than enough for every U.S citizen to have at least one firearm.

"We make it easier to get a gun than we do to get a job at Mcdonalds or any other fast food place," Paul Helmke, the former president of the Brady Campaign to prevent Gun Violence, said. "In this country, it's like put down the money and here is your gun. That is ridciulous. Basically, we are saying we are willing to live with this level of violence because we refuse to do anything about it."

Local experts are urging the public to take action now to solve this ongoing national issue.

"Right now, our response as a country is our hearts, our prayers, and our sympathies are with you, and we do nothing else," he said. "We need to push our elected officials, our senators, our congresspeople, our state legislators to take action on gun violence."

The United States is the only country experiencing mass shootings on a very frequent basis, experts say. To help prevent future mass shootings, Madeira, Helmke, and others are encouraging you to contact local officials to promote further advocacy efforts to help keep everyone around you safe. If you are interested in making a change, you can contact your Indiana Legislators here. For Illinois Legislators, click here.
Kildare Lotto punters are being urged to check their tickets carefully after one lucky player scooped the top prize of 1,000,000 in the Lotto Plus 1 draw last night.

The winning store where the Quick Pick Lotto ticket was purchased will be announced in the coming days, said the National Lottery in a statement.

The Kildare ticket holder has become the second Lotto millionaire this week after a Kilkenny Lotto player won the 12.7 million jackpot in Wednesdays draw.

The winning numbers for last nights (Saturday, April 17) Lotto Plus 1 draw were: 02, 06, 23, 25, 35, 39 and the bonus 01.

Lotto players in Co. Cork are also being urged to check their tickets today after a Rebel county ticket holder was just one number away from the 2 million jackpot on offer. The Cork Lotto player matched five numbers and the bonus to win 55,772 after purchasing their Quick Pick ticket in the Post Office on the Main Street in Macroom on Friday 16th April.

The winning numbers for last nights Lotto draw were: 18, 21, 27, 29, 34, 47 and the bonus 46.

Both winners are advised to sign the back of their tickets and keep them in a safe place. The winners can contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to collect their prizes.

Wednesdays Lotto jackpot is now set to roll to an estimated 2.5 million.

A National Lottery spokesperson said: Last nights Lotto Plus 1 top prize winner in Co. Kildare has officially become the newest Lotto millionaire  and the second Lotto millionaire this week. We encourage all of our players in Co. Kildare to check their tickets carefully today as one persons ticket is worth 1,000,000."
POTTSVILLE  A Pottsville man will spend time on probation, and pay costs and fines, after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he violated a protection from abuse order twice in March in Schuylkill Haven.

Brian J.E. Keefer, 50, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom.

Senior Judge D. Michael Stine accepted the plea, placed Keefer on probation for 30 days and also sentenced him to pay costs and $600 in fines and undergo mental health treatment.

The protective orders ... prohibit contact, Stine told Keefer. No contact means no contact.

In each case, Schuylkill Haven police alleged Keefer sent emails to the victim, first on March 15 and again on March 23.

Also on Wednesday, prosecutors withdrew charges of driving under the influence and operating vehicle with unsafe equipment against Jose A. Turbi Anziani, 24, of Hazleton. Anziani instead pleaded guilty to improper sunscreening.

Judge Christina E. Hale, who had been scheduled to preside over Anzianis nonjury trial, instead accepted his plea and sentenced him to pay costs and a $25 fine.

McAdoo police had charged Anziani with committing his crimes on Dec. 23, 2019, in the borough.

In another recent county case, a jury found Paul B. Shearer, 47, of Ephrata, not guilty of two counts of harassment.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Shearer with committing the harassment on Nov. 24, 2019, in Pine Grove Township.

Instead of taking his case to trial, a Schuylkill Haven man admitted Thursday to a Schuylkill County judge that he was disorderly in July 2020 in his hometown.

Carl M. Dannenhower, 80, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Prosecutors withdrew charges of terroristic threats and depositing waste on highway.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin, who was to have presided over Dannenhowers nonjury trial, instead accepted his plea and sentenced the defendant to spend three months on probation and pay costs.

Schuylkill Haven police alleged Dannenhower was disorderly on July 22, 2020.

In another recent county case, James W. Descano, 32, of Coal Township, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and obscured plates. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper driving without lights and no rear lights.

Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, who was to have presided over Descanos nonjury trial, instead accepted the plea and sentenced him to spend 30 days to six months in prison, pay costs, $1,025 in fines, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and a $50 bench warrant fee, and perform 10 hours community service.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged that Descano was DUI on May 12, 2019, in Wayne Township.

Also in the county court, Dolbin recently found William M. Bennett, 23, of Hazleton, guilty in a nonjury trial of DUI and speeding. Dolbin ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 2 p.m. June 7.

State police at Frackville charged Bennett was DUI on Jan. 12, 2020, in Mahanoy City.
Mary Hull Caballero

Hull Caballero is Portland city auditor.

Its a rite of spring, like daffodils and tulips but not as pretty. Its the time of year for the Portland City Council to settle its annual budget, which historically has doubled as an opportunity to undermine the independence of the auditors office and strike requests that would mean a more accountable government.

Its when the mayor opens the door to cutting the budget of this office, which investigates residents complaints, oversees local elections and holds bureaus accountable through audits  but not his own or those of his peers on City Council. While the mayor laid out new guidance for determining which city offices would face 5% cuts, the criteria applied to only one elective office: mine.

With Portlanders help, this could be a season of renewal. There are three new Council members who can change this tired dynamic: Mingus Mapps, Carmen Rubio , and Dan Ryan.

I know Portland residents thought they resolved this issue when 86% of voters in 2017 supported increasing the independence of the auditors office from Council and city managers. But implementing the broad language of the charter amendment still requires the Council to create a framework for setting the budget according to the auditors duties and priorities, not theirs.

For a third time, I have requested that the City Council adopt a funding model for the auditors office that limits political interference, ensures stable funding and leaves it to the auditor to manage the offices budget. It allows for modest increases over time, if needed, and optimizes an existing reserve fund into which some of the auditors year-end savings are retained.

This approach ensures you get more of what you value from the auditors office: audits of management performance, systemic-change analyses, impartial complaint investigations, and greater access to documents that enable Portlanders to understand and advocate for better city government.

A separate request would expand the work of the auditors office  without a budget increase  by using existing staff members to conduct program and policy evaluations. The benefits are twofold: retain employees who investigate police misconduct allegations and conduct policy analyses while a new voter-approved oversight board gets organized, and then use their expertise to research policies or program interventions most effective at meeting the communitys needs  work that audits and complaint investigations are not equipped to address.

This initiative would fill a gap in our existing services and better meet the needs of the public and the city. It is also fiscally responsible because it preserves valuable human capital the city needs and has invested in for years.

The city cant afford to lose analytical expertise. The problems it is expected to solve grow more complex and thornier by the day. Solutions require coordination and collaboration across economic sectors and government jurisdictions. Inaction or choosing the wrong intervention can be catastrophic for individuals, communities, neighborhoods or the planet.

Adoption of this proposal could help commissioners be better policymakers, city directors be better managers, and community members be better advocates for smarter and more accountable government. Adoption of the funding model would meet the will of voters who want a fully independent auditors office. Most important, it would alleviate the messy business of the Council deciding on a yearly basis what kind and how much accountability it wants to subject itself to.

These two proposals wont have a fighting chance unless Council hears from Portland residents soon. The mayor will issue his proposed budget by April 29, so initial decisions are being made now.

Contact Council members by emailing them budgetcomment@portlandoregon.gov or submit testimony through an online form at https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/mapapp/proposals/#/city-budget

Sign up for our free weekly Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's first budget in two years, to be presented to parliament on Monday, proposes a sales tax for online platforms and e-commerce warehouses, a digital services tax for Web giants and a luxury tax on items like yachts, government sources familiar with the document said.

It will not include a wealth tax, a levy sought by the opposition New Democrats. Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's budget will need the support of at least one opposition group to pass.

"The government is not moving forward with a wealth tax right now," a government source told Reuters. "We will be taking meaningful steps to close loopholes and tackle tax evasion, and ask those who are doing well right now to pay just a little bit more."

The budget will include a sales tax for online platforms and e-commerce warehouses starting from July, and a digital services tax on big Web companies starting from Jan. 1, 2022, both measures originally promised last year.

Online platforms include foreign-based vendors with no physical presence in Canada that sell products such as mobile apps and online video gaming. E-commerce warehousing is the storage of physical goods before they are sold online.

A luxury tax on new cars and private aircraft valued at more than C$100,000 ($79,970) and boats worth over C$250,000 will come into force next year if the budget is passed. RVs and snowmobiles would be exempt.

With the country's housing market booming, the government is proposing to tax vacant residential property owned by non-resident, non-Canadian owners from Jan. 1, 2022, sources said.

There will also be an effort to crack down on jurisdiction shopping by large, profitable companies that attempt to artificially lower their tax obligations in Canada, sources said.

From 2023, Canada will aim to limit the amount of excessive interest expenses that can be deducted from profit, although small businesses will be exempt.

Story continues

In 2022 or 2023, the budget will propose limiting the ability of multinational companies to artificially construct arrangements among countries that end up lowering their tax rates in Canada.

The sources provided no details. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is due to present the budget on Monday at about 4 p.m. (2000 GMT).

Offering up her first budget since taking over as finance minister last year, Freeland has promised up to C$100 billion in stimulus over three years to "jump-start" an economic recovery in what is likely to be an election year.

Separately, the Toronto Star reported on Sunday that Canada would set aside C$12 billion in the budget to extend its main pandemic support measures as much of the country battles a virulent third wave of COVID-19 infections.

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Peter Cooney)
LONDON : Britain's Opposition Labour Party on Sunday joined calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to cancel his visit to India, starting next Sunday, amid growing concerns of a new variant of COVID-19 detected in the country.

Public Health England (PHE) has said that 77 cases of the so-called double mutant" Indian variant have been detected in the UK since last month and that it has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI).

Downing Street had earlier confirmed a much shorter schedule for the UK prime minister's visit, with the bulk of the programme including talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set for a day-long agenda on Monday, April 26.

I can't see why the prime minister can't conduct his business with the Indian government via Zoom," said Labours Shadow Communities Secretary Steve Reed.

The prime minister, like all of us in public life, needs to try and set an example. I'd much rather the prime minister did it by Zoom rather than travelling to India," he told Sky News, when asked if the visit should go ahead next week.

A government minister, meanwhile, stressed that there is no evidence the Indian variant can evade vaccine protection or that it is more contagious.

"I'm told there is no evidence at the moment this particular variant is able to get around the vaccine or...that it is necessarily more contagious than the others  but we are looking at it, it will be studied," said Environment Secretary George Eustice.

The variant  officially named B.1.617  is believed to be almost certainly playing a part in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in India and a major spike in infection rates. It has sparked concerns among academics and sections of the UK media, who have called for India to be added to the red list", which involves stricter travel restrictions with a compulsory 10-day hotel quarantine for anyone returning to the UK from such countries.

Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London, is among those who said that he finds it mystifying" and slightly confounding" that India is not yet on the red list and that those flying into the UK from there are not subjected to the compulsory hotel quarantine.

I think we should be terribly concerned about it," Prof Altmann told the BBC.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that India has been kept off the red list to allow Johnson's visit to go ahead, even though cut short, and to ensure that India-UK trade negotiations are on track ahead of Indias negotiations with the European Union (EU).

Downing Street has said that designations under the red list, which currently covers around 40 countries, are kept under constant review" and so far the message is that the visit will go ahead in its shortened version.

"As with all the prime ministers visits, his trip to India will prioritise the safety of those involved. All elements of the visit will be Covid secure," the prime minister's spokesperson said.

A lot is riding on the visit, previously postponed from a Republic Day tour in January, as the first major bilateral visit for Johnson outside Europe since the UK general election in December 2019 and the conclusion of the Brexit transition period at the end of December 2020. The priority is for both sides to agree to a Roadmap 2030, a plan for the next decade to pave the way to a free trade agreement (FTA) in future.

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The Czech government said Saturday it would expel 18 Russian diplomats identified by local intelligence as secret agents of the Russian SVR and GRU services that are suspected of involvement in a 2014 explosion.

Czech police also said later they were seeking two Russians in connection with the blast, which killed two people, with passports used by the suspects in the attempted poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in 2018.

"Eighteen employees of the Russian embassy must leave our republic within 48 hours," Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek told reporters.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Czech authorities had "clear evidence" linking GRU officers from unit 29155 to the blast in a military ammunition warehouse near the eastern Czech village of Vrbetice.

He added that he had received the information on Friday, without explaining why the investigation had taken so long.

"The explosion led to huge material damage and posed a serious threat to the lives of many local people, but above all it killed two citizens," Babis said.

The blast occurred on October 16, 2014 at a warehouse with 58 tonnes of ammunition. It was followed months later by another big blast at a nearby warehouse with 98 tonnes of ammunition.

- Petrov and Boshirov -

The Czech organised crime squad (NCOZ) said it was looking for two men using Russian passports in relation to the explosions.

The passports bear the names of Alexander Petrov, born in 1979, and Ruslan Boshirov, born in 1978, and their holders are also wanted in Britain in connection with Skripal's poisoning in Salisbury.

Russia denied involvement in the poisoning but some 300 diplomats were sent home in subsequent tit-for-tat expulsions.

"The two men were present on Czech territory in... October 2014" when the Vrbetice blast occurred, the NCOZ said, adding that the two men also used Tajik and Moldovan identities.

Babis said the expulsion of 18 diplomats had the full support of President Milos Zeman, a veteran leftwinger who has fostered close ties with both Moscow and Beijing.

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Zeman has repeatedly spoken out against his country's Security Information Service (BIS), which has accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating recent cyberattacks on the Czech foreign ministry and other targets.

- 'Similar to Salisbury' -

In a report last year, the BIS said Russian secret services also pushed their interests in the Czech Republic through spies with diplomatic cover.

"Workers and collaborators of all Russian intelligence services -- the civilian service SVR, the military service GRU, the internal security service FSB and the Federal Protective Service -- were present and active on Czech territory in 2019," the BIS said.

Hamacek said earlier this week he would travel to Moscow on Monday to negotiate potential supplies of the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine, but he has cancelled the trip over the diplomatic spat.

Hamacek, who is the interior minister and also an interim foreign minister after his predecessor was sacked earlier this week, said he was sorry the incident would "fundamentally damage Czech-Russian relations".

He said he had summoned Russian ambassador Alexander Zmeyevsky to convey the decision.

"We are in a situation similar to that in Britain following the attempted poisoning in Salisbury," he added.

- Post-Cold War peak -

On Thursday, Czech neighbour Poland said it had expelled three Russian diplomats for "carrying out activities to the detriment" of Poland.

Warsaw also expressed solidarity with the US, which earlier that day had announced sanctions and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats in retaliation for what Washington said was the Kremlin's US election interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity.

Italy is another country to have sent Russian envoys packing earlier this month after a navy captain was caught handing over classified documents to a Russian agent.

While Russia routinely shrugs off espionage allegations as part of an "anti-Russian campaign" orchestrated by the US or Britain, analysts say that covert Russian activities in Europe have hit a new post-Cold War peak.

frj/amj/har
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A woman who appeared before the Lagos panel investigating police abuses has said she believes that at least 10 people were killed at the Lekki tollgate last October during the #EndSARS protest against police brutality.

Sarah Ibrahim, a protester, who said she witnessed the shooting by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate, testified before the panel on Saturday. She said at least 10 persons were killed during the October 20 incident.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the shooting at the Lekki tollgate despite the initial denial by the army. Hospitals in the area also confirmed treating victims with gunshot wounds following the incident. The exact number of casualties from the incident has, however, yet to be verified.

Ms Ibrahim, who said she was a volunteer at the protest, said among those shot was an elderly man who came from Ikorodu.

She also said she saw a soldier throwing a body into one of the army vans.

The witness, who came with several videos and pictures as evidence to buttress her claim, explained that the Lekki tollgate was chosen as a protest ground because of the CCTV coverage and uninterrupted power supply. She said the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), allegedly acting on an instruction, deliberately removed the CCTV camera and switched off the light including the billboard light in the area.

The LCC had testified before the panel, saying it did nothing wrong and had no intention to sabotage the protest.

The judge admitted the 95 pieces of evidence presented by Ms Ibrahim and marked them exhibit A.

Ms Ibrahim said the protesters had three drones in the area during the demonstration which revealed that there were two cameras at the Sandfill area that the soldiers emerged from.

There were also two cameras, one facing the LCC office and the other facing the tollgate before they were all removed by the uniformed staff of the LCC before the shooting began, she said.

She had earlier explained that her friend, a member of APC (All Progressives Congress) in the Lagos House of Assembly, had called to warn her to stay off the protest ground on October 20.

She quoted her friend as saying that what they are planning at the tollgate today, my heart cannot take it.

She noted that the Nigerian army officers started shooting from the Sandfill area before they got to the Lekki tollgate.

I saw people running towards the stage truck, I didnt know what was happening, and I told the person with the mic that they are coming, I never imagined the Nigerian Army would shoot that way at peoplewhile the gunshot was happening more people came from the shanties, and they started singing (the National Anthem) and waving the Nigerian flag.

During the early days of the panel, the army had insisted their officers only shot in the air at the tollgate. But they have since boycotted the hearing, refusing to obey a summon issued to them.

The witness also alleged that a man in a white attire identified by some residents in the shanties as the DPO of Maroko Police Station shot one of the protesters at close range.
The Queen is surrounded by a 'bubble' of 22 Royal Household staff who will provide comfort to her during her time of mourning.

During the funeral of Prince Philip, the Queen sat alone inside St George's Chapel, away from the rest of the Royal Family due to coronavirus regulations.

Her Majesty is only allowed to sit close to her close group of staff, dubbed 'HMS Bubble' by the master of the household Vice-Admiral Sir Tony John-stone-Burt last year, The Telegraph reports.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II bows her head as she sits in St. George's Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip, the man who had been by her side for 73 years

Paul Whybrew (Queen Elizabeth II's page) leaves the Goring Hotel after attending a Christmas Lunch hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for her close members of staff

Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty The Queen Angela Kelly Angela Kelly at Windsor Castle

The Queen's Bentley followed the coffin from the castle to the church, behind the Land Rover and her family marching together

Sir Tony wrote in an email sent to staff last year: 'There are 22 Royal Household staff inside the Bubble, and it struck me that our predicament is not dissimilar to my former life in the Royal Navy on a long overseas deployment.

'Indeed, the challenges that we are facing, whether self-isolating alone at home, or with our close household and families, have parallels with being at sea, away from home for many months, and having to deal with a sense of dislocation, anxiety and uncertainty.

'Regardless of the roles we perform, we do them to an exceptional standard to allow the Queen and other members to do their duty to the best of their ability, too.'

The Queen and Prince Philip were said to have enjoyed the joke, especially since the Duke's nickname was 'Big Bubble'.

Her Majesty has reportedly already restarted her duties as she has telephoned Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

But her governmental work will be carried out by another member of HMS bubble, Sir Edward Young - her private secretary.

Another member of HMS bubble is Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, the Duke of Edinburgh's private secretary.

The Queen stands alone as she watches Prince Philip's coffin being carried by soldiers on its final journey into St George's Chapel, Windsor today for the funeral of her beloved husband

The Queen left a personal, hand-written message to Prince Philip at his funeral service today. but the content of the note is not known

Her Majesty, with tears in her eyes, looks on after she had a moment of quiet reflection by her husband's coffin

Her Majesty's head remained bowed throughout the heartbreaking walk from the car to the church

The emotional Queen wipes away a tear in the back of the royal Bentley as she saw the procession

The Royal Family stand at the bottom of the steps of St George's Chapel as the coffin is carried up into the church

The couple, pictured together on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in November 2007

Paul Whybrew, known as 'Tall Paul', is known for starring alongside the Queen in the James Bond sketch at the 2021 Olympics.

He is said to be a calming presence and is the aide who accompanies her when she watches television.

One of the closest of all is her senior dresser, Angela Kelly, who has worked with her since 1993.

She had been visiting the Queen throughout lockdown.

There is a long history of monarchs growing close to their aides, such as Queen Victoria who grew close to her Scottish attendant, John Brown, and her Indian attendant, the Munshi.

There was not room for the spouses of the Queen's cousins - the Duchess of Gloucester and the Duchess of Kent - at Prince Philip's ceremony on Saturday.

Also missing from the list of the monarch's cousins was Prince Michael of Kent, 78, who is not a working royal.

The children of the Queen's late sister Princess Margaret - the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband David Chatto - also attended the close-knit ceremony. The Queen is particularly close to Lady Sarah.

The Duchess of Sussex, who is pregnant with her second child and was told by doctors not to fly, was also missing from the list as well as the duke's 10-great-grandchildren, who were all considered too young to attend.
Having watched the trial of Derek Chauvin from jury selection all the way through the parties cases, I want to offer my notes and impressions of what I saw. Hoping to provide some background and items of possible interest, I will compensate for the limitations of my notes by keeping them brief and conclusory (although this post isnt short). I can only say in their behalf this is the way I see the case.

On Monday the attorneys will make their closing arguments and Judge Cahill will instruct the jury in the law. The jury will be sequestered during their deliberations. They will begin deliberations with the election of a foreman. I would guess that the jury will return with a verdict by Wednesday.

Chauvin rested his defense on Thursday with the invocation of his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. I am not a juror in the case and am free to draw my own inferences from Chauvins silence. I always infer guilt from silence.

I was surprised by how far the case departed from my previous understanding of it. I think that the State presented a strong case and that Chauvins defense was thin and weak. The issue of drug abuse seemed to me to recede in importance as a cause of Floyds death, even in the testimony of defense medical expert David Fowler. Indeed, defense counsel Eric Nelson chose not to call the toxicologist he had reportedly lined up as his last witness in the case.

Pro bono prosecutor Steve Schleicher massacred defense use of force expert Barry Brodd on cross examination. Fowler  a forensic pathologist, formerly chief Maryland Medical Examiner  did a good job ascribing the death of George Floyd to causes other than asphyxiation by Chauvin, but I didnt find his ultimate opinions credible in the face of the expert testimony presented by the State.

If I were a member of the jury, I would be bound not to draw any adverse inferences from Chauvins assertion of his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Based on the evidence, however, subject to deliberations with fellow jurors, I would vote to convict him of second degree manslaughter. I would vote not guilty on the second and third degree murder charges.

The third degree murder charge is problematic as a matter of law. We wont know whether it can survive in the Chauvin case even if Chauvin is convicted of it until later this year when the Minnesota Supreme Court decides the appeal of Mohamed Noor on his conviction of the charge in the case arising from the death of Justine Damond.

KARE 11s Lou Raguse interviewed one of the Noor jurors following the verdict in that case. Lous interview provides a good sense of how the jury might go about its business in this case.

I have repeatedly expressed my concern about the fair trial issues that permeate the case. They came up repeatedly during jury selection. How can the jury set aside possible concerns about the secondary consequences of a not guilty verdict in this case? The visible manifestation of these concerns is present in the martial security protecting the courthouse, which is essentially closed but for this trial.

The court has set up a page with the public filings in the case here. It is a valuable resource. In light of the pretrial publicity in the case, Eric Nelson moved for a change of venue outside Hennepin County last year on August 28.

Judge Cahill denied the motion by preliminary order on November 4. Nelson renewed his motion and filed supporting exhibits on March 18. I dont find any further ruling on the venue issue.

Following Judge Cahills ruling against a change of venue, I think it was incumbent on Nelson to demonstrate that the problem of pretrial publicity would have been mitigated by holding the trial outstate. I dont think he has done so, but I am nevertheless not clear on how this issue has disappeared from view. Its an important issue.

Indeed, it has reemerged in its own way in the aftermath of the death of Daunte Wright this past Sunday. The jurors in the Chauvin case went home from court on Monday under the Minneapolis curfew order. Nelson raised the issue by motion for sequestration that was denied. The issue persists in myriad forms.

Governor Tim tear down this Walz assigned Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison the prosecution of this case last year in response to the demand of the mob. I wrote about Ellisons contribution to the bizarre Twin Cities hellworld in Who is Keith Ellison?

Although Ellisons office employs well over a hundred lawyers, Ellison looked for lawyers outside his office to try the case. He recruited attorneys Steve Schleicher, Jerry Blackwell, and Neal Katyal (and several of Katyals associates) to donate their services to the prosecution. Only Matthew Frank and Erin Eldridge have appeared in court from the Office of the Attorney General, and they have demonstrated the least ability in the courtroom. Ellison himself has done little more than hang around the courtroom on occasion. He has taken no speaking role.

The prosecution also benefited from the contribution of the services of medical experts Martin Tobin and Jonathan Rich. They were impressive witnesses, but there is no aspect of the prosecution which was not subject to overkill  from the bystanders, the bystanders videos, other videos, the Minneapolis Police Department witnesses, the use of force experts, and the medical experts. Cumulative testimony was the order of the day. The prosecution carries the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but still there should be some limit to repetitive evidence, as Judge Cahill himself observed on occasion without any apparent enforcement.

A few of Nelsons strongest moments came from exploiting differences or inconsistencies among the prosecution witnesses, but what was he to do with the accomplished pulmonologist Dr. Tobin? Elicited by the prosecution, Dr. Tobins testimony gave us a taste of what life what would be like in court without rules of evidence. He was given a wide ambit for his opinions, to say the least.

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson tried the case by himself. He wore down visibly and audibly in the course of the trial. I cant imagine the exhaustion he must have felt over the past few weeks.

Nelsons services were provided to Chauvin by Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, the umbrella organization of the Minnesota police unions (my description, not theirs). Attorneys are provided to covered officers on a rotating basis by the MPPOA LegalDefense Fund. The terms of the defense benefit are set forth here. Reuters covered this aspect of the case here.

I have commented on the case every morning during the 7:55 a.m. segment of Justice & Drew on Twin Cities News Talk KTLK 1130 AM. Jon Justice and Drew Lee made something of the segment. During the evidentiary phase of the trial WCCO TVs Jason DeRusha joined the segment at the top to provide the headlines and let me limit myself to commentary and analysis. The addition of Jason has made the segment stronger.

Ive heard from a lot of old friends and acquaintances. The show has a terrific reach and indispensable coverage of local news. Episodes are available in podcast form here. It has been my goal to help listeners understand the outcome of the case, whatever it is.

I joined the Spectators Americano podcast with Freddy Gray to talk about the Chauvin case on Friday morning. I have embedded the podcast below. In the podcast I make most of the points I make above. I love the Spectator in both its British and American incarnations and it was a great pleasure to talk about the case with Freddy.

NOTE: Other podcasts in the Spectators Americano series are posted online here.
Latest news Monday: Suspect arrested after manhunt for shooter who killed 3 people at tavern in Kenosha, Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE  Authorities say they arrested a "person of interest" in connection with the shooting that left three men dead at a busy tavern in southeastern Wisconsin early Sunday.

According to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, the person in custody will be criminally charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide with additional criminal charges to follow pending further investigation.

At least two people were seriously injured, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said, later adding that about 100 officers were looking for suspects.

"This appears to be a targeted and isolated incident," Beth said. "We do not believe there is a threat to the community."

Investigators have asked local hospitals to notify them of any additional gunshot victims.

The rampage was the latest of several shooting attacks across the nation, including one at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis last week that left eight people dead. Mass killings have claimed four or more American lives every week for the past six weeks, leaving dozens dead and several more people wounded.

With FedEx shootings, America suffers 6th consecutive week with a mass killing

In Kenosha, Beth said a patron "wasn't cooperating with the management" at the tavern, then left. The man returned a short time later, around 12:45 a.m., and began shooting, he said. Shots were fired inside and outside the tavern, leading investigators to believe more than one shooter could have been involved, Beth said.

Videos taken by bystanders and posted to social media after the shooting show a tumultuous scene. Emergency crews took at least two people out of the tavern with injuries, and another victim received CPR just outside the front door.

Peter Ploskee, who lives near the bar, said he leaped to his feet and ran to his window after hearing the first shots.

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"Just see people running from the bar in every direction," he told WLS-TV. "It was just chaos. People running every direction possible, so you know, who's who? Is that the guy? Is this the guy? People are just running, people screaming."

Beth said the tavern installed video cameras a couple of years ago and investigators were reviewing any video they could obtain.

The tavern is less than half a mile north of Carthage College on Sheridan Road. The school went into lockdown after the shooting, Beth said.

The shooter or shooters apparently knew the victims, Beth said. He did not know whether the victims knew their attackers. Authorities had not released the names of the victims Sunday morning.

Beth said it was possible that other patrons suffered injuries not reported to authorities. Investigators asked hospitals to notify them of any additional gunshot victims.

One of the victims got into a car after being shot and was driven away from the scene by bystanders, Beth said. The driver flagged down an officer on the way, and the officer drove the person to a hospital. The person died before arriving.

Beth said the bar was "very busy" at the time of the shooting, but he did not have any more information about how many people were there.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called it a senseless tragedy and said he and his wife are thinking of the families and loved ones affected and the entire Kenosha community as they grieve and grapple with yet another tragic incident of gun violence.

The nearby city of Kenosha was the scene of unrest last summer after a police officer shot Jacob Blake, who was left paralyzed. The police officer who shot Blake in the back in August has returned to regular duty and won't face any criminal charges or administrative discipline.

An Illinois teen was accused of fatally shooting two people during protests sparked by Blake's shooting. Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch is charged with homicide and attempted homicide.

Bacon reported from Arlington, Virginia.

Contributing: Elinor Aspegren, USA TODAY; Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; The Associated Press

California shooting suspect's arraignment postponed until he's conscious

This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Kenosha shooting: Person arrested after 3 killed in busy Wisconsin bar
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 20:05:38|Editor: huaxia

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President Xi Jinping has addressed the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia on multiple occasions. This year, as the forum marks its 20th anniversary, let's click this video to hear what President Xi has to say about some hot topics of global significance, including the Belt and Road Initiative, globalization, global governance, opening-up, etc.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Amidst the threat of a potential war between Ukraine and Russia, fleets of British warships will sail for the black sea in May, Sunday Times reported citing senior naval sources. While Kyiv has still not been granted NATO membership, the deployment is aimed at showing UKs solidarity to the eastern European country as well as other NATO allies. Earlier in April, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelelnsky dialled Johnson twice urging them to facilitate his state's accession to NATO while also increasing its presence in the conflict-hit region.

According to the report, a Type 45 destroyer armed with anti-aircraft missiles along with an anti-submarine Type 23 frigate will leave the Royal Navy's carrier task group in the Mediterranean next month. The warships would head through the Bosphorus Strait into the Black Sea. In addition to that, RAF F-35B Lightning stealth jets and Merlin submarine-hunting helicopters will stand ready on the task group's flagship, the carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, to support the warships in the Black Sea.

Without revealing any details of the deployment, a ministry spokesman told Sunday Times that the Boris Johnson administration was working closely with Ukraine to monitor the situation in the Donbas region. Additionally, he also asserted that both Britain and its allies were in unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had also expressed the Western military alliance's "unwavering" support for Ukraine and warned Moscow. Stoltenberg at a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the Russian movements "unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning".

Russia-Ukraine escalation

Kyiv has accused Moscow of massing thousands of military personnel on its northern and eastern borders along with the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow back in 2014. The reports of buildup have emerged amid an escalation of armed clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the east of the nation. The conflict has claimed over 13,000 lives since 2014, as per the United Nations (UN) tally. Since July 2020, an uneasy cease-fire has been in effect. While the longstanding conflict is still unresolved, the latest escalation was triggered after four Ukrainian soldiers died on March 26 and Kyiv blamed the incident on Moscow.

Image: AP
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HONG KONG  For more than a year, the teenagers weekends were dominated by marches, during which she chanted protest slogans, built barricades and dodged tear gas shells, returning to her home in Hong Kong in the evenings covered in bruises and scratches.

As Beijing intensified its crackdown on pro-democracy lawmakers and student activists over the last year, however, participating in the protests became increasingly dangerous. And in December, the 15-year-old known to journalists and fellow protesters simply as Aurora boarded a plane to London, the ticket paid for by an anonymous Hong Kong activist.

The decision to seek political asylum in the United Kingdom has made her one of Hong Kongs youngest exiles.

I was very worried about being caught at the airport for seeking asylum in the U.K., the teen, who requested anonymity out of fear that her family would be punished because of her involvement in protests, told NBC News. But on the flight, I finally felt safer and the most relaxed in a long time.

Her political awakening occurred in June 2019, after an estimated 1 million demonstrators took to the streets to protest an extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents accused of offenses to be sent to mainland China to stand trial.

Three days later, on June 12, she and her classmates attended a second rally in a busy commercial district, which devolved into one of the most violent demonstrations Hong Kong has seen in decades. Police fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and pepper spray at demonstrators. Some protesters attacked officers and hurled Molotov cocktails at them.

She said she was impressed by the activists solidarity.

I had always thought Hong Kongers are cold to each other, but their unity deeply moved me, and made me burst into tears, she said.

From then on, she became more politically engaged, reading the news every day, and she formed close bonds with her fellow demonstrators.

I feel like protesters are more like my family, and they understand me better than my own, said the teenager, who added that her mother disapproved of her daughters activism. Her parents are divorced and she is estranged from her father.

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Huge ensuing demonstrations were fueled by fears that residents were losing their rights and independent judicial system amid an erosion of the regions one country, two systems agreement set up when Britain handed its colony back to China in 1997.

Image: Riot police detain a woman as protesters gather at Sha Tin Mass Transit Railway station in on Sept. 25, 2019. (Tyrone Siu / Reuters file)

On June 30 last year, a contentious national security law came into effect, which criminalizes actions that Beijing considers to involve subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces or terrorism.

Arrests of pro-democracy lawmakers and student activists have become more frequent since the law was implemented.

In October, Tong Chung, 19, the former leader of a pro-independence student group, was arrested and became the first high-profile political figure to be charged under the national security law. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of life in prison. More recently, in March, 47 pro-democracy politicians were arrested under the new law, the largest crackdown on the movement to date.

On Friday, nine leading pro-democracy advocates were sentenced to jail for organizing a march during the 2019 protests that triggered a crackdown from Beijing.

The United States and other countries have slapped sanctions on Chinese officials over the crackdown in Hong Kong, with Washington labeling their actions an assault on democracy.

Beijing has countered that its actions in Hong Kong defend its national sovereignty and has called on other countries to stop interfering in its domestic affairs.

Larry Lai, a lecturer in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Hong Kong, said that young protesters tended to want to leave Hong Kong mainly for security reasons.

The national security law and how it is enforced justifies their worries, he said.

The U.K., in particular, has been an attractive destination, due to its close ties with Hong Kong. In July, it announced a new visa program providing a special pathway for British National Overseas, or BNO, passport holders to resettle in the country, with a fast-track to citizenship. Nearly 3 million Hong Kongers have been offered refuge and a possible path to U.K. citizenship, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in June.

This year, Beijing said it would no longer recognize BNO passports as valid.

But female refugees  particularly those who are underage  often have a more difficult time integrating into U.K. society and obtaining access to things, such as housing and financial support, according to Nando Sigona, chair of international migration and forced displacement and a professor specializing in migration at the University of Birmingham.

Services and support are mostly geared toward single men and families, he said.

For now, the teen is living with a family in London and spending her time reading and studying while her asylum application is pending. One day, she hopes she can return home.

I hope Hong Kong protesters dont give up, she said. If you give up now, all our efforts go to waste.
The leader of Sinn Fein has expressed regret at the IRA murder of Prince Philips uncle, Lord Mountbatten, following the Duke of Edinburghs funeral this weekend.

Mountbatten was assassinated in 1979 while holidaying in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland, by a bomb that also killed his teenage grandson and a young boat crewman.

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of the party that was once the political wing of the IRA, appeared on Times Radio on Sunday.

Asked if she would apologise to the Prince of Wales for the death of his great uncle, Ms McDonald said: The army and armed forces associated with Prince Charles carried out many, many violent actions on our island.

I can say of course I am sorry that happened. Of course, that is heartbreaking.

My job, and I think that Prince Charles and others would absolutely appreciate this, my job is to lead from the front, now, in these times.

I believe it is all our jobs to ensure that no other child, no other family, no matter who they are, suffers the same trauma and heartbreak that was all too common on all sides of this island and beyond.

I have an absolute responsibility to make sure that no family faces that again and I am happy to reiterate that on the weekend that your Queen buried her beloved husband.

The IRA and previous Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams have always maintained that Mountbatten was a legitimate target.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers said: Its really welcome that the Sinn Fein leader has issued this apology. I would like to see the same kind of apology be issued by people like Gerry Adams and others involved in Sinn Fein.

I think such apologies can bring comfort to those whove lost loved ones though Im sure the victims community in Northern Ireland will still be every bit as determined to seek justice where they possibly can and see the people responsible for the murder of their loved ones brought to justice.
Comedian Andrew Doyle, pictured, described a decision to avoid penalising students for poor spelling and bad grammar as 'patronising in the extreme'

When I read that demands for rigorous standards of written English are racist, sexist and discriminatory, my first instinct was to laugh.

Proficient use of the language can be seen as 'homogenous, North European, white, male and elite', according to the University of Hull, and might discourage students from poor or minority backgrounds from developing an 'authentic' voice.

As The Mail on Sunday revealed last week, this is not the only British university to embrace the cause of low standards. Staff at the University of the Arts London have been instructed to 'actively accept spelling, grammar or other language mistakes' in the name of 'inclusive assessment'.

Why would we hold poor or minority students to lower standards than their peers? Why would we ask teachers or lecturers to base their judgments on the colour of a child's skin? It is patronising in the extreme to suggest that only white people are capable of proficient written English. In any case, it is simply not true. And it can only serve to damage the chances of the very people who most need what schools and universities have to offer.

Our shared language is at the heart of everything, acting as a level playing field that gives all of us a chance to take part on equal terms.

As a comedian I have always poked fun at those with political power, but in recent years my targets have been disciples of a new religion, one that is dangerously obsessed with race, gender and sexuality. Never mind mere politicians, in the current climate it is the high priests of 'social justice' who are the most powerful in society.

They preside over an ideology that has been propagated by activists, commentators and, perhaps most significantly, academics. They might be small in number, but their cultural influence is huge.

Why would we hold poor or minority students to lower standards than their peers? Why would we ask teachers or lecturers to base their judgments on the colour of a child's skin?

It's a deeply worrying development and a confusing one. Everyone can see there is a concerted attack on our language and culture by those who control our major institutions, but few understand why it is happening.

Fewer still are taking the threat seriously, and that includes the bizarre proposition that accurate written English is a sign of white supremacy. Proponents include Pran Patel, a prominent campaigner for 'decolonisation of the curriculum', who tweeted: 'The more I think about it the more I believe teaching standard English is racist.'

Insane as such views might sound, however, they are echoed by many of the country's leading educational authorities. The truth is we can ignore them for only so long before these zealots cause irreparable damage to our society.

In their world, it is outcomes that must be equal, not opportunities. Any differences in exam results or employment, for example, must be evidence of institutional discrimination. And that means waging war on one institution after another.

Yes, there is something badly wrong in a system that makes it easier for a select few in society to realise their potential than the great majority. But, rather than raise standards, the proponents of 'inclusive assessment' want to see them lowered across the board. They are the crabs in the bucket, pulling everyone back down if they dare to reach for the top.

The unending obsession with identity has its origins in America, of course, where schools routinely force staff to attend training sessions where they are told that all white people are 'complicit' and all black people are victims whether they know it or not.

Thanks to these dangerous ideas, it is now acceptable to make sweeping prejudgments about people based on ethnicity, blind to the common humanity that unites us all.

It is a philosophy that explicitly rejects the premise of Martin Luther King's dream of a future in which people will 'not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character'.

Thanks to these dangerous ideas, it is now acceptable to make sweeping prejudgments about people based on ethnicity, blind to the common humanity that unites us all

Take, for example, the guidelines issued by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture last year, which claimed that 'white culture' is defined by (among other things) independence, rational thought, hard work, respect for authority and politeness.

According to the Smithsonian's guide, even the tradition of the 'King's English' was a Trojan horse for white supremacy.

Many black people were naturally outraged at the implication that such positive traits were alien to them. Yet this sort of offensive generalisation now carries the approval of President Joe Biden, the US government and an American media in thrall to the woke agenda.

It is, in other words, a rebranded form of racism, which many in the US are now calling 'neo-racism'.

The end point of such a destructive philosophy is segregation. In January, the elite Brentwood School in California arranged racially segregated 'dialogue sessions' with parents and teachers. This is what happens when schools start to embrace different standards for pupils according to their skin tone and background.

What used to be fringe academic interests  such as 'Critical Race Theory' and 'Whiteness Studies'  have exploded into the mainstream since the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests.

Yet the impact has only been to exacerbate racial tensions and set back the cause of true equality by decades.

Nor do such measures help when it comes to closing gaps in attainment. If anything, they make life harder for the very people they are trying to support.

How will a policy of 'inclusive assessment' help disadvantaged pupils in a competitive job market? In any case, the idea that ethnic-minority pupils are at a disadvantage in our educational system has already been debunked.

The Government's recent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities found that pupils from ethnic-minority groups consistently outperformed their white peers, with the exception of those from black Caribbean backgrounds.

Throughout history and across cultures, the powerful have tried to keep the lower orders in a state of ignorance. In contrast, standards in written English do not perpetuate elitism, they act as a guarantee against it.

There is a good reason why the Catholic Church resisted translating the Bible from Latin into English for so long. Those in power are threatened when their subjects start thinking for themselves.

We must do everything we can to make sure that all citizens enjoy the same opportunities, but this cannot be achieved by setting the bar so low that anybody can step over it with ease.

After all, what could be more elitist than assuming that pupils from certain ethnic or social groups are incapable of mastering written English? Or that a black pupil cannot possibly hope to grasp the power of Shakespeare's plays?

This is not only offensive to the children in question, it is indicative of a growing malaise.

Young people love to be challenged, irrespective of their background. Let's not give up on those who struggle just yet.

Let's not blight their futures with the bigotry of low expectations which is, to call it by another name, just racism.
Community, Charity & Cause

By Ls Cohen Published: April 18 2021

The number represents a tripling of the Towns usual meal delivery output.

From March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 - during the COVID-19 pandemic - a total of 108,309 meals were delivered by staff from the Town of Brookhavens Senior Division, more than triple the amount of meals delivered in a normal year. One year later, the Town of Brookhaven still operates its enhanced Home Delivered Meal Program, delivering about 500 meals a day to senior citizens.

By comparison, during the prior year before the pandemic, a total of 30,902 meals were delivered to seniors through the Home Delivered Meal Program.

In March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, the Congregate Meal Program previously held at the Towns Nutrition Centers was immediately converted to a Home Delivered Meal Program, and any senior who participated in the Towns Congregate Meal Program was offered the opportunity to have these meals delivered to their homes by Town employees, five days a week.

Funding for the Home Delivered Meal Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Suffolk County Office for the Aging, through the New York State Office for the Aging.

To recognize the importance of this program, the Town Board recently adopted a resolution to designate March as National Nutrition Month in the Town of Brookhaven.

Brookhaven Town has continued to meet the growing demand of seniors who have turned to our enhanced Home-Delivered Meal Program during this health crisis, said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine. This is accomplished through excellent coordination and a dedicated staff. I want to thank everyone for their tremendous efforts.
Union Home Minister



on Sunday asserted that the BJP will bag more than 122 of the 180 seats that went to polls in West Bengal in five phases.

Shah, while addressing a rally here in Purba Bardhaman district, claimed that Chief Minister and TMC supremo will have to make an exit after losing the Nandigram seat to the BJP.

"Didi looks demoralised after five phases of elections as it has been established that the BJP, with more than 122 seats, is much ahead of her.

"Take it from me, Suvendu Adhikari (BJP candidate) will win the elections from Nandigram," he stated.

The home minister further said that Banerjee should be bidden farewell with a huge defeat, one befitting her stature.

Claiming that illegal immigrants are taking away the benefits meant for the country's citizens, he said, "People like you and me are second-grade citizens for Didi as we do not add heft to her vote bank.

(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 demographics of the world's most populous country is set to change as will experience a negative growth after 2025, which will result in shortage of consumer demand, a well-known Chinese economist has cautioned.

China's is set to peak in just four years' time and the milestone will be marked by a significant downturn in consumer demand, said Cai Fang, a member of the monetary policy committee of the People's Bank of China, the central bank.

When the total enters negative growth (after 2025), there will be a shortage of demand, Cai was quoted as saying by Hong Kong-based South Morning Post on Sunday.

We need to pay attention to the impact of demographics on future consumption, he said.

Cai's comments came as is due to release its latest census later this month.

According to a PBOC study released a few days ago, China should immediately liberalise its birth policies or face a scenario in which it has a lower share of workers and higher burden of elderly care than the United States by 2050.

In a rare frank appraisal, four researchers from the PBOC said the country should not interfere with people's ability to have children or it will be too late to reverse the economic impact of a declining

Since 2016, Chinese couples have been allowed to have two children.

We should not hesitate and wait for the effects of existing birth policies, the researchers said in a working paper published early this week.

The birth liberalisation should happen now when there are some residents who still want to have children but can't. It's useless to liberalise it when no one wants to have children, it said.

After implementing the controversial one-child policy for over three decades, China is facing a demographic crisis with a rapidly ageing population over 60 years, which according to official figures, has increased to 420 million in 2019.

The two-child policy, which was implemented from 2016 failed to make an impact on the low birth rates as the number of newborns dropped by two million in 2018.

China as a whole saw 580,000 fewer new-borns in 2019 compared to 2018, marking the third consecutive year of decline since the implementation of the universal two-child policy in the mainland, according to official data.

According to China's statistics bureau, the country had a population of 1.34 billion in 2010 with an annual growth rate of 0.57 per cent, down from 1.07 per cent a decade earlier.

Cai said the number of Chinese of working age had been in decline since 2010, which had mainly affected the supply side of the economy.

He said if people of working age were faced with the additional financial burden of looking after an elderly relative while trying to raise a family it would make them more likely to save than consume.

That would be bad news for the economy as the government has sought in recent years to drive growth through domestic consumption.

The cost of childbearing, parenting and education are the biggest constraints on young couples, Cai said.

For the elderly, we need to increase their labour participation and social security benefits so that they can contribute to and share in the economic growth, while also maintaining consumer demand, he said.

The government should also do more to stimulate consumption among low-income groups that had a higher propensity for spending than the wealthy, 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.)
As the hearse solemnly pulled out from St Marys Cathedral on Thursday and made its sombre way down College Street behind a five-strong police motorcycle escort, a chum of the late designer Carla Zampatti, who fondly remembered the fashionista whipping around Sydney in her bright yellow sportscar, whispered: Thats probably the slowest car ride Carla has ever had.

The cortege slowly leaves St Marys Cathedral on Thursday down College Street. Credit:Dean Lewins/Getty

It was a droll moment in what had been a fittingly grand but emotional farewell for one of Australias great fashion mavericks, businesswomen, philanthropists, feminists and all-round good eggs.

A self-made woman who only learned to speak English at the age of 9 when she emigrated to Australia from Italy, Zampatti managed to overcome the stigma of being a single mother in conservative 1960s Sydney to build a multi-million-dollar empire of glamour.

Thursdays state funeral, attended by no less than three former prime ministers and the wife of the current one, along with two former governor generals and the current NSW premier, as well as a whos who of Australian fashion, business and society, was a fitting farewell for such an inspiring woman.
Their bottoms gloriously aloft, the troupe of twerkers who performed at the commissioning of the navy ship HMAS Supply were the best thing to happen to the government this week.

It was a sign of the times that everyone scrambled to have an opinion on the dancers after footage was aired of them on the ABC - footage that was deceptively edited, as it turns out, to depict military dignitaries and the Governor-General watching awkwardly on as flesh was jiggled in their honour.

The 101 Doll Squadron performs a twerking routine at the launch of the navys latest ship, HMAS Supply, in Sydney. Credit:ABC News

Actually, neither Governor-General David Hurley nor Vice Admiral Michael Noonan were present. It was fake-ish news.

But it is true that the womens dance routine was urban rather than traditional in style and involved twerking, which the Oxford English Dictionary describes as dancing in a sexually provocative manner, using thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance. This dance form has been popularised in recent years by various female pop stars.
Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry met his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Cairo on Sunday.

During the meeting the two discussed bilateral relations between their countries, as well as the latest developments in the region.

Last year, Egypt's president ratified a maritime deal setting its Mediterranean Sea boundary with Greece.

It demarcated an exclusive economic zone for oil and gas drilling rights, a move that has angered Turkey.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
A trio of young women didnt just fly through the Scouts BSA program when it opened to girls a few years ago.

They soared.

And that hard work and dedication paid off. In December, Riverside senior Emily Calder, 18, of Taylor, made history as the first female to the attain the rank of Eagle Scout in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, BSA. Two other girls soon joined her: Wallenpaupack Area freshman Angelina Krug, 15, of Greentown, who earned the rank in January, and fellow Riverside senior Kyleen Bird, 18, of Moosic, in March.

Its really empowering, said Emily, who plans to become a nurse. I have the ability to say that I did that, when I know a lot of people arent even going to have that ability.

Opening the door

In February 2019, the Boy Scouts of America rebranded as Scouts BSA and allowed girls 11 to 17 to join. While girls had been able to join the younger Cub Scouts for a year prior and also could participate in the co-ed Venturing program for many years, the change meant girls could now earn the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. It involves not just earning merit badges but also completing a major community service project and undergoing an official board of review.

Emily wasnt a stranger to scouting, having tried Girl Scouts and Venture, but neither worked for her. After seeing her brother go through Cub Scouts and going to camp a few times herself, Emily joined Scouts BSA the day it opened to girls and belongs to Troop 1057.

Honestly, I just realized really early on that I have as much of a right to be there as anybody else, and I knew that I wanted to get my Eagle from the very first day, she said.

Like Emily, Angelina and Kyleen joined Scouts BSA that February. Angelina, also of Troop 1057, described herself as an outdoorsy girl who tagged along with her younger brother during his Cub Scout adventures, and her dad is an Eagle Scout.

I wanted to make my own fun memories and friends. ... I definitely have enjoyed having friends and meeting up with people who want to do a hike and do stuff together as a group, Angelina said.

Kyleen had participated in Venture Scouts, and when her sister wanted to join BSA, Kyleen went along, too (their troop later folded because they didnt have enough members, but they worked closely with the boys Troop 316). The girls mom, Heather, had watched her own brother do Boy Scouts and saw the practical value of skills learned there.

Knowing ... how to properly use a knife and how to do different things, its something every young adult should know, she said. If your power goes out, you should know how to survive.

Going for Eagle

To earn Eagle rank, scouts must meet several requirements before turning 18, and because of their ages when they joined, that meant some of the girls had to work quickly. Thanks to the pandemic, many merit badge avenues were unavailable, so scouts had to do the work online.

I feel like I learned so many new things through the merit badges, Emily said. I didnt know half of the things for life-saving or first aid before that. Theyre really educational, and then (with) the paperwork aspect of it, Im one of those people where I like answering questions.

Angelina also had a really fun experience of learning how to do things that could help you in real-life situations. She, Emily and other scouts called on those lessons in August when they rescued a woman from under a moving tractor at Keen Lake in Wayne County.

It was just the perfect timing that we were there, and ... I was very proud that I was able to go and be there and help her in time, Angelina said.

Scouts hoping to become Eagles must do a community service project that involves planning and carrying things out and giving leadership to others, said Dave Srebro, NEPA BSA council camping and program director. Emily worked with the nonprofit Christians on a Mission to collect and distribute items to local people facing homelessness.

The more time I sat and thought about it and met with these people and talked to them about it, I realized the homeless community, theyre really pure people, Emily said. Theyre so grateful for everything you do for them. ... It was so heartwarming.

The community donated enough blankets, clothing, shoes and bags to fill the trunk of Emilys familys Suburban. And she continues to collect items because it really sat with me that these people really have nothing, she said.

I honestly wish there was more that I could do, Emily said.

With the help of other scouts, Angelina built senior care boxes for Julia Ribaudo Extended Care Center near Lake Ariel in October. While video chatting with her grandmother, a nursing home resident, Angelina saw the pandemics impact on residents, who couldnt see loved ones or do activities.

Her nursing home also got really hit hard with COVID, and I thought it would be an amazing thing if I made her a care package and gave her some activities to do and pass time, Angelina said.

She enjoyed seeing the smiles it brought to the faces of residents, who thought it was just amazing that someone would be thinking of the elderly in a time of need.

To earn her Eagle rank, Kyleen built two instrument shelves for the band room at Riverside Junior-Senior High School, where she and her fellow band members didnt have storage. Fellow scouts helped with the project in February with wood donated by Home Depot.

I feel they have given me so much that Im happy to have given something back to them, Kyleen said of the band.

Facing the panel

Because of the pandemic, scouts recently up for Eagle rank met with the review board via video chat. Emily faced three women and a male minister during this absolutely nerve-wracking experience. When they told her their decision, the minister cried.

Hes like, Ive just waited so long to be able to tell the first girl that she got her Eagle, Emily recalled. He started choking up when he was giving me the oath.

While she wasnt surprised she was able to make Eagle Scout because she had confidence in herself, Emily felt shocked to know she was the first girl to earn it in NEPA.

Emily sets her mind to things, and she doesnt stop until she does it, said her mother, Sara Calder.

Angelina earned her Eagle Scout rank at 14 and knows her dad, Jim Krug, felt proud of her.

It was just phenomenal, he said. Shes heard all my (scouting) stories growing up and what we did, and as a family we did a lot of camping with the kids. ... And as soon as girls were told that they could join Scouts, she joined up and followed my footsteps and made (Eagle) a lot quicker than I did.

I know that shes going to do something important in life, Angelinas mom, Suzanne, said. I dont know what it is yet, but its going to be something big.

Heather Bird praised her daughter for her scouting achievements, which Kyleen managed while also attending school, participating in district band and working during a global pandemic. If Kyleen had free time between classes, shed work on another project instead of just relaxing, her mom recalled.

She worked so hard, and it was so difficult with COVID because she couldnt go to these merit badge counselors, Heather Bird said. She had to do everything online, and she had to go off their time frame. ... I cant believe she actually did it.

Seeing the girls focus their energies and work hard was exciting, Srebro said.

Its been a real treat to see some of these young ladies who were really anxious to be be part of that club, if you will, or that elite group of young people whove met that (Eagle) achievement, he said.

Setting an example

The decision to allow girls into Scouts led to some backlash, and although Emily said she felt welcomed in BSA, she also encountered some negativity and hostility. Still, she added, the girls who stuck with the program love it a lot. It even became like a second family, Emily said.

Srebro said welcoming girls has not been like a shock to the system because scouts offered coed programs like Venturing for a long time. Now, Cub Scouts has co-ed packs, while Scouts BSA has single-sex troops.

Suzanne Krug, Angelinas mom, saw the impact the girls and their hard work had on the doubters.

Being her parent, Ive seen some people that are involved in Boy Scouts that werent happy about (girls joining). But ... Ive seen people who were so against it change their views, Krug said.

There may have been some pushback against girls joining, but Jim Krug believes the program, its values and lessons are good for kids no matter who they are.

Its great that the girls can have the same program as the boys. ... From the day she signed up, she put her mind to being one of the first (girl Eagle Scouts), and so we just encouraged her, Jim Krug said. And (she) had a scoutmaster that was on board with the program and was able to enable to her to do it.

The girls realize how much they grew in the process, too. Angelina, who has dyslexia, found reading and public speaking a challenge but also helpful.

It even helped me in school, she said. My grades got even higher for learning how to do certain things. Some of the badges, it helped me with my dyslexia. I was able to think a lot (more) clearly and be able to talk to people a lot more easily.

Kyleen, who plans to attend Mansfield University for music education, feels scouting helped her with time management and leadership skills.

Ive definitely become more outgoing than before and been able to talk to more people than I ever have, she said. I never would have done that if it wasnt for Scouts. ... Its opened me up to being a better person.

Watching Kyleen grow from a shy person without leadership skills into someone capable of leading adults and kids alike as she completed her project was amazing, Heather Bird said.

(Im) honored to know that shes become such an amazing adult, she added.

Emily believes girls interested in Scouts BSA should definitely give it a try.

Its not going to be for everyone, she said, but youre never going to know if its for you if you dont give it a shot.
A former youth worker used a child protection system database to access confidential information about a troubled teenager before he struck up a friendship with the young boy and sexually assaulted him.

Alex Jones, 30, bumped into his 13-year-old victim Zack* outside Flinders Street Station, in Melbourne, in 2018.

Zack had been smoking cigarettes with friends when Jones approached him for a light, struck up a conversation with the unsuspecting teenager and then asked for Zack's Facebook details, ABC reported.

Zack had no idea that on the same night the seemingly friendly stranger had accessed his personal information that was stored on CRISSP - a Department of Health and Human Services database that contains personal details about children in the child protection system.

A former youth worker used a child protection system database to access confidential information about a troubled teenager before he struck up a friendship with the young boy and sexually assaulted him (pictured, Alex Jones)

Alex Jones, 30 (pictured), bumped into his 13-year-old victim Zack* outside of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne

Jones had previously worked for Melbourne City Mission and was given access to the confidential database when he worked on a program funded by DHHS.

Jones left the role eight months before meeting Zack, and his authorisation to access the database should have been revoked.

Though in a case of human error, he was still able to access confidential and private information, which he used to groom Zack in a series of messages he sent to the teenager following their meeting at Flinders Street Station.

Jones knew that the teenager had lost his father several years ago.

'My brother died,' Jones wrote.

'F*** bro I'm so sorry,' Zack replied. 'IK [I know] how you feel.'

'How come?' Jones wrote.

'My dad died two years ago,' Zack wrote.

'AW f*** bro,' Jones wrote.

Also listed on the database was Zack's hobbies, including cars, and a previous charge relating to car theft.

Jones boasted to the teenager about his high-powered Holden and sent the teenager a photo of it.

'U wanna cruze?' He wrote.

Jones sent a series of messages to Zack following their encounter at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne

Jones accessed information about Zack on the CRISSP database and learned his father had passed away

'Wanna do some dohies,' Zack responded.

Jones continued to boast about his 'burnout car' before inviting Zack for a joyride.

'I can only just take you but,' he wrote.

Jones picked up Zack several weeks later and the pair spent the night doing burnouts, eating fast food and sleeping in Jones's car.

Zack says Jones even claimed he was ex-Navy and boasted he could track down information on anyone.

The teenager gave him a test and asked him if he could find out who his ex-girlfriend was.

'I gave him her full name and he came back with her address, her mum's phone number and all their names and ages,' he said.

Jones sent a message to Zack inviting the teenager to a motel at Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, in May 2018

Zack says Jones even claimed he was ex-Navy and boasted he could track down information on anyone

Then in May 2018, Jones took Zack go-carting and back to a motel at Geelong, 75 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.

He gave the teenager alcohol, asked him to take his clothes off as a dare and waited for Zack to pass out before raping him for 10 minutes.

Zack says he was choked, suffocated and threatened during the terrifying incident.

'It was the worst thing that I've ever felt in my life,' he said.

He caught the train home the following day, stopped responding to Jones's messages and tried to escape the torment of the incident through drug-abuse.

Jones was taken to court where he was sentenced to six years' jail with a minimum of three years and four months.

Zack's mother penned a statement to the court detailing her son's struggles following the incident.

'Within a month or so after what Alexander [Jones] did  [Zack] ended up in hospital after chroming so much he had psychosis  that night he was handcuffed and taken to hospital by police,' she wrote.

'He started sleeping with a knife under his pillow.'

Jones bumped into Zack outside of Flinders Street Station in 2018 and accessed the CRISSP database the same night the pair met

DHHS ran a check through their CRISSP database and found Jones had been accessing information for 13 months since he stopped working.

He had looked 260 times at 27 different children who were clients of Melbourne City Mission.

It also came to light that an abandoned laptop containing child abuse material was handed into police in February 2018 - months before Zack was raped.

One of the users on the computer was Jones, but they could not charge him as officers could not determine which user had accessed the material.

They informed DHHS who then sacked Jones from his role at an out-of-home care facility run by a youth service provider.

Though DHHS did not check in with Melbourne City Mission to check Jones' authorisation to access the CRISSP database had been revoked.

Victoria's Information Commissioner Sven Bluemmel led an investigation into Jones and blamed the DHHS for failing to carry out checks on who was able to access the system.

'When government does outsource anything, it can outsource some legal responsibility, it can outsource some management, but it can never outsource ultimate responsibility,' he said.

*Name has been changed.
French authorities will tightly restrict who can travel to France from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and South Africa, and will impose a 10-day quarantine on those who do, in the hope of staving off worrisome coronavirus variants circulating in those countries, the government announced on Saturday.

The announcement adds to a shifting patchwork of international restrictions that have complicated travel around the world.

Prime Minister Jean Castex announced late on Saturday that, starting April 24, travelers arriving from any of the four countries will have to quarantine for 10 days. Police officers will check on them to ensure that they comply.

Entry from the four countries will be limited almost exclusively to French citizens and their families, citizens of other European Union countries, and foreigners with permanent homes in France. Travelers must have tested negative for the virus within a shorter time before takeoff, and will be given antigenic tests on arrival.
He is known for his roles as the male lead in some of the most iconic romantic comedy films of all time.

But Hugh Grant only had eyes for his wife Anna Eberstein on Sunday, when the pair stepped out for a sunny stroll in Somerset.

The doting father, 60, wrapped up in a black jacket teamed with jeans and pair of boots, while Anna, 41, donned a padded jacket, blue jeans and sheepskin boots for their countryside outing.

Happy couple: Hugh Grant, 60, stepped out with his wife Anna Eberstein, 41, on Sunday, for a sunny stroll in Somerset

Warm: The doting father wrapped up in a black jacket teamed with jeans and pair of boots, while Anna donned a padded jacket , blue jeans and sheepskin boots

The happy couple looked deep in conversation as they explored Wells Market.

Hugh's outing follows reports that his next role could be in Sex And The City for the upcoming reboot as Sarah Jessica Parker wants a 'big' male star to join the cast.

The British actor is reportedly 'at the top of the list' to star in the show to help smooth over the absence of Samantha Jones, played by Kim Catrall, and with questions remaining over Mr Big's return, played by Chris Noth.

Hugh is reportedly being 'wooed' by his friend and former co-star Sarah Jessica, 56, as she tries to convince him to join the revived series as the pair have worked well together in the past.

According to the Mirror, an insider said: 'Sarah Jessica has it in her head that she needs a big - and I mean big - male star in the SATC reunion ensemble.'

Love interest: Hugh Grant's next role could be in Sex And The City for the upcoming reboot as Sarah Jessica Parker wants a 'big' male star to join the cast (pictured together in 2009)

The sourced added: 'To help smooth over the absense of Kim [Cattrall] and the potentially diminished role with Chris Noth, whose deal to return is not yet done and whose exact role is still being figured out.

'At the top of SJP and HBO Max's wishlist to join the series is Hugh Grant, who loves the show and had a great time working with Sarah Jessica in the past, and with HBO just last year on his massive hit The Undoing.'

The source continued: 'And the money's there to bring in Hugh and pay him his full freight.'

Chemistry: The British actor is reportedly 'at the top of the list' to star in the show help smooth over the absence of Samantha Jones, played by Kim Catrall, and with questions over Mr Big's return, played by Chris Noth (pictured, on set in 20019)

Hugh and Sarah Jessica first met in 1996, on the set of crime thriller Extreme Measures and went on to star together in the 2009 romcom Did You Hear About the Morgans?.

The Sex And The City revival, titled 'And Just Like That,' will consist of ten episodes, which will premiere exclusively on HBO Max and and will see the return of most main characters.

Sarah Jessica Parker will, of course, be at the forefront alongside Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, playing Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda respectively, with the notable absence of Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall.

'Top of the list': Hugh is being 'wooed' by friend and former co-star Sarah Jessica, 56, as she tries to convince him to join the revived series as the pair have worked well together in the past

On Thursday, actor John Corbett revealed he is set to reprise his role as Carrie's former fiance and second great love Aidan Shaw in the upcoming series.

'I'm going to do the show,' the 59-year-old revealed to Page Six on Thursday, adding that the news is 'very exciting.'

When asked 'how many episodes' he will appear in on the forthcoming reboot, Corbett replied: 'I think I might be in quite a few.'

Referencing to the Sex And The City cast, John gushed that he '[likes] all those people, they've been very nice to me.'

Comeback: John Corbett, 59, is set to reprise his role as the charming Aidan Shaw, one of Carrie's main love interests, in the upcoming Sex And The City reboot

Most recently, Chris Noth sent the Sex And The City fandom into a frenzy after he appeared to refute a claim made by Page Six in February that he would not be reprising his role as John James 'Mr. Big' Preston.

Following ever growing rumours about the show, the actor, 66, responded to a number of devastated fans, who flocked to his social media to plea for him to return for the revival series called And Just Like That.

After noticing comments asking him to break his silence on whether he would be reprising his role, he implied rumors that he would not be involved are false.

'Well, if Page Six says it  it must be true,' tweeted the star at the time of the report, followed by a winking emoji.

Adding further speculation, the Golden Globe nominee quipped: 'Everything changes  including announcements in the rags.'
OGEMAW COUNTY, MI - The Walmart location in West Branch is closed until Monday morning for cleaning and restocking purposes.

The supermarket, located at 2750 Cook Road, closed 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17 for a third party cleaning crew to sanitize the building.

The store is staying closed Sunday while employees restock the store and prepare it to reopen, according to a company news release. The decision is part of the chains pandemic measures intended to protect customers.

A statement issued on the move reads as follows:

Everything were doing is for the well-being of our associates and customers, and in consideration of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and health experts. When the store reopens Monday, we will continue conducting associate health screens and temperature checks, and all associates will be provided with facemasks and gloves.

These protocols are in addition to the extensive measures weve put in place during the pandemic to help protect our associates and customers, including installing sneeze guards at registers, temperature checks and mandatory mask-wearing for associates, placing social distancing signage and enacting emergency leave policy for associates who are unable or uncomfortable coming to work. Additionally, through the help of our health ambassadors, we will continue requiring customers to wear protective facial coverings while inside the building.

We will continue working closely with elected and local health officials, adjusting how we serve the community while also keeping the health and safety of our customers and associates in mind.

The Midland Walmart location closed for cleaning earlier in the pandemic, back at the end of 2020. Michigan is currently going through the nations worst COVID-19 spike.

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A 41-year-old man is wanted in the fatal shooting of three people in Austin, Texas, and police officials searching the surrounding area Sunday warned residents that the suspect might take a hostage.

Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the suspect, Stephen Broderick, was considered armed and dangerous. He asked area residents to continue to shelter in place and to call their neighbors to check on them.

We are concerned he might possibly take a hostage and be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave, Chacon said during a news conference Sunday afternoon.

He said Broderick is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and Black. He was wearing a gray hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball cap. Chacon said police do not know if hes in a vehicle or on foot.

Chacon said Broderick is suspected in the killing of two Hispanic women and one Black man. He said Broderick knew the victims but didnt elaborate on how or provide a motive for the shootings. Chacon also said a child was involved but that the child has been located and is safe.

Brenda Torres said she was driving by when she saw a little boy flag down a car and a Black man lying facedown on the ground.

I saw the little boy point down the street, Torres said. There was someone lying on the ground. I thought someone had just fallen down or something. As my light turns green and Im driving, I see cop car after cop car after cop car rushing toward where I just was.

The Austin-Travis County EMS said it has received no reports of victims other than the three adults who were shot dead. EMS spokeswoman Capt. Christa Stedman said the first 911 call came in at 11:44 a.m.

Chacon said the three were not shot in a building but did not give any further details.

Images from the scene showed a large presence of emergency responders, including dozens of police cars. There were also several ambulances, two SWAT trucks and two police helicopters at the scene.

The area includes a strip mall containing several retail stores and large apartment complexes situated near wooded rolling hills.

Josh Katzowitz, who had been shopping at the nearby Trader Joes, said police and ambulances came pouring in to the area as he was leaving. He didnt hear any shooting.

The cops had their guns out, he said. Some had pistols, some had rifles and they were strapping on bulletproof vests. There were all of a sudden ambulances, sirens and police cars There were cops coming from everywhere.

Police said a portion of a nearby highway would be shut down in both directions.
Australia will hold a memorial service for Prince Philip after the Queen bid a final farewell to her husband in an intimate coronavirus-secure funeral at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

St Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide is due to hold a memorial service for the prince on Sunday evening officiated by the head of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop of Adelaide Geoff Smith.

Only 30 guests were able to attend the funeral service for Prince Philip overnight due to the restrictions in place in the UK for the coronavirus pandemic.

All wore face masks and maintained their distance inside the chapel.

Australia will hold a memorial service for Prince Phillip after he passed away in his sleep on April 9

The service will be held at St Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide (pictured) on Sunday evening and will be officiated by the head of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop Geoff Smith

The Duke of Edinburgh died in his sleep on April 9, two months before his 100th birthday and shortly after a month-long stay in hospital.

Australia was represented by Defence Adviser to the UK Commodore Guy Holthouse on Saturday, who was positioned in the Horseshoe Cloister of Windsor Castle as the coffin arrived to a guard of honour.

Prince Philip's insignias from across the Commonwealth, including the Knight of the Order of Australia - announced in 2015 - and the Order of New Zealand, from 2013, were placed on the altar in St George's Chapel.

The Queen spoke to Australia's Governor-General David Hurley by telephone on Friday, according to the court circular.

Thanksgiving services for the life of Prince Philip took place earlier this week at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney and St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, with attendees including the governor-general and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Australians have sent thousands of condolence messages online via the government website pmc.gov.au, which will be forwarded to Buckingham Palace.

Prince Philip visited Australia 21 times, the first in 1940 before his marriage to the then-Princess Elizabeth.
Press Release

April 18, 2021 Fish shortage looms if Chinese presence remains in West PH Sea: Pangilinan THE Philippines cannot afford a possible fish shortage if Chinese presence remains in the traditional Filipino fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan Sunday. "May problema na tayo sa pork shortage. 'Wag naman pati fish shortage dahil sigurado, pag nangyari ito, magmamahal din pati isda (We already have a pork shortage problem. Let's not allow a fish shortage because for sure it will raise fish prices)," Pangilinan said. "Mahirap magmahal ang pagkain, di lang heart-broken aabutin natin, kundi pati sakit ng sikmura," he added. Zambales fisherfolk on Saturday blamed their dwindling catch to the presence of at least 20 Chinese vessels anchored around 111 kilometers from San Antonio, Zambales. According to the fishermen, they usually earn as much as 4,000 pesos per fishing trip but they are now coming back almost empty-handed due to the scarcity of their catch. Pangilinan, one of the proponents for the creation of a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that aims to better manage the Philippines' vast marine territory, urges the government to take immediate action against the twin threats of territory encroachment and fish shortage. "As early as now, we should heed the warning of our fishermen on the issue of their dwindling catch. We are glad that the DFA takes this into account in their diplomatic protests," he said. Pangilinan said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should also step up and provide necessary support to Filipino fishermen. "The Department of Agriculture as a whole must prepare for contingency to avoid a fish shortage," he said. "Sa ganitong lagay, hindi na lang soberenya natin ang inaagaw ng China, ninanakawan din tayo ng kita at pagkain. Palaging lugi ang ating mga maliit na magsasaka at mangingisda. Sila na nga ang pinakamahirap, sila pa ang palaging agrabyado (In this situation, China is not only violating our sovereignty, it is also robbing us of income and food. Small-scale farmers and fishermen are always on the losing end. They are the poorest and almost always taken advantage of)," Pangilinan added. Economist Solita "Winnie" Monsod warns that China is potentially profiting 6 billion dollars a year from fishing in Philippine territorial waters. According to Monsod, the presence of some 270 Chinese fishing boats in Subi and Mischief Reefs, as well as in the Scarborough Shoal and Spratlys, could have potentially netted 3 million metric tons of cumulative catch for China. Environmental groups warn of a potential fish shortage if Chinese presence in WPS continues, calling the situation "worse than invasion." While the Philippine Coast Guard said that the area is an international nautical highway where foreign vessels frequently pass, Zambales fishermen reported that the Chinese vessels remain stationary and have been there for four months now. Pangilinan said the government must learn from the African swine fever (ASF) debacle and go to the root cause of the problem. "Ano ang nangyari sa ASF dahil hindi nababantayan nang maayos ang ating border? Dahil hindi mahigpit ang pagbabantay, nakapasok ang ASF. Ngayon naman, harap-harapan na tayong pinapasok (What happened in ASF because our border controls for were not properly enforced? Because of loose controls, ASF entered our territory. Now, the incursion is blatant)," Pangilinan said. "Kung hindi mabantayan nang maayos ang West Philippine Sea, maaubos na ang ating yamang-dagat (If the West Philippine Sea is not properly guarded, we will lose our marine wealth)," he added. Two separate diplomatic protests against China were filed on April 13 as the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported that a conservative total of 240,000 kilos of fish is poached for each day Chinese fishing vessels remain in WPS. The Philippines earlier warned of daily diplomatic protests for each day of Chinese presence in Philippine territorial waters.
Passengers travelling for cancer treatments, and Irish Rail staff in Laois stations and on trains, are being subjected to abuse by a small cohort of people who must travel to Dublin for drug treatments.

The problem has been confirmed by Laois Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlan, but he says it is being addressed and handled.

Trains are the focus of a significant Garda operation. Irish Rail contacted us and we put Gardai on trains in Portlaoise. We remove people in breach of Covid regulations. There are people who for medical reasons travel for treatment to Dublin who may be problematic and engage in anti-social behaviour.

People have to use the train to attend cancer treatments but other drug treatment centres are only in Dublin and people are required to attend them too. It is a small cohort abusing and threatening people.

We are taking people off trains if they havent valid reasons to travel. But bear in mind, if you take them off, you have to get them back to where they live. Perhaps they would take a car if we prevent them travelling on the train. We are very aware of the welfare of staff and patrons.

Iarnrod Eireann also put on security. This is being addressed and handled. We have an operation involving community Gardai in Portlaoise, to go on and deal with anti-social behaviour as the train passes. We liaise between Thurles, there are operations in all locations, Chief Supt Scanlan said.

He spoke at the quarterly meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in Laois, held on April 14.

Cllr James Kelly had told him that train staff were assaulted.

In Portlaoise train station they have a log book full of incidents. Drugs have been openly used on trains. Portlaoise and Thurles have become hubs for drug dealing and drug use. Ive been on the train in Portlaoise. What Ive seen is not good, he said.

Sgt Graham Kavanagh is the Community Policing Officer.

We are looking at train stations to try and secure the locations and make them safer places for users. Irish Rail are surveying their own customers. We do board trains. This shows the public reassurance, and shows others who might want to use it for nefarious reasons to put them off. Rail use is down to 25% capacity during Covid so it will get busier again. We have asked Irish Rail to identify the more riskier locations, he said.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) said it has signed a MoU with Ajou University, a leading research institution based in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

The deal is aimed at providing a framework for collaboration for research and development (R&D) and innovation in the energy fields, said the statement from Enec.

It is responsible for developing the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program and its flagship Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, one of the largest nuclear plants globally.

Established in 2009, Enec is delivering safe, clean, efficient and reliable electricity through nuclear energy to support the UAEs sustainable social and economic growth.

Ajou University is one of the leading research universities in engineering, energy, and information technology. It was established in 1973 and was the first higher education center in South Korea to open a dedicated center to energy.

The MoU reinforces the continuous collaboration between the UAE and Korea in the R&D fields, building on the strong relationship between the two nations and opening the door for new opportunities across various sectors in the energy industry for both countries, stated its CEO Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi after signing the deal with Ajou University President Park Hyung-ju.

It forms part of Enecs long-term strategy to invest in R&D to support continuous improvement and innovation in the nuclear sector, as well supporting application of nuclear energy industry technology and expertise in related sectors, added Al Hammadi.-TradeArabia News Service
A Louisiana Senate committee on Monday advanced legislation that would remove the permitting requirement for the concealed carrying of handguns.
New Delhi:

In a gruesome incident, a young man's body was found hanging on the Ken river railway bridge in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. More than half a dozen vehicles crossed that route during that period of time as the body was left unattended.

It is believed that the young man had died after falling off the train and his body was trapped in the tracks. When the body was noticed, the police was informed and later it was given to the GRP.

Read more: Mumbai stampede: Railways committee to probe delay in tender of FOB

Six hours later, the RPF police reached the spot and the body of the deceased was taken away. The identity of the victim is still being investigated by the police.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
China-France-Germany climate summit demonstrates resolution to tackle climate change, promotes China-EU cooperation -- observers

Xinhua) 10:25, April 18, 2021

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 21, 2020 shows ultra-high voltage (UHV) power transmission lines carrying wind power to other places of China, in Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan)

BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The China-France-Germany leaders' climate summit held via video link on Friday has drawn wide acclaim from overseas experts for strengthening China-European Union (EU) cooperation in tackling climate change, and reviving global economy.

The leaders of the three countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, exchanged in-depth views on cooperation on addressing various issues at the summit, including climate change, China-Europe relations, anti-epidemic cooperation, and major international and regional issues.

"I announced that China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060," Xi said during the summit, which experts say demonstrates China's firm commitment and important contribution to the global response to climate change.

Noting that China's commitment to carbon neutrality is "crucial and ambitious," Lyazid Benhami, vice president of the Paris Association of French-Chinese Friendship, told Xinhua that through this summit, the three countries conveyed positive messages to the international community.

China and the EU are the driving forces behind climate actions, and close cooperation between these two sides is of great importance, said the expert.

China has adopted reform strategies to restructure its industry, consuming less fossil fuels and developing new types of energy, said Oleksiy Koval, a member of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists.

"All of this suggests that China is doing its part in the global effort to tackle climate change," Koval said, adding that "over the past decade, China has become the world's leader in meeting climate commitments."

Stressing that reinforced cooperation plays a significant role in tackling climate issues, Sonia Bressler, a French writer and sinologist, said the summit is therefore "a very good omen for forging deep links and shaping a jointly responsible future."

Climate change is a global challenge that warrants urgent, joint measures from different countries, said Berthold Kuhn, a senior researcher at Free University of Berlin.

This video summit is important in the way that both China and Europe are sending signals of continuous cooperation and joint endeavor, Kuhn said.

During the summit, Xi stressed that he always advocates building a community with a shared future for humanity and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with France and Germany on climate change.

Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, said in order to maintain sustainable development of the earth's ecosystem, it is very important to strengthen multilateral cooperation among the international community.

The video summit among leaders of China, France and Germany is of practical significance and will play an important role in raising the attention of the international community to climate change, he said.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Vienna, April 18 : Iran's top negotiator at nuclear talks under way in Vienna said on Saturday that the discussions were on the right track and consultations would continue.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian media that "good discussions" had been held among the delegations from Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, DPA news agency reported.

"It seems that a new understanding is emerging and there is now common ground ... on the final goal," Araghchi was quoted as saying by state television.

According to Araghchi, Iran has drafted a roadmap to serve as the basis on which the Islamic Republic could return to its technical commitments in the nuclear deal while the US lifts sanctions.

Araghchi cautioned that there remain "serious disagreements," but said that technical consultations would go on in the coming days.

The negotiators have been meeting in working groups in the Austrian capital for more than a week.

The goal is to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that was crafted to constrain Iran's nuclear programme. It has been hanging by a thread since 2018, when then-president Donald Trump pulled the US out of the accord and Tehran began to increasingly violate its terms.

Iran announced a major hike in its uranium enrichment programme this week, igniting fresh fears over the ability of the country to produce nuclear weapons.

Later on Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 per cent, after an inspection of the facility at Natanz where the production process had begun.

Iran enriched its uranium up to 60 per cent for the first time on Friday night, according to Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Iran Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI).

The exact level of enrichment is still being analyzed, an IAEA spokesperson said in Vienna.

In Vienna, the US has a team present but is not engaging in direct talks with their Iranian counterparts. Instead, other delegations serve as intermediaries.

Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov tweeted on Saturday that the latest high-level round of talks had ended with participants showing "determination to continue negotiations with a view to complete the process successfully as soon as possible." He said the progress made so far had been "noted" but, like Araghchi, did not provide details.

Negotiators are trying to get both Iran and the US to fully recommit to the deal, which would mean Iran coming back into compliance and Washington easing sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.
Investigators confer outside the Somers House tavern in Somers, Wis., on April 18, 2021. (Deneen Smith/The Kenosha News via AP)

Suspect Still at Large After 3 Dead, 2 Injured in Wisconsin Bar Shooting

Officials said that a shooting at a bar in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, left three dead and two injured early Sunday morning, adding that a manhunt is underway for the suspect.

Kenosha County Sgt. David Wright told The Associated Press and other outlets that the shooting happened at Somers House Tavern in the Village of Somers after midnight.

The alleged gunman has not been captured yet, Wright said.

Two people who were injured in the incident were taken to nearby hospitals.

Kenosha Sheriff David Beth told reporters that the incident appears to be targeted and isolated, adding that the general public does not appear to be in danger.

This appears to be a targeted and isolated incident. We do not believe there is a threat to the community at this time, the sheriffs office also said in a statement.

Beth added that the suspect appeared to know the victims, although its not yet clear if the victims knew him.

An investigator looks for evidence outside the Somers House Tavern, after a fatal shooting, in Somers, Wis., just outside of Kenosha, on April 18, 2021. (Deneen Smith/The Kenosha News via AP)

The suspect, who was not identified, was asked to leave the bar. He then returned and opened fire, officials said, according to the Journal Times.

We believe our suspect knew who he was targeting, Beth said on Sunday morning.

The sheriff said there may have been more than one suspect involved in the shooting, but its not yet clear.

The identities of the victims, including their ages and where they were from, have not been released.

According to photos published at the scene, the road leading to the tavern was closed by police.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department at 262-605-5100 or Kenosha County Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333.

Other details about the incident were not provided.

The shootings came in the midst of a gun-control push by Congressional Democrats and the White House following several mass shootings in Indiana, Atlanta, and Boulder, Colorado, in recent weeks. Last Thursday, eight people were shot and killed in a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 15:33:26|Editor: huaxia

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The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR holds a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong, China, Oct. 1, 2020. (Xinhua)

The spokesperson said Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law, and the sentencing of anti-China disruptors is based on solid evidence and with a completely legitimate and transparent procedure.

HONG KONG, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday voiced its strong disapproval of and opposition against some foreign politicians' trampling upon both the rule of law of Hong Kong and international law.

A spokesperson for the office made the remark in response to some politicians in the United States, Britain and the European Union who made groundless accusations against the sentencing of anti-China disruptors Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee and several others by the Hong Kong judiciary and clamored for the release of them.

The spokesperson said that Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law, and it is based on solid evidence and with a completely legitimate and transparent procedure that the Hong Kong judiciary has sentenced the relevant people to prison for organizing and participating in unauthorized and unlawful assembly.

Some interfering foreign forces who pay lip service to the rule of law, however, have kept glorifying the criminals as "democracy fighters," tried to obstruct the judicial proceedings, and put political manipulation above the law of the HKSAR. While claiming to "stand with the Hong Kong people," they have shown total disregard for the popular will in Hong Kong and acted against the people by repeatedly undermining the rule of law and prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said.

Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (Front) and International Finance Center are seen in Hong Kong, China, March 2, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Peng)

Also, these self-proclaimed "champions of international rules" have once and again meddled with Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, in violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, laying bare their double standards and selective application of international rules based solely on their self-interest, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson emphasized that the essence of the rule of law is that laws shall be strictly abided by, that any lawbreaker shall be held accountable, and that no one shall be above the law. The office urged the relevant countries to abide by the principle of non-interference in international law and other basic norms governing international relations, earnestly respect the rule of law, and shake off hypocrisy and double standards.

The office urged those countries to stop condoning and whitewashing criminals, stop undermining Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, and stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole. They should be sure that any interference or pressure is doomed to be futile and only self-defeating.
SC appoints Aroshana Fernando to SL Management Team View(s):

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka has recently appointed Aroshana Fernando as the Head of Consumer, Private & Business Banking (CPBB). He joins the bank with 19 years experience in the Consumer/Retail Asset Business, gained from multiple international engagements in an array of different markets, the bank said in a media release.

Mr. Fernando began his banking career at Standard Chartered Sri Lanka as Manager, Product and Portfolio, Credit Card and Personal Loans and has since held leadership positions in Alawwal Bank (former Saudi Hollandi / ABN Amro Bank), Samba Financial Group (former CITI Bank, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Standard Chartered Bank in Bahrain and Qatar.

Commenting on the new appointment, Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka said: It is with pleasure that we welcome Aroshana Fernando back to Standard Chartered Sri Lanka. He is a seasoned consumer banker with experience across multiple consumer banking disciplines, and is a valuable addition to our team.
URBANA  After the 2020 census, every state  including Illinois  will create new electoral maps, redrawing district lines for state legislators.

States with more than one U.S. representative, likewise, revise their congressional district maps using a variety of legislative procedures. In a parallel process, Illinois counties redraw their district boundaries.

University of Illinois Extensions Local Government Education program will cover the redistricting process and recent history in Illinois at a free online webinar at noon Tuesday, April 20. Political science professors in the U of I system will provide an overview how the changes impact each level government considering the anomalies in 2020 caused by the delayed release of census data.

The longstanding LGE program last delivered this program in 2011 on the heels of the prior completed decennial census. Local officials, community leaders, and citizens will gain an understanding in how changes in population at state and local levels may impact their communities, as well as learn how the local redrawing process will happen in their own counties.

Registration is required at go.illinois.edu/LGE. People needing an accommodation to participate should contact Nancy Ouedraogo, Illinois Extension specialist, at esarey@illinois.edu.

The presenters include:

 Christopher Z. Mooney, the W. Russell Arrington Professor of State Politics in the political science department at University of Illinois at Chicago. Mooney was director of IGPA from 2013 through 2017 and from 2004 through 2013 and was an IGPA faculty member at University of Illinois at Springfield. Mooney studies comparative U.S. state politics, with special focus on state legislatures, and is a noted expert on term limits.

 Brian J. Gaines, professor at University of Illinois with appointments in the department of political science and at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. He received a bachelor degree with honors from the University of British Columbia and AM and PhD degrees from Stanford University. Most of his research deals with elections, electoral rules, and public opinion. With Wendy Cho and Jake Bowers, he co-edited the Political Methodologist from 2010-2013. From 2011 to 2015, he was the editor of American Politics Research.

 Michael P. McDonald, professor of political science at University of Florida. In his career, he taught for two years at University of Illinois, Springfield. He is a co-principle director of the Public Mapping Project, an effort to encourage greater transparency and participation during redistricting. He worked as a redistricting consultant to governments and has been an expert witness to lawsuits in 15 states.
Indianapolis Shooting Suspect Used 2 Legally Purchased Rifles: Police

Brandon Scott Hole, the suspect in the FedEx shooting in Indianapolis, used two rifles that he had purchased legally last year, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said on April 17.

During Thursdays incident, the suspect, Brandon Hole, was witnessed using assault rifles in the assault. ATF conducted a trace on the two weapons, police said. IMPD learned that Brandon Hole purchased the rifles legally in July and September of 2020.

The department didnt provide further details on the types of rifles.

Hole, 19, allegedly opened fire at a FedEx facility near the Indianapolis Airport, killing eight people, police said. Authorities say Hole was a former employee at the facility and last worked at FedEx in 2020. They said they werent aware of Holes reason for leaving employment or whether he had ties with any other employee.

About 100 employees were at the facility when the shooting occurred, police said.

Earlier on April 17, authorities identified the victims as Matthew Alexander, 32, Samaria Blackwell, 19, Amarjeet Johal, 66, Jaswinder Kaur, 64, Jaswinder Singh, 68, Amarjit Sekhon, 48, Karli Smith, 19, and John Weisert, 74.

Hole died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A body is taken from the scene where multiple people were shot at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis, on April 16, 2021. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

Local media reported that four members of the Sikh community were killed in the incident, prompting some voices in the community to call for the investigation into the possibility of bias as a motivator in the shooting.

The FBI revealed that Holes mother had alerted agents in March 2020 that her son might try to commit suicide by cop, or force police officers to shoot him. FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said in a statement to media outlets that Hole was placed on immediate detention mental health temporary hold by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and a shotgun was seized at his home.

Keenan also said agents interviewed Hole in April 2020 but found no criminal violation and no evidence of racially motivated violent extremism.

Holes family apologized for the incident in a statement on April 17. They also said they had tried to get the 19-year-old the help he needed.

We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of Brandons actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed, the statement obtained by the Indianapolis Star reads. Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy. We are so sorry for the pain and hurt being felt by their families and the entire Indianapolis community.
Natanz houses thousands of fast-spinning centrifuges, the machines at the core of the uranium enrichment process. Even a small disruption can harm delicate internal components, nuclear experts say.

Iranian officials had previously said the attack, on April 11 at the Natanz nuclear site, was the result of unspecified sabotage carried out by Israel that had caused a blackout and a fire that had damaged centrifuges. Israeli media outlets reported that the facility had been targeted by a cyberattack carried out by the Mossad, Israels intelligence service. Israel has not commented on the allegations.

Istanbul: Iranian state television on Saturday named a suspect in an attack earlier on a critical nuclear site and provided new purported details about the nature of the attack, saying it involved a small blast caused by an explosive device. The suspect reportedly fled the country.

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The diplomatic fallout from the Natanz incident threatened to be as significant as any physical damage. Days later, Iran announced that it was increasing its uranium enrichment to 60 per cent purity - a provocative, threefold increase over its previous enrichment levels. Irans announcement came in the midst of delicate negotiations in Vienna intended to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, threatening to upend the talks.

The report Saturday by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said an explosion, caused by an unspecified device, had destroyed part of the power supply to the centrifuge hall at Natanz, and that there had been no cyberattack. Iranian intelligence officials had identified the suspected perpetrator as Reza Karimi, 43, and said he hailed from Kashan, about an hours drive north of Natanz, the report said.

It did not specify what role Karimi had played in causing the explosion, or whether he was affiliated with any foreign intelligence agency, but said he fled Iran an hour before the incident.

The report showed what IRIB claimed was an Interpol red notice for Karimi, or a request for help from other law enforcement agencies in apprehending a suspect. But a search of Interpols website Saturday did not turn up any mention of a red notice for Karimi.
Retail chain Kroger has closed two local grocery stores in southern California, claiming that it cannot afford to pay workers an extra $4 an hour 'hero pay' during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ralph's and Food 4 Less in Long Beach had their doors closed and shelves empty on Saturday after Kroger insisted that it was impossible for them to operate what they called 'underperforming stores.'

The city approved a coronavirus 'hero pay' ordinance in January that required retail stores and pharmacies with 300 or more workers overall, or more than 15 employees per location, to pay employees a higher wage due to the hazards of working in the midst of a pandemic.

At Kroger stores, which include Ralph's and Food 4 Less, this meant that eligible employees received an extra $4 an hour for at least 120 days.

Kroger has closed two of its California stores, including a Ralph's (pictured) after it was instructed to pay employees an extra $4 per hour 'hero pay' during the pandemic

In February, Kroger responded that it would be financially impossible to keep these 'long-struggling' stores open if it was required to pay the increased wages over four months.

'The irreparable harm that will come to employees and local citizens as a direct result of the City of Long Beach's attempt to pick winners and losers, is deeply unfortunate,' the company said in a statement.

'We are truly saddened that our associates and customers will ultimately be the real victims of the city council's actions.'

Santiago Vasquez has been working at the Ralph's part-time for about a year, told CBSLA that all of his coworkers were offered jobs elsewhere, but the transfer didn't make much sense for him.

'I was offered to stay with the company in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach,' he said. 'But I'd rather just work a minimum wage job around where I live.'

In February, Kroger said that it would be financially impossible to keep these 'long-struggling' stores open if it was required to pay the increased wages over four months

Ralph's and Food 4 Less had their doors closed and shelves empty on Saturday after Kroger insisted that it was impossible for them to operate what they called 'underperforming stores.'

Before signing the ordinance in January, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia Tweeted that grocery workers 'have been on the front lines of this pandemic and deserve this support.' He also wrote that grocers have made record profits amid the pandemic.

FOX11 reported that the issue has been at the center of several protests with participating union members, residents, community activists and employees.

Union leaders said that by closing, Kroger is only punishing workers and communities surrounding these stores, with the closures set to impact an estimated 200 workers.

Other cities in California have also approved measures requiring that companies adopt 'hero pay' for employees working during the pandemic.

The Long Beach Food 4 Less, which is also owned by the Kroger retail chain, shut its doors on Saturday, just a few weeks after the 'hero pay' ordinance was issued

There have been several protests about the 'hero pay' ordinance, with participating union members, residents, community activists and employees registering their disagreement

In March, Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance that requires companies to pay an additional $5 per hour to their non-managerial employees.

The California Grocers Association was among those opposing 'hero pay', claiming that the extra pay mandates will harm customers and workers without doing anything to boost their safety.

Just over a year ago, Kroger announced that it would introduce a 'hero bonus' as a thank you to all of its employees working on the coronavirus frontline, but this was just $2 an hour.

The nation's biggest independent grocer gave the extra pay to staff in their stores, as well as those working as part of the supply chain, in manufacturing, and in pharmacies and call centers for shifts between March 29 and April 18 2020.
As Bob Marley compositions go, I Shot the Sheriff has to rank among the reggae legends finest. Its certainly among Marleys most famous tracks with The Wailers, thanks in part to the Eric Clapton cover that followed in 74. But decades later, Marleys anthem of defiance stands tall on its own.

Setting the powerful arrangement (and Bunny Wailers backing vocals) aside, Marleys story appears to be as simple and direct as can be in I Shot the Sheriff. The narrator sees a lawman whos been aiming to take him down. But instead of waiting for the sheriff to fire, the narrator draws first and drops him.

That leaves the deputy, whom the narrator cant take down. Authorities want to charge the narrator, but he objects. (He claims self-defense.) And thats basically it, other than the final lines (possibly a warning). Every day the bucket a-go a well / One day the bottom a-go drop out.

Yet several people present during the composition of I Shot the Sheriff have pointed out alternate messages within the song (including lines about killing seeds). And the tensions within The Wailers may also have shaped the song.

Bob Marley said I Shot the Sheriff was simply about justice

Bob Marley (1945-81) speaks to an interviewer, July 1975. | Michael Putland/Getty Images

RELATED: Bob Marley Was Reportedly Irked by the Airplay Eric Claptons I Shot the Sheriff Got

After the release of I Shot the Sheriff, Marley confirmed the basic message of the track and explained why he chose the figure of the sheriff, which is not a figure in Jamaican law enforcement.

I want to say I shot the police, but the government would have made a fuss, Marley said in an interview reprinted on the Bob Marley website. So I said I shot the sheriff instead. But its the same idea: justice.

From the start, it was intended to have that cowboy ballad vibes, Bunny Wailer told Roger Steffens in So Much Things to Say (2017). Lee Jaffe, a close friend of Marley and The Wailers, told Steffens it began with Marley joking around with him.

The song came out of me playing harmonica on a beach, Jaffe explained. Bob was playing guitar and said, I shot the sheriff. And I said, But you didnt get the deputy! It was a joke because they dont have sheriffs in Jamaica. Bob was witty, it was about him hanging out with this white guy  me.

Marleys girlfriend said a few lines referenced birth control

Bob Marley and The Wailers arriving at Birmingham Odeon | Ian Dickson/Redferns

In the song, Marley sings about how Sheriff John Brown always hated the narrator (for what, he doesnt know). Every time I plant a seed, [Brown] say kill it before it grow, Marley sang. He say kill them before they grow.

Esther Anderson, a girlfriend of Marleys who claimed she co-wrote the song, said those lines had another meaning. Its about birth control, she said in So Much Things to Say. Bob was always after me to breed and have a baby with him. [] I told him I was on the pill. The sheriff is the doctor.

Listeners also cant discount the tensions within The Wailers in this era. In The Natural Mystics (2011), Colin Grant notes how Marley referenced those struggles when speaking about his composition. Me have to shoot all sheriff, Marley said of The Wailers.
When explaining the wreckage caused by the pandemic, Portland doughnut purveyor Katie Poppe trots out the old fable about the cow, the buffalo and the thunderstorm.

The cow, meek and not overly intelligent, runs from the storm, succeeding only in prolonging its time in the soaking rain and lightning.

The buffalo, on the other hand, charges into the worst of the storm and escapes to the sunny skies on the other side.

Poppe, 40, has been in full buffalo mode for a year now. Her company, gourmet baker Blue Star Donuts, was crushed by the pandemic. But Poppe charged into the unknown.

The pandemic year brought Blue Star a bankruptcy, a rescue plan from a controversial Portland investor and a legal spat with one of the citys most prominent real estate investors.

Now, Poppe wonders, wheres the sun? Wheres the happy ending? Wheres the long-predicted herd immunity that will protect both the buffalo and the cows? Will there still be fancy doughnuts after the storm?

This has just gutted our industry, she said. When I come across someone from the business they have this war-weary, battle-scarred look. I really look forward to this being over.

Katie Poppe, CEO of Blue Star Donuts, stands in front of the company's new building in the Goose Hollow district.

Inspiration in France

Poppes plunge into the pastry business came after a trip through France.

I was blown away by the quality of bread and pastries there, she said. The trip inspired the idea to make a...doughnut out of brioche - a very rich, buttery type of bread...a doughnut for grownups.

The Clovis, Calif., native had plenty of experience in the business. She and her then-husband, Micah Camden, had started up and then sold the Little Big Burger chain. She formed Blue Star in 2012. Her first hire was Stephanie Thornton, an experienced pastry chef.

They opened their first store in a ground-floor space in the Indigo building in downtown Portlands fast growing West End. They were routinely selling out by 10 a.m.

By 2019, Blue Star had 11 retail shops, 100 employees and total annual sales approaching $7 million. It was profitable, growing quickly, according to court filings.

Then COVID-19 arrived. On March 17, 2020, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-07 prohibiting all restaurants and cafes from allowing customers to eat-in.

Blue Star shut down. Poppe laid off most of her employees.

I was walking around this big, beautiful shop and tears were just flowing down my face, she said. I was worried about myself of course. But also, I had 100 people working for me. What was going to happen to them? I was terrified.

A new business model

Poppe regrouped. Blue Star got a $545,000 federal pandemic assistance loan in April. She and Thornton proceeded to reinvent Blue Star as a wholesale supplier to grocery stores, supplementing its diminished storefronts.

It was a completely different model. They had to adapt their recipes to fit the needs of grocers.

Green Zebra and New Seasons quickly signed on as customers. But it would take time to rebuild under the new wholesale model. In May, sales hit $39,900. Back in normal times, monthly sales routinely exceeded half-a-million dollars.

Blue Star suddenly couldnt pay its bills. Poppe went to all of her suppliers and landlords pleading for patience. Most proved highly sympathetic.

Angela Willis runs PrintSync, a Beaverton company that provided Blue Star with custom labeling for the cardboard doughnut boxes and other paper products. When Poppe asked for forbearance, Willis said she didnt hesitate.

This is a person who was going 10,000 miles a minute, Willis said. I figured if she was going to take this kind of risk, Im standing by her.

A falling out

Not everyone was so forgiving. Morrison Development was arguably Blue Stars most important landlord. The company, a holding of the prominent Menashe family, had leased space to Blue Star for its central kitchen and a retail store in a building at Southwest Morrison Street and 12th Avenue. Things got hostile in a hurry.

Poppe began receiving unsettling messages from Menashe.

What goes around, comes around, Menashe allegedly emailed. The snippet was included in the Blue Star bankruptcy files.

They seemed obsessed with this idea that we were trying to scam them somehow, Poppe said. I told them, were not. Were just on the edge of going out of business just like every other restaurant in the country.

Brown had prohibited commercial evictions in April. But Morrison was insistent. In late May, Morrison terminated Blue Stars lease. It sued Blue Star for back rent two weeks later.

Jordan Menashe, the developer, said hes not the bad guy in this story.

Landlords have their own bills to pay. Plus, he claims, while Blue Star was pleading for him to give them a break, the company abruptly moved out of the central kitchen building.

They just left, no warning, no nothing, Menashe said.

The lawsuit made some other Blue Star creditors nervous. The Commerce Bank of Oregon declared the company in default of a $300,000 line of credit.

Streamlined Chapter 11

Blue Star filed for bankruptcy protection on Aug. 26.

The company elected to reorganize under a new law passed by Congress in 2019 intended to streamline the process.

Speed was critical, because the company was running out of cash, said Oren Haker of Stoel Rives, the companys Chapter 11 counsel.

But the bankruptcy filing did give Poppe some breathing room. And she made the most of it. She convinced her existing investors to re-up with an additional $550,000. And she cut a deal with another investor. Portland-based Sortis Capital agreed to invest $1 million for a one-third ownership stake in Blue Star.

The company emerged from bankruptcy on Dec. 4th with $1.5 million in new investment that they say allowed it to satisfy their creditors in full - including Commerce Bank and Morrison Development - and invest in their new wholesale operation, Haker said.

Poppe managed to maintain her majority control of the company, a rarity in bankruptcy reorganizations. And she granted an ownership stake to her senior management team that had stood by her and Blue Star.

I wanted to carve out an equity portion for the senior management who had stuck with the company, Poppe said. I wanted to give them a seat at the table. I made that clear to our new investment partners and told them, Im not coming without that.

The rescue

Last June, Sortis formed a new Rescue Fund specifically to invest in promising Pacific Northwest restaurants and other food and beverage companies laid low by the pandemic.

It is led by Paul Brenneke, an entrepreneur from a wealthy Portland family with a controversial past. A decade ago, he had a a falling out with investors in a high-profile local hotel project.

Brenneke says the problems were caused by the economic fall-out from 9/11. Hes moved on to many other successful projects since then, including Sortis. Besides Blue Star, Sortis has invested in several other local restaurants, including Bamboo Sushi. Last year, it cast itself as the white knight rescuing Rudys Barbershop from bankruptcy.

Brenneke said Blue Star was an easy call. Its a great brand, he said. It was hit by something that was totally unforeseen. When we heard about it, we agreed to step up.

Poppe said shes been impressed by Sortis and Brenneke. They were able to understand a very complex situation and see the merits in my plan for the future, she said. A lot of funds would have stayed far away due to the uncertainty, the minefield of potential litigation. They did everything they said they were going to do.

Legal clouds

This winter, the path seemed clear for Blue Star. But an old adversary returned.

The money came in and we were good to go, Poppe recalls. But the ink was barely dry when I got served.

Jordan Menashe was back. His company, Morrison Development, went to court claiming Blue Star had fraudulently transferred more than $200,000 to Micah Camden, the Portland restaurateur who co-funded Blue Star with Poppe and as of 2020 still owned an ownership stake in the operation.

Morrison didnt name either Blue Star or Poppe as defendants. Just Camden, Poppes ex-husband. Menashe disputes Poppes contention that his firm was paid in full. It was still owed more than $200,000, the company claimed in court documents.

It was harassment, plain and simple, Poppe said. It looked like he was trying to pick off individual members.

Camden didnt know what to make of Menashes claims.

I didnt have anything to do with the decisions at Blue Star, he said. I dont know why Menashe came after me. I dont know why he singled me out. I assume its because I was the only one who had anything worth going after.

Camden owns his own, separate group of restaurants and claims they have withstood the pandemic just fine.

Inexplicably, Morrison dropped the suit just days later.

Menashe insists his complaint was legitimate. The family company has lost more money on Blue Star than on just about any other tenant, he said, but came to the conclusion that he had more important issues to attend to.

I feel like I was wronged. But I dont want to fight with anybody, he said. Life is too short.

Haker notes that Morrison dropped the suit without prejudice, meaning Menashe could come at Blue Star again.

The pandemic is not over. But Poppe continues her buffalo charge.

In addition to three surviving doughnut shops from before the pandemic, Blue Star has leased the Goose Hollow space formerly occupied by the Oregon Culinary Institute.

Its large enough to house the production bakery needed to serve the companys grocer customers and accommodate a retail space out front. Blue Star plans to reopen its airport location later this year and is looking for another storefront on Northwest 23rd Avenue.

It really feels like the mojo is headed in the right direction, she said.
TCA (Travel Connections Arabia), a leading global sales and marketing outsourcing agency for the luxury hospitality, tourism and travel industry in the Middle East, has opened an office Cairo, Egypt, the 14th largest market in the world, ready to tap the burgeoning luxury travel industry.

With a population of over 100 million, Egypt has millions of potential travellers to tap, with internet use growing exponentially, at approximately 22 per cent annually, or approximately 10 million users a year while it has 30 million smartphone users and are becoming more adept at looking for online travel solutions.

Ahmed El Hamzawy, CEO for the Egypt office, said: Egypt is an unusual market in that cash is still the preferred mode of payment, in part due to a lack of trust in online payment methods, and a lack of access to credit cards. However, in 2019, Egyptians spent a total of $5.1 billion on outbound tourism, with an average daily spend of $950. On average they spend between 10-20 days during peak travel periods with more than 60 per cent of nights spent in a five-star hotel.

El Hamzawys 27 plus years of experience working in the Hospitality and Tourism sector has seen him witness and contribute to this rapidly evolving industry. El Hamzawy earlier led the growth of Mubasher Holidays and Hotels Arabia before breaking away to develop LTE Arabia and now takes the reigns of TCA Egypt based in Cairo.

Ahmed M. Soliman, CEO of TCA Group of Companies, said: As our regional office on the ground in Egypt, Ahmed El Hamzawy forms the eyes and ear of the TCA operation and is perfectly positioned to hire and manage any and all manpower requirements in Egypt, as well as drive the luxury travel market for the country.

TCAs outstanding collection of hospitality and tourism clients include some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts around the world, such as The Langham, London, eight exceptional Constance Hotels & Resorts, spread across the Indian Oceans top destinations: the Seychelles, the Maldives, Mauritius and Madagascar, as well as Evok Hotels, Chenot Palace Weggis and Chenot Palace Gabala, AKA Hotel Residences, The Leela Goa, The Lungarno Collection, and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, to name a few. - TradeArabia News Service
What is the meaning of security of the person and right to liberty in a state of emergency (SoE)?

The security of the person is a basic and most fundamental of all human rights (as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), and involves the liberty of the person, the right not to be unlawfully detained, or the right to be detained only with due cause or with due process.
The protest, put together by the Southsiders for Peace organization, lasted a little more than an hour as demonstrators with signs manned all four corners. There were no protesters invading the street and tying up traffic and there was no violence. There was, however, plenty of noise as cars and trucks drove by the busy intersection and honked in support of this Black Lives Matter protest.
The commerce and industry ministry has convened a meeting of exporters on April 20 to discuss export situation against the backdrop of surging cases and healthy growth in overseas shipments in recent months.

The meeting will be chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Confirming the meeting, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said that the ministry holds these meetings regularly to discuss issues of exporters and ways to further increase outbound shipments.

Chairman of the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Colin Shah said that these meetings are helpful as exporters get a platform to raise their issues.

The meeting also assumes significance as certain exporters are of the view that restrictions, imposed by different states to contain the rising cases, for long time could have a bearing on industry.

The country's exports surged by 60.29 per cent to a monthly record high of USD 34.45 billion in March on growth in sectors such as engineering, gems and jewellery and pharmaceuticals, even as the outbound shipments contracted by 7.26 per cent during the full 2020-21 fiscal to USD 290.63 billion.

The exports have increased to USD 13.72 billion during April 1-14 this year, according to the provisional data of the

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-19 01:44:10|Editor: huaxia

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People visit the Royal Mummies' Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo, Egypt, April 18, 2021. The Royal Mummies' Hall of the NMEC opened to the public on Sunday. The Mummies' Hall is specially designed to display the mummies belonging to kings and queens from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties that ruled ancient Egypt over 3,000 years ago. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

by Mahmoud Fouly

CAIRO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- With its dark-walled and dimly-lit open rooms, the crypt-like Royal Mummies Hall at Cairo's new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) was opened to visitors for the first time on Sunday, displaying 20 mummies of Ancient Egyptian kings and queens.

The showcased mummies were among the 22 transferred earlier in April from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo to the NMEC in a remarkable parade.

The opening of the magnificent mummies hall coincided with the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as the World Heritage Day.

"We have planned to open the Royal Mummies Hall on the World Heritage Day after restoration of the mummies," Fayrouz Fekry Selim, deputy director for management and operation, told Xinhua at the museum.

"The turnout of visitors today is high. Three Germans were the first to tour the Royal Mummies Hall after its opening," Selim added, noting that the museum has received more than 150,000 visitors since the inauguration by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on April 3.

The mummies belonged to 18 kings and four queens that ruled Ancient Egypt over 3,000 years ago.

The Royal Mummies Hall is located beneath the Main Hall. It is reached by a downward stairway at the entrance of the Main Hall of the museum.

Once inside, visitors can follow the direction arrows on the floor to go through the passages, tour the entire hall, and see all the mummies, most of which are showcased next to the coffins they were found in.

The first mummy that visitors encounter is that of King Seqenenre Taa II, followed by those of Queen Ahmose Nefertari, King Amenhotep I, King Thutmose I, King Thutmose II, Queen Hatshepsut, King Thutmose II, King Amenhotep II and Thutmose IV.

The rest of the mummies include those of King Ramses II and Queen Tiye, which amazingly still have head hair in a good condition of preservation.

"It was beautiful and very impressive to see all those mummies from such a long time ago together in one area," Judith Adriaanse, a young lady from the Netherlands, told Xinhua after she visited the Royal Mummies Hall.

She added that she has been working in Egypt for six months and will bring her parents to visit the museum.

Another Dutch visitor Thomas said that he was amazed by the conditions of the mummies.

"They all have pretty nice, fair white teeth," the young man said with a smile. "We've only heard about the names of those pharaohs, but it's pretty cool to see all of them in one place."

Although 22 mummies were moved to the NMEC, the Royal Mummies Hall accommodates 20, which are currently in display. The other two mummies will be exhibited in rotation with others, according to Mahrous el-Sanadidy, a senior curator at the museum.

"The area of the Royal Mummies Hall is 850 square meters. It exhibits 20 mummies, 12 coffins and some of the special belongings of Amenhotep II and Thutmose IV," Sanadidy explained, stressing that the royal mummies are the pride of the new museum.

The NMEC's foundation stone was laid in 2002 and its temporary exhibition hall was opened in 2017, through joint efforts of the UNESCO and the Egyptian government.

The total area of the museum is approximately 138,600 square meters. The Main Hall, whose area is about 2,000 square meters, exhibits artifacts from the prehistoric times, the pharaonic dynasties, the Islamic and Coptic eras until modern-day Egypt.

"What I saw is unbelievable," said Mohamed Saada, a senior architecture student, after he visited the mummies hall. "It really makes me feel proud of being Egyptian." Enditem
ANKARA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2021 ) :- Anadolu Agency spoke with university students in Istanbul to get a sense about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their lives, what it taught or brought, took away, as well as what they missed the most.

Merve Evcili learned how to use her spare time during the pandemic.

"For me, the pandemic brought a lot of knowledge and skills which I delayed to learn too many times as I thought they were unattainable in daily life's rush," said the 28-year-old student at Dogus University's Electronics and Communications Engineering Department.

"It also took away my relationships with my loved ones, as well as many motivational sources for me with all these restrictions and measures," she said.

She said she misses doing things without a mask, restriction, time limit or fear of contacting the virus and acknowledged that she is tired of being "in prison" at home as the weather gets warmer every day.

Evcili complained about teachers not understanding students "under these circumstances" of the pandemic.

-'Pandemic took away my best university years' For 23-year-old Beyza Safiye Topcu, the coronavirus taught her that "not everything in life goes as we have planned or imagined.

" "I learned from the pandemic that we can always face all kinds of problems, and we always have to be prepared for them as much as we can," said Topcu, who is in her final year at Dogus University's Industrial Engineering program.

"It also took away my best university years from me," she said while lamenting that during this difficult period, she misses going out the way she would like and feeling comfortable.

"I am sick of always being at home and not being able to socialize," added Topcu.

-'I lost both my psychological and physical health' "Staying home for a long time and being able to motive herself" was a skill Elif Yagci gained during the pandemic.

But that came with a huge mental and physical toll. "I have lost both my psychological and physical health during this period," said Yagci, who studies Industrial Engineering at Yeditepe University.

She longs to travel and spend time with friends without restrictions.

But Yagci, 23, said she is also tired of school. Not because of the work, per se, but "because of the remote education, teachers are forcing us to a degree that we can no longer bear with courses."She described the workload as "torture."
At least six COVID-19 patients died in the ICU of a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol allegedly due to low pressure in the medical oxygen supply.

The incident occurred at the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) here on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

However, the district administration denied that these deaths were caused due to the "shortage of oxygen".

"Out of 62 patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward of the medical college's COVID-19 centre, six patients died following the low pressure of liquid oxygen late last night," the facility's dean, Dr Milind Shiralkar, said, adding that the other critical patients are safe.

The hospital has 62 ICU beds where critical COVID-19 patients are admitted.

However, Shiralkar later said had low oxygen pressure been the cause, other patients would also have been impacted.

"But the low pressure of oxygen didn't affect the other patients," he said.

Shiralkar said experts have been called in to find out the exact cause behind the death of the six patients.

He said the liquid oxygen supply at the hospital started running out by late Saturday evening.

"Suppliers were being contacted constantly, but the vehicle could not reach till late night, due to which the pressure of oxygen supplied to the patients was reduced," he said, adding that there is a pressure on suppliers across India for making available medical oxygen.

The GMCH dean also said there was a shortage of oxygen supply since the last few days.

The oxygen plant on the campus of the hospital has a storage capacity of 10 kilolitres per day, Shiralkar said, adding that liquid oxygen is brought from other states. Shahdol district collector Dr Satyendra Singh told reporters that all the six patients who died at the GMCH were in critical condition.

"The hospital dean had told me that six patients had died till 8 am but the cause of their death was not the shortage of oxygen. They were critical patients and none of them died due to the shortage of oxygen," he said.

After the dean informed the administration about the "shortage of oxygen" at the hospital, backup cylinders were sent to the GMCH from the district hospital, he added.

Singh further said the district administration is regularly monitoring the oxygen supply.

"There is no shortage of medical oxygen in the district. We have more than 600 oxygen cylinders in the district besides 35 oxygen concentrators in the GMCH," the collector said, adding an oxygen tanker is on its way to Shahdol.

Taking a swipe, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath asked the state government how long the deaths due to lack of oxygen will continue in the state.

In a tweet, Nath said, "Now very sad news of deaths due to lack of oxygen is coming from Shahdol? Why didnt the government wake up even after deaths in Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Sagar, Jabalpur, Khandwa, Khargone due to shortage of oxygen? After all, how long will deaths continue due to lack of oxygen in the state?"



Terming the situation scary, Nath also said there was a shortage of Remdesivir injections used to treat COVID-19 patients.

He alleged that the key anti-viral drug and medical oxygen were available only on paper and not in reality. According to the state's health bulletin, 142 fresh positive cases were detected in Shahdol on Saturday, taking the caseload in the district to 4,528. The death toll is 38.

(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 woman who discovered her new husband had cheated on her the day after their wedding revealed they're still living together despite being 'devastated' over his eight-month affair.

Aubry Lyn, 41, from Vernal, Utah, had just married Justin Unfred, 35, when she received a Facebook message from a stranger claiming that her new husband had a secret girlfriend.

Devastated Aubry immediately confronted 'silver tongued' Justin, who admitted he had been cheating on her, and was mortified she'd trusted a man who had already had a baby with another woman in 2019.

Aubry, who has children from a previous relationship, has filed for an annulment of her marriage but is still living with her new husband, admitting she feels 'so up and down'.

Aubry Lyn, 41, from Vernal, Utah, had just married Justin Unfred, 35, in Vegas when she received a Facebook message from a stranger claiming that her new husband had a secret girlfriend

Aubry, who has children from a previous relationship, has filed for an annulment of her marriage but is still living with her new husband

'I am devastated', said Aubry. 'I feel tricked into marrying him when he was seeing someone else behind my back. I had no idea.

'He was nothing but lovely to me and sent me long loving texts all the time. He's very apologetic now but I don't think we can work it out.'

Aubry met Justin, who had recently divorced his ex-wife, in a bar in August 2018 and the pair immediately hit it off.

'It was intense we had so much chemistry,' she said. 'It felt like a fairytale.'

On January 7th, 2021 the couple tied the knot in a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, US with just one witness

Aubry, pictured with Justin on their wedding day, said: 'He was promising the moon and just kept saying things would be easier once we were married'

Aubry Lyn received a Facebook message with a few of the text exchanges (pictured)

Devastated Aubry immediately confronted 'silver tongued' Justin, who admitted he had been cheating on her. Pictured, another of the texts

In February 2019, Aubry received a call from her best friend who told her Justin had another girlfriend with whom he had had a baby with.

'I confronted him distraught and he admitted it,' she said. 'I found out they had then been planning on getting married.'

Aubry managed to forgive Justin and said: 'He was so convincing. He has a silver tongue. We managed to move on and he ended it with the woman.'

Aubry and Justin's relationship got back on track and he proposed in October 2019 outside their back door.

'I was a bit hesitant to say yes as I have already been married three times but he was so flattering and nothing but amazing to me,' she said.

As time went on, Justin started to push for them to set a date for the wedding, she claims.

Aubry, pictured on holiday with Justin, was mortified she'd trusted a man who had already had a baby with another woman in 2019

'I wasn't bothered about rushing it but he was adamant we should pick a date,' she said.

'He was promising the moon and just kept saying things would be easier once we were married.'

On January 7th the couple tied the knot in a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, US with just one witness.

The following evening, while waiting for a restaurant reservation, a message popped through on Aubry's phone from a stranger reading: 'The man you are about to marry is dating my mum.'

'Justin was right next to me so I showed it to him and he denied it', said Aubry. 'I didn't know what to think - so I messaged asking for proof.'

Within an hour Aubry was sent screenshots of conversations between her husband and another woman, she claims.

'They were of a sexual nature and they had even been chatting on the day of our wedding,' she said.

'I flipped and yelled at him and threw my beer in his face. I took the rings off too and threw them on the floor. I drove around in an Uber for hours crying, I was so crushed and embarrassed.

'My family and friends had told me something wasn't right but he had charmed me.'

Now Aubry has filed for annulment, but is uncertain whether to leave Justin or not - as their children get on well and she doesn't want to 'ruin relationships' for them

Now Aubry has filed for annulment, but is uncertain whether to leave Justin or not - as their children get on well and she doesn't want to 'ruin relationships' for them.

'It's been really difficult,' she said. 'If it wasn't for the children it would be easier to leave. I am so up and down with what to do. I don't want to feel trapped.

'He has been really apologetic since - and it seems sincere. But I don't know if it is all a front. I'm devastated.'

Justin added: 'I see what I did as a failure. I am very upset with the choices I made. I love her and I want us to work through this.'
You are here: China

China has seen fewer road accidents in recent years, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

The number of major accidents dropped to three in 2020, down from 13 in 2014, said MPS spokesperson Li Guozhong.

The downward trend came despite the number of motor vehicles on the country's roads increased from 264 million to 372 million during the same period, according to Li.

China observed National Security Education Day on Thursday. Addressing a press conference, the ministry released the latest data.

The MPS vowed continued efforts to identify and eliminate potential risks involving passenger buses, tourist buses, minibuses, heavy trucks and vehicles carrying hazardous chemicals at a national conference on traffic management held recently in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Crackdowns on overspeeding, overloading, tired driving, drunk driving and other traffic violations will also be launched, the ministry added.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations foremost infectious disease expert, discussed the states COVID-19 outbreak and the availability of vaccinations in separate interviews Sunday morning on NBCs Meet the Press.

Whitmer previously asked the Biden administration to send a surge of extra vaccines to Michigan to fight its worst-in-the-nation outbreak but the governor has met with some resistance from the federal government on the idea.

While talking to host Chuck Todd, Fauci agreed the best response to a hotspot is to contain it by shutting things down rather than surging vaccines.

If you take vaccines from other places and move it around, you make that place vulnerable to whats going on in Michigan, Fauci said. Thats the reason why youre not seeing a lot of remobilization of vaccines from one state to another.

Whitmer said pockets of people without antibodies from previous efforts to combat the spread of the virus are feeding the current surge, as well as the B-117 variant which is more contagious and potentially more deadly.

The B-117 variant is now dominant in the U.S. like it is in Europe, Fauci said, expressing gratitude that vaccines work very well against it.

That was a good thing until the variants came, Whitmer said. We are 15 months into this and people are tired and dropping the protocols.

Whitmer continued to implore residents to take a two-week pause in activities like indoor dining, particularly for those returning from Spring Break. The state might be starting what looks like a slowdown in new cases, she said.

Whitmer has met tough resistance on her previous shutdowns and in turn has resisted new calls for mitigation orders during the current outbreak.

Playing clips of Whitmer previously stating she wont be bullied into not following the science, Todd asked Whitmer about accusations shes changed her tune and questioned if her hands are tied on the matter.

In the waning months I have been sued by my legislature, I have lost in a Republican-controlled supreme court and I dont have all of the exact same tools, Whitmer said. Despite those things, we still have some of the strongest mitigation measures in the country, mask mandates, capacity limitations, working from home. So were still doing what we can.

Despite not receiving a vaccine surge, Whitmer thanked the federal government for its extra supplies and staff, also praising the states efforts to quickly vaccinate the population. She implored residents to continue taking the pandemic seriously.

At the end of the day, this is going to come down to whether or not everyone does their part, thats the most important thing, Whitmer said. Weve gotta continue to urge the public to get these safe, effective vaccines, to understand that this is the key to saving your health and those you love around you, but also to getting our economy back on track and getting that normalcy every single one of us craves.

Read more on MLive:

Delayed care and surge in coronavirus cases overwhelms Michigan hospitals for a third round

Whitmer and GOP align on avoiding more restrictions: The week in Michigan politics

One public Michigan university is requiring COVID-19 vaccination for students. Will others do the same?
Emails sent by David Cameron lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital were revealed for the first time today.

At the height of the pandemic in April last year, the former PM sent a message to Matthew Gould, head of NHSX, the health service's digital arm.

Mr Cameron urged Mr Gould, who worked for him in government, to consider using Greensill's services, describing it as 'the UK's leading fintech firm', according to the Sunday Times. The lender fell into administration last month.

He said it was 'one of the businesses I now work with' and pointed out its Earnd app was being piloted in several NHS trusts.

He also offered to introduce Mr Gould to Bill Crothers, previously one of Britain's most senior civil servants who, it emerged last week, took a job with Greensill while working in Whitehall.

The email will further inflame the lobbying storm rocking Westminster. But Environment Secretary George Eustice - a former press secretary for Mr Cameron - today insisted his old boss had not broken any rules or 'taken advantage' of the arrangements.

He also suggested there will only be tweaks to the protocols for avoiding conflicts, saying the current arrangements were 'pretty good'.

Mr Cameron has denied any wrongdoing but conceded that in hindsight he should have made approaches in a more 'formal' way.

Labour accused the government of 'shrugging its shoulders' in the face of the backlash.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said: 'Having failed to deflect the blame, the Government's latest approach appears to be to shrug their shoulders and say ''scandal? What scandal?''.'

Emails sent by David Cameron (pictured left in Saudi Arabia with Lex Greensill) lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital have emerged for the first time

Mr Cameron reportedly emailed Mr Gould (left) about the Earnd app in April last year. Boris Johnson (right) is struggling to get a grip on the lobbying storm

Hunt for Labour 'moles' in government A network of Labour Party 'spies' is operating at the heart of Whitehall, feeding secret information to Sir Keir Starmer's team to destabilise the Government, senior Tory sources claim. The moles  Labour-sympathising civil servants  are believed to have played a key role in triggering the lobbying scandal which has allowed Sir Keir's party to construct a narrative of 'Tory sleaze' by leaking details of David Cameron's contacts with Ministers and officials. They are also suspected of using leaks to try to 'sabotage' the Brexit withdrawal negotiations last year, and to provide advance notice to the Labour leader about Government policies in the pipeline  giving him time to structure his responses. The Tory spy-hunters believe a 'cell' of Labour supporters, centred on the Cabinet Office, was activated last year after Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson's former senior adviser in No 10, declared that a 'hard rain' was coming for the Civil Service as part of planned reforms to break up Whitehall's grip on the establishment. Mr Cummings is a long-standing critic of the Whitehall establishment, describing the permanent Civil Service as 'an idea for the history books' and proposing the abolition of senior civil servants' roles. Advertisement

The 2020 email to Mr Gould read: 'Greensill have recently launched a digital solution (recently rebranded from Greensill Pay to Earnd) which helps with one of the SOS's [Secretary of State's] and your key priorities: helping all NHS employees' welfare, morale, and wellbeing.'

The former Prime Minister asked NHSX to grant it access to the data of NHS employees.

Within months, Earnd announced a partnership to deliver rapid payment to up to half a million NHS staff, having secured deals to get access to the sought-after data.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron told the Sunday Times: 'These discussions were about the mechanics to ensure Earnd was delivered for NHS workers in an efficient way.'

Allies of the ex-PM said today the idea behind Earnd was a 'good one', and was now being taken up by other tech providers.

'There was absolutely nothing wrong with promoting this idea - indeed it is one of the best ways to wipe out the scourge of payday lending,' one source said.

The email also raises further questions for Matt Hancock, as Mr Cameron wrote to Mr Gould to say that the Health Secretary was 'extremely positive about this innovative offer'.

Last week it emerged Mr Hancock met Mr Cameron and Mr Greensill for a 'private drink' in 2019 to discuss a new payment scheme for the NHS.

Mr Eustice said of Mr Cameron: 'Well look, he himself has said that with hindsight it probably would have been better if, rather than texting ministers, if he had instead written letters to set out his views more formally.

'But I think the real point is. 'has he done anything wrong?' Well, on the face of it, no. There's a review that is going on, we mustn't prejudge that.'

Pushed on whether Mr Cameron exploited the rules, Mr Eustice added: 'I don't think he took advantage of any rules, no. He meticulously observed the rules there that he himself actually put in place after some concerns around lobbying a decade ago.

'He put in place these restrictions on what ministers can do for a period of two years.

'But look, he himself has conceded that with hindsight, if he had his time again, he wouldn't have texted Rishi Sunak and wouldn't have texted others  he would instead have written through formal channels.'

Mr Eustice said the Government would be looking at whether changes were required - but insisted the current system for declaring interests was 'pretty good'.

He told Sky News' Ridge On Sunday: 'I think the right thing is for these reviews to go through their process, to conclude, to work out exactly what did and what did not happen and then yes, of course there may come a time after that when it is right to consider tweaks to policy.

'But fundamentally, I think the systems we have in place with ministers declaring interests with the ministerial code and the focus on that and how ministers conduct themselves in office is actually a pretty good one.

Boris Johnson was today warned failure to tackle the 'shameful' lobbying storm could cost him votes as a crucial round of elections loom.

Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin appealed for the PM to get a grip after a slew of revelations in the wake of Greensill Capital's collapse into administration.

Unless he is more 'transparent' the row could hit the 'Red Wall' support that delivered Mr Johnson's historic 2019 majority, Sir Bernard said.

The scale of damage could become clear within weeks, with a wave of elections on May 6 including councils, mayors and a by-election in Hartlepool - a seat traditionally held by Labour but within the grasp of the Conservatives if their working-class surge continues.

Mr Johnson has ordered a Cabinet Office probe overseen by a legal expert as he scrambles to defuse the lobbying row.

The saga deepened last week after it emerged the former head of government procurement, Bill Crothers, took a part-time position with the firm while in his Whitehall post.

In the latest revelations today:

A procession of former PMs are expected to give evidence to a Parliament inquiry into lobbying;

Environment Secretary George Eustice confirmed the official probe by Nigel Boardman will not make recommendations about tightening rules;

Mr Johnson is set to name a new adviser on ministerial interests tomorrow after the dramatic departure of Sir Alex Allan over his Priti Patel report;

Tories are hunting for a suspected group of Labour moles in government thought to have been leaking damaging stories;

Mr Cameron is facing calls for an investigation into a meeting with Philip Hammond amid suspicion that he may have used it to urge Government to support a 700million UK-China investment fund.

David Cameron's wife Samantha accompanied him on the trip to China where she attended a banquet to welcome her to China with fashion entrepreneur Wendy Yu (Samantha and Wendy pictured together)

David Cameron's full email to NHS digital chief Dear Matthew I hope you are keeping safe and well in these very strange times - and no doubt incredibly busy too! On that, I know that Laurence in my office has passed a couple of people onto your team who have contacted me with tech solutions they think might be deployed in the UK to help with the Covid effort. Thanks so much for considering these and dealing with them, especially when you're so busy. I do appreciate it. I hope you don't mind, but I did want to get in touch myself about one of the businesses I now work with, Greensill (https://www.greensill.com), the global leader in supply chain finance (SCF) and, arguably, now the UK's leading fintech firm, and introduce you to Bill Crothers, a fellow board member and member of the exec team. Bill worked in the Cabinet Office during the coalition years, leading the government's procurement and commercial agenda. e also tells me that you each received your CBs at the same investiture! As you may be aware, Greensill have recently launched a digital solution (recently rebranded from Greensill Pay to Earnd) which helps with one of the SOS's and your key priorities: helping all NHS employees' welfare, morale, and wellbeing. In short, this is an app that allows NHS employees to draw their salary earned, not yet paid, in real time using a simple app. Importantly, it is free for employees and for employers, and Greensill have committed that they will never charge for the service to the NHS and will never sell an employee's data. This offers the potential for a material benefit across the NHS (and will pave the way for social care as well). Employees (especially low paid) will benefit, as well as it offering cost savings to trusts. As you can imagine, Matt Hancock, David Prior [NHS England chairman], Simon Stevens [NHS chief executive], as well as the many trust CEOs, are extremely positive about this innovative offer. The service is already live in Royal Free and in pilot at two other trusts. Jim Mackey [former head of NHS Improvement], for example, and other trusts such as Salford, Moorfields and others, will likely implement it rapidly once they get some breathing space. NHS Professionals have written to express a willingness to proceed in principle. Our ask is about ESR [electronic staff records], as Earnd will be much slicker if it can obtain access to employee data in ESR. The team at Greensill are in positive discussions with the relevant members of BSA [NHS Business Services Authority] on this (BSA is a key client of Greensill, whereby Greensill pay, as part of their other core 'SCF' offering, about 1.5 billion p.a. early to pharmacies ? this is expected to rise to closer to 8 billion p.a. by end of this calendar year), but I think some help from you would go a long way. Separately, they are seeking to gain access to trust data held by the dominant rostering system, Allocate. This is of such potential importance in contributing to the priority of doing all we can to help NHS employees at the current time, and in the future, that I thought you should be aware and would be interested to know a little more. It is in this context that I would like to introduce you to Bill and suggest that you meet (albeit virtually) to discuss further, especially the ESR issue. I hope you don't mind me making this intro. Finally, and importantly, once this is all over, it would be great to see you again - maybe for lunch? Let's stay in touch! Thank you Matthew for all you're doing and for your help with this. I look forward to catching-up soon. Very best wishes, David Advertisement

Commons standards chief calls for probe into suspicion David Cameron lobbied Philip Hammond to back investment fund set up by friend Lord Chadlington

An inquiry into lobbying by David Cameron should also examine a meeting that the former Prime Minister had with Philip Hammond amid suspicion that he may have used it to pressure the Government into supporting a lucrative 700million UK -China investment fund, according to the Chairman of the Commons Standards Committee.

As PM, Mr Cameron  the subject of an independent inquiry by lawyer Nigel Boardman over his lobbying of Ministers and Whitehall officials on behalf of loans firm Greensill Capital  hailed a 'golden era' in trade relations between Britain and China.

After leaving Downing Street, he seemingly hoped to cash in with a new private equity fund proposed by his friend Lord Chadlington, who had donated thousands of pounds to his Tory leadership campaign.

By January 2018, Mr Cameron was back in Beijing, this time for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured together) about the initiative which could potentially net him millions

Mr Cameron flew to Beijing in September 2017 to discuss the plan with China's Vice Premier Ma Kai.

In October that year  15 months after stepping down as PM  he met with Mr Hammond, the then Chancellor, and two months later the Treasury gave its crucial support for the fund for which Mr Cameron was to be Vice-Chairman.

By January 2018, Mr Cameron was back in Beijing, this time for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the initiative which could potentially net him millions.

'Excellent meeting & enjoyable dinner with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, to talk about the 'Golden Era' in UK-China relations & plans for the new UK-China Fund,' he tweeted at the time.

Mr Cameron's office last night said his meeting with Mr Hammond had been only to seek Government support for the 'concept of a bilateral fund' and he had not lobbied Ministers on behalf of the fund's investors or partners.

He informed the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which advises former Ministers and civil servants on outside employment, about the meeting, his representatives added.
Trade unions, 14 others challenge Port City Commission Bill View(s):

The government-controlled, Leslie Devendra-led Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya is among five trade unions along with other organisations and individuals challenging the constitutionality of the new Colombo Port City Commission Bill.

Altogether 15 petitions have been filed challenging the bill of which submissions will be heard by a 5-judge bench of the Supreme Court tomorrow (Monday). The other four unions are the National Union of Seafarers in Sri Lanka, Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union, the Ceylon Mercantile Union and the United Federation of Labour which are all members of the National Labour Advisory Council.

The President and the Secretary of the Bar Association have also filed petitions saying that provisions of the new bill contravenes sections of Sri Lankas Constitution and thus would require a two-thirds majority of Parliament along with a national referendum to ensure its enactment into law.

The bill has wide powers and exempts some key legislation from being operative in the Commissions area of control prompting protestors of the proposed new legislation to decree that the area of authority will be a Chinese colony since a Chinese company is involved in the project and has some control over its land use.

The trade unions petition while saying that many clauses in the bill are unconstitutional, points out that Clause 3(5) of the bill, seeks to usurp powers, duties and functions statutorily vested in certain written laws into the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, in a manner that is not provided for in them and thereby inter alia specifically impede the operation of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act, Employees Provident Fund Act, Employees Trust Fund Act, Shop and Office Employees Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Wages Boards Ordinance, Factories Ordinance, Maternity Benefits Ordinance, Budgetary Relief Allowance Acts of 2005 and 2016, National Minimum Wage of Workers Act in the areas of authority of the Colombo Port City.

Clause 6(i) compels the Commissioner of Labour to abdicate or delegate powers that are statutorily vested in him in the sphere of labour inspection, monitoring business operations to guarantee compliance with provisions of the written laws, the petition says.

Clauses 6(g) and 6(h) render the labour inspectorate of the Department of Labour incapable of performing their statutory functions and/or roles while Clause 52 and 53 seek to suspend the operation of the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act at the discretion of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission in the form of an incentive to a chosen category of investors and thereby renders workmen disentitled and discriminated of their rudimentary rights that are integral to the relationship of employment and entrenched social protection guarantees connected thereto.

The petition is seeking a determination from court that the bill is required to be passed by not less than two-thirds of the whole number of members of Parliament as required under Article 84(2) and approved by the people at a Referendum.
DANBURY  The City Council is expected to consider a June vote on the proposed $99 million career academy during a virtual meeting on Monday.

This new school serving students in middle and high school would be built within three pods of the Summit, a mixed-use development in the 1.2 million-square-foot former Union Carbide world headquarters on the citys west side.

The project has been largely popular among education and city officials and is seen as a way to help address the growing school enrollment, while providing students with opportunities to study various career fields and pursue internships.

A virtual meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday evening where public comments submitted from residents will be read. To submit feedback about the academy, residents should email comments@danbury-ct.gov with their full name and address by 5 p.m. Monday. The meeting will be streamed on YouTube.

The council will meet virtually at 8 p.m. to consider the mayors request for a vote to be held on the project on June 15.

Typically, the project would go to referendum, but the governors executive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic allow the council to approve the borrowing package itself. The council will decide Monday whether to hold the referendum or vote itself.

District officials have said they expect 1,400 students to eventually attend the academy, with 1,040 high school and 360 middle school students. Superintendent Sal Pascarella has said the district would phase in students and staff.

Eventually, the school would offer six academies focused on professional health services; information, cybersecurity and technology; scientific innovation and medicine; global enterprise and economics; art, engineering and design; and communications and design.

School administrators have been inspired by an academy in Nashville as they craft their plans. The Nashville school has raked in $8 million in fees by hosting other districts interested in the concept.

Its one of two ongoing projects to address enrollment growth, with construction expected to begin this summer on an annex to Ellsworth Avenue Elementary School.

Danbury is racing to meet the states deadline for a grant that would cover 80 percent of the academys cost. Plus, $2.4 million of city costs would be covered by money the council approved last year for school projects.

The city is required by law to submit its application by Oct. 1, but the state has asked for a draft by Sept. 1, so that any necessary tweaks can be made.

This would be the first time Connecticut would reimburse a municipality for a school project that uses the design-build method. City officials have said the project may become a model for other communities.
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that he has spoken to Union Health Minister about the shortage of oxygen beds in Delhi, and added that in November 2020, the central government allotted the Delhi government 4100 beds at a peak of 8500 cases, however, this time, they have only provided 1800 beds, even after this wave being three times more fatal than the previous ones.

He said that Delhi is facing a shortage of oxygen, Remdesivir, and Tocilizumab, which must be made available by the Central government for adequate treatment of coronavirus patients. He said that the Central government has always helped Delhi in its fight against coronavirus and he hoped that this time too, the central government will aid Delhi.

He said that the experts dont know how many new cases would arise in the days to come and what will be the peak of coronavirus in Delhi, as Delhi reported 19,500 cases the day before yesterday and 24,000 cases in the last 24 hours.

Addressing a digital press conference today, CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "With the pace at which coronavirus is spreading, none of us know when it would reach its peak. As I said, there were 19,500 cases the day before yesterday and 24,000 cases yesterday; we dont know how many new cases would arise in the days to come. Hence, we would have to vigorously prepare for any kind of situation. We cant be laid back and must work tirelessly, 24 hours, and make the necessary arrangements so that were one step ahead of coronavirus."

"A while ago, I spoke to Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan and requested him. I told him that there is now a huge shortage of beds in Delhi. In November, the central government allotted us 4100 beds. This time, they have only provided 1800 beds. Although, this wave is 3 times more fatal than the previous ones. In the previous wave, 8500 was the peak and now were at 24,000. There are around 10,000 beds of the central government in Delhi. Out of these, at least 50% of beds must be reserved for coronavirus," he said.

CM Kejriwal said, "In AIIMS, there are 11,062 beds in total. Out of these, only 23 have been reserved for coronavirus. In the Safdarjung hospital, there are 2,900 beds out of which only 204 have been reserved for coronavirus. I requested him, saying that if at least 50% of beds are reserved for coronavirus, an additional 3000-4000 beds could be made available for the patients. Similarly, ICU beds should also be provided. Secondly, I told him how Delhi is facing a shortage of oxygen. I was told today that private hospitals are facing more shortages. I requested him for an immediate supply of oxygen in Delhi."

"Thirdly, I told him that we are short of Remdesivir and Tocilizumab and it must be made available. We have always been helped by the central government in the fight against coronavirus and I hope that this time too, the central government will support Delhi," he added.
Wigneswaran proposes Hindu priest for Chief Ministers post View(s):

Even though it is unlikely that Provincial Council elections will be held this year, Northern Tamil parties are proposing various names for the post of Chief Minister.

Parliamentarian and former Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran came up with what appeared to be a wild card, proposing a Hindu priest called Velan Swamigal, opposing the candidacy of Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Leader Mavai Senathirajah.

The priest who broke away from another Hindu outfit before forming his own group and is relatively a new figure in Tamil national politics, though he took part in a recent protest march from Pottuvil to Polikandy.

Other parties rejected the idea of a Hindu priest, and stressed that the individual should be fit to hold the office with necessary administrative and political skills unlike the previous Chief Minister.

Hearing about the pick of the former CM, a local market trader was heard saying it was fortunate that another convicted, controversial self-styled godman Premananda was no longer alive since he also might have been named as a candidate.

After all, the trader noted it was the same retired Supreme Court Justice who wrote to Indian Premier Narendra Modi in 2015 seeking the release of four convicts of an infamous case of rape and murder, popularly called the Premananda case in Tamil Nadu.

Former Air Force Chief as envoy to Rome

The Sri Lanka Air Forces Former Commander Air Marshal Sumangala Dias has been nominated to become Sri Lankas Ambassador to Italy.

Foreign Ministry officials said yesterday his appointment letter has been sent to the Foreign Office in Rome.

He was earlier named to be Sri Lankas High Commissioner in Canada. However, the Ottawa government has not confirmed the acceptance of his nomination.

Devananda continues to fish in troubled waters

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, who showed a soft corner for the Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters, this week went still further by saying that people living in the North should have a sense of gratitude to the Indians.

During a television interview he said those in the North should not forget how the Tamil Nadu Government and people received tens of thousands of Sri Lankans fleeing the North during the war.

We should not forget how the Sri Lankans were treated as own brothers and sisters, he said.

Mr Devananda also said that India brought pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to introduce the 13th Amendment hoping it would help to resolve the ethnic crisis.

The Ministers remarks came in the wake of his previous comments that he was considering a licencing system for the Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters.

The Minister was asked when people are robbing your place do you go and give them licences?

Minister Devananda posed a question back to the TV reporter asking; What happens if the rouges have entered your house with heavy weapons. Do you go to fight them?

Was the one-time gun toting Minister hinting that Sri Lanka was now under pressure to give in?

Thondaman apologises for using derogatory word against women

In this highly digitalised world, politicians need to be more careful of what they say, where and to whom they say it since most people are armed with smartphones recording something.

The latest politician to be involved in such controversy is young Parliamentarian Jeevan Thondaman of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC).

Following the sudden death of his father Arumugam Thondaman last year, his son Jeevan took over the party leadership and entered Parliament.

Addressing a pocket meeting recently in a tea plantation over the much politicised topic of Rs 1000 as a basic daily wage for plantation workers, he alleged some hillcountry Opposition politicians work closely with the management of plantation companies to prevent the basic wage increase from being implemented.

While addressing them in Tamil, he used a sensitive derogatory word involving women. Someone who took part in the meeting recorded his speech and leaked it on social media sites, and the clips went viral overnight. The young Mr Thondaman was accused of humiliating women.

Later Mr Thondaman had to release another video statement regretting his usage of slur words when addressing the rally. He said he was angry with the elements that working to deny a decent basic wage to plantation workers.
Whats good for the goose!! By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):

The government, as in all their recent predecessors, is cottoning onto the same gullible mistakes  especially where private banks are concerned.

The Business Times learns that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has written to certain directors representing state-held shareholdings in private commercial banks asking them to resign and make way for the incumbent government nominees. The argument is that the state representations on commercial banks boards should represent people that are supporting the government in power. In this instance this may look right, but is it?

While most directors have resigned to avoid the unpleasantness, some others are standing their ground. They say that there is a process to get directors to relinquish the positions and that is to out-vote them at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or an Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM).

It wont be too easy for them, as unofficially they are being bullied and harassed with many letters into submission saying the state institutions will collectively use their voting rights to kick them out. The word collectively should stand out at this point because that means acting in collusion/ concert. Acting in concert is prohibited by the banking law.

But it still happens. Or theres a threat of it happening in this case.

Former Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake in the last government did this. Those before him did it. Its been going on for the past 15 years by the state using the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) shareholdings.

The EPF has 9.63 per cent of Commercial, 8.01 per cent in DFCC and 9.76 per cent in HNB. SLIC has 14.63 in HNB, 8.71 per cent in DFCC and 5.83 of Commercial as at last year.

It must be mentioned that in the last government three of the Commercial Bank directors appointed by the 2005 government continued and completed their full nine-year term.

After Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy took over as Governor, the Central Bank (CB) in 20I7 stopped this practice.

Those pro  government indignantly question why shouldnt the government appoint its people if other shareholders can do so.

A) The representations of privately held shareholding dont rotate every half a decade like the governments do.

B) Private banks depend on ratings, professionalism and soundness to attract foreign capital, not on the strength of the government.

C) Private shareholder voting rights mustnt be restricted to 15 per cent if state exercises beyond this limit.

D) Its against the law.

E) Its against ethics and common decency.

F) Two wrongs dont make a right.

Government shareholding like private shareholders must be restricted to 15 per cent when exercising voting rights to prevent politicisation of private banks.

The shareholder funds in a bank are less than 10 per cent of the total capital employed in a bank. More than 85 per cent is depositors and lenders money. Shouldnt the representations be allowed in their favour?

Also, EPF which is workers money and SLIC which is the life fund of the people isnt state owned but managed by them. The question arises whether its ethical for them to vote with the government. Its become a chicken and egg situation but there was hope that the current government which promoted much meritocracy will put a spoke in this vicious wheel.

The MoF should brush up on company law because it seems they are unaware.

In these unprecedented times with the added issues of the pandemic, private banks need financial soundness to retain their local and international ratings.
Eight people were killed in a shooting on Friday, this time by a former employee at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis.

The shooter is dead, police said.

Deputy Chief Craig McCartt of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said at a news conference the investigation is still very much in its infancy, and there are still questions investigators are working to answer.

Heres what we know about the shooting so far.

What Happened

Gunfire erupted at the facility not far from the Indianapolis International Airport late Thursday when a gunman got out of his car, and pretty quickly started some random shooting outside the facility, McCartt said.

That began in the parking lot, he said, and then he did go into the building into the facility for a brief period of time.

According to McCartt, investigators have heard the shooting lasted just a couple minutes.

Police were called to the facility at about 11 p.m. local time, arriving to what McCartt told CNN was a very chaotic scene, with victims and witnesses running everywhere.

By the time officers entered the facility, McCartt said at the news conference, the situation was over. The gunman had taken his own life shortly before officers entered, he said. No officer fired their weapon, he told CNN.

They found several victims injured and several victims deceased as well as the suspect, who was deceased, as well, of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound, McCartt said.

The deputy chief added nothing had apparently precipitated the gunfireno confrontations or disturbances, no arguments. He just appeared to randomly start shooting.

It was at least the 45th mass shooting reported in the United States since March 16. CNN defines a mass shooting as a shooting incident that results in four or more casualtiesdead or woundedexcluding the shooter.

The Victims

Eight people were killed, according to police. Four were found outside the facility and another four were found inside the building, McCartt said.

On Friday evening, Indianapolis police released the names of the victims. They are: Matthew R. Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jaswinder Kaur, 64; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Karli Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.

Four of those killed were Sikh, Maninder Singh Walia, a member of the Sikh community in Indianapolis, told CNN.

Our community has a long road of healing physically, mentally, and spiritually to recover from this tragedy, Walia said.

A statement by IMPD said the next of kin has been notified by the Marion County Coroners Office. The cause of death will be determined after autopsies are complete, according to the statement.

IMPD said the names of those injured are not being released.

At a news conference Friday afternoon, McCartt said four victims with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds were taken to local hospitals Thursday night, while a fifth sought treatment in another county. Two additional people were treated for injuries at the scene and were released, McCartt said.

There were at least 100 people in the facility at the time of the shooting, he said. Many were in the middle of a shift change or on their dinner break.

Rimpi Girn knew two of the deceased victims: Amarjit Sekhon, a family friend who Girn considers an aunt, and Jaswinder Kaur, the mother of Girns sister-in-law.

According to Girn, Sekhon, a mother of two teenage sons, immigrated to the US in 2004. She has a husband who is physically disabled and handicapped, Girn said. She described Sekhon as a workaholic and active person whose whole household ran on her.

Kaur also had two childrena daughter and a son, Girn said. She immigrated to the United States in 2018 and was the main breadwinner for the family. She sent money earned from her job at FedEx to her son living in India as financial support.

Sekhon and Kaur went to work together every day, working the same night shift, Girn said. They didnt want to work night shift anymore, they wanted to work day shift.

The Suspect

Police identified the gunman as 19-year-old Brandon Hole.

Hole was a former employee at the facility and had last been employed there in 2020, McCartt said.

Previously, FedEx declined to name him, but spokesperson Jim Masilak confirmed the gunman had previously worked at the facility where the shooting took place.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said the FBI assisted Indianapolis Metro Police Department investigators with a search of the mans home.

McCartt said some other leads led authorities to the location. But, again, until we make positive identification along with the coroners office, were not going to identify anybody.

The gunman had at least one weapon, and McCartt told CNN the man was believed to have been carrying a rifle of some sort during the shooting.

Holes mother told FBI agents in March 2020 that her son might try to attempt suicide by cop or force police to shoot him, the FBIs Indianapolis office said in a statement.

Hole was suspected of having mental problems and placed on an immediate detention mental health temporary hold by Indianapolis police, Keenan said in the statement, and a shotgun was seized at his home.

Based on items observed in the suspects bedroom at that time, he was interviewed by the FBI in April 2020, the statement said. No Racially Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE) ideology was identified during the course of the assessment and no criminal violation was found. The shotgun was not returned to the suspect.

The Motive

The motive remains unknown, McCartt said Friday afternoon.

But now that the gunman has been identified, McCartt said investigators can start to explore a potential motive.

Weve recently identified him so now the work really begins trying to establish some of that and see if we can figure out some sort of motive in this, but we dont have that right now, he said.

Asked about a motive Friday morning, Keenan said it would be premature to speculate on that motivation.

But officials believe there is no further threat, he said.

The-CNN-Wire

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If youre at or nearing retirement age, its possible your boss wants you to retire, but you just havent gotten the memo. Some employers take a direct approach when encouraging workers to start their golden years, while others use more understated tactics.

See: The Complete Guide to the Best Retirement Age

With the exception of a few professions, mandatory retirement is illegal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986. The decision to retire should always be in your hands, but unfortunately, it doesnt always go that way.

But before you become part of this stat, know the signs that your employer is trying to get you to retire earlier than you plan.

Last updated: April 12, 2021

Middle aged woman looking out of the window in the boardroom.

They Stop Assigning Long-Term Projects

If the work youve been assigned to seems mundane or short term in nature lately, it might not be a coincidence.

When you are no longer a part of your employers vision, you are sidelined from crucial and long-term projects that actually add value for the organization, said Ketan Kapoor, co-founder and former CEO of Mettl, an HR technology company and leading talent measurement firm. The idea is to rely less on your experience and onboard new people to take up a role with better efficiency and productivity.

See: 25 Ways To Maximize Your Retirement Benefits

Senior businessmen discussing over a report while meeting in a cafe.

Youre Given Projects That Dont Require Strategizing

Consider it a red flag if your employer stops valuing your opinions.

Your inputs in strategy and decision-making that shape the future of the organization might see a downward curve, Kapoor said. Rather, you get (assigned) to more business as usual projects that have more to do with day-to-day operations and less with brainstorming and strategizing.

Discover: 30 Greatest Threats to Your Retirement

senior businessman working in office.

They Stop Investing In You

Continuous feedback and course corrections are vital for any professional to grow in their roles and contribute to the long-term vision of an organization, Kapoor said. If your employer wants you to retire, they mostly cut down on the quantity and quality of the feedback they used to offer before.

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Not only that, your efforts might largely go unnoticed.

You might also get cold responses on your achievements, Kapoor said. Other than that, the amount and frequency of appreciation for your efforts can also take a back seat.

offended senior employee

Your Salary and Career Growth Is Halted

Higher remuneration and position is one of the biggest factors that an employer provides an employee as an incentive to stay and continue growing, Kapoor said. However, the amount of appraisals can decline when your employer wants you to retire.

If your raises keep getting smaller and you dont remember the last time you were promoted  despite working hard for a company with a healthy bottom line  something might be up. Do note, its illegal to deprive you of a promotion simply because of your age, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Mature Businesswoman Working In Office.

They Try To Make Your Role Redundant

Many a time, your employer can try to merge your role with a different department or even make it obsolete, Kapoor said.

Not exactly a subtle move. If theres talk of eliminating your position entirely, your boss is probably hoping youll follow your job out the door. They likely cant force you to retire, but theyre betting youll opt to begin your golden years, instead of learning an entirely new job.

Two business people arguin at the officeTwo business people arguin at the office.

Rude Comments About Your Age

If your employer makes jokes about your age or allows your colleagues to do so, this could be their way of encouraging you to retire, said Jeanne Miller Rodriguez, CEO and owner of Pennico Press Publishing.

Lighthearted teasing, offhand comments and isolated incidents not serious in nature arent unlawful, according to the EEOC. However, comments made frequently or maliciously that create a hostile work environment are illegal, so its important to know your rights.

For When You Do Want To Retire: 50 Best Places To Retire in the US

Young manager offering pen to upset senior employee for signing document.

Your Supervisor Becomes More Hands-On

If your boss has been hovering, micromanaging and criticizing your work more than in the past, they might be trying to get you to retire, said Rodriguez, who previously served as deputy director for the California Department of Social Services.

Its not right, but if this behavior sounds familiar, you might not actually be doing anything wrong. Nitpicking could be your managers indirect way of trying to make your workday unpleasant so youll step down from your position.

Group of businesspeople having a standing meeting in office.

Youre Treated Differently Than Younger Colleagues

A manager who creates different standards for proficiency, depending on employee age, could be sending a message, said Rodriguez, who is also the author of the books Ready, Set, Work! and Ready, Set, Supervise! Furthermore, if your younger co-workers receive better, more desirable assignments, this might be more than luck of the draw.

Look closely at the way your boss treats younger employees. If youre clearly held to a different standard, their intentions might not need much interpretation.

Quitting my responsibilities here.

Disciplinary Action Is Taken for No Reason

If your boss starts formal disciplinary action against you, despite not having a decline in performance, Rodriguez said this could be a push for you to retire.

Hopefully this wont happen to you, but if it does, familiarize yourself with the signs so you know when to fight back.

business meeting.

Your Retirement Becomes a Topic of Conversation

If you choose to discuss your impending retirement, thats one thing, but its a different story if your employer brings it up. Point-blank asking about your plans for retirement and making not-so-subtle comments about how much you might enjoy it could be a sign your boss is hoping youll give your notice, Rodriguez said.

Most likely, this will frustrate you  and rightfully so  because the decision to retire is a major move that shouldnt be pushed on you.

Learn: 10 Job Skills Worth Six-Figure Salaries

Candid picture of a female boss and business team collaborating.

A Lot of Talk About Cost-Cutting Measures

Its a bit more indirect than other approaches, but the underlying message is the same. If your employer constantly complains about budget cutbacks and the cost of employee salaries and benefits, this could be their way of encouraging you to retire, Rodriguez said.

For example, in 2017, the Napa Valley Unified School District encouraged more than 60 employees  mostly teachers  to retire early, reported the Napa Valley Register. The move was an effort to save millions of dollars in salary and benefits.

Shot of two business colleagues having a discussion about work.

An Incentive Is Thrown Your Way

Some companies offer what Rodriguez refers to as a golden boot  a positive incentive to retire, such as increased vacation credits or a monetary bonus. For workers with pensions and/or early retirement benefits, she said employers are often motivated by finances.

The more older workers who retire early, the more vacant positions they leave, which can then be eliminated and thus help the bottom line, she said. And even if employers choose not to eliminate the vacant positions left by recent retirees, they can fill those positions with lower-salaried employees with fewer or reduced benefits.

Be Aware: What Is a Pension Plan and How Do They Really Work?

Mature adult man working in the office.

Your Work Hours Are Reduced

When youre paid by the hour, you need to spend a certain amount of time at work each week to pay the bills. If your employer has been cutting your hours for no apparent reason, this could be a way to wear you down.

If your hourly rate is higher than younger employees, your boss might be trying to reduce payroll expenses. Take inventory of other colleagues receiving less time on the schedule and if theyre all older  or its just you  consider this move suspicious.

Portrait of senior businessman standing with digital tablet in his hand.

Youre Isolated From the Group

If youre regularly left out of meetings and team activities, this might not be an accident. Making you feel like an outsider could be a ploy to encourage you to retire because feeling like the odd person out isnt fun at any age.

Another form of seclusion might come in the form of moving your desk away from the group. Hindering your ability to communicate and contribute to the team could be your employers way of making you feel like you no longer belong.

Senior businessman discussing with colleague.

Youre Not Given the Proper Resources

No matter how talented you are, having the support of your employer is necessary to perform to the best of your ability. If your boss refuses to provide you with the necessary tools and assistance to do your job, they might be setting you up to fail.

Poor performance could give them a reason to fire  or at least demote  you. It might seem unfathomable, but its not unheard of for employers to take this sly approach.

Senior business woman explaining business matters to her team in a boardroom.

What To Do if Your Employer Wants You To Retire

If any of these signs ring true to you, you likely feel like your employer is pushing you out the door  even if youre not ready. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your job if this is the case.

Business persons in informal discussion.

Have a Frank Conversation With Your Boss or Manager

If actions taken by your boss or manager have made you feel uncomfortable or undervalued, set up a time to talk with them openly and honestly about why you feel this way. You might also include a member of the human resources department in the conversation if you dont feel comfortable having the discussion one-on-one.

Two female colleagues having a meeting, one of them is upset.

Go To HR

If your boss or managers behavior has crossed a line and gone beyond something you feel you can chat openly with them about, consider bringing the issue straight to the HR department. Human resources professionals are meant to be advocates for employees, so they should be able to provide you with impartial advice for the next steps, or they can speak to your boss or manager on your behalf about what has really been going on.

Two women at a meeting with a financial advisor.

Take Legal Action

If youve spoken to human resources and your boss or manager and nothing has changed, it might be time to take legal action. You can file a formal charge of age discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if you are 40 or older and have experienced any of the following:

You believe your age has played a factor in your pay, job assignments, promotions, training or benefits

Youve been the victim of frequent or severe age-related harassment that has created a hostile or offensive work environment

An employment policy or practice enacted by your employer has negative consequences for you because of your age

To file a claim, you can fill out a form online through the EEOC Public Portal, by telephone, at a state or local Fair Employment Practice Agency or by mail.

Once your charge is filed, you can either go into mediation with your employer, or the EEOC might go straight into an investigation. If the EEOC finds that a law may have been violated, they will work to reach a voluntary settlement with your employer. If they cannot determine if a law has been violated, or if they do find that a law has been violated and your employer refuses to settle, you may proceed to sue your employer.

More From GOBankingRates

Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Signs Your Employer Wants You To Retire
New high for manufacturing sector in Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers Index View(s):

Indicating a strong revival in manufacturing activities in the country, the manufacturing Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) reached a 9-month high at 67 in March 2021, according to the Central Bank.

This was largely attributable to the increases observed in Production, New Orders, and Stock of Purchases sub-indices, the Bank said in a media release.

The significant increases in New Orders and Production sub-indices, particularly in the manufacture of food and beverages and textile and wearing apparel sectors, have mainly contributed to the improvement in the overall index.

Many respondents in the manufacture of food and beverages sector highlighted that they experienced higher levels of sales and production during March 2021 ahead of the New Year festival season. Further, respondents from the textile and wearing apparel sector mentioned that they increased production during the month to cover-up seasonal holidays, the release said.

Meanwhile, the Stock of Purchases sub-index increased in line with the expansion in New Orders and Production. Employment sub-index also expanded at a higher rate.

The Suppliers Delivery Time sub-index lengthened at a slower pace during the month. Many respondents highlighted that some easing in suppliers delivery time was experienced with the gradual resolving of shipping related issues. However, freight rates remain at elevated levels, increasing the cost of raw materials, which in turn adversely affected their profit margins.

Expectations for manufacturing activities in the next three months remained at improved levels anticipating a further improvement in economic activities within the country as well as in major export markets.

The Services PMI rose to 62.1 in March 2021, indicating an expansion of the services sector for the fourth straight month.

This increase was underpinned by the expansions observed in new businesses, business activities, employment and expectations for activity.

New businesses in the services sector increased in March 2021, particularly with the improvements observed in financial services, other personal services, and wholesale and retail trade sub-sectors.

For the fourth straight month, the business activities in the services sector increased in March 2021 with increases observed almost across all sub-sectors. Mainly, financial services sub-sector recorded a further improvement during the month in line with the progresses in economic activities, the Bank said.

With the festive season, wholesale and retail trade, and transportation sub-sectors also expanded further.

Moreover, other personal services sub-sector also experienced an increase in March 2021. Meanwhile, education sub-sector continued to expand amid the increased demand for higher education following G.C.E. Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations.

Employment increased in March 2021 for the first time after declining for 13 consecutive months due to new recruitments amidst growing business activities.

Backlogs of work decreased in March 2021 for the second month in a row in line with the increase in staffing levels, which were previously at a low level due to COVID-19 related health concerns.

Expectations on business activities for the next three months increased further in March 2021 underpinned by the optimistic expectations on growth prospects amidst Sinhala and Tamil New Year and Ramadan festive seasons.
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Myanmar junta leader to join ASEAN summit

Myanmar's state broadcaster MRTV said military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing pardoned over 23,000 prisoners. Image: Shutterstock

Junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing is set to join Southeast Asian leaders at a special summit in Jakarta next week, the Thai foreign ministry said Saturday, in what will be the coup leader's first official trip since the military deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.



Since the February 1 coup, Myanmar has been in turmoil  with hundreds of thousands of protesters taking to the streets to demand a return to democracy.



The junta has sought to quell the anti-coup movement with lethal force, killing more than 720 people and detaining some 3,100 activists, journalists and dissidents, according to a local monitoring group.



The international community has largely condemned the junta for its use of force against unarmed civilians  deploying targeted sanctions against top military brass, their families and army-linked businesses.



But regional leaders have sought to open communications with the regime, and on Saturday Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a summit in Jakarta over Myanmar's situation will include Min Aung Hlaing.



"Several leaders have confirmed their attendance including Myanmar's MAH (Min Aung Hlaing)," said spokesman Tanee Sangrat in a message to reporters.



The meeting of the 10-country bloc of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to address the ongoing crisis in post-coup Myanmar, and will be on April 24 in Jakarta.



The junta has consistently justified the putsch by alleging widespread fraud in November's elections, which Suu Kyi's party had won in a landslide.



The military said it will hand back power to a civilian administration after elections are held in about a year  though they recently extended the timeline to a two-year period.



News of the junta leader's attendance comes the same day the country's prisons are set to release more than 23,000 prisoners nationwide.



In February, the junta released a similar number of prisoners, with some rights groups at the time fearing the move was to free up space for opponents of the military as well as cause chaos in communities. (AFP)
An east Alabama homicide suspect is dead after authorities say he first fatally stabbed and shot his girlfriend and critically wounded her 4-year-old son.

The ordeal began at 1:02 p.m. Saturday when the Weaver Police Department received a call requesting a welfare check at the residence at 97 Juanita Lane in Jacksonville, said Weaver Police Chief Wayne Bush.

The caller reported that 21-year-year Alex Haynes, of Oxford, had confessed to his mother that he had killed his girlfriend at the Juanita Lane home.

When an officer arrived, he found what looked to be forced entry to a window on the rear door to the residence. Officers then made entry and found 24-year-old Katlynn Jones dead from multiple gunshot and stab wounds, Bush said.

Jones young son, Mason, had been shot in the head but was still alive. He remains in critical condition at UAB Hospital.

A short time later, the chief said, Anniston police spotted Haynes and a high-speed chase ensued. Oxford police Chief Bill Partridge said the pursuit traveled into Oxford on Highway 202.

The chase traveled along Interstate 20, then past Choccolocco Park, onto Highway 21 into Munford and then ended up on a county road just inside the Talladega city limits.

The suspect ran off the road into a field and when the pursuit terminated, he shot himself,' Partridge said.

Haynes was airlifted to UAB Hospital where he later died. Bush said a motive has not yet been determined. Our prayers are with the family members of all involved,' he said.

A GoFundMe has been launched to help the family with medical and burial expenses. Donations can be made here.

One of our family members Katlynn Jones who was just 24 years young was involved in a tragic event and she sadly lost her life,' the GoFundMe reads. Her son Mason who was also involved is in the hospital and in critical condition and has been giving 3 days to live. Please pray for our family as we go through this hard time! Any amount would be greatly appreciated!
By Greg Lalevee and Nat Bottigheimer

New Jersey is a high-value state. Our education system is ranked as the nations best, and new arrivals keep the workforce among the nations most skilled. New Jersey residents  by many measures among the most diverse in the nation  produce excellent goods and services that support our high wages.

And people want to live here: for access to economic opportunity; to attend our schools and universities; and for proximity to our beautiful shores, highlands, parks and town centers.

A corollary of New Jerseys value is its cost. Without action, we risk losing residents as people seek less expensive places to live, especially after their kids are out of school.

To sustain and grow the qualities that make New Jersey such an attractive place, and to counterbalance our inherent cost issues, we must invest. We need to continue cleaning our air and water; making communities healthy and livable; restoring our local and regional transportation systems to levels of global leadership; and protecting against the environmental change we can perceive around us.

Now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve just that. <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/" target=_blank>President Bidens American Jobs Plan</a> offers New Jersey an extraordinary opportunity to supplement the resources weve already committed to critical rail and offshore wind investments with Federally-provided dollars to meet New Jerseys needs. Whats more, the Presidents focus on manufacturing as locally as possible using highly skilled labor is a strong statement about the Presidents expectation of projects being built the right way.

With over $600 billion proposed in support for transportation investments (including $20 billion for roads, $110 billion for existing mass transit, $135 billion for fleet electrification, $80 billion for Amtrak and freight, and another $25 billion for projects of national significance), as well as almost $700 billion for housing and utilities, just getting our fair share of these funds will propel our region forward.

New Jerseys congressional leaders now have a vital role to play  to do all they can to support this proposal so the benefits can come to our state.

A recent Rutgers University study shows that fully funding NJ Transits Capital Plan would support 245,000 job-years of work in the state and almost $55 billion in new economic output. Expanding offshore wind deployment, as the president has proposed, would directly create 44,000 new jobs, such as building and installing turbines and indirectly create another 33,000.

And, fully funding the capital plans of the New York metropolitan regions top transportation and housing agencies would  according to a review by the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University  add more than 250,000 jobs per year to the regions economy. President Bidens plan would take these benefits to yet another level.

The economic growth it will support; its emphasis on advancing the infrastructure for the future and the priority it gives to addressing past impacts on vulnerable communities all make the American Jobs Plan a win for New Jersey, our region and the nation.

To take advantage of a renewed federal infrastructure partnership, the governor and Legislature need to ensure that New Jerseys financial capacity is on sound footing. The New Jersey Turnpike Authoritys recent toll increases have raised new resources for transportation investment in the state, and Governor Murphys recently proposed budget recommends diversion of fewer capital dollars to fill gaps in New Jersey Transits operating budget than in recent years. As we look beyond this fiscal year to the next, we need to make additional funding progress and show federal officials we have the capacity to provide our share of the funds required of a state-federal partnership.

After years of waiting for an infrastructure week that never came, soon our challenge may be whether our public agencies can move quickly enough. The jobs of the future will require workers of the future. At either the state or federal level, we need to activate training programs that will enable a new, more diverse generation of tradespeople to build, install, and maintain state-of-the-art systems to support offshore wind and electric vehicle fleets, to replace outmoded and unhealthy drinking water systems, and to fix bridges, rails, and roads.

By an overwhelming majority, Americans support the priorities of the American Jobs Plan program, including an investment in broadband, manufacturing, energy and transportation. Support is strong across the political spectrum, even factoring in the presidents proposal for paying for the bill. Strong national support is mirrored in the New York Metropolitan region: a recent poll co-sponsored by RPA shows that more than 80% of the regions residents, in the city and suburbs equally, support greater investment in public transit and clean transportation.

Voters understand in their bones what the American Jobs Plan means for our country  for our economic recovery, the future opportunities it will create, and the national leadership it will show  and they support it. We look forward to working with New Jersey officials to ensure our state remains attractive and can thrive as we recover from the pandemic.

Greg Lalevee is the business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825. Nat Bottigheimer is the New Jersey director of the Regional Planning Association.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Easton officials are considering the purchase of two 2010 fire pumper trucks to replace backup trucks that are from 1995 and 1998 and considered obsolete.

City council last week approved pursuing the Pierce fire engine purchases, at a total cost of $550,000, according to city Administrator Luis Campos.

The next step is for council to approve financing for the purchase from Command Fire Apparatus, based in Landisville, Pennsylvania, which offered the winning bid for the purchase, Campos said. Once the purchase gains final approval, the city should take delivery within 30 to 45 days, he said.

Buying two new pumper trucks would cost in the ballpark of $1.4 million, said city fire Chief Henry Hennings.

Im all in favor of it, he said of the plan.

City Councilman Roger Ruggles, chairman of the citys public safety committee, visited Command Fire Apparatus and said the 11-year-old trucks look brand-new from the manufacturer.

They are just in pristine condition, he said, adding they should offer a combined 30 years of use.

Easton has been working with a consultant who has mapped out a fire apparatus replacement schedule for the next 30 years, Hennings said. That includes purchasing a new pumper truck for delivery in 2022 and a new ladder truck arriving in 2023.

The department typically stages its backup pumpers at its Central and College Hill stations, Campos said.

If theyre lightly used, which the two are, and we follow the plan from our consultant, then these two would fall into reserve status right away to replace the backup trucks from the 1990s, Henning said.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
On the Third Sunday of Easter Pope Francis reflects on how being a Christian is not first of all a doctrine or a moral ideal, it is the living relationship with Him.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday reappeared at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peters Square to greet the faithful and recite the Regina Coeli prayer.

Its the first time since 14 March that he has made direct contact with the people in the Square in accordance with the Italian governments decrees to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pope reflected on the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 24) which tells of how the Resurrected Jesus presents himself in the midst of the group of disciples in the Cenacle in Jerusalem and greets them saying: Peace to you!

The disciples, he said, are frightened and believe that they saw a spirit. Then Jesus shows them his bodily wounds and says: See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and to convince them, he asks for food and eats it before their astonished eyes.

The Pope explained that three very tangible verbs characterize this Gospel passage: they are looking, touching and eating.

He said these are all verbs that reflect our individual and community life and describe actions that can give joy to a true encounter with the living Jesus.

Looking: the first step against indifference

Jesus, the Pope continued, says See my hands and my feet and this tells us that looking is not only seeing, it is more; it also involves intention, will.

For this reason, it is one of the verbs of love. A mother and father look at their child; lovers look at each other; a good doctor looks at the patient carefully. Looking is a first step against indifference, against the temptation to turn the face before the difficulties and sufferings of others, he said.

Touching: closeness, contact, the sharing of life

Touching is also a verb of love, in fact the Pope explained, love calls for closeness, contact, the sharing of life. He said that by inviting the disciples to touch him, to verify that he is not a spirit, Jesus indicates to them and to us that the relationship with him and with our brothers and sisters cannot remain at a distance, at the level of a gaze.

The Good Samaritan he continued, did not limit himself to looking at that man whom he found half dead along the road: he bent down, treated his wounds, loaded him on his mount and took him to the inn.

It is the same with Jesus, the Holy Father continued: loving him means entering a vital, tangible communion with Him.

Eating: nourishment necessary to live

The third verb, to eat, the Pope said, clearly expresses our humanity in its most natural indigence, that is, our need to nourish ourselves in order to live.

He reflected on when we eat together, with family or friends, it also becomes an expression of love, of communion, of celebration.

How often the Gospels present us Jesus who experiences this convivial dimension! Even as the Risen One, with his disciples. To the point that the Eucharistic Banquet has become the emblematic sign of the Christian community, he noted.

A living relationship with Jesus

Pope Francis concluded his catechesis explaining that this Gospel passage tells us that Jesus is not a spirit, but a living Person:

Being Christian is not first of all a doctrine or a moral ideal; it is the living relationship with Him, with the Risen Lord: we look at him, we touch him, we are nourished by Him and, transformed by his Love, we look at, touch and nourish others as brothers and sisters.

Pope happy to be back in the Square

After issuing an appeal for peace in Eastern Ukraine and recalling a group of Italian cicstercian monks who were beatified on Saturday, Pope Francis expressed his joy to be back in the Square in the presence of the faithful.

"Thanks to God we can once again meet in this Square for our Sunday and Festive appointments," he said. "I must tell you," he continued: "I miss the Square when I have to pray the Angelus in the Library... I am happy! Thanks to God and thanks to you all for your presence!"
Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africas leading airline, has transported 3.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from Shanghai to Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa.

The vaccine arrived in Brazil on April 15. So far, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has transported over 20 million vaccines to more than 20 countries.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said: As a leading pan African airline, we joined the fight against the pandemic since the outbreak of the virus. Our commitment to fighting against the pandemic and saving lives has been unwavering in Africa and beyond. I feel that our efficient and timely delivery of vaccines would save millions of lives that could have been lost due to lack of access to vaccines. We are devoted to transport vaccines globally with our modern fleet, well-established infrastructure and diligent employees. I am glad that we have started to reach beyond Africa and we will continue to play our part in the global vaccine distribution. Our collaborative efforts are the only way out at this critical time where equitable distribution and transportation of the vaccines is desirable.

Ethiopian Airlines has beefed up its cargo shipment capacity by reconfiguring its passenger aircraft and introducing new technologies. The airline has become the choice of cargo partners as a result of its agility, capability to store and carry time-sensitive shipments such as pharmaceuticals. It played an exemplary role in the distribution of PPE across the globe which led to the selection of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport as a humanitarian air hub by UN agencies.

Currently, Ethiopian is developing an in-house dry ice manufacturing facility that is capable of producing 9,000kg of ice daily to fulfill the need for additional coolants for vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna that require ultra-cold environment for transport.

It is to be recalled that Ethiopian transported PPE and other medical supplies to Brazil when they were desperately needed to prevent the spread of the virus. - TradeArabia News Service
This week, the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 51, a bill admitting Washington, D.C. as the 51st state. This bill is flatly unconstitutional and would be tied up in the court system for years, creating confusion until its inevitable defeat. Given its unique constitutional status, the federal city of Washington, D.C., can only become a state upon ratification of a constitutional amendment.

This is not the first time D.C. has tried to become a state. In 1960, the Democrat-controlled House rejected statehood for the district. They instead settled on the 23rd Amendment, granting it votes in the Electoral College  which is now the principal constitutional obstacle for statehood. Congress rejected statehood again in 1993, with current Majority Leader Steny Hoyer voting no. Last year, the House passed a bill granting D.C. statehood, but that measure was also unconstitutional. Wisely, the Senate never considered it.

The factors mitigating against past statehood attempts have not changed. Due to the 23rd Amendment, they have only become more complex. If Congress granted D.C. statehood and the 23rd Amendment were not repealed, the downsized federal district would still have three Electoral College votes. Congress could then grant these votes in whatever manner it saw fit: perhaps to the First Family, who would likely be the only residents in the federal district, which would give them the same amount of say in the presidential election as the state of Vermont; directly assign them to the presidential candidate who aligns with whatever party controls Congress; or simply not assign them at all, in direct violation of the 23rd Amendment and creating a constitutional crisis.

Robert F. Kennedy labeled these possibilities an absurdity, and it is why every Justice Department for the past 60 years has come to the conclusion a constitutional amendment is needed in order for D.C. to become a state.

Democrats know the 23rd Amendment is a problem because they attempt to address it in H.R. 51. But absent a constitutional amendment, any language regarding the amendment is both meaningless and disingenuous.

Equally disingenuous is the rationale currently being pushed by Democrats for statehood.

For years, Democrats clamored only for additional voting rights. Progress on this front has been led by Republicans. President Eisenhower led the charge for the 23rd Amendment, and his efforts were spearheaded in the House by Prescott Bush. President Nixon signed the District of Columbia Delegate Act of 1970 and the Home Rule Act into law, substantially increasing voting rights for D.C. residents. In the late 1990s, the Republican-led Congress intervened and saved the district from financial and social ruin. Paul Ryan and Mike Pence also voted to enhance D.C. voting rights.

Several options exist to expand voting representation for D.C. residents today, but Democrats are only interested in pursuing an unconstitutional bill to grant statehood for two reasons: power and money. Statehood provides D.C. with two progressive senators to enable Democrats to end the filibuster and resuscitate unwanted radical policies such as enacting the Green New Deal, packing the Supreme Court, and defunding the police.

As my Democrat colleague, Jamie Raskin, recently said, [T]heres a national political logic for [D.C. statehood], too, because the Senate has become the principal obstacle to social progress across a whole range of issues. This is why national progressive organizations have joined the fight for D.C. statehood  not on behalf of D.C. residents, but for political gain.

At the House Committee on Oversight and Reforms hearing on H.R. 51 last month, Mayor Muriel Bowser ever-so-slightly altered the citys rationale for statehood. She said the city wants complete control over local affairs  an idea the Founders explicitly rejected. If granted statehood, the new state would likely impose a commuter tax on Virginia and Maryland residents who work in the city. With the commuter tax, commuters would be paying for services and policies they have no role in shaping  the same argument proponents of statehood have been making for years.

Taxing non-resident income would add $55 billion to the districts income tax base and would double all individual income taxes collected in the city. This money would not only represent higher taxes for those who work in the city, but it would come at the expense of the state budgets of Virginia and Maryland. The district would also be able to tax exempt properties such as hospitals, universities, and non-profit entities.

D.C. statehood is a perfect issue for national progressives and local leaders to rally around, but they are not being honest about what they actually want. H.R. 51 is all about consolidating Democrats power in Washington to ensure more government intrusion in Americans daily lives. H.R. 51 is unconstitutional and the wrong approach, and Congress must reject this bill.
Ole Anthony of Trinity Foundation, nemesis of televangelists, dies at 82

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Ole Anthony, president of the Dallas, Texas-based televangelist accountability group Trinity Foundation, and a small congregation that modeled itself on first century Christianity in lifestyle and mission, died at the age of 82, the church announced.

Describing Anthony as a longtime nemesis of televangelists and a thorn in the side of prosperity gospel televangelists, his congregation, called Community on Columbia, said he died Friday, four years after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

In 1972, Anthony and other Christian leaders founded the Trinity Foundation, a watchdog group that monitors religious fraud around the world, and he led it through the 1990s and 2000s on investigations and lawsuits against televangelists, including Robert Tilton, Benny Hinn and Jan and Paul Crouch.

Anthony was also a founding member of a congregation that worked to help the Dallas homeless population in the 1990s and continues to help East Dallas families, according to The Dallas Morning News.

He was also actively involved with the Community on Columbia, a church congregation that split off from the Trinity Foundation in 2010, taking over the Bible study and ministries to the needy, leaving the foundation to continue investigations and monitoring religious broadcasting.

Both entities remained on good terms, and as long as his health lasted, Anthony remained an active part of both organizations, the congregation recalled, adding that he adopted the saying of Martin Luther, CRUX sola est nostra theologia, meaning The cross alone is our theology.

In 2016, when Donald Trump was the Republican presidential front-runner, Anthony remarked that Trump was popular among prosperity preachers due to the worldly values he represented.

The love of the world, of power, of recognition and credibility from the world. That appears to fit perfectly with the prosperity gospel, Anthony told The Christian Post at the time. The scriptures are clear  if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The word love is from the verb form agapeo, which simply means giving importance to.

Anthonys comments came in response to Mike Murdock, the televangelist leader of The Wisdom Center, who endorsed Trumps presidential campaign at the time. .

In 2007, Anthonys foundation assisted the Senate Finance Committee in its national investigation of televangelist abuses, looking into financial statements and records of Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Allegations involved governing boards that werent independent and allowed generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces.

Its about time some sanity is brought to these religious nonprofits, Anthony said at the time, according to The Tampa Tribune. Some are committing outright fraud, and its getting worse, not better, as time goes on.

Anthony, who never married, was preceded in death by his sister, Sandra Anthony. He is survived by his nieces. He will be buried in St. Peter, Minnesota, and a memorial service has been scheduled for May 1 in Dallas, Texas.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 10:41:36|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A member of Fiji's security forces working within a border quarantine facility in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city, has tested positive for COVID-19, which could pose a risk of transmission beyond the border, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said on Sunday.

The prime minister said in a statement that this case was detected on Saturday during a routine test, and it is an imported one.

Bainimarama said the soldier contracted the virus anytime from one to six days prior and that he interacted with other daytime staff in the quarantine facility during that time. That means there may have been some exposure outside of the facility that they have to manage.

The soldier had received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That means his risk of severe infection is reduced and it is likely his risk of transmission was lower. But that doesn't mean they can afford to take any chances, particularly given the rise of new and more contagious variants of COVID-19 around the world. If he hadn't received that first dose, the risk to him and others would have been much higher, the prime minister added.

On Saturday night, staff who were working in the facility during the potential window for transmission and members of their households have been quarantined.

Bainimarama ruled out the possibility that Fiji now can relax some of its remaining health restrictions, including the capacity of large public events and the curfew hours.

"Unfortunately, that will have to wait until we are certain this case does not pose a risk to the public. In fact, we should prepare for these measures to become more stringent if we find there has been transmission to the public. For now, do not gather and do not travel unless it is essential. Large gatherings, especially, are not safe," he said.

According to local media report, the soldier is believed to have contracted the virus from a couple who had returned from India.

On Saturday, Fiji's Health Ministry said that four persons, including a 69-year-old male and a 38-year-old male who are family members that travelled to Fiji from India on April 10 this year, tested positive of COVID-19 and have been transferred to the isolation ward at Lautoka hospital, about 24 km north of Nadi.

Fiji has detected 73 cases in total, with six active cases, 65 recoveries and 2 deaths, since its first case was reported on March 19 last year.

A total of 42,492 COVID-19 laboratory tests have been conducted, with a daily average of 237 tests per day over the last 7 days.

Fiji maintains strict travel restrictions to date for foreign visitors alongside a nationwide curfew effective from March 30 last year to ensure safety on the island nation. Enditem
Mumbai, April 18 : Arjun Rampal and Nitin Nitin Mukesh are the latest Bollywood celebrities to fall prey to the Covid-19 pandemic. Both actors took to social media to inform that they have tested positive for Covid-19.

In an Instagram post late on Saturday, Arjun Rampal wrote: "I have tested positive for Covid-19. Even though I am asymptomatic, I have isolated myself and home quarantined, getting the needed medical care. I am following all protocols as is required of me. To all those who have been in contact with me in the past 10 days please take care and take the necessary precautions. This is a very scary time for us but if we are aware and wise for a short span of time, it will yield long term benefits. Together we can and we will fight corona." Neil Nitin Mukesh also posted on Instagram on Saturday evening updating about his and his family members testing positive for the virus.

The actor wrote: "In spite of all necessary precautions, including staying home, unfortunately, members of my family and I have tested positive for Covid-19. We are all home quarantined, following the essential protocols, and taking medication as prescribed by our doctors. We thank all of you for your love and good wishes. Take care and stay safe." "Need all your love and blessings. Please do not take the situation out there lightly," Neil added.

On Saturday, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood also tested positive for Covid-19 while actresses Bhumi Pednekar and Katrina Kaif informed on social media that they have tested negative.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A group of about 40 people gathered in Hoover Saturday afternoon to demonstrate against police brutality, racism and inequality.

In contrast with the dozens of arrests made at large-scale protests that took place in the community after the killing of George Floyd last summer, Hoover Police did not interfere with the protesters on Saturday.

Over the course of two hours, activists marched down the hill from the Hoover Public Library to the Hoover Police Departments headquarters on Municipal Drive, then back to the library. Along the way, they chanted familiar slogans like No Justice, No Peace and Black Lives Matter, as well as new ones like When I say Adam, you say Toledo, in honor of the 13-year-old shot and killed by Chicago Police late last month.

Police brutality is reality. Also, being Black in America makes you an automatic target for systemic racism and violence such as police brutality. Police brutality is the modern-day lynching; the rope is militarized weapons, Travis Jackson, a Black Lives Matter activist from the Montgomery area, said. We are going to keep coming out here. We wont rest and we will never get complacent.

Black Lives Matter activist Travis Jackson (center) addresses protesters at a demonstration in Hoover Saturday afternoon. (Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com)

The protest, which played out over two hours Saturday, comes on the heels of a new spate of widely publicized killings by police, including Toledo and Daunte Wright, who was shot to death in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Meanwhile, the nation anxiously awaits a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd last year.

Kumasi Amin, a Montgomery resident and member of the Republic of New Africa, a Black nationalist and separatist movement, called for revolution and overhauling the system.

Your ancestors have been fighting this fight for a very long time. They didnt win that battle, they left us to complete that battle for them, he told the crowd of supporters. We have to recognize that we are in a war.

Protesters hold up signs during a protest in Hoover Saturday afternoon. (Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com)

In 2018, 21-year-old Emantic E.J. Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. was shot to death by a police officer at the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall in Hoover. The protesters kept his memory alive on Saturday, chanting his name and holding signs bearing messages like Hoover killed EJ.

E.J. Bradford, we have not forgotten you, said Zariya Williams, deputy communications director for Cell A65, a Hoover-based advocacy group. This is a lifelong fight. This isnt a summer; this isnt a year. Well be fighting for our humanity our entire lives.

Brennan Pinnock, 27, said he believes its important for people to get out and make their voices heard. The Center Point resident said he participated in the protest to stand up against racial injustice, police brutality and income inequality.

Brennan Pinnock attended the protest in Hoover Saturday afternoon. (Connor Sheets | csheets@al.com)

A multitude of catalysts have brought us to this point. Because of these movements, people see that their actions can have an impact, because were finally being heard, he said.

It is part of a larger movement nationwide  I hope this doesnt die out until everyone can feel comfortable in this country.
Hello everyone and welcome along to this Getafe vs Real Madrid live blog, as Zinedine Zidane's side make the short trip to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. They do so with several players missing due to suspension, injury and COVID-19, so the backups will need to be at their best in order to collect the crucial three LaLiga Santander points on offer. We'll have the build-up right here, before minute-by-minute updates from the match itself after the 21:00 CEST kick off.

GETAFE VS REAL MADRID, FINAL SCORE 0-0

This is our live blog for the Getafe vs Real Madrid match, with all the updates following underneath. The most recent entries are the ones at the top, so follow along with us as we see if Real Madrid can keep pace with city and title rivals Atletico Madrid in the LaLiga Santander standings.

Full time: It's a 0-0 draw for this depleted Real Madrid side

The full time whistle is blown and it finishes with no goals, even though we did get a lot of action with chances for both sides, including a goalline clearance and shot off the post, as well as some refereeing controversy. Getafe gave Real Madrid a very good game, but the draw is probably a fair result. It's a bittersweet one for Zidane surely, as he'll be proud of how some of those players battled. Yet dropping two points is obviously costly and it means Real Madrid are now three points behind Atletico. We'll have plenty of post-match coverage right here on MARCA In English, including the Getafe vs Real Madrid match report, so don't go anywhere!

Minute 90: Nyom snuffs out a Real Madrid attack

Real Madrid hadn't done much attacking of late, but have a sustained period of possession that ultimately ends with Allan Nyom winning the ball back from an exhausted Vinicius and earning a throw-in for Getafe. We've got four minutes of stoppage time now.

Minute 84: Vital intervention from Militao

Angel Rodriguez gets to the byline, keeps his balance and plays a ball across goal. Eder Militao does well to get in the way of it and the ball is cleared to safety. Getafe are pushing here, but Real Madrid do have Benzema up top remember...

Minute 80: Another penalty shout from Getafe

Getafe call for another penalty, as Angel Rodriguez is challenged by Eder Militao just as he launches a shot inside the Real Madrid box. The striker claims he was clipped as he stuck his shot and there is a pause while Sanchez Martinez speaks to the VAR room... but nothing is given. Play on.

Minute 79: Courtois again!

A deflected shot drops very very very awkwardly for Courtois, looping downwards and almost perfectly over his giant frame. But, the Belgian has been excellent in recent weeks and in this game, making yet another save here to tip it over.

Minute 70: Angel comes close

Angel Rodriguez is a super sub. He so often comes off the bench for Getafe and he so often makes an impact, almost doing so here with an effort that comes close. But, it's still 0-0 here as we enter the final 20 minutes.

Minute 64: The first substitutions for Real Madrid

Zidane is making changes. Mariano and Rodrygo come off and it's Karim Benzema and Antonio Blanco coming on. There were reports in midweek that Benzema had a slight knock, but he's getting just under half an hour here to try to keep up his recent scoring run.

Minute 59: A brilliant save from Courtois

Marcelo is robbed and Getafe launch a counter attack. Unal plays it to Mata and Mata plays it back to the Turkish striker and he launches a shot towards the top corner. But, it's met by Courtois' glove. The goalkeeper makes a huge save that keeps this goalless.

Minute 53: Vinicius takes one for the team

Arambarri is about to burst through for a good chance, but Vinicius brings him down and takes the yellow card. Getafe do, of course, get a freekick for it... but David Timor's effort is straight into the hands of Courtois.

Minute 46: We go again!

The second half is underway. It's still goalless, although both sides did have chances in the first half. From Getafe's point of view, they were upset that they weren't awarded a penalty for an Eder Militao challenge on Enes Unal. Well, MARCA's refereeing expert Juan Andujar Oliver has had his say on that right here.

Half time: Still goalless, but Getafe are knocking on the door

Getafe have another couple of opportunities just before the half time whistle. Carles Alena - who would love to score against Real Madrid more than most, given his Barcelona links - fires one shot well over and then Mauro Arambarri almost wins the ball for a one-on-one opportunity, but Real Madrid clear that piece of danger. Getafe could have scored a few, but Real Madrid have had a Mariano goal ruled out for offside. It's 0-0.

Minute 39: A good save from Soria

David Soria makes a good grab on a Vinicius header, after the Brazilian got his head to an Alvaro Odriozola cross. Mariano was just behind Vinicius and might have been the better option to try to finish the chance, but it's a wasted opportunity.

Minute 35: The pace slows and that might suit Real Madrid

Although it's still goalless and although Real Madrid will consider anything other than a three-point haul as a disappointment, the fact that the pace of the game is slowing might suit Real Madrid more. Certain players look tired and Getafe have had the better chances, so Zidane's men will hope to catch their breath for a few minutes before finishing the half strongly.

Minute 28: Timor clears off the line

He scored a own goal last week, but this time David Timor is the hero as he clears off the line. Mariano won a header against a shaky David Soria, but Getafe's makeshift centre-back clears. It's still 0-0.

Minute 23: Off the post from Getafe

Getafe really could be several goals up. This time they've hit the post, with Jaime Mata heading an effort that bounces off the woodwork. It was past Courtois' glove, but too far to land in the bottom corner.

Minute 18: Getafe call for a penalty

Eder Militao charges into Enes Unal right on the edge of the area and Getafe appeal for a penalty, but Sanchez Martinez calls for the Getafe man to get up. It wasn't 100 percent clear if it was inside the area anyway, but that did look like a foul.

Minute 10: Big chance for Arambarri

Mauro Arambarri has just let Real Madrid off the hook. The ball comes to the Getafe midfielder inside the area, but his shot whistled just past Courtous' post. He had to at least get that on target.

Minute 8: Mariano scores... but it's ruled out for offside!

Real Madrid might be depleted, but they're still Real Madrid. Mariano manages to get in behind the Getafe defence and roll the ball into the net, seemingly putting Real Madrid into a 1-0 lead... but he's offside. Djene is just very slightly ahead of the striker when the ball is played.

Minute 4: Marcelo goes down

That's not a sight Zidane will want to see. Marcelo takes a late hit and falls to the ground. The Brazilian eventually gets up, but Real Madrid really can't afford to lose any more bodies.

Minute 1: Kick off!

Here we go then. It's Getafe vs Real Madrid. It's a potentially huge game in this LaLiga Santander season, for the title race and the relegation battle.

20:55 CEST: Almost time for kick off

Just five minute to go before kick off in this Getafe vs Real Madrid clash. This would normally be looked at as a simpler fixture for Real Madrid, especially after facing Liverpool and Barcelona this past week, but all of Los Blancos' injuries and Getafe's growing desperation for points make this a potentially fascinating encounter.

20:40 CEST: It's Sanchez Martinez in the middle

The referee for this game is the experienced Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez. He has had three Real Madrid games so far this season - their 1-0 win at Sevilla, their 2-0 win at home to Valencia and their 2-1 Copa del Rey loss against Alcoyano. He has had just one Getafe game so far this term, their recent 0-0 draw at home to Atletico Madrid.

20:25 CEST: How are the LaLiga standings?

With Atletico Madrid having thrashed Eibar 5-0 earlier this Sunday, they are guaranteed to finish this Sunday top of the table no matter what Real Madrid do in Getafe. Barcelona, meanwhile, will finish this weekend with a game in hand since they were in Copa del Rey action and not LaLiga Santander action. You can check out the current LaLiga Santander standings right here.

20:15 CEST: Real Madrid are in the house

It's not a long trip for Real Madrid to reach Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez, just a 25-minute drive from Valdebebas. But, they've made that journey and they've arrived, sharing a video on social media of the stadium where tonight's action will take place.

19:55 CEST: Now here's the Getafe line-up

Getafe have now released their line-up too. This is the XI that starts for the home side: David Soria; Allan Nyom, Djene, David Timor, Mathias Olivera; Nemanja Maksimovic, Mauro Arambarri; Carles Alena, Marc Cucurella; Enes Unal, Jaime Mata.

19:40 CEST: The Real Madrid XI is out and it's surprising!

We knew this would be a weakened Real Madrid team given all their absences, but we didn't really expect Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema to drop to the bench in addition to all those who didn't make the squad. As such, the line-up is as follows: Thibaut Courtois; Alvaro Odriozola, Victor Chust, Eder Militao, Marcelo; Luka Modric; Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Isco, Vinicius; Mariano.

19:20 CEST: Getafe's poor form

Getafe are just three points above the relegation zone, so they really do need every point they can muster. They haven't won any of their past five matches, but have recovered some players for this encounter. They've also had a full week off to prepare for this match, whereas Real Madrid had an intense game at Anfield on Wednesday.

19:05 CEST: Real Madrid have just 12 senior outfielders

Real Madrid are missing so many players for this game, due to a mix of suspension, injury and COVID-19. This means there are just 12 senior outfield players still available to Zidane. They are Eder Militao, Marcelo, Alvaro Odriozola, Victor Chust, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Marco Asensio, Isco, Karim Benzema, Vinicius, Mariano and Rodrygo. Zidane really does have a puzzle to solve.

18:45 CEST: What time is the Getafe vs Real Madrid kick off?

This evening's Getafe vs Real Madrid match kicks off at 21:00 CEST and will take place at the same time as the Levante vs Villarreal game. For those watching on from the UK, that's 20:00 BST. For fans in the USA on the east coast, it's 15:00 EDT. Real Madrid always produce a graphic before each fixture with various global kick off times and you can see that below.
Chinas President Xi Jinping and Russias President Vladimir Putin are gaining more control over their countries. Now, the two leaders are forming a strategic partnership.

These efforts put the two in competition with the West and the United States for influence.

This week, Putin signed a law that lets him stay in power until at least 2036. At 68, he has been president for more than 20 years.

President Xi has become one the most powerful leaders in Communist China since Mao Zedong. Under Xi, the government has imprisoned or silenced political opponents, artists and intellectuals. The government in Beijing has suppressed activists in Hong Kong, Tibet and other places with force. And Xi and his Communist Party have strong control over information.

Xi removed presidential term limits in 2018, permitting him to remain in power. He has also not chosen a successor. One man who might have taken his position, Sun Zhengcai, was sentenced to life in prison on corruption charges.

The Russian government under Putin permits little political dissent. Alexei Navalny is an influential Putin critic. But he was recently arrested following his return to Russia after receiving medical treatment in Germany. Navalny was recovering from a poisoning he blames on Putin. The opposition activist was sentenced to more than two years in prison.

Russias interference in U.S. presidential elections has pushed relations with the United States to their lowest levels since the end of the Cold War. The Cold War was a period of intense competition between the former Soviet Union and America. U.S. President Joe Biden recently called Putin a killer and announced new economic restrictions on Russia.

Putin has tried to build an alliance with Xi to limit the effects of American restrictions. China has aided Russia with projects like energy supplies in Crimea, an area Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. It has also replaced Western products in Russia with Chinese products.

Both leaders, however, will face difficulties in keeping power. Russias economy is dependent on oil exports and is vulnerable to changes in the world markets. Western trade restrictions have slowed the Russian economy. Poverty and high unemployment have added to growing dissatisfaction among the Russian people.

The coronavirus health crisis in China seemed like it would hurt Xis hold on power. Last month, the World Health Organization released a report on its findings of how the virus started in China. But China controlled the virus better than other countries and Xi remained popular.

The Chinese leader, however, needs to be sure that his long term in power will not lead to the excesses of the years under Mao. Maos brutal administration led to many reforms in China after his death.

Daniel Blumenthal is the director of Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Xi, in his words, knows his people fear and loathe Maoism so he has to also pretend he is not Mao.

Alexander Gabuev is a top China expert with Carnegie Moscow Center. He has written that China has helped Russia withstand U.S. pressure.

This assistance also allowed Moscow to become more assertive elsewhere in the world, from being present in the Middle East and Africa to supporting the Venezuelan regime and interfering in U.S. elections, he said.

Russia and China are also building military ties. Russia has provided China with new military technologies. And the two militaries have held joint exercises. The increased cooperation has some experts concerned that the two traditional competitors could be forming closer ties.

We dont need it, Putin said in October. But "its quite possible to imagine it.

Im Caty Weaver.

Vladimir Isachenkov and Ken Moritsugu reported this story for the Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor.

__________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

intellectual- n. - a smart person who enjoys serious study and thought

successor- n. a person who has a job, position, or title after someone else

vulnerable- adj. open to attack, harm, or damage

excess- n.- behavior that is considered wrong because it goes beyond what is usual, normal, or proper

brutal- adj. extremely cruel or harsh

loathe- adj.-to hate (someone or something) very much

pretend v. to act as if something is true when it is not true

withstand- v. - to not be harmed or affected by (something)

assertive- adj. confident in behavior or style

regime n. a form of government
Namyang Dairy Products' Bulgaris drinking yogurt is on display at a supermarket in Seoul, last week. Yonhap





By Kim Jae-heun







Angry investors are calling on consumers to vote with their wallets by boycotting Namyang Dairy Products, after the company released the pseudoscientific claim that its yogurt drink Bulgaris can help control COVID-19.







After Namyang's claim, its share price rose over 8 percent, April 13, and by 28.68 percent the following morning. However, experts including those at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety questioned Bulgaris' effectiveness against the coronavirus and concluded that the company had exaggerated "research" results. The dairy product firm's stock nosedived by nearly a third over the next four days.







Angry investors who bought into the claim and purchased stock in the company are now protesting the move by Namyang.







They are employing social media to call for the public to join them in boycotting the company's products under a number of slogans such as "Let's not buy Namyang Dairy Product's items," "Don't forget what they have done" and "They shouldn't have lied to manipulate the stock price."







The movement spread to powerful internet communities including momscafe.net, an online portal for mothers to share information on all manner of topics not limited to childrearing. There people wrote "I was already boycotting Namyang and I will continue to do so" and "Companies that make fun of customers should be brought down."







"We apologize to our customers for causing misunderstanding with our research results. The test was not based on human testing, but at the cellular stage, from which we couldn't have concluded its effectiveness against COVID-19," a Namyang Dairy Product official said.







The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety sent officials to check the validity of Namyang's research results and allegations that the company is in breach of the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Food, April 15.







The ministry said Namyang was behind the claim as it funded the research and sponsored a symposium to promote the yogurt drink's anti-viral effects. It added that Namyang had the intent to promote its product through the event which is a violation of the law.







Previously, Namyang experienced a customer boycott in 2013, after its salesmen forced small dealers to purchase soon-to-expire products with little remaining shelf life. They also refused to accept returns from retailers, which they were contractually obliged to do.







At that time, the parent firms of convenience stores launched a boycott against Namyang and many customers showed their support.






















The National Guard sets up near the Lake Street/Midtown metro station as buildings continue to burn in the aftermath of a night of protests and violence following the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 29, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Shots Fired at National Guard Troops in Minneapolis; 2 Injured

Some members of the Minnesota National Guard came under gunfire in Minneapolis on April 18 in the midst of the riots, looting, and protests that followed last weeks shooting death of Daunte Wright, officials said. Two suffered minor injuries.

A National Guard and Minneapolis police neighborhood security team was fired upon early Sunday morning in a drive-by shooting near Penn Avenue and Broadway in Minneapolis, the Guard wrote in a tweet.

In another tweet, the Guard said the shooting took place at around 4 a.m. local time, when a light-colored SUV approached and someone inside fired several shots at a security team providing neighborhood security.

No team members were seriously injured, the account wrote, adding in a separate post that two members received minor injuries.

One Guardsman sustained an injury from shattered glass requiring additional care and was taken to a local hospital to receive treatment. The other Guardsman received only superficial injuries, the post states.

A @MNNationalGuard and @MinneapolisPD neighborhood security team was fired upon early Sunday morning in a drive-by shooting near Penn Avenue and Broadway in Minneapolis.  MN National Guard (@MNNationalGuard) April 18, 2021

The National Guard was deployed by Gov. Tim Walz after rioters in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, vandalized the citys police headquarters on April 11 following Wrights shooting.

Last week, the National Guard confirmed that it had more than 500 personnel activated after Walzs decision, noting that the troops were mobilized ahead of a jury decision in the trial of former officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. Riots, arson incidents, vandalism, and looting erupted in Minneapolis last year following Floyds death, leading to tens of millions of dollars in property damage.

The Guard had plans in place to increase that number in the coming days as closing arguments approach in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the post stated.

The officer who shot Wright and has since resigned has been identified as Kim Potter; she is charged with second-degree manslaughter. The former Brooklyn Center police chief has said that Potter, a 26-year veteran and training officer, intended to use her Taser on Wright but fired her handgun instead.

Potter posted $100,000 bond on April 14 and was released from the Hennepin County jail, online records show. Her attorney didnt respond to messages from The Associated Press.

Potter, 48, and Police Chief Tim Gannon both resigned on April 13, a day after the City Council voted to fire the city manager, who controls the police force.

Court documents show that Wright had several criminal charges on his record when he was pulled over, having previously been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, fleeing from police, and possession of a handgun without a permit. The 20-year-old had a warrant for his arrest after earlier failing to appear in court.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Barker, N.Y.  A fugitive broke into a home and attacked a 71-year-old man Saturday in the Binghamton area, troopers said.

The attacker then stole a car at knifepoint, troopers said, and led officers on a high-speed chase on Interstate 81.

The chase ended when Matthew R. Bonser, 29, crashed the stolen car into another vehicle, said the New York State Police. Bonser, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania  who was wanted in Pennsylvania at the time of his arrest  was charged with assault.

The incident started in Barker, a town about 15 miles north of Binghamton.

Bonser broke into a home on Ellerson Road just before 2 p.m. Saturday, troopers said. He was confronted by a 71-year-old man  one of the two people inside the house at the time of the break-in, troopers said.

Bonser attacked the 71 year old and fled from the scene, troopers said. He then ran to a nearby home on Route 11, stole a persons car at knifepoint and sped away, police said.

A deputy with the Broome County Sheriffs Office spotted the stolen car and gave chase, troopers said. Troopers continued the high-speed pursuit on Interstate 81, following Bonser when he eventually got off the highway and crashed the stolen vehicle into another car  and a light pole  on Colesville Road near I-81, troopers said.

The man assaulted in Barker suffered non life-threatening injuries, troopers said, and was transported to UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City.

The 87-year-old man driving the car Bonser struck during the traffic chase was brought by ambulance to Wilson.

Bonser was also treated at the Johnson City hospital.

After he was released from the hospital, Bonser was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree burglary and first-degree robbery, all felonies. He was also charged with being a fugitive from justice.

As of Sunday, Bonser remained in the Broome County Sheriffs Corrections Division.

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
Together with the extended family, the Dunphys visited Disneyland, Hawaii, and even a Dude Ranch. As just the Dunphy family, these Modern Family characters visited New York City, losing several phones in the process.

Heres what happened to Phils phone when they traveled to the Big Apple.

ABCs Modern Family episode titled A Tale of Three Cities | Eric Liebowitz/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

The Dunphy family traveled to New York City during Modern Family episode titled Double Click

Phil Dunphy loves his kids equally, no matter how much time he spent trampolining and making movies with Luke. At the start of the episode Double Click, Phil was having a crisis because he thought he saw a girl in Lukes bed.

The truth was that he was the youngest Dunphy child and he was growing up, even getting too big for family camp. Instead of going to family camp, the Dunphy family decides to surprise Phil with a spontaneous trip to New York City.

RELATED: Did Luke Dunphy Ever Go to College? Here Are a Few of Our Favorite Milestones of This Modern Family Character

Phil is Mr. Enthusiasm no matter where he is, says executive producer Christopher Lloyd, according to USA Today. Manhattan is a perfect fit between the worlds most enthusiastic man and the worlds most exciting place.

One of the last clips from the episode is the family with their hot dogs which, according to Phil, are New Yorks Finest. He handed his phone to a stranger to take their picture. The stranger walked away with it.

And now were down to three phones, Alex Dunphy said.

RELATED: Was Alex Dunphy the Valedictorian of Her High School? Here Are Some Milestones for This Modern Family Character

The Dunphy family stayed in New York City for A Tale of Three Cities

The premiere of season 8 featured these same characters in the Big Apple. The kids and the parents were supposed to leave separately, they both decided to stay an extra day without telling each other.

That extra day turned into an extra few days, each spent lying to each other about their location. They traveled to famous locations and even saw a magic trick in action. Of course, when they got back home in time for Fathers Day, the Dunphys told each other the truth.

The Modern Family cast went on a few vacations for the series

Aside from the Dunphys trip to New York, this family embarked on a few vacations together. With the Pritchett and Tucker families, they visited Hawaii. There, Phil and Claire renewed their marriage vows.

During the Disneyland episode, Phil and Luke took on some of the biggest rollercoasters, even if Phil was too sick to enjoy them. The Dude Ranch episode featured plenty of cowboy activities for this family. During the Goodnight Gracie episode, the Modern Family characters traveled to Florida following the death of Phils mother.

Modern Family, including the Double Click episode, is available for streaming on Hulu.
Demetria, a Colombian-Israeli company developed an artificial intelligence data platform that can determine the quality of beans when used with hand-held sensors. The machine will need a human to input the quality parameters first, but after that, it will be able to classify coffee before its even roasted. The company has completed a pilot program with Carcafe, the Colombian division of Volcafe, one of the worlds largest coffee traders.

A shift to computers would upend the traditional way coffee has been graded by humans, known as cupping. The well-paid and trained examiners, or Q graders, at the ICE Futures U.S. exchange in New York conduct the laborious task of determining the quality and value of the coffee beans received by the bourse. Trading houses and roasters also usually have their own graders.

Cupping is an involved process, not unlike that undertaken by wine sommeliers. Q graders weigh the coffee and grind it into a cup. They sniff the dry grounds, taking notes on the fragrance. Water heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celsius) is poured over the grounds and the graders smell the wet coffee. After 4 minutes, the crust that forms on top of the cup is broken and grounds and foam are removed. After waiting 15 minutes for the coffee to cool, and only then is the coffee slurped up in a spoon.

ALSO READ: Run out of milk? Robots on call for Singapore home deliveries

Its the human that establishes the sensorial part, said Oswaldo Aranha Neto, a coffee industry veteran who just joined Demetria as a board member. You need to teach the robot what to do.

Demetria last month closed a $3 million seed funding round led by Latin American-Israeli investor Celeritas and a group of private investors including Mercantil Colpatria, the investment branch of Colombias Grupo Colpatria.

Volcafe, a unit of ED&F Man, is in the process of adopting the technology and rolling it out, seeking to greatly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our prospecting process at our purchase points and in the field, said general manager Sebastian Pinzon.

Aranha Neto expects the industry to adopt the system before it filters down the chain to growers, as roasters usually have set quality parameters they are looking for. Demetrias Chief Executive Officer Felipe Ayerbe added the tool will also help growers generate coffee with the characteristics buyers want, possibly helping fetch better prices.

ALSO READ: Smart toys and the modern era of pragmatic learning

The technology could also help the exchange, which struggled to grade beans during the pandemic due to social-distancing rules. It could also help resolve quality disputes in the market, Aranha Neto said. If adopted by the exchange, traders could also potentially use the device to scan their coffee before they ship it, reducing the risk beans will fail the bourses grading.

Demetria is also working with the Colombian National Federation for Coffee Growers to develop a series of apps that help farmers control and track bean quality, and price it accordingly, they said.

The wine-ification of coffee means that levels of discernment and premiums for the beverage have been increasing exponentially, yet the perception and treatment of coffee farmers differs vastly compared to that of vineyard owners, said Eduardo Shoval, Demetrias co-founder and executive chairman.

By Marvin G Perez and Isis Almeida
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A jury of 12 is expected to finally retire to consider its verdict in Melbourne's engrossing 'slave trial' next week after 10 long weeks.

It was still summer when the husband-and-wife, accused of keeping an elderly slave, first faced the jury on February 10.

The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will spend an uneasy weekend and could learn their fate as early as Tuesday.

The husband and wife, whose home she was found at, are accused of intentionally possessing the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015

Defence barristers for the pair finished their closing arguments on Friday, with Justice Andrew Tinney delivering his final 'charge' throughout the day.

The jury has endured months of evidence, which has included shocking allegations of abuse by the couple against their elderly 'slave'.

When Justice Tinney ends his directions of law - either on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning - the jury will at last retire to consider its verdict.

The couple has been accused of committing 'crimes against humanity' by keeping the woman captive and working her near to death.

The jury has heard allegations their slave had 'hot curries' poured over her head as punishment and lived off just an hour a sleep for years at a time.

The elderly woman was found by paramedics in 2015 in a pool of her own urine and weighing just 40kg.

The husband and wife have pleaded not guilty to intentionally keeping the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015.

The woman was discovered after she collapsed inside the couple's home and they called her an ambulance.

Traumatised and with serious medical conditions, she spent more than two months in hospital recovering - and for much of that time nobody knew her real identity.

In closing the Crown case, prosecutor Richard Maidment QC said the couple's payments to the woman amounted to just $3.39 a day in exchange for childcare, washing, cleaning and preparing meals.

He told the court the pair had fudged their elderly captive's visa documents to allow her to stay in Australia illegally.

The woman had hoped to earn enough money in Australia to help support her family in India, the jury was told.

'By 6 August 2007 she had become an unlawful non citizen with the full knowledge and connivance of (the couple),' Mr Maidment said.

Police believed they were dealing with a real-life Harry Potter when they rescued the woman, the jury heard.

Mr Maidment told the jury there was no need to ponder the motive why the couple would risk their reputations and liberty to keep the woman illegally for so long.

'The Crown says that is crystal clear. It was crystal clear that they wanted essentially to import a true, tried and tested child carer and domestic servant, knowing that they could pay her next to nothing so that they could continue to live and maintain a five-bedroom home, that they could maintain their lifestyle, that (the female accused) could contemplate a part-time job, three days a week, and also to afford family trips overseas pretty much every year and interstate also on a regular basis,' he said.

Police believed the alleged slaver (pictured) had held her captive like 'Harry Potter'

A woman accused of being a slave driver would slash her servant with a knife if she was not satisfied with her work, a jury has heard

A man accused of being a slaver enters the Supreme Court of Victoria. He has been accused of sitting back and allowing his wife to torment their elderly slave

Mr Maidment said the couple made sure they had treated their alleged slave well in front of the children she had been enslaved to raise.

'The children were very fond of her and the notion that they would always be unkind to her or that they wouldn't essentially treat her as part of the household, is ridiculous,' he said.

'Clearly, they were going to be concerned about her relationship with the children. Her willingness to work hard. It was important for them to treat her, in many respects, as a member of the household.'

But Mr Maidment said it didn't alter the level of control that they had for her.

'Or the deep down, disrespect they had for her situation, or their willingness to exploit her in terms of paying her so far below the appropriate remuneration as to amount to an indicator of slavery,' he said.

The jury heard the woman had been effectively stranded in her captive home, unable to even use a bus or call for help from her family back in India.

'Her world, other than that which the (couple) exposed them to by actually taking her to places like Sydney, like Phillip Island, like Cape Woolamai ... was the immediate area of the house, Gillian Road Park and that's about it. So that was her world and the backyard,' Mr Maidment said.

'They effectively controlled every aspect of her life, where she went, who she met, controlled her work and her leisure to the extent that she had any and in every practical sense.'

The alleged female slaver, who has been painted for weeks as the brains behind the alleged atrocity, maintains the woman is a rotten liar.

The woman twice came to Melbourne from her home in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, to care for the couple's three children (pictured), then disappeared for eight years, the court heard

The female slaver has been accused of throwing things when unhappy with her alleged slave

On Monday, barrister Dr Gideon Boas - for the female accused - told the jury his client's accuser was 'not a witness of truth'.

'I do suggest to you that it is only in an alternate universe that the evidence that she gave that she was being woken up by (the accused) every night by having lights switched on, oil poured on her head every night at 4am,' Dr Boas told the jury.

Speaking to a federal agent, the alleged victim outlined the allegations in six recorded interviews.

'Shell be drinking hot coffee and then she will just, you know, pour it on my face ... and then she will be grab the gravy and pour it on my head,' the woman said.

'She will say 'curries not nice' and then she will just throw it on me.'

Dr Boas told the jury the federal agents who interviewed his client had believed the alleged victim had been held like the fictional wizard, whom was famously imprisoned under the stairs of his captors in the J.K. Rowling hit books and movies.

'So, no doubt the police had in their minds at this stage they were dealing with somebody like Harry Potter being, you know, held under the stairs or something, right?' he told the jury.

Dr Boas dismissed the woman's claims the alleged slave had been kept confined within the family home for years and insisted she had instead been treated like a beloved member of the family.

'You recall this was a Tamil tradition of feeding somebody cake and she acknowledged that was an expression of love and affection,' he told the jury.

'Well, there's a photo on p.34, depicts (his client) doing that for (the woman on her) birthday. Love and affection, Tamil tradition. Well, the narrative that she came to give about (his client), as we know, is very different. That was then, this is now.'

An alleged slaver leaves court in 2017. She faces years behind bars if convicted of the 'crime against humanity'

The jury had heard the woman say under cross examination by Dr Boas that her female captor had bashed her so hard that she had broken her skull.

'(She) kicked, broke my skull'. That was the first time she said that,' Dr Boas said.

'Of course, there's no evidence whatsoever that (she) had a broken skull.'

When the trial opened in February, Dr Boas made it clear the alleged slave had cooked-up the story to avoid being deported back to India after overstaying her temporary visa.

Dr Boas told the jury his client actually considered the woman as family and referred to her affectionately as 'grandmother'.

He claimed the only crime his client had committed was harbouring the woman after her one-month travel visa had expired.

It was fear of prosecution over the visa violation that not only caused the woman to lie to authorities, but the alleged victim to lie about her captivity, the court heard.
Like many, I enjoy a good fire. It gives warmth and a fascination like few other things.

And now in the state of California, there is a headlong rush to ban fireplaces, because the state doesnt dare to really, and immediately, address the tailpipe, which is the fundamental driver of climate change in the North Bay.

And natural gas is a fossil fuel. Fair game for a regulatory bureaucracy.

In addition, wood burns particulates and smoke can permeate a neighborhood, but for how many thousands of years have we lived with such smoke.

A hundred years ago, a wonderful brick fireplace was developed in Rumford, Maine, and is appropriately called the Rumford. It is unique in that it is shallow and narrow and tall and radiates heat into a room unlike any other. Additionally, it burns cleanly, and approximates emissions from an EPA stove. It is outlawed.

I am an architect and am rebuilding a house I had built some years ago, and which burned in the Glass Fire.

It had a wood-burning fireplace with a glass door that was to heat the house. In the rebuild, we cannot replace it with anything but a ventless gas stove.
Around 300-kg bronze drum being made to mark national elections

A fire-lighting ritual was held for making a up-to-300-kg bronze drum by the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences (VAHS) in Dong Don district, the north-central province of Thanh Hoa on April 18.













To make the 300-kg bronze drum, bronze blocks are completely melted into liquid and then slowly poured into a mould. (Photo: VNA)

To make the bronze drum named Hao Khi Non Song (Spirit of the Fatherland), bronze blocks were heated with sacred fire brought from Dong Co Temple inside a furnace at the bronze-casting workshop of craftman Thieu Quang Tung in Dong Sons Dong Tien commune.



The bronze blocks melted completely when the temperature reached thousands of degrees Celsius and turned into liquid which was then slowly poured into a mould of Vietnamese bronze drum. This is the most important part of the traditional bronze-casting craft.



The 100-cm-wide Hao Khi Dong Son is among 16 bronze drums to be hand-made by Thieu Quang Tungs workshop under the traditional method to celebrate the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and all-level Peoples Councils for the 2021  2026 tenue.



The drum is expected to be finished in May and will be presented to the NA for display at its buildings main hall.



Dong Son District is regarded as the cradle of the Dong Son Culture, dating back to 1,000 BC, in Vietnam. A number of bronze drums were discovered there in 1924, marking the first evidence of the civilisations existence./
By Robert Lysek

It might surprise those listening to Gov. Tom Wolf constantly attacking public charter schools that the charter school leaders in Pennsylvania support comprehensive education reform and have supported it for years.

What we dont support are the arbitrary funding cuts the governor and anti-charter activists seek to prevent Pennsylvania families from enrolling in public charter schools. The governor doesnt want reform. He wants to stop families from leaving failing district schools.

In contrast, public charter school leaders want real reform. To us, reform is about educational options for children. To them, reform is about more money.

In January, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools announced its legislative agenda to ensure ALL schools are fairly funded. For years, charter school leaders have supported a measure to create a Charter School Funding Advisory Committee. We also have supported legislation that would strengthen ethics requirements for charter schools, reform the charter renewal process and allow students to participate in dual enrollment programs.

On average, charter school students receive 25% less funding than their peers in district schools. Now the governor wants to cut more resources from these students in the midst of our ongoing struggles with COVID-19.

The pandemic has shown that Pennsylvania families need more choices in public education, not fewer. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families in 2020 chose to leave district schools to seek quality educational options at public charter schools. In the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia, thousands of students  the majority of whom are from low-income homes and minority backgrounds  sit on charter school waitlists.

In Pennsylvania, the vast majority of students in public charter schools come from economically disadvantaged families and underserved communities. The families who send their children to public charter schools often cant afford the tuition of private schools. Nor can they afford to move from a school district that doesnt serve their childrens educational needs.

Public charter schools are their chance for a quality education.

At Executive Education Academy Charter School, we have a student population that is 73% Latino, 18% Black, 7% white and 2% other descent. Nearly 5% of our students have limited English proficiency, and 10% require special education services.

In Pennsylvania, the students served by public charter schools are among the most vulnerable. We hear story after story about desperate parents who seek public charter schools to help their children escape a district school that is failing them. They leave for many reasons, including bullying, low academic expectations and neglect.

The pandemic has made conditions worse for many families.

Charter schools are nonprofit public schools that are independently operated. That means the schools administration has the innovation, freedom and flexibility to move quickly to meet challenges.

When the governor last year closed schools because of the pandemic, public charter schools took advantage of that innovation  including online curriculum and services  to meet the needs of their students. Many charter schools faced the same problems as district schools, including trying to ensure all their students had access to technology. However, the flexibility of charter schools allowed many of them to switch to online learning quickly and resume educational services.

Pennsylvanias public cyber charter schools, which have been teaching online for more than 20 years, also offered their guidance and assistance free to any brick-and-mortar school  district, charter or private  in the state. That is why the Charter School Act was created by state lawmakers, who wanted to develop innovation in public education for all schools to share.

A recent poll showed that nearly 70% of Pennsylvania supports public cyber charter schools as an educational option that should be available to families.

So why does the governor want to punish families who exercise their right to choose a public charter school? I would encourage the governor to meet with charter school families and find out if they believe their children deserve less funding than their peers in district schools.

Robert Lysek is the CEO of Executive Education Academy Charter School, a K-12 public charter school in Allentown, and board president of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 13:54:22|Editor: huaxia

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QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Three police constables have been killed when one of their colleagues turned his gun against them in Afghanistan's western Badghis province, the latest in a string of insider attacks, local police confirmed on Sunday. Enditem
Hong Kong: Govt to review entry restrictions

The Government will review whether stricter restrictions on people arriving in Hong Kong are warranted after a man who flew in from Dubai and completed a 21-day quarantine tested positive for COVID-19.

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan made the remarks today in response to media enquiries after attending a radio programme.

She noted that the Government had recently implemented the tightened commercial flight suspension mechanism to address the risk of importing mutant strains of COVID-19 from very high-risk places.

Starting from April 14, we have already strengthened our suspension of flight mechanism. If we look at the past data, from March to now we have already suspended seven flights for 14 days from different countries.

Therefore with this new mechanism, we envisage that we will be suspending more flights.

Prof Chan added the Government will continue to review the situation in a timely manner.

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The historic Samuel Blum house in Cordova is seen as it looked in 2019, when the owner, Becky Chapek, was just finishing the concrete work on the new foundation and the new rear wall of the ground floor.
The second Covid wave is spreading in India rapidly. India recorded over 2 lakh cases for the third day in a row, Over 1k people lost their life due to the deadly virus. States have issued fresh curbs to tackle with the situations.

According to the Union Health Ministry on Sunday, India reported its highest-ever single-day spike of Covid-19 cases with over 2.61 lakh new cases and more than 1,500 deaths in the last 24 hours. With the massive surge in cases, India now has three vaccines Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V for its inoculation programme against Covid-19. Amid a shortage of Remdesivir in hospitals and medical shops all over the country, the Central government has taken several steps to ensure the availability of the crucial injections which are part of Covid-19 treatment.

The second Covid wave is spreading in India rapidly. India recorded over 2 lakh cases for the third day in a row, Over 1k people lost their life due to the deadly virus. States have issued fresh curbs to tackle with the situations. Amid rising cases, India is facing shortage of COVID beds, oxygen cylinders and vaccines.

In a conversation with NewsX, Dr MC Mishra, Former AIIMS Director said that there is huge pressure on our healthcare infrastructure, every hour or every minute, and stressed how there are people who may not have needed hospitalization but have got admitted. There are a lot of patients who need admission, they are not getting efficient high dependency units and critical care units, and those who need oxygen are not getting as one cannot get oxygen at home. We have a lot of disparity economic disparity, and people have limited resources and resources. We will pay for the deeper problem, very soon, unless we see a rapid decline, which a lot of experts in computational science do predict as the infection is going up rapidly, added Dr Mishra.

As Covid menance mounting pan-India, in order to enhance the hospital beds capacity for Covid-19 patients, the government must be setting up temporary hospitals and dedicating wards at hospitals. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had earlier informed and assured that Covid-19 vaccine supplies of small states are being replenished every 7 days and every 4 days for big states. Steps will be taken to quickly enhance basket of vaccines available. The govt is also eyeing to increase production of Covaxin to 10 times by September 2021.

Also Read: As Covid tsunami shocks India, lockdown possibility looming; can curfews stop the surge ?

Amid Covid-19 cases rising at such alarming rate on a daily basis, the central government and state governments are engaging in a sort of tug or war where state governments are complaining of shortage of vaccines, while the central government is blaming poor planning of state governments for being unable in handling the Covid-19 situation.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18)  The OCTA Research group is concerned that the modified enhanced community quarantine raised over Metro Manila and nearby provinces is not working as well as it should.

"We want to wait a few more days before we make recommendations because we might be reacting too early saying that MECQ is not working. It's working to an extent but maybe not working as well as it should, pero [but] we will see the trend within a few days," said Professor Guido David of OCTA Research.

"Baka naman there are still cases and backlogs in previous weeks. That's just a possibility kaya nagkaroon ng increase [that's why there was an increase]," he added.

According to David, when NCR, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Cavite were placed under enhanced community quarantine, the rate of infection decreased by 20%.

But since being placed under MECQ, a growth rate of 3% was observed.

"Ngayon after one week of MECQ, the cases actually started to increase in NCR. Ngayon it's at 4,800 from 4,618, so it increased by 3%," said David.

[Translation: Now after one week of MECQ, the cases actually started to increase in NCR. Now it's at 4,800 from 4,618, so it increased by 3%.]

If the uptick in cases continues, David suggested the government should consider placing areas with a growing rate of infection under tighter restrictions.

"If it's not working as well as it should be, we can consider several options. We can increase certain restrictions. Kung ano 'yun [whatever that is], it has to be discussed in detail kasi maraming restrictions ang na-ease [because a lot of restrictions were eased] during the move from ECQ to MECQ," says David.

David also clarified the discrepancy between the case fatality rate provided by the OCTA Research group and the Department of Health.

As of April 15, the department reported a CFR of 1.46% while OCTA reported a 5.36% CFR during the same date.

According to David, this is because they use a different formula from that of the DOH.

"In OCTA, we don't count active cases doon sa [in the] computation. Why? Because that formula is provided by the WHO. What that means is we divide deaths with the number of result cases," says David. "We looked at data from March 28 until April 16 so it's a very short-term data. It might be subject to inaccuracies because we are looking at short term."

The DOH said it intends to meet with the OCTA Research group to discuss their different computations of the CFR.
Further intensifying the situation, the Pakistan police on April 18, Sunday, open fired at the protesting crowd in Lahore. From what is evident in the visuals, the crowd involved in protesting against the arrest of Saad Hussain Rizvi, the chairman of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a radical party accused of inciting protests in relation to a blasphemous caricature of Mohammad released last year, was open fired at by the Pakistan police, in which many have been left critically injured. This is the sixth day of the protest, and many have alleged that the Imran Khan government is losing control and Pakistan is moving towards a full-fledged civil war.

Saad Hussain Rizvi arrested

On April 12, the Pakistan Police arrested Saad Hussain Rizvi, the chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan from Lahore after he threatened the government with protests if it did not expel France's ambassador over depictions of Prophet Muhammad. However, the violence only escalated with the arrest of Rizvi with scores of protestors swarming the streets across all major cities, including Lahore and Rawalpindi. Visuals of the protests have been doing rounds on social media with users likening the situation to a war within Pakistan.

On Wednesday, in an attempt to quell the war-like situation, Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced the governments decision to ban TLP. The ban on the radical organisation came after Pakistans law enforcement agencies and officials began to clear TLP activists from blocking major roads but the violence refused to die down. Stating that the TLP workers stopped ambulances from reaching their destinations and impeded the transport of oxygen cylinders of COVID-19 patients, the Pakistan Minister called upon TLP members "who are running the media" to surrender.

He also said that the TLP members were mistaken in their belief that they could create problems for the government through social media. "We want a document that exalts the flag of the Prophet (PBUH), but what you are demanding gives an impression of us being an extremist-minded state to the world," he told the TLP leadership.

The case

It all started when a blasphemous caricature of Prophet Muhammad was published and was defended by President Emmanuel Macron in October 2020, with claims like 'Islamist Separatism' will be fought. This did not go down well with many in groups in Pakistan, especially the TLP, which demanded the immediate expelling of the French ambassador. In order to control the situation, the government in November signed an agreement with the TLP agreeing to expel the French Ambassador by February which was later extended to April.

(Credits-AP)
No one seems to like using the term ghost kitchen, but people in the Bay Area restaurant industry are sure talking about them a lot these days.

The phrase conjures images of sketchy ventures set up in industrial warehouses and parking lots where who knows who is prepping the dishes for brands that exist only online. But ghost kitchens  restaurants without dining rooms that are designed for delivery  are evolving. Today, they are home to some of the Bay Areas most popular independent restaurants, including Brendas French Soul Food, Senor Sisig and Vegan Mob. And, with food delivery expected to become a $365 billion industry by 2030, theyre drawing hundreds of millions of dollars in investment along with big-name players like ex-Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.

Just a few years ago, several highly publicized and well-funded delivery-only restaurant businesses failed. Yet even as COVID vaccines become more widespread and diners dash back to real-life restaurants, many analysts argue that ghost kitchens have staying power  saying this is just the beginning of a rapidly growing, constantly evolving and largely opaque industry.

Some see the model as a lifeline for small-business owners looking to do delivery or expand their footprint. But others fear ghost kitchens will only further domination by well-financed chains. Ghost kitchens, some say, could lead to a dining landscape of the same few dishes all over the country.

The concept of a delivery-only restaurant isnt new. In 2016, San Franciscos Munchery launched an online-only meal-delivery program not unlike that of todays ghost kitchens. At one point, it was valued at $300 million. Then it abruptly shut down in 2019, laid off hundreds of workers and filed for bankruptcy  joining a group of other failed food tech companies including Sprig, Maple and Spoonrocket.

But just as they closed, a new fleet of ghost kitchen companies started opening, including Kalanicks CloudKitchens, which raised $400 million in funding, and Reef Technology, a Miami company thats raised $1.5 billion. The key difference: The newer companies usually arent making food  they specialize in real estate and logistics, then find established restaurateurs to sign on. Often, they buy warehouses and convert them into dozens of tiny commercial kitchens.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

While it may seem strange for companies to invest so much in a field littered with recent failures, analysts say diners have grown more accustomed to delivery apps during the pandemic, and delivery will only grow. Andrew Charles, a senior research analyst focused on restaurants with New York investment bank Cowen, calls this the stickiness factor.

Behavior does change, he said. Were now a year at this, so theres going to be some permanency.

During the pandemic, operations like CloudKitchens have been a boon for some local restaurants: A ghost kitchen offers the flexibility to cook dishes for as many concepts as they desire in one space. Gianluca Legrottaglie of San Franciscos pizza-focused Montesacro Pinseria and pasta-heavy 54 Mint launched new, separate brands for vegan food and lunch fare out of his CloudKitchens facility in Oakland. While he initially was drawn to ghost kitchens simply to expand his restaurants geographic footprint, the additional concepts allow him to do even more.

We managed to expose ourselves to different crowds, not just those looking to get a pizza for the night or pasta, he said.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

Its a model thats particularly suited to well-established restaurants and bigger companies, which may have more experience developing strong online brands, analysts say. San Francisco consulting company the Culinary Edges restaurant, Starbird, is best known for fried chicken but has always made salads, too. The company created a separate ghost kitchen brand for Starbird Salads in order to show up more often in online searches.

It can be very advantageous to be known for one thing, said Nikki Freihofer, associate director of strategy at the Culinary Edge. When people are scrolling and there are a million options, and youre a restaurant selling a bunch of things, it doesnt grab attention and people dont know what to order.

Yet even young chefs without a ton of money can make a brand-new venture work in a ghost kitchen. Solomon Johnson and Mike Woods, who were laid off during the pandemic, pooled $30,000, their business licenses and previously perfected recipes into opening the Bussdown, a Pan-African venture operating out of a CloudKitchens facility in East Oakland. Its paid off, perhaps in part because they sell dishes you wouldnt expect from a ghost kitchen. The smoky shrimp sofrito, for example, comes on top of heirloom grains and gets a final dusting of charred scallion ash.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

Now, they plan to debut multiple concepts out of the same ghost kitchen and ideally expand to more locations. After hustling for years working 80-hour weeks, their current schedule of 12-hour days in alternating shifts doesnt seem so bad.

Jumping into a CloudKitchen wouldnt be beneficial for someone jumping from ground zero, Johnson said.

For some independent restaurants, though, the numbers dont always work for the type of ghost kitchen that CloudKitchens sells. It requires paying rent, buying equipment and hiring staff  essentially opening a new restaurant without a dining room.

Ive written model after model, tweaked it and spoken to experts, said Akash Kapoor of Bay Area mini-chain Curry Up Now. The numbers dont work.

But the Bay Area has a new kind of ghost kitchen with a slightly different business model, one that bets on diners wanting to support local restaurants. Instead of one facility made up of many small kitchens, its one restaurant-size kitchen with one staff preparing meals from several restaurants  primarily popular local ones like upscale Chinatown spot China Live, sandwich specialist Proposition Chicken and mac n cheese favorite Homeroom.

This sub-sector is led by San Franciscos Virtual Kitchen Co., a company from ex-Uber employees thats raised $35.3 million in funding. It operates 10 Bay Area locations, which show up as Local Food Hall on delivery apps. A similar effort, Local Kitchens by an ex-DoorDash employee, got started during the pandemic and now operates three Bay Area locations.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

Its this setup that convinced Kapoor to try a ghost kitchen; Curry Up Now is serving out of Local Kitchens in Cupertino, Lafayette and San Jose. The spaces are shared, and thats where the economics work really, really well, Kapoor said.

Here, restaurants are only responsible for the food  the ghost kitchens pay rent, handle the staffing and even pick up the food or ingredients from the restaurants. The number of potential diners within the delivery radius can be higher too, as Virtual Kitchen and Local Kitchens take over vacated restaurant spaces in commercial corridors as opposed to warehouses in industrial neighborhoods. Instead of rent, the ghost kitchens take a deep cut of sales; one restaurant owner said it would be tough to turn a profit on anything less than $2,000 in sales per day.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

For some, its been worthwhile. Ghost kitchens have helped them break even, keep employees and, in some cases, even turn a small profit during an exceptionally challenging time. Victor Escobedo of burrito destination Papalote believes so much in delivery that hes now investing in Virtual Kitchen Co.

His Mission District restaurant saw business drop by 50% in 2015  he believes its because customers started buying from competitors on apps out of convenience. The restaurant almost shut down. Now, he credits delivery for saving the restaurant and keeping his whole staff employed during the pandemic.

But chefs lose one critical element with operations like Virtual: total control over the food. Chefs wouldnt detail exactly how the ghost kitchens prepare their dishes due to proprietary methods, but they say they make the food at their restaurants and the ghost kitchen executes the final touches  in some cases, its simply assembling ingredients, in others its frying pre-seasoned chicken.

Stephen Lam / The Chronicle

The restaurants work with the ghost kitchens directly to adapt recipes to the model. In the case of China Live, it took four months of testing.

You cant cook your food completely and cook it again  thats like reheating food in the microwave, said George Chen of China Live, which is operating in 10 Bay Area cities with Virtual Kitchens. It has to be stored and then finished. Its like par-baked bread but its a lot more complicated.

Chen said reviews have been positive and sales are growing, but execution isnt always perfect. Ghost kitchens staffers arent trained chefs.

If the guy hits the wrong button, hes going to burn it, Chen said.

Proponents of ghost kitchens tout them as democratizing the restaurant industry because the startup costs are lower and consumers wind up seeing all of their options on the same platforms. But some have struggled: Several Bay Area delivery-only restaurants, including Boomboxs Pizza, Bun Nha Trang and Sunset Slurps, opened then permanently closed within a few months during the pandemic. Owners did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Ghost kitchens by the numbers The U.S. has more than 1,500 ghost kitchens Ghost kitchens could become $1 trillion global market by 2030 Global food-service delivery sales more than doubled from 2014 to 2019 52% of consumers are comfortable ordering from a ghost kitchen Source: Euromonitor 2020 See More Collapse

Despite the challenges, Escobedo of Papalote said restaurants need to invest more in delivery to assure a sustainable future. Its how they will survive in a world increasingly dominated by Amazon, he said, where customers are used to ordering anything from their couch.

Is it a great revenue generator? For the time being, no. But it could be, he said. Restaurants struggling now wont be struggling in the future because were working on it.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
The real-time gross settlement (RTGS) facility stopped working for all bank customers after the close of business hours on April 17, 2021. The facility will remain unavailable till 2 pm on Sunday, April 18, 2021, according to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notification dated April 15.

The RBI has cited the technical upgrade of its RTGS facility as the reason behind this temporary shut down. A technical upgrade of RTGS, targeted to enhance the resilience and to further improve the Disaster Recovery Time of the RTGS system, is scheduled after the close of business of April 17, 2021, the central bank said in its official statement.

The RBI had also directed banks to advise their customers so that they can plan their payment operations accordingly.

How to transfer fund without using RTGS?

In the meanwhile, bank customers can take advantage of the National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) service to facilitate their funds during this period. Both RTGS and NEFT are digital payment modes offered by the bank to transfer money in a snap.

However, there are some differences between the two. RTGS transactions deal with only large amounts of money. One can send funds above Rs 2 lakh via RTGs. There is no such limit with the NEFT service.

In short, RTGS service is preferred for transferring large sums of money while NEFT is preferred when you have to transfer less than Rs 2 lakh. Also, keep in mind that users can transfer up to Rs 25 Lakh per day via NEFT transactions.
The mania that drove crypto assets to records as Coinbase Global went public last week turned on itself on the weekend, sending bitcoin tumbling the most since February.

The worlds biggest cryptocurrency plunged as much as 15 per cent just days after reaching a record. It was lower by 9 per cent to $US55,323 in early morning trade on Sunday in New York. Ether, the second-biggest, dropped as much as 18 per cent to below $US2000 before paring losses. Binance Coin, XRP and Cardano each lost more than 12 per cent. Dogecoin, the token started as a joke, was the only gainer among the 10 largest coins.

After surging in the leadup to and on the back of Coinbases IPO, crypto assets fell sharply over the weekend. Credit:AP

The weekend carnage came after a heady week for the industry that saw the value of of all coins surge past $US2.25 trillion amid a frenzy of demand for all things crypto in the runup to Coinbases direct listing on Wednesday. The largest US crypto exchange ended the week valued at $US68 billion, more than the owner of the New York Stock Exchange.

With hindsight it was inevitable, Galaxy Digital founder Michael Novogratz said in a tweet on Sunday. Markets got too excited around $USCoin direct listing. Basis blowing out, coins like $USBSV, $USXRP and $USDOGE pumping. All were signs that the market got too one way.
Moscow/Prague: Moscow has expelled 20 Czech diplomats in a confrontation over Czech allegations that two Russian spies accused of a nerve agent poisoning in Britain in 2018 were behind an earlier explosion at a Czech ammunition depot that killed two people.

Prague had on Saturday (Europe time) ordered out 18 Russian diplomats, prompting Russia to vow on Sunday to force the authors of this provocation to fully understand their responsibility for destroying the foundation of normal ties between our countries.

Czech authorities have sought more information about a visit by Russian men Alexander Petrov, left, and Ruslan Boshirov, who have separately been charged by British authorities for the poisoning of Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, with the Soviet nerve agent Novichok. Credit:AP

Moscow gave the Czech diplomats just a day to leave, while Prague had given the Russians 72 hours.

The Czech Republic said it had informed NATO and European Union allies that it suspected Russia of causing the 2014 blast, and European Union foreign ministers were set to discuss the matter at their meeting on Monday.
Local high schoolers brought about 100 residents together for a Stop Asian Hate rally Saturday afternoon in Scotch Plains.

The rally was part of a wave of similar events nationwide, like a Stop Asian Hate march that drew hundreds in Fort Lee, sparked after a shooter killed six Asian women across three Atlanta massage parlors on March 16.

However, Saturdays event comes on the heels of yet another fresher act of violence against Asian-Americans, after a gunman on Thursday killed eight people, four of whom were members of the Indianapolis Sikh community.

Students from Rutgers Preparatory School's Global Outreach Club organized an anti-Asian hate rally on April 17.Josh Axelrod | NJ Advance Media

Rally organizers from Rutgers Preparatory Schools Global Outreach Club began with a moment of silence for the victims of both shootings.

The COVID virus is minute in comparison to the virus of racism, Karyne Brown, a junior at Rutgers Prep and co-organizer, told attendees.

In attendance were a number of local officials, including Scotch Plains Mayor Joshua Losardo, former Mayor Al Smith, Board of Education Member Amy Winkler and Council Members Roshan White and Ellen Zimmerman.

Scotch Plains is and will always remain an open and inclusive community, Losardo told attendees. We understand and appreciate that respecting one another is the only way to act. Not just because its right, but also because our country and this community is strengthened by its people and every one of us is lawfully entitled to equal protection under the law.

Scotch Plains Mayor Joshua Losardo addresses a crowd of about 100 residents at an anti-Asian hate rally on April 17.Josh Axelrod | NJ Advance Media

High schoolers spoke out about prejudice and urged attendees to confront the model minority myth, an oft-repeated racist trope about how Asian-Americans as an ethnic group have overcome discrimination through smarts and success.

Its also important to fight back against this harmful stereotype and challenge the boxes that society creates for us, Jason He, a junior at Rutgers Prep told attendees.

Liz Ramage, a junior at Rutgers Prep and co-organizer, encouraged the crowd to speak out against racism in their communities.

She outlined several steps for attendees to take: listening when people of color share their feelings or personal experiences, educating oneself on racism, self-reflecting on unconscious biases and supporting victims of racism.

Coming out to a rally, like this one today, is a great way to show that you are being supportive, Ramage told attendees. By personally taking action we will create change to stop Asian hate in our communities and continue to inspire change beyond our communities.

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Josh Axelrod may be reached at jaxelrod@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Kate Middleton showed her skills as the "Royal Pacemaker" as she engages in conversation with Prince Harry, engaging Prince William to join the talk during the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral. It can be remembered that Prince Phillip's ceremonial funeral on the Windsor Castle Grounds.

The Duke will be buried on the St. George's Chapel temporarily and will be transferred to another location once United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth II, his wife for more than 70 years meets her final moments. The ceremony was attended by only 30 guests, all from the Royal Family and extended Royal Family.

READ NEXT: Prince Harry Returns Home to Attend Prince Philip's Funeral for Just 30 Mourners

Kate Middleton Engages Conversation with Prince Harry

During the funeral for the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton was seen as the first to talk with Prince Harry, New York Post reported. Middleton was seen launching an animated chat with her brother-in-law, then soon after the Duke of Cambridge joined them in the conversation.

It was unclear whether Prince William and Prince Harry will be talking with each other during the funeral, considering the strained relation named by the people as "Royal Rift" between U.K.'s prince brothers, Express reported.

Prince Harry was seen relaxed during the conversation. The exchange of conversation between Kate Middleton and Prince Harry happened as the members of the Royal Family, including the extended, left to St. George's Chapel. It was also reported that Kate Middleton brought her husband Prince William into the conversation.

As the Royals walked towards the Windsor Castle together, the three strolled away from the family allowing the brothers and Kate Middleton to walk together. Middleton discreetly dropped behind along Princes William and Harry walk together. The Duchess left the brothers alone as she engaged in conversation with Zara Tindal.

Express noted that William and Harry appeared to be in good spirits as they converse with each other for several minutes, following the service held for the grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Meghan Markle was not present during Prince Phillip's funeral because she is pregnant with her second child. Because of this, she was not able to travel to Britain. Prince Harry was expected to stay in his homeland for several more days.

The Royal Rift Between Prince Harry and Prince William

The talks about the rift between the princes of the United Kingdom arose back in 2018 when rumors of fictitious drama between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton surfaced on the internet, Cosmopolitan reported.

Cosmopolitan mentioned another video that was captured in December 2018, when the Sussexes and Cambridges spent their Christmas together. The video showed that Prince William ignored Meghan Markle as she tries to talk to her brother-in-law. However, William spent his time adjusting his scarf instead of responding.

The issue and speculation of the people on the "Royal Rift" between the brother continued until Prince William disagreed with Prince Harry's views of Royal Life. Harry shared his views on the issue during an Oprah Winfrey interview, where the issue of racism in the Royal Family was tackled.

However, the rift was sealed by Kate Middleton when she made the borthers talk with each other during the funeral. The brothers was separated by their cousin Peter Phillips as they marched in the procession behind their grandfather's casket. Harry is reported to stay more days in his homeland to celebrate his grandmother's birthday with the family on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Prince Philip's Death: Biden, Other World Leaders Mourn

WATCH: Prince Harry Chats With Prince William & Kate Middleton After Funeral - from Access
New Delhi, April 18 : Amid rise in Covid cases in the country, Bharatiya Janata Party national president J P Nadda has asked party workers to start the campaign of "Apna Booth Corona Mukt" and make it a success.

Nadda on Sunday held a virtual meeting of the national office bearers of the party and state presidents to discuss the surge of Covid cases in the country.

He asked all the office bearers and party workers to fulfill their commitment of 'Sewa Se Sangathan'.

Nadda asked all the office bearers and workers to start a massive preventive drive against the pandemic at booth level by taking up sanitization, cleanliness drive and public awareness campaign.

"All the office bearers and party workers should start a campaign at the booth level where they should ask people to strictly follow Covid guidelines," he said.

The BJP chief directed all the state units that they should immediately set up a 'Corona Helpdesk' and also start a 'Corona Helpline' to help the people in their respective states.

He directed them to come up with a plan and programme to help Corona patients admitted in various hospitals in their states.

"All the state units should work and cooperate with the state and local administration to start a comprehensive plasma donation campaign," he said.

Asking the party workers to ensure distribution of the masks and sanitisers in their respective states, Nadda also directed them provide all possible help and assistance to those suffering from Corona and are struggling in these difficult times.

The BJP president also directed all the state presidents to hold virtual meetings with the elected representatives of the party at the Panchayat and ward levels and seek feedback on the work done to fight Corona pandemic and provide relief to those suffering from the disease.

He even asked the state heads to review the contribution of the party office bearers and elected representatives in fight against the pandemic.

While directing the national office bearers and party workers to ensure that maximum people are covered in the Corona vaccination drive across the country, Nadda asked all those associated with the BJP's Medical Cell and all doctors and medical staff associated with the party to give them maximum time and support in this time of crisis.
Britain's eight days of mourning for Prince Philip has ended today - as the Queen and the Royal family continue to grieve following his funeral in Windsor.

After almost 70 years as head of state, the Queen will reign without her husband by her side after sitting on her own during the funeral service that bore Philip's touch and celebrated his life and legacy.

At 3pm on Saturday, the nation came to a halt to observe a minute's silence in memory of the duke - who died a few months short of his 100th birthday.

The country was in national mourning from Philip's death on April 9 until, and including, the day of the funeral.

Union flags were flown at half-mast on royal residences, Government buildings, armed forces establishments and at UK posts overseas during the week.

But they were raised again today, with footage showing the flag being hoisted up over Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.

Flags were raised again today, with footage showing the flag being hoisted up over Buckingham Palace

Britain's eight days of mourning for Prince Philip has ended today - as the Queen (pictured yesterday) and Royal family continue to grieve following his funeral in Windsor

Charles was joined by the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex as they walked behind Philip's coffin (pictured)  which was carried by a Land Rover Defender hearse he helped design  during the funeral procession

The ceremony in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday reflected the Duke of Edinburgh's lifelong support of the armed forces, having had a close connection with the Navy for more than 80 years.

His coffin - draped with his personal standard - featured his Admiral of the Fleet naval cap and sword next to a wreath of white flowers chosen by the Queen with a handwritten card from his wife of 73 years.

Charles was joined by the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex as they walked behind Philip's coffin  which was carried by a Land Rover Defender hearse he helped design  during the funeral procession.

The Union flag flies at half-mast from Victoria Tower over the Houses of Parliament this week

Following closely behind were the duke's grandsons Princes Harry and William and Peter Phillips, and Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal's husband, and the Queen's nephew the Earl of Snowdon.

Harry and William  who have a troubled relationship  were separated by their cousin Peter Phillips.

After the service, the siblings walked back up the hill to the castle in conversation - seemingly putting any differences aside.

Judi James, author and body language expert, said the royals appeared 'surprised at how hard Philip's death had hit them' during the service.

She described the Queen as looking 'very vulnerable and frail', while her son the Prince of Wales became 'isolated in his own grief' as the funeral continued.

Thousands of people gathered in Windsor today for Prince Philip's funeral - although crowds were much smaller than usual due to Covid regulations

People gather outside the entrance to Windsor Castle prior to Philip's funeral today, in defiance of orders to stay away

Professor Chris Imafidon (second from left), outside Windsor Castle, who says he met the Duke on a few occasions, has spoken of his dismay that crowds cannot gather in the same numbers as usual

Family arrangements for Sunday have not been made public - but it is understood that plans for a wake have been scrapped.

It is not known how long Harry intends to stay in the UK before heading back to LA to be with his wife Meghan Markle - who is around seven months pregnant with their second child.

Among the 30 guests at the funeral were the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex, and her children Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor.

Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were also among the mourners.

Mourners rushed to pay tribute to Prince Philip earlier this week. Pictured: A young girl lays flowers outside Buckingham Palace

A woman looks emotional as she speaks to journalists at the palace as a little girl laid two bouquets of roses in Philip's memory

Three of Philip's German relatives were invited, as was his close friend Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

Philip was the guiding force behind the preparations for his funeral, which was pared back because of Covid restrictions, with guests reduced from around 800 to 30 and the public elements cancelled.

In a prayer, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave thanks for the duke's 'resolute faith and loyalty'.

In a moment never seen before on television, the duke's coffin was slowly lowered into the royal vault as his titles were read out at the end of the service.

Buglers from the Royal Marines sounded the Last Post and a few moments later the Reveille was played by the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry.

Philip served as Captain General of the Royal Marines for more than six decades and at the end of the service the buglers sounded Action Stations, a tune which is played on a warship to signal all hands should go to battle stations and is sometimes featured at funerals of naval men.
A group of Catholic priests has come out in support of a bill that would require all adoption agencies that receive federal funding to place children with same-sex couples.

The Association of U.S. Catholic Priests, which describes itself as a pastoral voice of compassion, hope and joy in our pilgrim church and world, has expressed support for the "Every Child Deserves a Family Act."

According to the Lepanto Institute, a research and education organization dedicated to preserving the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church, the bill would effectively shut down the adoption services of Catholic Charities by mandating homosexual adoptions as well as potentially adopting children to couples of any belief system, including active satanists.

In its March 28 E-Bulletin, the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests touted the Every Child Deserves a Family Act as a bill promoting the best interests of children in the foster care and adoption system by ending discrimination against LGBTQ+ and religious minority youth, foster parents, and families. It encourages readers to sign onto a letter urging members of Congress to support the measure.

Source:The Christian Post
On Saturday, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg rolled up his sleeve and joined more than 700,000 of his constituents who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier this month, Nirenberg dialed 311 to make his first vaccination appointment. He waited about 20 minutes to schedule his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Alamodome, a city-run distribution site.

While en route to the Alamodome on Saturday, Nirenberg said he didn't have trepidation about the shot, only excitement. Once he arrived at the site, he congratulated residents who were in line for their doses and spent time thanking members of the San Antonio Fire Department for their work in help getting the city vaccinated.

RELATED: Watch: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg gets a few laughs in while booking his vaccine appointment

"I'm excited, I've been waiting so long for this," the mayor said moments before the injection.

A few seconds and jokes later, the mayor was set with his vaccine card and a sticker commemorating the first step of the process.

"Yes, I got it," he said, raising his hands in the air in exaltation.

Nirenberg spent the 15-minute observation period following the shot answering questions from the media.

"I was looking at that vaccine card and thinking about all the things we have been through as a community, as a country," Nirenberg reflected. "To get that card in my hand, I have to admit, there's a little bit of emotion attached to having that card now. We've been through so much and to get it is a signal that this is the beginning to an end of this very challenging, terrible period that our country has been through the last year."

At this point last year, San Antonio had just been launched into the national spotlight following a mega food bank distribution site at Trader's Village. Photos captured by San Antonio Express-News photographer William Luther showing thousands of families lining up for groceries gripped the country as they visualized the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic.

READ MORE FROM MADALYN: NCAA Champion Kiana Williams receives official honor from San Antonio

A year later, Nirenberg spoke of "relief."

This is the beginning of the end to this pandemic," he said.

The 44-year-old incumbent waited to set up his appointment until all Texans 16 and older were eligible to receive the vaccine. He said he was "happy" to show San Antonio residents that there is no "stigma" in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

"This is the next big step we can all take to going back to enjoying life again," he said. "These vaccines are safe and it'll put an end to the coronavirus in our community. The fire department and Metro Health are doing an incredible job for our community. Just please go get a vaccine. It is safe and it'll save your life."

The Alamodome is now administering the vaccine, no appointment necessary, for people 16 and up from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
All of these other issues that the Prime Minister keeps raising about what the world will look like is all predicated on the basis of a successful vaccination program  thats my focus. Quarantining is a responsibility, constitutionally, of the Prime Minister and Commonwealth government. If the Commonwealth is proposing to introduce home quarantine, I look forward to his proposal being backed by public health experts. Mr Foley said there was a sense of urgency to inoculate vulnerable Australians, with COVID-19 claiming the lives of 3 million people across the globe so far. The federal government this week entered into talks with state and territory health ministers about setting up and expanding mass-vaccination clinics, Mr Foley said. Eligible Victorians in phases 1a and 1b are being urged to make an appointment to get their AstraZeneca jabs at one of the three mass-vaccine centres. Walk-in options will be available, but those with appointments will get priority.

The Victorian government has so far vaccinated 162,553 people, while GPs  through the Commonwealth-led program  have inoculated more than 150,000 people. The vaccination centre at the Royal Exhibition Building. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The state has capacity to immunise between 50,000 and 60,000 people each week, and expects to scale up to 100,000 a week within a fortnight. The Commonwealth has advised Victoria it would receive between 40,000 and 60,000 vaccine doses a week for the next month. Victorias COVID-19 Response Commander, Jeroen Weimar, said options for expanding the mass-vaccination approach to other parts of the state would be considered in coming weeks. For us, this is an opportunity to ensure that as many people as possible have good access to get the safe vaccine, and to really use the infrastructure and network weve been building up over the last couple of months, Mr Weimar said.

The number of Australians requesting COVID-19 vaccinations declined after the federal governments expert panel, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine not be given to people under 50 due to the risk of a rare, but serious blood-clotting disorder. Fewer than 30,000 people a week, on average, have been immunised in Victoria in the past few weeks  far below the states capacity, Mr Weimar said. Head of the Victorian Department of Healths vaccine program Ben Cowie said the government was balancing the risk of the pandemic, which has devastating consequences, against the rare side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Loading I was fortunate enough to be one of the first healthcare workers in Victoria to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, and if I had my choice again, I would do so based on the knowledge it is safe and it is highly effective, Professor Cowie said.

And we only have to look at the examples not just the tragic loss of life overseas, but the huge reduction in the death toll overseas from countries which have rolled out the vaccine program. Officials grappling with the public health risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine say the death of a 48-year-old NSW Central Coast woman who had thrombosis (blood clots) with thrombocytopenia (very low platelets), was likely linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Current Australian health advice that the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout can continue safely, while Pfizer remains the preferred vaccine for those under 50, is unlikely to change. University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely described the Victorian governments announcement on Sunday as sensible fine-tuning.

He said cracks in the system had emerged when people were being turned away from mass-vaccine clinics, and those cracks deepened following ATAGIs recommendation to give AstraZeneca to people aged under 50 where the benefits outweight the risks. Its not a radical change, its tidying up the bits and pieces and the cracks that had emerged, Professor Blakely said. Its good - sensible fine-tuning. It will help a little, but were expecting a big announcement out of national cabinet tomorrow, and what happened today is just a bit of tidying up of the current program. Deakin University chair of epidemiology Catherine Bennett on Sunday welcomed the expansion of the mass-vaccine clinics, and said it would free up GPs. Therell be better access for people if they dont know where to go, dont have a regular doctor or cant organise through their workplaces, Professor Bennett said.

It might also be a way of speeding up the completion of the vaccine rollout. Phase 1a includes people working in the quarantine system as well as front-line healthcare workers, and aged care staff and residents. Mr Weimar said about 85 per cent of this cohort had been vaccinated. Included in phase 1b are other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 55 and over, other Australians aged 70 and over, younger adults with a qualifying underlying medical condition or disability and disability carers, and critical and high-risk workers, including those in defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing. Professor Ben Cowie (right) speaks on Sunday as Health Minister Martin Foley looks on. Credit:Penny Stephens Therapeutic Goods Administration head Professor John Skerritt said on Saturday the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine still appeared to outweigh the risks for older Australians.
Amazon Pay has onboarded over 5 million merchants using its digital payment solutions, Amazon announced on Saturday, April 17. The ecommerce giant revealed that 2.5 million merchants out of the total 5 million businesses operate retail and shopping outlets such as Kirana stores.

Amazon Pays around 1.9 million merchants are operating food and beverage outlets such as restaurants and small eateries. Other businesses that the company has onboard include salons, medical care establishments, and more.

Amazon Pay, the fintech arm of Amazon India, has also launched a new Amazon Pay for Business app aimed at simplifying the payment needs of small and medium enterprises.

The newly launched app is currently only available on Google Play Store. The app allows any merchant to quickly register its business and start accepting digital payments via a unified payments interface (UPI) by generating a unique quick response (QR) code on the app.

Customers can quickly pay merchants via UPI using the QR codes of the merchants. Mahendra Nerurkar, chief executive officer, Amazon Pay India, said, The Amazon Pay For Business app will further catalyse adoption of digital payments and enable merchants to enter the digital ecosystem in minutes. We have built and scaled our digital payment acceptance for SMBs using UPI that is inarguably one of the worlds biggest digital payments platform, and look forward to creating more products that transform the way India pays.

Amazon has been betting big on the Indian market, despite severe backlashes from several trade organisations that have alleged that the ecommerce giant prefers a handful of sellers over lakhs of others selling on the platform.

Just a few days back, Amazon had launched a massive $250 million fund to empower small and medium business across the country. Amazon said that the company is looking to bring 1 million offline retailers and neighbourhood stores by 2025 through its Local Shops programme.

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New Delhi, April 18 : Amid rising cases of Covid-19 former Union Minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday demanded that the Centre declare a national health emergency in the country. He also urged the Election Commission to declare a moratorium on election rallies.

He said on Twitter, "COVID-19...Infections faster than recoveries. Modiji: Declare a National Health Emergency. Election Commission: Declare a moratorium on election rallies... Courts: Protect people's lives." On Saturday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in a statement lashed out at the Union government for being unprepared and pushing the country to the gravest disaster.

The CWC statement, read out by former Union Finance Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram, said, "We regret to say that the nation is paying a very heavy price for the thoughtlessness and unpreparedness of the NDA government to tackle the gravest disaster (Covid pandemic) that has hit the country and has affected millions of families claiming 1,75,673 lives so far." The CWC said that the Union government is passing the buck to the state governments and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi incorporating the suggestions made at the CWC.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Britain's Opposition Labour Party on Sunday joined calls for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to cancel his visit to India, starting next Sunday, amid growing concerns of a new variant of COVID-19 detected in the country.

Public Health England (PHE) has said that 77 cases of the so-called double mutant Indian variant have been detected in the UK since last month and that it has now been classed as a Variant Under Investigation (VUI).

Downing Street had earlier confirmed a much shorter schedule for the UK prime minister's visit, with the bulk of the programme including talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set for a day-long agenda on Monday, April 26.

I can't see why the prime minister can't conduct his business with the Indian government via Zoom, said Labour's Shadow Communities Secretary Steve Reed.

The prime minister, like all of us in public life, needs to try and set an example. I'd much rather the prime minister did it by Zoom rather than travelling to India," he told Sky News', when asked if the visit should go ahead next week.

A government minister, meanwhile, stressed that there is no evidence the Indian variant can evade vaccine protection or that it is more contagious.

"I'm told there is no evidence at the moment this particular variant is able to get around the vaccine or...that it is necessarily more contagious than the others but we are looking at it, it will be studied," said Environment Secretary George Eustice.

The variant officially named B.1.617 is believed to be almost certainly playing a part in the second wave of the pandemic in India and a major spike in infection rates. It has sparked concerns among academics and sections of the UK media, who have called for India to be added to the red list, which involves stricter travel restrictions with a compulsory 10-day hotel quarantine for anyone returning to the UK from such countries.

Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London, is among those who said that he finds it mystifying and slightly confounding that India is not yet on the red list and that those flying into the UK from there are not subjected to the compulsory hotel quarantine.

I think we should be terribly concerned about it, Prof Altmann told the BBC.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that India has been kept off the red list to allow Johnson's visit to go ahead, even though cut short, and to ensure that India-UK trade negotiations are on track ahead of India's negotiations with the European Union (EU).

Downing Street has said that designations under the red list, which currently covers around 40 countries, are kept under constant review and so far the message is that the visit will go ahead in its shortened version.

"As with all the prime minister's visits, his trip to India will prioritise the safety of those involved. All elements of the visit will be Covid secure, the prime minister's spokesperson said.

A lot is riding on the visit, previously postponed from a Republic Day tour in January, as the first major bilateral visit for Johnson outside Europe since the UK general election in December 2019 and the conclusion of the Brexit transition period at the end of December 2020. The priority is for both sides to agree to a Roadmap 2030', a plan for the next decade to pave the way to a free trade agreement (FTA) in future.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Marley Ghizzone

When I was young, maybe 9 years old, my mom gave me some passing advice. It was something along the lines of:

Dont ever pay a medical bill when it comes in. The insurance companies will avoid paying, but if you continue to kick it back to the doctors office, they will nudge the insurance company. Just wait it out; they will eventually cover what they should.

Shes repeated similar advice throughout the years, but that first time always stuck with me. Here, Ill pause quickly to give some transparency. I am a white middle-class woman. Ive had health insurance my whole life, a job that has been stable throughout the pandemic and the supreme privilege of being able to cover an emergency medical bill  something that is not possible for two-thirds of Americans.

And, yet, receiving an email from a provider or my insurance carrier, or having to schedule an appointment with a specialist, spikes my anxiety as I wait for a possible bill or rejection of coverage.

Always, I return to the same question I had that day long ago: Is this how the world is supposed to work?

Now, as an adult with some experience in the wider world, I can answer confidently and boldly, No, the world is not supposed to work this way.

Health should not be dictated by for-profit companies. To be blunt, health insurance frequently operates like a scam.

Health care is a human right and all are worthy of it. While our current system is structured to cater to profits and not people, there is a chance for course correction.

Congressional legislation reintroduced for the current session on March 17 by Democrats U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington State and Debbie Dingell of Michigan would establish a national health insurance program for all ages, otherwise known as Medicare for All. The bill, H.R. 1976, filed by title, is expected to include comprehensive benefits, including primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, long-term services and supports, reproductive health care, and more  with no individual premiums, and no copays, deductibles or other cost-sharing due from patients when they receive services.

With a tweet acknowledging that millions are still unable to afford private health insurance in the richest country in the world, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist., announced his support for the bill shortly after it was introduced. This was a nice surprise, especially with notable silence from the other South Jersey congressional Democrat, Rep. Andy Kim of the 3rd District.

Currently, H.R. 1976 has 114 cosponsors, and I urgently request that Norcross also sign on as as a cosponsor. Medicare for All backers love to see supportive words, but definitive action is what matters most.

The dumpster fire that is the American health care system has been burning since before the pandemic, as evidenced by the fact that one-third of GoFundMe campaigns are created to address medical costs, and COVID-19 was an accelerant, like a good dousing of lighter fluid. In the first few months of 2020, about 124,000 New Jerseyans lost access to health insurance due to loss of employment. This left approximately 701,000, or 13%, of all non-elderly adults in the state uninsured as of May 2020.

Now more than ever, health care is worth fighting for. There is a solution available, which is why Im asking for Reps. Norcross and Kim to cosponsor H.R. 1976.

Marley Ghizzone is a writer and editor, and a 2016 graduate 0f Rowan University. She resides in Audubon.

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California Representative Maxine Waters joined protesters in Minnesota as demonstrations entered a seventh night on Saturday after the death of Daunte Wright.

Waters told the protesters at Brooklyn Center that she will fight for justice on their behalf and urged them to 'to get more confrontational' - just one day after protests descended into violence.

'I am not happy that we have talked about police reform for so long,' Waters said. 'We're looking for a guilty verdict,' she added in regards to the Derek Chauvin trial. 'If we don't, we cannot go away.'

'We gotta stay on the street,' Waters was recorded saying, adding that protesters needed 'to get more confrontational' and they should ignore the curfew in place.

Her comments sparked outrage on Twitter.

'Of course shell get away with saying that while anyone else wouldve been thrown in jail,' Rick Santella tweeted.

Another user tweeted, 'Good grief lady, leave get out of here.'

One person also accused Waters of 'stirring people up again with her calls for violence.'

Pictured: Congresswoman Maxine Waters leaving the protest at the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Saturday

Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins demonstrators in a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday night

Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins demonstrators in a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday night

Waters is planning on staying in town until Monday.

According to CBS Minnesota, officials stated that there was a brief altercation between reporters and proresters as Waters was leaving on Saturday, the first reports of any skirmishes.

The Pioneer Press reports demonstrators gathered Saturday afternoon at the home of Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, responsible for the second-degree manslaughter charges against Kimberly Potter.

The protesters stood outside of Orput's home before marching through is neighborhood in Stillwater.

Black Lives Matter activist Nekima Levy Armstrong relayed that Orput left his home briefly to engage in a conversation with protesters.

Protesters outside the home of Pete Orput, the Washington County Attorney in Stillwater on Saturday afternoon

Pictured: Armed members of the New Black Panther Party standing in front of the Brooklyn Center Police Department

Pictured: Peaceful protesters in front of the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Saturday night

A demonstrator spray-paints at Union Station near the U.S Capitol, during a march in Washington, D.C. on Saturday

Demonstrators raise their fists at Union Station near the U.S Capitol, during a march in Washington, D.C. on Saturday

A demonstrator holds a Black Lives Matter sign during a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday

A demonstrator holds up a sign during a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday night

BDemonstrators gather during a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday night

Protests have also been taking place in Chicago following the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, as well as New York City and across the rest of the United States.

On Friday night, many protests across the nation started off peacefully before sporadic clashes broke out between Black Lives Matters protesters and the police.

The state is also the location of the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, charged in the death of George Floyd last year.

The closing arguments in his trial are set for Monday, after which there could be a verdict and the potential for unrest based on that verdict.

The U.S. Capitol Building is seen as police try to put out the fire from a flag during a demonstration in Washington, D.C.

Police arrive to extinguish a burning "Thin blue line" flag during a demonstration in Washington, D.C. on Saturday

Police officers stand guard on a roof as demonstrators gather during a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station

Police officers stand guard on a roof as demonstrators gather beside a sign reading 'Stop State Terror'

A fire is seen as a protester holds a flag at the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain on Saturday night

University of Minnesota medical students and doctors also marched on the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Saturday, a day after it was the site of most of the night's unrest.

Peaceful protests on Friday devolved into clashes between protesters and police, with flash bangs and pepper spray utilized by the cops.

There originally wasn't expected to be a curfew for the first time in several days, before one was suddenly imposed during the night's demonstrations. Media members were briefly detained and 136 people were arrested.

Demonstrators hold up photos of Daunte Wright as they protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday

Saturday marks the seventh night of protests in Brooklyn Center since the police shooting of Daunte Wright

Demonstrators march in Washington, D.C. to protest police violence after the death of Daunte Wright

Protesters took to the streets in Washington, D.C. to protest police violence on Saturday night

A temporary restraining order was filed to prevent police from arresting or harming journalists.

'Following feedback from media, and in light of a recent temporary restraining order (TRO) filed in federal court, MSP will not photograph journalists or their credentials,' the Minnesota State Patrol said in a statement.

There have been no reports of incidents involving members of the media on Saturday night at this point.

According to the Washington Post, several protesters were arrested on Saturday night. It's unclear why they were arrested, as the protest of about a hundred was winding to a close.

Earlier in the day, there were peaceful protests across the nation, including Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia.

According to NBC Philadelphia, crowds in that city walked through City Center towards City Hall peacefully in a protest that lasted around five hours.

Nevertheless, some businesses did board up and 1,000 National Guard troops were preemptively deployed.

Police bicycles are seen on the street following a march in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night

Following sporadic clashes on Friday night, there have been no reports of violence early on Saturday night in Washington DC

Black Lives Matter activists raise their fists in solidarity during a rally against police brutality in front of the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio
Regional

CorCom rubbishes report of attacking Myanmar refugees

Correspondent IMPHAL, APR 18 | Publish Date: 4/18/2021 12:31:03 PM IST

Co-ordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella group of seven Manipurs valley based armed factions, Sunday rubbished the report about Myanmar military using North East rebels to attack refugees.

The report by IANS, widely published by media houses, quoted senior Indian intelligence officials that the local Tatmadaw (military) commanders have struck a deal with Manipuri rebel groups, UNLF and PLA, to attack refugees fleeing Myanmar into India following the February 1 coup. In turn, the report stated that Tatmadaw assured the rebels that they would not attack their bases inside Sagaing.

Terming it as a move to defame them, CorCom in a statement said it was not a new thing on the part of India to use news agencies in spreading false propagandas against WESEA based groups struggling for regaining lost sovereignty of the region.

It further accused Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) of playing a role in spreading the false propagandas. IANS has a history of spreading fake news on its platform and several instances of fake news has been documented by AltNews, it alleged.

CorCom further alleged that, despite strong protest from various sections of the society, the Assam Rifles had prevented persecuted Myanmar nationals from entering Manipur at the Indo-Myanmar border.

It also pointed out that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations for Human Rights have, in separate statements, urged the neighbouring countries to provide food and shelters to the persecuted men, women and children of the country, it said.

International laws are also mandated to protect the international refugees by all countries by giving them food and shelters until the crisis in the country ends.

But, despite being aware of these, CorCom alleged that India, by breaking UNs provisions and international refugee protocols, forcibly pushed back the Myanmarese nationals seeking asylum.

On the contrary, CorCom said they were trying to blame the Manipur groups and defame them with false propagandas.

The CorCom asserted that the present crisis in Myanmar is an internal issue of the country, and there was no reason for them and people of Manipur to interfere, adding that the groups struggling for regaining the lost freedom of Manipur were not mercenaries that can be bought or hired with money.
She's a judge on Channel 10's popular cooking show MasterChef Australia alongside Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo.

But on Friday, Melissa Leong, 39, admitted she struggles to enjoy her fame because she likes to keep her life private.

'I do a job that's public [but] I don't understand the fascination with anything other than what I do for work. I don't understand why people want to know more than that to be honest,' the 39-year-old told the Herald Sun.

'My job is public but my life isn't': MasterChef judge Melissa Leong (pictured) has revealed why she keeps her life private and admitted she struggles to enjoy her fame

'I live a very straight forward life and my job is public, my life isn't. That's a very clear delineation I've made from the beginning and will always tread that line.'

Melissa also admitted that the 'trivial fluffier parts of being in a high profile job' never appealed to her.

'I believe in being able to reserve things to yourself. That's the way I was brought up,' she said.

'I do a job that's public. I don't understand the fascination with anything other than what I do for work. I don't understand why people want to know more than that to be honest,' she said

Melissa and co-stars Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo replaced veteran judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston on MasterChef in April last year.

At the time, Melissa said it's a 'great privilege' to have been the first female judge on the cooking show.

In an interview with News Corp Australia, she said: 'I think if you're going to be the first female judge ever, then wear it with pride, [and] wear it with confidence.'

'It's a great privilege to be taking this role, for sure,' she continued.

New judges! Melissa and her co-stars Andy Allen and Jock Zonfrillo replaced veteran judges George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston on MasterChef in April last year

Meanwhile, fans are eagerly awaiting season 13 of MasterChef, which is set to premiere on Monday.

The top 12 contestants were recently spotted together out and about in Melbourne, ahead of the highly anticipated debut.

MasterChef Australia will premiere Monday April 19 at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Prime Minister Florin Citu asked Minister of the Interior Lucian Bode to fast-track the investigation into the case of a Pitesti man who died while being evacuated by the police from a pub terrace, pointing out that the culprits must be held accountable.

"I had a discussion with Mr. Bode and I asked for a very fast investigation and I told him that the culprits must be held accountable. It is my understanding that he is dealing with the case. I don't have all the information at this moment," Citu said on Sunday after participating in the meeting of the National Intervention Management and Coordination Center in Ciolpani.

A man went into cardiorespiratory arrest and died on Friday while being evacuated by police from a pub terrace in Pitesti, where a fire had broken out. A post-mortem found that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia.
Brad Pitt looked to erase a pretty boy image earlier in his career with a role in the gritty 1993 film Kalifornia.

In a clip from an upcoming E! True Hollywood Story about the Oscar-winner, Kalifornia director Dominic Sena and others explained the dynamics of Pitt's early career after his breakout role as a handsome hustler in the 1991 hit Thelma & Louise.

Cult of Celebrity author Cooper Lawrence told the outlet about the newfound spotlight on his career and bachelorhood Pitt faced in the early 90s.

Career path: Brad Pitt looked to erase a pretty boy image earlier in his career with a role in the gritty 1993 film Kalifornia

'Suddenly he became somebody who was constantly on the cover of magazines,' Lawrence said, 'and everybody wanted to know about his social life and who he was dating.'

Kalifornia director Dominic Sena explained the chain of events that led the actor, now 57, to take on a rougher role in the film as Early Grayce to change his career arc.

'He had just finished A River Runs Through It and he felt between that and Thelma & Louise, he was concerned about being typecast as a pretty boy,' the filmmaker said. 'He just said he was looking for something completely different and I thought, "Boy have I got a role for you."'

Sena said he 'met with Brad' and 'just loved his take on the character,' adding, 'I knew he was the guy' for the role.

Details: In an upcoming E! True Hollywood Story about the Oscar-winner, Kalifornia director Dominic Sena and others explained the dynamics of Pitt's early career after his breakout role as a handsome hustler in the 1991 hit Thelma & Louise

Pitt appeared in the film with then-girlfriend Juliette Lewis, which Sena said also played into the dynamic of the movie

Pitt appeared in the film with David Duchovny and then-girlfriend Juliette Lewis, which Sena said also played into the dynamic of the movie.

'Considering they were in the middle of a relationship, I thought it could either be wonderful or it could be terrible,' said the filmmaker, who has also directed movies including 2001's Swordfish and 2000's Gone in 60 Seconds. 'But Ive got to tell you, it was a joy.

He continued: 'All of this sort of interactive stuff between them felt real. They were just into one another and it was pretty all encompassing. Brad Pitt arrived in the morning, went into the trailer, and he came out as Early Grayce and that was that.'

Pitt would go on to play a number of unconventional roles in the 90s following his grisly turn in Kalifornia, including Jeffrey Goines in the 1995 thriller 12 Monkeys and Tyler Durden in the 1999 classic Fight Club.

Pitt's ex E.G. Daily described the dynamics in seeing Pitt's career on the ascent

Eureka! Pitt won his first acting Academy Award for his efforts in Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

Pitt ran into the 'Pretty Boy' issue as recently as three years ago, in his Oscar-winning turn as Cliff Booth in the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood. Booth was a sidekick/stunt double for fading actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the film, who was based on Burt Reynolds' longtime stunt double Hal Needham.

The late Reynolds, who died at 82 in September of 2018, came up with a line referring to Pitt's looks that made it into a key scene in the movie, Tarantino told Sight and Sound magazine in 2019.

In the film, amid a confrontation between Pitt's Booth and Bruce Lee (plated by Mike Moh), Lee said, 'Youre kinda pretty for a stunt guy.'

Tarantino told the magazine, 'I did not come up with that Burt Reynolds read the script and he knows a lot of stunt guys. And Burt said, "So Brad Pitt is playing the stunt guy?" And I said, "Yeah." And Burt says, "You gotta have somebody say, 'Youre kinda pretty for a stunt guy.'"

Tarantino continued: 'And the thing is, Brad doesnt like making his looks a thing in a movie, but he couldnt say no to that, because it was Burt Reynolds' line! And watching Brad grin and bear it is really great. Because he doesnt really dig it. But the fact that Burt Reynolds came up with it - he cant say s***!'
The worlds largest evangelical prison ministry, Prison Fellowship, has teamed up with popular artists in Christian music, including Grammy Award-winning rapper Lecrae, in its annual effort to highlight the month of April as Second Chance Month.

Prison Fellowship, an organization that has offered hope, restoration and healing for prisoners, their families, and victims for more than 40 years, seeks to bring light to the restrictions and stigmas associated with incarceration as many ex-prisoners are doing their best to turn their lives around.

Today, there are 44,000 documented social stigmas and legal restrictions limiting ex-prisoners access to education, jobs, housing, and other things they need to reach their full potential, said Prison Fellowship Senior Vice President for Advocacy & Church Mobilization, Heather Rice-Minus, in an interview with The Christian Post. We use Second Chance Month to raise awareness about these barriers and unlock brighter futures for people with a criminal record.

She said the organization seeks to help reduce the number of restrictions and stigmas by supporting those who have paid their debt to society live up to their full potential.

Source:The Christian Post
The United States has deported a Rwandan woman who lied about her role in the country's genocide to obtain American citizenship.

Beatrice Munyenyezi was stripped of her U.S. citizenship and jailed for 10 years in 2013, after she was found guilty by a court of misrepresenting material facts when she secured the naturalization.

A US judge found she 'was actively involved' in the killing of Tutsis.

She then lost her bid for a new trial in March and was on Friday deported to the East African nation, where she now faces seven charges related to the 1994 genocide.

Munyenyezi is accused of crimes including murder and complicity in rape, according to Rwandan investigators. She will be detained as investigations continue and her case sent to prosecutors, The New Times reports.

Thierry Murangira, spokesman for the Rwanda Bureau of Investigation, said her crimes occurred as she was manning a road block in the southern city of Butare.

Munyenyezi denied accusations of involvement in the genocide during her US trial. She did not speak to waiting journalists as Rwandan police took her into custody when she arrived.

During the genocide between April and July of 1994, some 800,000 people were slaughtered, mainly from the ethnic Tutsi minority but also moderate Hutus.

Beatrice Munyenyezi, right, walks towards a detainee van under the escort of the Rwandan police at the Kigali International Airport in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, on Friday

Beatrice Munyenyezi was stripped of her U.S. citizenship and jailed for 10 years in 2013, after she was found guilty by a court of misrepresenting material facts when she secured the naturalization. A US judge found she 'was actively involved' in the killing of Tutsis. She is pictured Friday in Rwanda after she was deported by the US

In the US, Munyenyezi was convicted of lying about her role as a commander of one of the notorious roadblocks where Tutsis were singled out for slaughter.

She denied affiliation with any political party, despite the leadership role of her husband, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, in the extremist Hutu militia party.

Munyenyezi fled to Nairobi, Kenya, with a young daughter in July 1994 in the waning days of the genocide. She gave birth to twin girls there four months later.

She entered the United States as a refugee and settled in Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city.

There she got a $13-an-hour job working for the city housing authority and earned an associate's degree in college.

She financed a comfortable lifestyle through mortgages, loans and credit cards, but filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and had about $400,000 in debt discharged.

Beatrice Munyenyezi leaves the Federal Court in Concord in 2012. Munyenyezi, who served a 10-year sentence in federal prison for lying about her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide to obtain U.S. citizenship and lost her bid for a new trial has been deported to Rwanda

A Tutsi survivor of the genocide in Rwanda lies in his bed at Gahini hospital on May 11, 1994

Her husband, Ntahobali, and his mother were convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes of violence and are serving life sentences.

Both were deemed to be high-ranking members of the Hutu militia party, which orchestrated the attacks on Tutsis.

U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe, who sentenced her, said Munyenyezi 'was not a mere spectator.'

He added, 'I find this defendant was actively involved, actively participated, in the mass killing of men, women and children simply because they were Tutsis.'

Munyenyezi denied affiliation with any political party, despite the leadership role of her husband, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, pictured, in the extremist Hutu militia party

McAuliffe acknowledged that Munyenyezi led a crime-free and productive life since her arrival in New Hampshire, but said it was a life lived under false pretenses.

Munyenyezi lost her latest court battle in March, when the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal district judge's rejection of her petition challenging how the jury was instructed during her trial in federal court in New Hampshire.

Her lawyer, Richard Guerriero, confirmed in an email Saturday that Munyenyezi had been deported to Rwanda. She arrived Friday and was handed over to Rwandan authorities, according to state-run media there.

'Her deportation means a lot in terms of justice delivery to genocide victims,' said Thierry Murangira, spokesperson for the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, according to The New Times.

Munyenyezi had requested a new trial based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision that came in 2017, well after her sentencing, and limited the governments ability to strip citizenship from immigrants who lied during the naturalization process.

She alleged that the jury was given inaccurate instructions on her criminal liability. A judge denied her request, saying that even if the instruction fell short, the error was harmless.

A Rwandan worker lays the remains of humans in Kigali, Thursday April 6, 2000. The survivors of Rwanda's 1994 genocide that left more that 500,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead excavated mass graves throughout the nation, to give them a decent burial

As part of her appeal, Munyenyezi's trial lawyers, who are now New Hampshire superior court judges, said in court documents that they would have presented Munyenyezis case differently if the U.S. Supreme Court decision had been law during her trial.

They added that they believe if the jury had been instructed based on the court decision, 'the verdict may have been different.'

'Having served her sentence and lost her appeal, she was removed from the country,' Guerriero said in a statement. 'It is possible a further challenge to her conviction may be filed despite her removal.'
New Delhi, April 18 : Anybody in the country who is in dire need of some help, be it the requirement for plasma or medicine, can approach Youth Congress President Srinivas B.V., who is ready to help even in the middle of the night.

The Youth Congress has received about 50,000 requests in the last one week for help on social media from different parts of the country. Srinivas and his team has helped around 15,000 people across the country so far.

Srinivas said, "We are getting requests from arranging plasma to oxygen cylinders to getting admitted in the hospitals, our volunteers are reaching them and helping the people. Earlier, we used to provide injections too but now it has been banned." He said, "Our volunteers are also donating plasma and also convincing people to donate to help the needy." Today also he has helped a person, who was in need of oxygen and a hospital bed. He got this request from a media person, whose son's oxygen level had dropped drastically.

This is not the first time the Youth Congress president has helped the people during the lockdown, he had helped people reach home and had booked vehicles for the migrants during the lockdown.

Srinivas said, "This is all about what his party stands for and it is under the guidance of Rahul Gandhi that the team is working for the people." He also organised a 'langar' service during the migrant crisis.

The Congress leader alleged that the government failed to plan properly after the pandemic first hit the country last year.

Amid the blame game among the political leaders over the Covid crisis, the Youth Congress team is quietly working to provide help to the people who are in distress. However, there is a need for more people to come forward and help the needy, says Srinivas.

India has reported 2,61,500 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike ever, pushing the country's overall Covid tally to 1,47,88,109, according to the Health Ministry data released on Sunday. A total of 1,501 people died of Covid in the last 24 hours, taking the country's death toll to 1,77,150 so far.
Spanish police have dismantled an illegal workshop that was using 3D printers to produce guns in Tenerife on the Canary Islands.

Pictures released on Sunday show officers carrying out a joint operation with the Spanish tax agency in September 2020.

Announcing the results of the investigation on Sunday, police said the raid led to the arrest of one person.

Officers confiscated two printers, digital material used to produce arms components, several weapons and objects linked to white supremacy.

Authorities also highlighted the seizure of over 30 books, including what they described as a "terrorist manual".

The investigation began online, when authorities detected movements by one person to acquire arms components and possible explosive substances.

According to the police report, 3D printing of weapons is part of a new emerging threat in illegal arms trafficking in Europe.

The same report refers to a terrorist attack in Germany, in October 2019, where a Jewish synagogue was attacked with a rifle fabricated via a 3D printer.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
A Minneapolis Police officers unrolls caution tape at a crime scene on June 16, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

A 61-year-old Minnesota man has been charged with assaulting a store employee and a police officer.

Police say Luke Oeltjenbruns attacked an employee with lumber over the store's mask policy.

Oeltjenbruns then dragged a police officer from his truck and struck him with a hammer, police said.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Related: Watch officer yell 'Taser!' before firing gun at Daunte Wright

A Minnesota man accused of assaulting a store employee over a mask dispute led police on a slow-speed chase, then dragged an officer hanging from his vehicle before striking him in the head with a hammer, according to police and a criminal complaint.

A statement from the Hutchinson Police Department said the violence began April 14 at a Menards home improvement store, where 61-year-old Luke Oeltjenbruns argued with an employee over the store's mask policy, then assaulted the staff member with "some lumber."

Police said from there, officers found Oeltjenbruns in a parking lot, but he led them on a "slow-speed pursuit" before eventually stopping at a red light while officers attempted to arrest him.

But a criminal complaint cited by the Minneapolis Star Tribune said when officers approached and told Oeltjenbruns he was at gunpoint, Oeltjenbruns responded that "he did not care and to shoot him."

Eventually, police officer Steven Sickmann warned Oeltjenbruns he would have to break the truck's window to forcibly arrest him, then stepped up onto the truck's running board and reached through the window.

The complaint said Oeltjenbruns "grabbed Officer Sickmann's right arm and closed the window on it," trapping the officer, before driving away and crashing into police cruisers until the officer managed to extricate himself.

A video circulating online and taken by a bystander appeared to show the officer reaching into the driver's side window of a white pickup truck, then becoming stuck as the truck reversed then sped off.

Story continues

Oeltjenbruns then tried to drive away again but was blocked off by police, according to the complaint. Sickmann tried to break Oeltjenbruns' window using a rescue hammer, but Oeltjenbruns wrestled the hammer away and struck Sickmann on the head.

The Hutchinson Police Department said Sickmann was taken to a hospital for his injuries and was in stable condition.

Oeltjenbruns was charged Friday with first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and fleeing a peace officer. According to the NBC affiliate KARE11, Oeltjenbruns' public defender said in a Friday court hearing that his client is a military veteran and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

McLeod County jail records show that Oeltjenbruns is being held in jail on $100,000 cash bail, or $500,000 bond.

Read the original article on Insider
ICTA and German company to collaborate on start-ups View(s):

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany recently initiated and facilitated the signing of a MOU between the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka and ENPACT e.V. in Berlin, Germany, which represents the Berlin Senates start-up initiative AsiaBerlin. This is with a view to fostering a strong bridge between Berlin, the start-up capital of Europe and Sri Lankas start-up ecosystem.

Mahinda B. Herath, Chief Executive Officer of ICTA and Jan Lachenmayer, Managing Director of ENPACT placed their signatures on the MOU in a virtual ceremony.

During the ceremony, Jayantha De Silva, Secretary to the Ministry of Technology of Sri Lanka, welcomed the MOU and highlighted some of the initiatives being implemented in the digital transformation journey of Sri Lanka, including the establishment of Techno Parks, across the island, as a part of the vision of the President, to build a technology-centric economy, according to a media release issued by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Germany.

ICTA Chairman Prof. Lalith Gamage briefed on the strategy of Sri Lanka to nurture the start-up and innovation ecosystems and emphasised that the MOU was a great initiative to share knowledge and encourage technology-focused investments, and related services.

Jan Lachenmayer, Managing Director of ENPACT welcomed the initiative by the Embassy to connect the relevant Sri Lankan agency for collaboration and expressed his confidence that the MOU will pave the way for greater collaboration for innovation and create opportunities for both parties.

The virtual ceremony, moderated by Aravinth Panch, AsiaBerlin Ambassador, was followed by a webinar on AgriTech and WaterTech, attended by around 60 participants, globally.

In the panel discussion moderated by Matthias Schmidt-Rex, Head of Corporate Innovation of enpact, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Germany Manori Unambuwe, highlighted the importance of technology infusion to the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka and the emphasis placed by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on this matter, in the countrys development agenda. Ambassador Unambuwe further stated that the MOU between ICTA and ENPACT was a significant milestone, to foster innovation and opportunities between both start-up ecosystems, especially in the fields of Agritech and WaterTech.

Dr.Rainer Seider, Deputy Head of Division for Energy, Digitalization and Innovation of the Berlin Senate, while welcoming the participants, thanked the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germanys endeavours in promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Mike Richardson, AsiaBerlin Ambassador, CTO and co-founder at Vitreo; Ronnie Tan, Advisor at BASF; Christopher Aw, Pandsan Ventures of Singapore and Tunyawat Kasemsuwan, Director, Global Innovation at Thai Union Group of Thailand, presented business models and case studies of innovations by startups in the fields of agriculture and water. The participants held in-depth discussions during the virtual breakout sessions that followed.
The Australian governments program to help stranded Australians in financial distress has provided $29 million worth of funds to 3900 people, despite nearly 5000 people being assessed as vulnerable.

The Financial Assistance Hardship Program was announced by Foreign Minister Marise Payne in early September as a last resort for Australians stranded overseas who had exhausted their own funds. It offers both grants and loans of up to $2000 for emergency living costs for a single person and $5000 for a family of four, as well as grants and loans to pay for airfares back to Australia.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Saturday the department had paid out $29 million to 3900 people so far.

The Howard Springs quarantine facility in Darwin. Credit:Louise Radcliffe-Smith

The news comes as the United Nations Human Rights Committee made an interim ruling that the Australian government must facilitate and ensure the prompt return of two Australians who are arguing that caps on travel are a breach of international law.
The European coronavirus vaccination drive could catch up with Britain 'in the coming weeks' despite a slow start plagued by delays.

Europe's vaccine roll-out was condemned as 'unacceptably slow' by the World Health Organisation earlier this month, with leaders blaming delays for 'prolonging the pandemic'.

The roll-out is now finally taking off as the EU faces soaring infection rates - with some even suggesting the mass vaccination drive could soon rival the UK.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this week that the EU has administered 100 million doses, adding this is a 'milestone we can be proud of.'

Some 27 million Europeans are fully vaccinated, meaning the bloc has edged closer to its goal of having vaccinated 70 per cent of the adult population by the end of the summer.

More than 32 million Britons have received the first dose of a vaccine, and nine million have been administered both jabs.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this week that the EU has administered 100 million vaccine doses, adding this is a 'milestone we can be proud of'

Some 27 million Europeans are fully vaccinated, meaning the bloc has edged closer to its goal of having vaccinated 70 per cent of the adult population by the end of the summer

But medics in Germany are currently administering around 200,000 more daily vaccines than the British, the Telegraph reported.

The country set a new national record on Wednesday with 738,501 jabs given in a day. This compared to 547,465 jabs administered in the UK.

Around 18.5 per cent of Germans have now received the first dose of a vaccine - an increase of 12 per cent from April 1. Some 6.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

In France, more than 450,000 jabs are now regularly given out per day following the launch of 40 mass vaccination sites.

However, the nation became the eighth to pass 100,000 Covid deaths this week, with an average of 300 people succumbing to the virus per day.

Elsewhere, in Italy, medics have continued to consistently give around 200,000 jabs per day since the end of March.

The vaccination drive got off to a slow start in Europe after the bloc failed to order enough doses and grant vaccinations swift approval.

In France, more than 450,000 jabs are now regularly given out per day following the launch of 40 mass vaccination sites. Pictured: President Emmanuel Macron

More than 32 million Britons have received the first dose of a vaccine, and nine million have been administered both jabs

At the start of April, only 10 per cent of Europe's population had received a first dose, compared to nearly 60 per cent of Britons.

However, despite a swift start, the roll-out of Covid vaccines to new patients in the UK has slowed to a crawl in comparison to how it performed in March.

An average of 91,000 people are getting their first dose each day now after the roll-out peaked at just over 500,000 per day in the middle of last month.

The roll-out itself has managed to keep moving quickly, reaching an average 462,000 people per day over the last week, but most doses now are boosters.

A bottleneck in supplies and a need to give second jabs to millions of people who got their first in January have meant the roll-out has lost momentum.

Figures from the NHS show that 117,835 people got their first vaccine dose on Wednesday, which was up from just 59,905 on Monday but significantly lower than the one-day record of 614,930 on March 19.

The focus has switched now to second doses, with four times as many of those being administered each day  an average of 346,000.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock and NHS bosses warned at the end of March that April would be a month dedicated to second doses and preserving supplies.

Although the introduction of a third vaccine, made by Moderna, has allowed some newcomers to get their first jab  the programme opened up to 45 to 49-year-olds this week  Pfizer and AstraZeneca supplies for newcomers are running low.

Medical chiefs said in a warning on March 17 that, for four weeks or more, 'volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained'.

Health chiefs have known for months that April would be the month second jab demand started to kick in.

Everyone must get the second dose of their Covid vaccine about 12 weeks after the first, according to UK Government policy.

A total of 9.2million people were vaccinated with at least one dose by the end of January, meaning that the same amount must have had both jabs by the end of April.

So far, 8.5million people have had both doses.

Because of the need to get through these people, all supplies of Pfizer's vaccine and most of those from AstraZeneca have been preserved for follow-up jabs for these people.

This was planned for, as was a dip in supply after the initial massive deliveries from manufacturers that also have commitments to other countries.

But the UK had hoped it would be able to steam ahead with its plans to vaccine younger people using a batch of five million extra doses of the Oxford jab due to arrive from India, as well as the first lots of Moderna jabs.

That India delivery was held up, however, putting the roll-out on the back foot.

When that was announced last month NHS clinics were sent a letter that said the number of people getting first vaccine doses would be much lower in April.

Matt Hancock said at the time that the roll-out to under-50s might have to be paused to make sure there were enough supplies to get through all the second doses that needed doing.

He said in a Downing Street press conference: 'Were on track to offer a first dose to everyone in priority groups one to nine by April 15.

'While we deliver on that commitment, we also want to ensure that this offer reaches everyone in groups one to nine.

'At the same time as opening up offers of vaccinations to all those who are 50 or above, we are going to do whatever it takes to reach all those in the most vulnerable groups who havent come forward yet before we move onto the next cohort, which is people in their 40s.

'Before we forge ahead I want us to be confident that weve done everything we can to protect those most in need of protection and we will do all we can and do everything necessary to deliver the supplies that are contractually committed to protecting people in this country.'

The Government said it successfully hit the target of offering vaccines to everyone over the age of 50, with a long-term health condition, or who was a health or social care worker, by April 15.

This week it expanded the offer of first vaccine doses to people aged between 45 and 49.

Mr Hancock said the roll-out would expand to everyone in their forties 'in line with supplies'.
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Merck (MSD) has said that it has seen encouraging results in a clinical trial of an anti-viral pill to treat Covid-19 early in the diseases course, but the drug has failed to help hospitalised patients.

The company and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said they will stop Phase 3 trials on patients who have already been hospitalized with the disease.

The final data from the Phase 3 portion (Part 2) of the MOVe-OUT study is estimated to be available in September/ October 2021.

Based on a planned interim analysis of data from the Phase 2, dose-finding portion (Part 1) of two ongoing placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 trials evaluating molnupiravir administered twice a day for five days in outpatients (MOVe-OUT) and hospitalised patients (MOVe-IN) with Covid-19, and from a previously completed Phase 2a dose-ranging study in outpatients, the decision has been made to proceed with the Phase 3 portion (Part 2) of MOVe-OUT in outpatients with Covid-19, evaluating the 800 mg dose of molnupiravir twice daily.

Data from MOVe-IN indicate that molnupiravir is unlikely to demonstrate a clinical benefit in hospitalised patients, who generally had a longer duration of symptoms prior to study entry; therefore, the decision has been made not to proceed to Phase 3.

We continue to make progress in the clinical development of our antiviral candidate molnupiravir. Data from the dose-finding portion of these studies are consistent with the mechanism of action and provide meaningful evidence for the antiviral potential of the 800 mg dose, said Dr Roy Baynes, senior vice president and head of global clinical development, chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories. Based on the findings of this study we are advancing a Phase 3 trial programme in non-hospitalized patients that strategically leverages our large network of clinical sites to enroll appropriate patients globally.

We are pleased that molnupiravir continues to show promise as a potential treatment for non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19, said Wendy Holman, Chief Executive Officer, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

Data from Ridgeback Bios EIDD-2801-2003 study (MK-4482-006) coupled with Mercks MK-4482-002 study provide compelling evidence for the antiviral activity of molnupiravir. We look forward to the initiation and completion of the Phase 3 portion of the MOVe-OUT study.

MOVe-OUT is an ongoing Phase 2/3, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-site study evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of orally administered molnupiravir in non-hospitalised participants with Covid-19 confirmed using polymerase chain reaction.

The primary efficacy objective of MOVe-OUT is to evaluate the efficacy of molnupiravir compared to placebo as assessed by the percentage of patients who are hospitalised and/or die from the time of randomisation through Day 29. Part 1 of MOVe-OUT enrolled a total of 302 participants, with symptom onset within seven days prior to randomization, who were assigned to receive molnupiravir 200 mg (75), 400 mg (77), or 800 mg (76), or placebo (74).

The percentage of patients who were hospitalised and/or died in Part 1 of the MOVe-OUT study was lower in the combined molnupiravir-treated groups versus the placebo arm; the number of events reported are not sufficient to provide a meaningful measure of clinical effect.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs from patients in both MOVe-OUT and MOVe-IN using quantitative and qualitative polymerase chain reaction, an exploratory endpoint, indicated that molnupiravir inhibits replication of the virus, as demonstrated by a greater decrease from baseline in viral RNA compared to placebo at Day 5 and Day 10, and by a larger proportion of participants with undetectable viral RNA at Day 10 and Day 15 following the end of treatment. The largest overall magnitude of antiviral effect was observed in the 800 mg dose compared with the 200 mg and 400 mg doses. These differences in virology endpoints were more pronounced in participants enrolled < 5 days following symptom onset.

Among 299 patients who received at least one dose of study intervention in MOVe-OUT, 6.2% (14/225) of those receiving molnupiravir and 6.8% (5/74) of those receiving placebo reported drug-related adverse events. In MOVe-IN, of 293 patients who received at least one dose of study intervention, 11.0% (24/218) of those treated with molnupiravir and 21.3% (16/75) of those receiving placebo reported drug-related adverse events. To date, safety and laboratory data from MOVe-IN and MOVe-OUT provide no evidence for unexpected findings or trends observed at any of the doses studied. In both trials, no deaths were considered drug-related by the investigators, and there were no drug-related adverse events that led to discontinuation in participants who received molnupiravir. Interim results from both MOVe-IN and MOVe-OUT, including virology findings and pharmacokinetic analyses, have been shared with regulatory authorities and will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

Merck currently anticipates that, pending favorable results from MOVe-OUT, the earliest possible submission for an Emergency Use Authorization for molnupiravir will be in the second half of 2021. Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics plan to share further findings from the ongoing molnupiravir development program with regulatory agencies as they become available.

In addition, Merck plans to initiate a clinical program to evaluate molnupiravir for post- exposure prophylaxis in the second half of 2021. - TradeArabia News Service
India on Sunday reported 2,61,500 new Covid-19 cases and 1,501 deaths in last 24 hours. Amid the Covid-19 spike, medical oxygen, ICU, Remdesivir, and bed facilities are all in short supply in many states.

According to data from the Union Health Ministry, India recorded 2,61,500 new Covid-19 cases and 1,501 deaths in the last 24 hours even after many states observe a weekend lockdown. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Saturday that the widening gap between daily new cases and daily new recoveries indicates that the infection is advancing at a much faster pace than recoveries with steadily rising active cases, citing the alarming increase in the daily number of active cases and a rapid growth of 10.2 percent in the number of deaths.

Medical oxygen, Remdesivir, and bed facilities are all in short supply in many states. The states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh are majorly struggling with an increase in cases. The COVID-19 situation in Delhi has become very serious and worrying, according to CM Arvind Kejriwal, who also said that oxygen, Remdesivir, and tocilizumab for patients are in short supply. The government announced on Thursday that it would import 50,000 metric tonnes of medical oxygen to ensure supplies to states.

Following concerns about a Remdesivir shortage and high price, pharmaceutical firms have finally decided to lower the price in order to increase the availability of Remdesivir injection, after the government intervention. Meanwhile, The government of Yogi Adityanath has decided to use the National Security Act (NSA) to convict three people who were arrested in Kanpur with 265 Remdesivir injection vials.

Read More: For 3rd consecutive day, India records over 2L Covid-19 cases in a single-day spike

Maharashtra Government accused the Central government of not providing assistance with the Remdesivir. The Centre, on the other hand, said on Saturday that it has been assisting state authorities in obtaining the antiviral drug in every way possible.
Matthew McConaughey could be in with a chance of becoming Governor of Texas - that is, of course, if he decided to run for the prestigious position.

Even though McConaughey's name is not on any ballot, a survey found voters looked upon the Oscar-winning actor favorably.

McConaughey has teased political pundits and TV talk show hosts that he might enter politics in his home state.

A recently released poll from the University of Texas found showed 45% of voters would support McConaughey over Abbott if the actor decided to run for office. The pair are pictured together here

Oscar-winning Texan Matthew McConaughey could win should he run for Governor of Texas in a race against incumbent Greg Abbott

The poll was conducted by University of Texas-Tyler and the Dallas Morning News

And the odds are pretty good for the Dallas Buyers Club actor. Out of more than 1,000 registered voters, 45 percent said they would vote for him if given the chance.

The odds were good particularly when compared to the incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott with just 33% promising the Governor their vote, according to a new poll conducted by The Dallas Morning News and The University of Texas Tyler.

When looking at individual parties, only 30% said they'd vote for McConaughey with 56% opting for Abbott.

McConaughey has the edge over Abbott among Democrats and overall among Texas voters

In Democrat circles he commands a far more certain majority with 66% liking the sound of a Governor McConaughey.

McConaughey has openly talked of the possibility of running but always deferred saying 'it would be up to the people' on whether he'd run.

Politically speaking, McConaughey, who hails from Uvalde, Texas, west of San Antonio, has kept his leanings pretty close to his chest.

He has never said either way whether he would run as a Republican or a Democrat.

'I'm not teasing the idea  I'm actually looking at the idea and giving it serious consideration,' McConaughey told CNBC.

'I have a new chapter for myself, personally in my life. I believe it is in some sort of leadership role. I don't know what that role is. I don't know my category. We've been talking about the 'why' of leadership and even, I would say, we need some more good leaders.

'We've gotten to this spot where, 'You voice your opinion and it opposes mine. My gut reaction  our gut reaction  is 'Oh, you must be saying that at the exclusion of mine' If I say I'm a believer, someone will say 'Oh, you must not believe in science.' Well, I didn't say that, I'm a believer and I believe in sciencetwo different opinions can exist at the same time,' he said in a March interview.

In the past, McConaughey has said the 'left' of the U.S. can go too far in their approach, but he has also spoken out against the far-right saying they can be just as extreme.

'Matthew McConaughey gets a huge boost from tremendous name recognition and recognition for what he does to help Texans and add to the celebration of the state's successes,' UT-Tyler political scientist Mark Owens, who directed the poll said.

'Most of our survey respondents know his story, but many are waiting to see how he opens his next chapter.'

One voter told the news that McConaughey reminds him of former President Trump in the fact he is a political outsider.

Austrian-born actor and retired bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011. He is pictured here in 2020

Ronald Reagan was also a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975. He is pictured with First Lady Nancy Reagan in 1984

'He's popular, he's colorful, and he's not afraid to tell it like it is,' said Mark Harp, 47, who works in construction.

'He has some of the same qualities of Donald Trump, and that will play well in Texas.'

If McConaughey did secure the governorship, he wouldn't be the first film star to delve into politics.

Austrian-born actor and retired bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011.

And prior to his presidency, Ronald Reagan was also a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
Image via Getty/LAURA BUCKMAN

A shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin has left three people dead and two gravely injured.

CNN reports that an unknown suspect opened fire at the Somers House Tavern around 12:40 a.m. on Sunday, with gunfire erupting inside and outside the establishment. The shooter hasnt been identified yet, according to Sheriff David G. Beth.

Beth said, It sounds like one person got removed from the establishment and possibly came back a short time later and began shooting. We dont believe this was a random act, the sheriff added. I dont believe that the people in this area are in harms way because of the suspect still not being captured.

It still isnt known why the person was forced out of the tavern or if there was only one shooter or more. Around 100 officers from various agencies were called to help scour the area trying to come up with any video footage and anything that can help us at the scene right now, Beth said.

Mass shootings have once again gripped the nation in 2021, with there being at least 47 incidents since March 16 and 147 since the beginning of the year. According to Forbes, the U.S. saw 610 mass shootings in 2020, the most of any year since the Gun Violence Archive started keeping track in 2014.

Last year also saw the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, who was seriously injured after police officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake in the back seven times.

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Vijayawada: Senior officials of the AP commercial taxes department (CTD) have gone all out to safeguard the interests of Telugu Desam MLC P. Ashok Babu, a bitter critic of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Ignoring all evidence available on record, the CTD gave a clean chit to Ashok Babu in a Lokayukta case. State GST commissioner Peeyush Kumar even wrote to its registrar to drop further action on a complaint filed against the MLC.

Making things more embarrassing for the ruling dispensation, the CTD on Saturday illegally transferred the complainant in the case, B. Meher Kumar, GST officer and president of the AP Commercial Taxes NGOs Association. Meher approached the Lokayukta against the TD MLC after the YSR Congress took the reins of the government.

Transfer of the complainant along with four others is a clear case of witch hunting because he questioned the previous inquiry conducted by senior officials into Ashok Babus case and approached the Lokayukta against them, alleged K.R. Suryanarayana, president of the AP Government Employees Association. The transfer of Meher Kumar and others to any district other than Krishna is a clear violation of the Presidential Order, he pointed out.

Inquiries revealed that Ashok Babu had applied for voluntary retirement just before filing his nomination paper as MLC during the Chandrababu Naidu regime. There were allegations about his wrong claims of education qualification and pending criminal cases but the then inquiry officer looked the other way and a gave clean chit to Ashok Babu, facilitating his retirement from service and contesting the Legislative Council elections.

Meher Kumar approached the Lokayukta stating that Ashok Babu had wrongly claimed that he was a graduate and had mentioned in his election affidavit his pending criminal cases while the department had concluded that there were no pending cases. Meher Kumar also produced evidence to establish that Ashok Babu was engaged in political activity including campaigning for the Congress against the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly elections.
Liberty University sues Jerry Falwell Jr. for $10 million in damages

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Liberty University has filed a lawsuit against its former president and chancellor, Jerry Falwell Jr., seeking $10 million in damages over breach of contract and other allegations.

The Virginia-based evangelical Christian school filed the suit against Falwell on Thursday in the Lynchburg Circuit Court, accusing the former school head of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and statutory conspiracy.

The complaint alleges that Falwell created a well-resourced exit strategy from his role via a 2019 employment agreement while not telling Liberty officials about his personal scandals.

Of specific note was the revelations last year about Falwells wife having an extramarital affair with a former pool boy named Giancarlo Granda, which eventually led to Falwell's resignation.

Despite his clear duties as an executive and officer at Liberty, Falwell Jr. chose personal protection, stated the lawsuit, as reported by The Associated Press.

[Falwell had a] fiduciary duty to disclose Grandas extortive actions, and to disclose the potential for serious harm to Liberty. [Falwell] furthered the conspiracy of silence and negotiated a 2019 Employment Agreement that contained a higher salary from Liberty.

Last August, Falwell resigned from his position as president and chancellor of Liberty University following the highly-publicized Granda scandal, and other controversies.

After Falwell immediately resigned, Libertys Executive Committee announced that they were hiring a forensic firm to investigate all facets of Liberty University operations during Jerry Falwell Jr.s tenure as president, including but not limited to financial, real estate, and legal matters.

Later in 2020, Falwell filed a lawsuit against Liberty, claiming that the school had harmed his reputation by jumping to conclusions about the claims made against my character.

But last December, Falwell dropped the suit, stating that he was going to take a time out from my litigation against Liberty University," but assured he would continue to keep all options on the table for an appropriate resolution to the matter.

News of Libertys legal complaint against Falwell comes not long after Falwells son, Trey, was removed from his position as vice president of support services at Liberty.

Liberty spokesperson Scott Lamb told Politico earlier this week that Jerry Falwell III, also known as Trey, was no longer employed by the university.

However, Lamb declined to tell Politico about the reasons for Treys removal and if Falwells son, Wesley, or his daughter-in-law were still employed with the university.
Westerfield Working on Pre-Trial Release Bill

By West Kentucky Star Staff

HOPKINSVILLE - Western Kentucky legislators are among several working on a bill that could be introduced in 2022 relating to the criminal justice system.At a League of Women Voters event Saturday in Hopkinsville, Senator Whitney Westerfield of Crofton said he and Representative Jason Petrie of Elkton have been working on a pre-trial release bill for at least the last 18 months.He said the bill addresses low-level offenders who have been charged but haven't been convicted, so they are still considered not guilty.Westerfield said before the pandemic hit, Kentucky had 7,300 people in pre-trial confinement, and many of them struggle with substance use or behavioral health disorders that have not been addressed.He said they are seeking input and assistance from several agencies as the bill is written."We're talking to behavioral health providers, substance abuse care providers, correctional folks, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and importantly, vocational folks and people in the trades," Westerfield said. "We've included the chamber (of commerce), the labor unions are involved or are about to be, because the impactful thing that you can do to prevent recidivism is to make sure someone, when they get out, they have a job."Westerfield said he's also working with Representative C. Ed Massey of Boone County on the legislation.On the Net:
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Iraq may face severe water shortages

G7 countries sign deal to tax largest multinational companies

1st round of debates of presidential candidates takes place in Iran

6 die and 5 go missing in Sri Lankan flooding

Powerful blast thunders in Somalia capital

A body found in Artsakh

Nearly 100 people killed in Burkina Faso

Acting PM: It is necessary to create professional army in Armenia

UN demands investigation amid discovery of mass grave of children at Canada school

Acting PM: Armenia is a paradise for business

ICRC representatives visit 6 captured Armenian soldiers

Pashinyan: An absolute record for Armenia has been set for number of registered jobs

Civil Contract party holding fundraising evening

Nikol Pashinyan sends congratulatory message to Bashar al-Assad

South Korean air force chief resigns amid scandal over female sergeant suicide

Nikol Pashinyan visits morgue in Abovyan

Acting PM announces interference of external forces in electoral processes in Armenia

Pashinyan conducts procession in Abovyan

MO: Azerbaijanis carry out engineering work on territories without crossing Armenian border

8 security officials killed in Taliban attack in Afghanistan

Philip T. Reeker's visit to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia

Biden gives prosecutors more freedom to terminate immigration cases

93 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Armenia per day

Total of 1,557 bodies found in territories not controlled by Artsakh

Twitter launches paid subscription Twitter Blue

Robert Kocharyan: We are able to find solutions

Tennessee boat merchant willing to pay $ 100,000 to anyone who catches specially marked fish

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
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 16:39:30|Editor: huaxia

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People rally to protest against the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated radioactive wastewater in Fukushima Prefecture into the sea, in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China has expressed "grave concern" over Japan's decision to dump nuclear wastewater into the sea and urges the Japanese government to take a responsible attitude toward its own people and the international community, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said.

Despite opposition from its own people and doubts from the international community, the Japanese government unilaterally made the decision without fully consulting neighboring countries and the international community and without exhausting the means of safe disposal, the ministry told Xinhua.

"As a close neighbor of Japan and a stakeholder, we are seriously concerned about this decision," said a spokesperson with the ministry.

It is hoped that the Japanese government will conduct further in-depth study and deliberation of various means of safe disposal and discharge paths, release information in a comprehensive and timely manner, and make prudent decisions after full consultation with stakeholders, the spokesperson said.

The ministry also said there is a fundamental difference between the wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant after the accident and the liquid effluents from the normal operation of nuclear power plants in terms of their source, radionuclide type and difficulty of processing.

The ministry said it will closely follow the situation, carefully assess the possible impact on the marine ecology, strengthen the monitoring of marine radiation, and ensure the safety of China's marine environment. 
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This is the moment a World War Two-era plane made an emergency sea landing in the water off a busy Florida Beach.

The single-engine TBM Avenger is seen making a 'soft' landing in the shallow water south of Cocoa Beach in video filmed by a bystander.

Footage shows the plane swooping low before coming to a skidding halt in the ocean not far from where people were swimming, sending spray spurting into the air.

No one was injured in the incident, which came after the plane suffered a mechanical fault while taking part in the Cocoa Beach Air Show.

Footage shows the plane swooping low in shallow waters south of Cocoa Beach in Florida

Pictures taken after the landing show the plane floating in the water after the pilot safely got out.

'The TBM Avenger performing in the warbird parade had a mechanical issue and the pilot was able to bring the plane down close to the shore. Rescue Personnel were immediately on scene and the pilot is okay,' Cocoa Beach Air Show said in a statement reported by Florida Today.

The plane's propeller can be seen not working in a video filmed by onlooker Melanie Schrader.

'It looked like (the pilot) pulled up at the last moment and avoided any spectators, there were loads of people on the water, and then I saw him on top of the plane, it looked like he was okay,' she said.

'He was sputtering down the beach and was like ''Oh, he doesn't sound good'' and just started filming.'

The air show continued today.

No one was injured in the incident, which came after the plane suffered a mechanical fault while taking part in the Cocoa Beach Air Show

The plane comes to a skidding halt in the ocean not far from where people were swimming, sending spray spurting into the air

Pictures taken after the landing show the plane floating in the water after the pilot safely got out

The TBM Avenger is an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

It entered service in 1942, with pilots flying the model taking part in the Battle of Midway.

It's not the first WWII-era plane to have problems in recent years.

In 2019, seven people died and seven more injured when a B-17G Flying Fortress bomber went down at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.

The aircraft with 13 people aboard crashed on October 3 after encountering mechanical trouble on takeoff from Bradley International Airport.

Five passengers who had each paid $450 to fly aboard the aircraft, as well as the pilot and co-pilot, were killed while the others were left with serious burns.

The four-engine, propeller-driven Flying Fortress struggled to get into the air and slammed into a maintenance building at the airport near Hartford as the pilots circled back for a landing, officials and witnesses said at the time of the crash.

The TBM Avenger is an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Pictured is a video grab of the plane moments after landing not far from swimmers
The government has decided to invoke the provisions of stringent National Security Act (NSA) against three persons who were arrested in Kanpur, carrying 265 Remdesivir injection vials.

"The state government has instructed police to act tough against people who are black-marketing Covid-19 medicines," said a government spokesman.

Police commissioner Asim Arun said that no illegal activity would be tolerated in this time of crisis and would invite strictest punishment.

"It is a crime against humanity and we will invoke NSA against the three persons arrested with Remdesivir injections on Thursday," he said.

He further said that the state government was fully committed to facilitating easy availability of vials and other Covid-related medicines to its people.

Meanwhile, the STF sources said that they have been trying to crack the nexus to curb black- marketing of Covid vials. There were inputs that of the 265 Remdesivir injection vials were supposed to be supplied to local medicine dealers, besides Haryana resident Sachin Kumar.

"We are zeroing in on the local pharma distributors, and expecting an early breakthrough. It also came to light that the injections were sent to Kanpur resident Mohan Soni by one Apoorva Mukherjee of West Bengal, who is associated with a pharma company. As Mohan was supposed to take back his Rs one lakh from Apoorva, the latter instead had sent him vials against the cash," senior police official informed.

It may be recalled that the Kanpur unit of Special Task Force (STF) had, on Thursday, arrested three people with 265 Remdesivir injections meant for sale in black market.

Ramdesivir is a key medicine, used in the treatment of Taking advantage of the shortage, some people have been selling the vials at high prices.

DCP South Raveena Tyagi had stated that one Prashant Shukla of Naubasta's Pashupati Nagar and Baktauri Purwa resident Mohan Soni were earlier arrested.

--IANS

amita/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BOSTON -- Marwin Gonzalez made sure his first extra-base hit as a member of the Red Sox was one that counted.

Gonzalez hit the go-ahead home run for Boston on Sunday, breaking an eighth-inning tie with a solo shot off White Sox reliever Cody Heuer. The Red Sox beat Chicago, 7-4, in the opener of a four-game series at Fenway Park. Boston is now 10-4 this season and has won 10 of its last 11 games.

The White Sox struck first against Boston starter Nick Pivetta, who walked back-to-back hitters in the first before Jose Abreu (RBI double) and Yermin Mercedes (RBI groundout) gave Chicago a 2-0 lead. The Red Sox tied it up on sacrifice flies by Alex Verdugo and Rafael Devers in the third inning then took a 3-2 lead when Kike Hernandez drove in Kevin Plawecki with a single in the sixth.

Chicago took advantage of some sloppy defense a half-inning later, as Tim Anderson scored on a Yoan Moncada sacrifice fly after Plawecki airmailed Xander Bogaerts trying to throw him out on a stole base attempt at second base.

Gonzalez, who came to the plate hitless in three plate appearances, led off the eighth by driving a Heuer sinker into Bostons bullpen to put the Red Sox up, 4-3. Boston then broke things open a bit with three insurance runs as J.D. Martinez worked a bases loaded walk and Bogaerts added a two-run, ground-rule double on a blooper to right field.

Chicago climbed within three on an Adam Eaton RBI double in the ninth; Matt Barnes then retired got Moncada to secure the victory.

Pivetta, who was solid in his first two outings of the year, struggled with command, walking four and allowing four hits in just 3  innings. Bostons bullpen -- led by Matt Andriese (three innings, zero earned runs) and Adam Ottavino (struck out the side in order in the eighth) -- kept the ChiSox in check, allowing two runs in 5  frames.

Hernandez, Bogaerts have four-hit days

Hernandez and Bogaerts each had four hits for the Red Sox, who totaled 13 in the win. Hernandez was 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI and Bogaerts was 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

After starting the year going 11-for-51, Hernandez saw his average rise from .216 to .268 in one day. His last four-hit day came on Opening Day last season, when he went 4-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs for the Dodgers against the Giants.

Ottavino bounces back

Ottavino bounced back nicely after surrendering a walk-off hit to Max Kepler in Bostons loss to Minnesota on Wednesday afternoon. The righty -- who entered Saturday with a 9.82 ERA in five outings -- struck out all three batters he faced and tossed only 12 pitches. He got the win to improve to 2-1 on the year.

Doubleheader ahead on Sunday

The Red Sox and White Sox will play a split doubleheader Sunday afternoon after Fridays postponement, with Game 1 scheduled for 1:10 p.m. and Game 2 starting at 5:10 p.m. Tanner Houck will start opposite former AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel in Game 1; lefty Martin Perez will start Game 2 for Boston.

Related links:

Boston Red Sox uniforms: Why are the Sox wearing yellow and blue jerseys this weekend?

Tony La Russa returns to Boston as White Sox manager after two years in Red Sox front office: Its a privilege to manage against him, Alex Cora says

Ex-Boston Red Sox players: David Price records save, then earns win and hits sac fly; Andrew Benintendi has 2 extra-base hits
CAMDEN  When Vincent Sheheen was campaigning for reelection in 2020, most of the voters he encountered across his South Carolina Senate district in the Midlands expressed little interest in local issues or the work he was doing in the Statehouse.

"They would just say, 'Are you voting for Donald Trump or Joe Biden? Because thats how Im going to decide who Im voting for,'" Sheheen, a Democrat who ran twice for governor, recalled. 'I had never run into that before."

In a district that had gravitated towards Republicans at the top of the ticket for years  encompassing most of Kershaw and Chesterfield counties and a piece of Lancaster  that spelled doom for a Democrat like Sheheen, a 20-year Statehouse veteran. While he outperformed Biden, it was not enough to avoid a narrow defeat against Republican Penry Gustafson.

Along with Sheheen went state Rep. Laurie Funderburk, a Camden Democrat who had been in office since 2005. Her replacement, Vic Dabney, made statewide news in recent weeks after comments he posted to Facebook in opposition to a hate crimes bill drew accusations of racism and an effort by dozens of lawmakers to censure him.

The development shocked officials in Camden, a relatively liberal small city with a proud history surrounded by deeply conservative rural communities. Democrats are gearing up to challenge Dabney next year, confident they can win back the seat without Trump at the top of the ballot.

But his victory may be less of an aberration than a microcosm of a broader political development  and a harbinger of what's to come.

A growing and increasingly polarized electorate coupled with the demise of local news has turned the old maxim of "All politics is local" on its head, leaving little opportunity for down-ballot candidates to create any distance between themselves and their party's national brand.

Those trends have been particularly pronounced in places like Kershaw County, an area that once commanded outsized influence in state politics with big-name Democratic figures like Gov. John C. West and House Speaker Bob Sheheen, Vincent Sheheen's uncle.

Local newspapers in the area have either cut down on publishing days or shuttered altogether in recent years. In their place, politicians on both sides of the aisle say voters largely get their political information from some combination of social media, MSNBC and Fox News, with the focus almost entirely on divisive national news.

That's made it much more difficult for legislators like Sheheen and Funderburk to cut through the noise and get voters to notice their local work, much of which has little to do with partisan debates that generate more attention.

"When there are these issues going on that really get people on edge, that messaging really starts to take hold," Funderburk said.

Over the course of the last decade, an ever-rising share of Kershaw voters chose the straight-ticket option each election cycle, and an increasing number of those straight-ticket voters were Republicans.

In the 2010 election, 40 percent of Kershaw voters opted for a straight ticket  50 percent for Democrats and 44 percent for Republicans. By 2020, the share of straight ticket voters in the county had climbed to 63 percent  61 percent for Republicans and 38 percent for Democrats.

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The shifts have been advanced by the state GOP leaders, who saw opportunity to expand their majorities in the Statehouse if they could pick off the few Democratic holdouts who had survived in districts that favored Republicans at the top of the ticket.

Signs for Gustafson's campaign focused largely on national messages, like "Support Trump, Vote Penry" and "Sheheen supports the extremist Biden/Harris agenda in SC." One of the five top issues listed on Dabney's campaign website was, "Stand with President Trump."

While the number of Statehouse districts remains the same  124 in the House, 46 in the Senate  South Carolina's population has grown rapidly in recent years. As a result, each lawmaker is representing a larger number of constituents, making it harder for personal relationships to lift them to victory over broader partisan trends.

The departures of Sheheen and Funderburk represent less the start of a new trend than the end stages of a decadeslong one.

Republican presidential candidates began winning South Carolina long before the party took control of state government. Sheheen said he viewed lawmakers like himself and Funderburk as "fingers in the dike" that's finally bursting.

"It's been a slow-moving political evolution down the ballot all across the state," S.C. GOP Party Chairman Drew McKissick said. "But what you've seen in the last four years is that process pick up speed due to support for President Trump."

As far as Dabney is concerned, Democrats deserve little sympathy for falling victim to a phenomenon that he sees them contributing to with a similarly national outlook.

"I was told after the election that these poor incumbents got tied up with national politics and that was unfair," Dabney said. "Well, let me tell you something, buddy: National politics is in the Statehouse. The Democrats are all about it. So they cant wiggle off that hook because its right there in Columbia."

But Sheheen argued the reason Democrats in the Statehouse may seem more nationalized to newcomers like Dabney is precisely because incumbents like him and Funderburk are getting ousted.

"I say to my Republican friends: Do you want a more liberal Democratic Party or more moderate Democratic Party?" Sheheen said. "Because if you want a more moderate Democratic Party, you'd be voting for me. If you don't vote for me, then all that's left is the very liberal people."

Down with Sheheen and Funderburk went two other Democratic senators  Glenn Reese of Spartanburg and Floyd Nicholson of Greenwood  and another House member, Mandy Powers Norrell of Lancaster, all similarly representing districts that had voted Republican at the top of the ticket for years.

Only a handful of lawmakers now remain in districts that have historically voted for the other party's presidential nominee, and most are Democrats. If Republicans can continue to harness the national focus that propelled them in 2020, their days may be numbered, too.

"We're coming for 'em," McKissick said.
TECUMSEH, MI  A former member of the Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education has reapplied for the seat she won in November 2020 after it was determined she did not take the Oath of Office at a January organizational meeting.

Becky Brooks says she was assured she didnt need to take the oath during a January 2021 meeting because she had been reelected to her seat rather than taking office for the first time.

Instead, she watched as new board members Tony Rebottaro and Greg Lewis took their respective oaths, along with Board President Kevin Johnson, who was appointed to fill the partial term of Milton Abbott, who resigned from his board seat in November.

Less than three months later, Brooks seat was determined to be invalid after it was pointed out by a fellow board member that she was, indeed, required to take the Oath of Office. Additionally, Brooks did not receive any of the paperwork required to validate her reelection to the board. She says she never received the paperwork in the mail and wasnt invited into district offices to sign it prior to the January meeting like Rebottaro and Lewis were.

Brooks exit from the Tecumseh school board is the second departure in a matter of weeks that has come been under head-scratching circumstances. The Lenawee Intermediate School District is in the process of seeking a new board member to fill the seat of Johnson, whose board seat also was found to be invalid in March.

LISD Superintendent Mark Haag, who is overseeing the board appointments, said the situation is unprecedented locally.

Quite frankly, were in uncharted territories here, because I cant find record of this ever happening in Lenawee County, let alone twice within a couple of weeks, he said.

While Johnson said he saw the similarly-puzzling circumstances that led to his seat being invalid as a sign to exit the board after a couple of years of drama, Brooks said she has reapplied and will fight for the seat she won in November.

There was no incumbents that we reseated, so I didnt question it, Brooks said. I ran for it, I was elected to it and I fully intend to do everything in my power to be reseated and continue to serve our district.

A resignation letter in the spam folder

Johnson said he wasnt really enthused about filling the remainder of Abbotts term after he announced his resignation in November 2020. Johnson had lost his own reelection bid earlier that month, but volunteered to fill the remainder of Abbotts term to keep things stable.

A couple of years of drama that followed a completely new Board of Education being elected in 2018 left Abbott disgusted and very upset with the actions of some board members he later wrote in a March 25 letter, leading to conversations between he and Johnson about quitting the board.

We had a rough two years on the board and people would always get really frustrated, and Milt was no exception, and he would talk about quitting, Johnson said. I know he had written resignation letters before, and it finally came down to that point where he got past the moment of frustration and contacted me and said he was definitely ready to go.

That conversation came after Abbott had penned a resignation letter on Oct. 13, 2020, that he scanned and faxed from his business office to Johnsons school board email account. After initially not getting a response to the letter, Abbott called Johnson to ask if he had received it.

After meeting to speak with Abbott about his decision, Johnson convinced him to think about it before finalizing any resignation to the board. When Abbott returned from a vacation a month later, there was no doubt in his mind.

So, Abbott repeated the same process of sending another resignation letter via fax to Johnsons board email address. When Johnson was once again unable to find the email after Abbott inquired about it a few days later, he did a more thorough search and eventually located the email in his spam folder.

Abbott made his resignation official at the following board meeting on Nov. 23, leaving the Board of Education with a 30-day window to fill the vacated board seat it would eventually appoint to Johnson.

Several months later on March 22, Tecumseh Public Schools Superintendent Rick Hilderley said he was contacted by a member of the Board of Education informing him of an allegation that Abbott had initially submitted a resignation letter on Oct. 13.

In Michigan, a school board members resignation is official the moment it is given  either verbally or written - to an officer of the board. Once a school board member resigns, it is not rescindable.

After the district opened an investigation to determine the timeline and authenticity of Abbotts initial resignation letter to Johnson, an email search located the Oct. 13 letter, backdating his resignation timeline. The letters existence moved the 30-day window the school board had to fill Abbotts seat back a month, making Johnsons appointment to the seat in December 2020 null and void.

Johnson considered the technicality that invalidated his seat on the board a moot point, noting that Abbott had informed him of other resignation letters he had sent prior to October 2020.

I just said, Summers coming up and Ive got kids and I havent had a good, solid, carefree summer in a few years with the school board, so I decided to peace out and take it, Johnson said.

Out of the ordinary oath

As the LISD began the process of seeking new candidates for Johnsons open board seat, Hilderley received a phone call on April 2 notifying him of another potential invalid board seat.

The three-way phone conversation included the districts attorney and Rebottaro, the newly-appointed board president, who was asked to look into Brooks not taking the Oath of Office in January, Hilderley said.

The district attorney determined that Brooks failure to take the Oath or Office during the January meeting, in addition to not having a certificate of acceptance from the November election on file with the Lenawee County Clerk invalidated her seat on the board.

While Hilderley believes the certificate of acceptance should have been mailed to Brooks by the Lenawee County Clerks Office, he said the school board and district erred in telling her she did not need to take the Oath of Office in January because of her incumbent status.

I know we played a role in the advice that we gave her that led to the mix-up, Hilderley said. As far as the signing of the acceptance certificate, I dont know thats as much our responsibility, but there is some responsibility on our part.

Lenawee County Clerk Roxann Holloway said the two documents victorious school board candidates are required to sign to take office  the acceptance of office and constitutional oath of office  arent sent out by the clerks office. Instead, the forms typically are on file with individual school districts - in this case with notary public and executive assistant Teri Hoeft.

The clerks office instead issues a certificate of election to the elected candidates, which does not require a signature of any kind. Those certificates are sent by the clerks office in one packet to each of the countys school districts, Holloway said, rather than to individual candidates.

The acceptance of office and constitutional oath of office forms are typically signed by candidates when they are invited into district offices to sign. That was the case for both Rebottaro and Lewis, who were invited in to sign the documents together prior to taking their Oath of Office in January. Brooks said she was not invited.

Johnson said he had previously gone through the same process, with Hoeft supplying the paperwork, noting he believes the district made an error administratively.

I dont know if the district had never sworn in people who were reelected or if it was just this moment, but when everybody was sworn in, it was believed by the administrative office that they didnt have to swear her in, because she was seated, Johnson said.

Cruel intentions?

Brooks believes the intentions of the board member who raised concerns about her not taking the Oath of Office, Tim Simpson, were potentially nefarious. Simpson referred questions surrounding Brooks board seat to Rebottaro.

While Brooks initially believed she must have fallen off a list in not getting the paperwork, she wonders why concerns about her status as a board member were raised months after she was supposed to take the Oath of Office.

I understand a law was broken - it was not intentional, it was completely an oversight from whatever level, Brooks said. I cant be mad at someone for pointing that out, I suppose. However, if there was any question, they certainly could have brought it up at that time when we had a 30-day window to fix it. Doing destructive things that tear down the board and give the district a black eye, is not helping anyone.

When Hilderley announced Brooks seat had been vacated during the districts board meeting on April 12, some board members traded barbs over Simpson raising the issue of her board member status.

The exchange between Simpson and board member John Benzing revealed the ongoing discord between board members when Hilderley said would ultimately endorse Brooks being reappointed to the open seat she has applied for.

I know at least one member that wont support it, thats obvious, Benzing said, looking toward Simpson and describing him as the man that got her thrown off.

Simpson responded arguing that he didnt get Brooks thrown off the board, Michigan law got her thrown off.

Would you like this board to break Michigan law? Is that what youre asking this board to do? Yes or no, Simpson said.

While the decision ultimately rests with the LISD, who will conduct interviews for both Johnson and Brooks seats in the coming weeks, Hilderley said he thinks its important that the results of the election be upheld, placing Brooks back on the board.

These are two rather unique situations that happened to come about in a district that really doesnt need any more problems coming to the school board, Hilderley said.

READ MORE:

The Tecumseh School Board wanted to make its district great again. What it got was a meltdown

Tecumseh Schools hires fifth superintendent in five months

Tecumseh athletic director resigns after return from leave for organizing practices while sports suspended
Shooting in Austin Leaves 3 Dead, Suspect Identified as Former Detective Charged With Sexual Assault

Three people have died following a shooting over what appears to be a domestic incident in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, said officials, while police said a suspect is still at large.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services wrote on Twitter. No other patients have been reported or located at this time.

Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon later identified 41-year-old Stephen Nicholas Broderick, a black male, as the suspect in the case. Broderick, who is at large, is described as having a medium build and 5 foot, 7 inches.

Obviously this is a tragedy. We have people who have lost their lives here, Chacon said in a news conference. Well do our best  to get this person in custody  and hopefully with no more loss of life.

Broderick, according to local reports is a former Travis County Sheriffs detective. He was previously charged with sexual assault of a child and posted bail last year.

Police said the shooting was reported around noon at an apartment complex near the Great Hills Plaza and The Arboretum shopping area in northwestern Austin.

At this time the Great Hills Trail scene is still active. We are still asking residents to shelter in place and report suspicious activity. While a suspect is still at large it appears this is a domestic situation that is isolated and there is no risk to the general public, the Austin Police Department said in a statement.

APD is currently on scene of an active shooting incident at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway. All residents are advised to shelter in place and avoid the area. PIO en route.  PIO8  Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) April 18, 2021

Authorities had called on people in the area to shelter in place.

The identities of the victims were not disclosed. Authorities have said that they were all known to the suspect.

So at this point, we do not think that this individual is out targeting random people to shoot them, they said. That does not mean he is not dangerous. He still, he is still at large. We do think that he is armed and he is very much dangerous.

UPDATE: Active Attack incident in the 9600 blk of Great Hills Trl; To this point #ATCEMSMedics have obtained Deceased On Scene pronouncements of 3 adult patients. This is still an active scene, please continue to avoid the area. More to Follow  ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) April 18, 2021

No other casualties have been reported or located at this time, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services also wrote.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler wrote on Twitter that the location of the shooting was specifically the Arboretum Oaks Apartments at 9617 Great Hills Trails.
On Thursday, April 15, US President Joe Biden imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia. The Treasury Department blacklisted six Russian technology companies that supported the cyber program run by Russias intelligence services. Eight persons and entities associated with Russias actions in Crimea were also sanctioned as were 32 entities and individuals who had allegedly carried out Russian government-directed attempts to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election through disinformation spreading and interference.

As Eurasia Review writes, in response, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Councils (the upper house of parliament) Committee on Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov said: There will be a response, a tit-for-tat one.

Sanctions, as a US foreign policy tool, was initiated by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, when he said: A nation that is boycotted is a nation that is in sight of surrender. Apply this economic, peaceful, silent, deadly remedy and there will be no need for force. It does not cost a life outside the nation boycotted, but it brings a pressure upon the nation which, in my judgment, no modern nation could resist.

Since then, the US has been imposing sanctions with regularity. Nowadays, sanctions take the form of arms embargoes, foreign assistance reductions and cut-offs, export and import limitations, asset freezes, tariff increases, revocation of Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status, negative votes in international financial institutions, withdrawal of diplomatic relations, visa denials, cancellation of air links, and prohibitions on credit, financing, and investment. Economic restrictions may include denial of access to the US financial system, freezing assets under US jurisdiction, or the prohibition of certain exports.

In his 2020 article titled The Effectiveness of Economic Sanctions as a Security Tool, Mark Tarallo notes that small scale sanctions have also been clamped by the US. In 2018 the US added nearly 1,500 people, companies, and other entities to sanctions programs managed by the US Treasury Department, nearly 50 percent more than in 2017.

According to Dursun Peksen, a sanctions expert at the University of Memphis in Tennessee, conventional trade and financial sanctions have resulted in some meaningful behavioral change in the targeted country about 40% of the time. But others do not paint such a rosy picture.

Although the US has used sanctions continuously in dozens of contexts, the success rate has been poor says economist Kimberly Ann Elliot, writing for the Peterson Institute of International Economics. According to her, even the global, comprehensive, and vigorously enforced sanctions against Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, produced, at best, limited results. In some cases, military force had to be used to back sanctions as in Mali. Since 1970, unilateral US sanctions had achieved foreign policy goals only in 13% of the cases.

Further, in 1995, sanctions hit US exports to 26 target countries to the tune of US$15 billion to US$ 19 billion. 200,000 or more jobs were lost in the highly lucrative US export sector. US sanctions led to increasing tensions between the US and its allies or trading partners around the world, Elliot observes. US firms could be regarded as unreliable suppliers. Sanctioned countries might avoid buying from US exporters even when sanctions were not in place, thus giving firms in other countries a competitive advantage in those markets, she warns.

Secondary Sanctions

Richard N. Haass writing in brookings.edu in 1998, pointed out that the US resorted to secondary sanctions to compel others to join its sanctions effort. But this could cause serious harm to a variety of US foreign policy interests, he points out. This happened when sanctions were clamped on overseas firms which violated US sanctions vis-a-vis Cuba, Iran, and Libya. Anti-American sentiment went up in countries subjected to secondary sanctions. They created discord in the World Trade Organization (WTO). And all the while, attention was drawn away from the provocative behavior of the target governments, Haass pointed out.

Sanctions could cause distress in the targeted countries which could be described as human rights violations. For example, sanctions on Haiti triggered an exodus. In former Yugoslavia, sanctions created a military imbalance. The arms embargo weakened the Muslim Bosnian side while Bosnias Serbs and Croats had larger stores of military supplies and greater access to additional supplies from outside sources, Haass recalled.

Military sanctions against Pakistan increased its reliance on the nuclear weapons option and affected the reliability of the US as an ally. Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and a seasoned US State Department, Robert Blake, said in Colombo a few years ago that the US lost touch with a whole generation of Pakistani military officers because of military sanctions. Pakistan has now gone over to the Chinese side.

Sanctioned countries may see the strengthening of extreme nationalism and authoritarianism as a reaction. Also, sanctions fatigue may settle in, over time, weakening international compliance.

Haass recommends that sanctions be employed only after careful consideration of the gains and losses. Sanctions are meaningless if they hurt the sanctioning country. Since unilateral sanctions tend to fail, multilateral support for economic sanctions should normally be a prerequisite. Secondary sanctions are to be avoided. Instead, consensus should be built with other countries on the matter. Further, instituting sanctions against those who do not comply with the sanctions is an admission of a diplomatic failure to persuade, he avers.

Very importantly, Haass says that sanctions should not be used to hold major or complex bilateral relationships hostage to a single issue or set of concerns. This is especially the case with a country such as China, where the United States has to balance interests that include maintaining stability in South Asia and on the Korean Peninsula, he explains.

He further states that a nearly identical argument could be made about the wisdom of applying broad sanctions against Russia or India because of their transgressions in one realm. The alternative to broad sanctions in such instances is either to adopt narrow sanctions that are germane to the issue at hand or to turn to other policy tools.

Innocents should not be made to suffer any more than is absolutely necessary, Haass insists. Lastly, policymakers should prepare and send to Congress a policy statement before or soon after a sanction is put in place. Such statements should give all sides of the picture, details of the potential gains and losses, and the risks too. There should be an annual Congressional review of the sanctions and the President should be given the power to call off or fine tune sanctions in the light of the ground situation and other relevant factors.

The US should shed its grandiose but outdated notion that it is the sole world power and act unilaterally. Even a supposedly defeated power like Russia can rise again to pose a serious challenge. The US has to contend with Chinas economic power and it global reach, unimaginable a few years ago. Getting out of sticky situations as in Afghanistan can be more challenging than sending troops there and sinking trillions of dollars. Even traditional White allies in Europe could play truant when the US needs their cooperation desperately. Seeking consensus and cooperation are the prerequisites of a successful foreign policy, including the use of sanctions.
When 42-year-old stockbroker-turned-filmmaker Farah Nabulsi was waiting to hear if shed been nominated for an Oscar last month, she had to beg her three teenage sons to join her on the sofa at their West London home.

She needed moral support, she jokes today. I said: Come and sit with me. If its not there, Ill need a hug. And if it is there, Ill need a hug.

Its not that her boys didnt care. Theyre just rather accustomed to their mother  an untrained, first-time director  winning things.

Her short film, The Present, about a Palestinian man and his daughter who set out to buy an anniversary gift for his wife  a simple task that proves fraught due to the Israeli checkpoints they must pass through  has already won 25 jury and audience awards at film festivals around the world. Most recently it won the Bafta for Best British Short Film.

Farah Nabulsi, 42, who lives in West London, (pictured) worked in equity sales for JP Morgan Chase before teaching herself to become a film director

Unsurprisingly, the boys were a little blase. But they certainly woke up when their mother started dancing on the coffee table as her Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short Film was announced. Dont get me wrong, theyre happy for me, she says. Theyve been with me every step of the journey. But theyre like she imitates the bored tones of a London schoolboy: Oh, Mums excited again.

She has a right to be excited. This year, around 170 short films qualified for the Oscars and were whittled down to a shortlist of five. So even qualifying was like, wow! Farah marvels.

Whether she wins or not this Sunday, shes making history. A mother to five (she has two stepdaughters, from her husbands first marriage), she is female, British and Muslim. Fittingly, 2021 has been hailed as the year of more diverse award ceremonies, after the Oscars so white scandals of previous years.

Dressed in jeans and a linen shirt, she says many people dont guess her heritage. I may not fit the stereotype of what people think a female Arab Muslim looks like, but actually in the Levant area [the countries along the eastern Mediterranean shores] we can be quite fair. But I do consider myself British as well  I was born, raised and educated here.

Her father, a Palestinian born in Egypt, came to the UK to study for a PhD in civil engineering. Her mother arrived when her family left Palestine following the Arab-Israeli war in 1967.

So Farah grew up in London and worked in equity sales for JP Morgan Chase in the City before having her sons.

Most days shed be at her desk at 6.30am, and she often stayed late into the evening for the U.S. market. Shed always had a mathematical brain, she recalls, but also loved films.

Farah (pictured) admits she had 'almost a Western lens' when she visited Palestine for the first time as an adult

Without any formal training, she taught herself to direct by buying film books and watching YouTube masterclasses with famous directors. She raised funds (and contributed some personally as well) to make The Present, which she co-wrote and directed.

I always quote the late director Stanley Kubrick, who said: The best education in film is to make one, and thats what I did. Sometimes jumping into the deep end is the best way, she smiles.

It is certainly a world away from the City, where she met her husband of 18 years. He was a prospective client. But once wed met and got to know each other it turned out his father and my grandfather were best friends in Palestine 45 years previously.

After the birth of her first son in 2004, she left banking and, in 2013, she went back to Palestine for the first time in 25 years. She had visited her grandparents there as a child.

My parents werent about the politics at all. But they never let me forget the roots of where they were from, and so essentially where I was from. I never had this identity crisis  I was British and Palestinian, she says.

But when she took her children to her parents homeland, aged 34, it was a shock. In many ways I visited Palestine for the first time as an adult with almost a Western lens. Like a tourist. I arrived in my blood country all starry-eyed, and was perhaps more overwhelmed and appalled by the reality than an Arab from elsewhere in the region would have been.

Farah (pictured) founded a production company to make short films, after feeling compelled to tell human stories and express herself creatively

She realised that with one foot in the West, but with her own Arab heritage, she could bring a new perspective to the situation.

In 2015 she founded a production company to make short films. Even though I had never worked in the film industry and had no formal film education, I felt compelled to tell these human stories Id come across and express myself creatively.

Short films are easier and quicker to watch, and more likely to be shared online, she explains. At first she wrote the scripts and commissioned directors to make them, funding the firm herself.

Her 2016 short, Today They Took My Son, tells the story of a woman whose ten-year-old son is taken by Israels army when he throws a stone at soldiers demolishing a Palestinian home. It was selected for the Edinburgh Short Film Festival and screened at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

But Farah was beginning to realise she needed to direct herself. It was a moment of impostor syndrome, she laughs. Can I direct? Dont you need to have gone to film school? Dont you need to know more technically?

When she co-wrote The Present with Palestinian-American poet and filmmaker Hind Shoufani, she could visualise every shot in her minds eye.

I could see the actor I wanted, and I could see the little girl in the red jacket. It was all there.

Farah (pictured) said short films are easier and quicker to watch, and more likely to be shared online

Apparently thats what a director needs, to have that very vivid visual imagination  to imagine this world that doesnt exist yet.

The opening scenes of The Present were shot, documentary-style, at Bethlehems infamous Checkpoint 300, which thousands of Palestinians have to queue to pass through every morning.

The father in the film is played by the handsome Israeli-based Palestinian actor, Saleh Bakri, a big star in the Arab film world.

A young untrained actress Maryam Kanj plays his daughter Yasmine, who takes matters into her own hands as her father reaches breaking point.

I wanted to offer something more hopeful at the end. A suggestion that maybe its the youth, and maybe its female youth, who are coming out wiser and stronger and taking agency, says Farah.

Shes touched by how audiences around the world have empathised with the family in The Present. But then we, too, have experienced personal frustrations in the past year.

Theres this zeitgeist with everyone having their movements restricted, travel banned and curfews, she says.

Sadly this meant Farah had to attend film festivals by Zoom, waving at her fellow nominees from the couch.

Farah (pictured) who is developing her first full-length feature film, said she's still deciding on an outfit to wear to the Oscars in Los Angeles

But in the meantime shes been developing her first full-length feature film, The Teacher, once again starring Saleh Bakri.

As a busy mum, shes looking forward to getting dressed up for Oscars night.

While the Baftas took place on Zoom (I wore a fun short cocktail dress by French designer IRO  it felt silly putting something long on while sitting on my couch), she will attend the Oscars in person in Los Angeles.

I am not sure what I will be wearing as my final choice yet, she teases, then adds: After a year of track pants and pyjamas, I am looking forward to bringing an elegant and understated look to the Oscars.

Shes determined not to build up her Oscar hopes. Expectation is the root of all heartache, she says.

She certainly seems at home with her new career, though. When recently asked how she coped in the male-dominated film industry, she replied: Listen, if youve been in a bank dealing with the male of the species then: film-making? Bring it on. I can handle that.

But does she think that her experiences as a mother gave her life skills she can use as a director, too?

A hundred per cent, she says. What I found is many people in the arts are so phenomenally creative they end up in the dreaming room and sometimes they dont come out of it. When it comes to the practical side of things, the logistics and budgets, they can struggle.

But she also wants to stress that there can be second acts in the lives of midlife women. As George Bernard Shaw says: Life isnt about finding yourself, its about creating yourself. I love that quote. Just decide who you want to be.

The Present is on Netflix.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Friday said the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was "certain" to boost the national vaccination program.

Spahn spoke after visiting manufacturer IDT Biologika, which will help fill and package the single dose Johnson & Johnson shot, in the eastern city of Dessau.

Amid the criticised rollout of vaccines across Europe, the health minister said in his opinion it was "better" if they were produced on the continent.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is yet to be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and its use in the United States has been temporarily halted over reports of a very rare link to blood clots.

But Spahn expressed his confidence in the jab and said Germany's inoculation campaign was "gaining speed", with an expectation that 20% of its adult population will have received a first dose of the vaccine within the next few weeks.

Germany recorded 25,831 new cases of COVID-19 overnight Thursday and 247 additional deaths, according to the Robert Koch Institute disease control center.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Iran's top negotiator at nuclear talks under way in Vienna said on Saturday that the discussions were on the right track and consultations would continue.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian media that "good discussions" had been held among the delegations from Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, DPA news agency reported.

"It seems that a new understanding is emerging and there is now common ground ... on the final goal," Araghchi was quoted as saying by state television.

According to Araghchi, Iran has drafted a roadmap to serve as the basis on which the Islamic Republic could return to its technical commitments in the nuclear deal while the US lifts sanctions.

Araghchi cautioned that there remain "serious disagreements," but said that technical consultations would go on in the coming days.

The negotiators have been meeting in working groups in the Austrian capital for more than a week.

The goal is to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that was crafted to constrain Iran's nuclear programme. It has been hanging by a thread since 2018, when then-president Donald Trump pulled the US out of the accord and began to increasingly violate its terms.

Iran announced a major hike in its uranium enrichment programme this week, igniting fresh fears over the ability of the country to produce nuclear weapons.

Later on Saturday, the Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 per cent, after an inspection of the facility at Natanz where the production process had begun.

Iran enriched its uranium up to 60 per cent for the first time on Friday night, according to Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Iran Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI).

The exact level of enrichment is still being analyzed, an IAEA spokesperson said in Vienna.

In Vienna, the US has a team present but is not engaging in direct talks with their Iranian counterparts. Instead, other delegations serve as intermediaries.

Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov tweeted on Saturday that the latest high-level round of talks had ended with participants showing "determination to continue negotiations with a view to complete the process successfully as soon as possible."

He said the progress made so far had been "noted" but, like Araghchi, did not provide details.

Negotiators are trying to get both Iran and the US to fully recommit to the deal, which would mean Iran coming back into compliance and Washington easing sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

--IANS

int/pgh

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One week after homeless camps were removed from Westport & Downtown and Mayor Q offered protesters a free hotel compromise, the crisis on local streets still hasn't improved for those on the ground level.



Accordingly and as the weather warms up . . .

KANSAS CITY INSIDERS REPORT MORE VAGRANT CAMPS POPPING UP AND THE LOCAL HOMELESS POPULATION ENCROACHING ON NEIGHBORHOODS!!!

Here's the word . . .

"The mayor didn't solve anything. He just emboldened the homeless. Now they know they have his ear and they'll be able to go back and get more when their time at the hotels is up. We're starting to see smaller camps near Northeast and Downtown and the crime and thefts have skyrocketed. The mayor didn't offer a solution. He made things worse and there's one simple question that needs to be asked: Who is going to stand up for homeowners, neighborhoods and the people who support this community???

"It's obvious that Mayor Lucas is going to do anything but give activists nearly everything they demand."

During the past week we've notice similar skepticism from leaders in Westport and restrained discontent on the council.

Relocation Postscript

Kansas City Homeless Union and Mayor Quinton Lucas negotiate housing, hotels Unhoused people are temporarily moving into hotels. Will the city commit to longer-term solutions?

Meth Town Fights Back Against Sketchy Kansas City Solution

Independence blindsided by KC's decision to place some homeless outside city limits INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Placement of some homeless people outside Kansas City limits is creating controversy after Independence city leaders say they were blind-sided by Kansas City's decision. Roughly 20-30 people were taken to two Independence-area hotels, booked for 90 days and paid for by the city of Kansas City.

Homeless Crisis Persists

The mayor defused a standoff with unhoused protestors camping at City Hall-what happens next? City Hall protest/Photo by Chase CastorHomelessness has always been an issue in Kansas City, whether or not it's been visible. Earlier this year, a group of unhoused people shook things up by setting up a protest at City Hall. It's part of a national trend of homeless people demanding attention by setting up organized camps in prominent places-like the grounds...

Developing . . .
Its been a long while since I inflicted my adolescent interest in progressive rock on Power Line readers, mostly because I know it is a rarified taste that only appeals to a minority of similarly idiosyncratic people like me. Thats why I post these in the middle of the night instead of prime time. In any case, there hasnt been much new lately about this by now very old genre.

Until last week. Someone came across some 16mm film of Genesis playing at the Bataclan Theater in Paris in 1973 (the site of the Islamic terrorist attack in 2015), and has somehow upgraded the video to 4K resolution, and worked over the sound to produce a marvelous result.

This clip is 37 minutes long, and only the most intrepid Proggers will want to view the whole thing. It begins with two of their long, lugubrious numbers from Foxtrot and Nursery Cryme, The Musical Box and Suppers Ready, though these do show off Peter Gabriel playing the flute in a few spots, and both songs do include some sublime passages. For dilettantes or casual listeners, I recommend scrolling ahead to the 21:15 mark to take in the up-tempo (and more than slightly insane) Return of the Giant Hogweed.

No one needs to be persuaded that Peter Gabriel was one weird guy, but the bonus of this appearance is seeing a very hirsute Phil Collins on the drums and providing backup vocals. My own opinion is that both Genesis and Gabriel went downhill fast after Gabriel left and Collins took over as the bands frontman and turned Genesis toward more conventional pop in the 1980s. But oh those early- to mid-70s albums were really something original and unusual.

P.S. Ive seen other unimproved video of this concert featuring an excellent rendition of The Fountain of Salmacis, but Im holding out for restored versions of Harold the Barrel and Get Em Out by Friday.
New Delhi:

Relief came in for Talwar couple as the Allahabad High Court on Thursday has acquitted them for the murder of their 14-year-old daughter Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj in 2008.

The High Court stayed the order of the CBI court order convicting Nupur and Rajesh Talwar for the murder of the dual murder.

The division bench has raised objection on the investigation procedure.

A division bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra in their verdict said 'parents did not murder their daughter."

As it happened:

# Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have been acquitted and we are expecting that they will be out of jail tomorrow: Lawyer of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar

# Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are happy, and said that they have got justice: DR Maurya, Jailor, Dasna Jail

# We are waiting for judgment copy. We will decide our next course of action after studying it: CBI on Aarushi verdict

# Allowing appeal by Talwars Allahabad HC was of view that as per circumstances and evidence on record they can't be held guilty

# Allahabad HC sets aside CBI court's order, acquits Rajesh & Nupur Talwar

# Allahabad HC accepts plea by Rajesh & Nupur Talwar challenging their conviction

The couple was awarded life sentence by a special CBI court in Ghaziabad on November 26, 2013. Nupur and Rajesh Talwar are serving their life sentence in Ghaziabads Dasna jail.

Fourteen-year-old Aarushi was found dead inside her room in the Talwars Noida residence with her throat slit in May 2008. The needle of suspicion had initially moved towards 45-year-old Hemraj, who had gone missing but his body was recovered from the terrace of the house two days later.

Also read: Aarushi murder case: Nupur Talwar gets 3-week parole to visit ailing mother

As the Uttar Pradesh Police drew flak over shoddy investigation into the case which was making national headlines, the then chief minister Mayawati handed over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Two Nigerian women, Ajima Ogbole-Spittael and Susan Ogbole, have raised alarm over the medical injustice they suffered at the hands of Belgian doctors, which led to the loss of cervix and paralysis for the women.

Mrs Ogbole-Spittael is married to a Belgian and based in Belgium, while her sister-in-law, Mrs Ogbole, travelled to Belgium for surrogacy.

Narrating their ordeal via a zoom meeting on Tuesday, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael, 35, said her experience started in 2017 when she and her husband were trying to conceive and she was diagnosed with multiple fibroids at Az Sint-Jan Bruges, Belgium.

In a bid to remove the fibroids, the doctor ,who carried out the surgery, erroneously amputated her cervix, making her incapable of carrying a pregnancy.

In 2017 my husband and I wanted to start a family and went for a check-up to a gynaecologist. He noted I had multiple fibroids and advised my best option would be a myomectomy before we began to attempt trying to get pregnant. As a result, I was referred to a doctor in AZ Sint-Jan hospital to undergo a myomectomy.

The objective of the procedure was to remove fibroids; it was not to remove my cervix. However, I came out of the hospital without my cervix. A doctor who operated on me to remove fibroids in my womb, mistakenly amputated my cervix, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael said.

Although the removal of the fibroids from her womb was successful  about 13 of the growths were removed  Mrs Ogbole-Spittael left the hospital without a cervix.

Hospital admits error

Initially, Az Sint-Jan Bruges, through its insurer, refused to admit that there was a medical error during the surgery.

In a letter dated October 23, 2018, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the insurer said the hospital has no liability in Mrs Ogbole-Spittaels case, saying the difference between a fibroid and cervix tissue was very difficult.

As a civil liability insurer, we can only intervene if our insured committed a medical mistake. A medical mistake is a culpable shortcoming of the healthcare personnel, who didnt correctly execute a certain prescribed action or put insufficient effort to prevent the damage, the insurance company, Ethias wrote.

Furthermore, its important to make a difference between a mistake and a complication. A medical surgery can be accompanied by unintended consequences. This doesnt mean that the healthcare person made a mistake. For every surgery, there is a small or high chance of complications.

During the surgery of 2 November 2017 it was very difficult to differentiate fibroids from the cervix. The difference between a fibroid and cervix tissue is very difficult on a macroscopical level. Considered all factors this concerns a medical complication. It concerns a uterus with multiple myomas in which its technically very difficult to remove due to the volume of all fibroids.

We need to conclude that this is a very regrettable incident for which nobody is responsible. Given the circumstances, we cant intervene in the damage.

Succour, however, came when the hospital, in 2019, admitted the medical error after several months and with volumes of expert medical analyses and reports.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained another letter dated January 22, 2019, where Pedro Vanvoorden, a representative of Ethias insurance company, replied to Mrs Ogbole-Spittaels complaint after surgery from February 8, 2018.

We refer to the above-mentioned claim. In the meantime, we gained additional advice from a specialist gynaecologist. Based on this advice we are willing to accept the liability of Dr VAN DE VIJVER.

Its now a question of estimating your damage. Did you inform your legal assistance insurer? Are they willing to provide you legal assistance with creating a specific and a calculated claim? the letter said.

Following admittance of error, the hospital accepted responsibility and its insurer was to negotiate compensation with Mrs Ogbole-Spittael and her husband, William Spittael.

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The joy of the hospital admitting their error was short-lived when, Ethias, which was meant to work out a compensation package with Mrs Ogbole-Spittael, was not forthcoming as no compensation has been paid to date.

It quickly became clear that there is a total absence of good faith on the side of both the insurance and the hospital, as the former continued to take instructions from the latter, the victim said.

She added that her lawsuit against the hospital, Az Sint-Jan Bruges, Belgium, is still ongoing.

Twice bitten

Mrs Ogbole-Spittael said following the erroneous amputation of her cervix, gynaecologists told her she could no longer get pregnant.

I was told I couldnt get pregnant naturally or artificially due to the amputation of my cervix and that our best option to become parents was via surrogacy.

Accepting the offer of surrogacy, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael consulted with members of her family, with her sister-in-law, Susan Ogbole, accepting to carry a child for her.

Susan, a mother of two, who happens to be my sister-in-law married to my younger brother, offered to be our surrogate of which we agreed. The pregnancy went smoothly from embryo transfer to delivery, she said.

Narrating her experience, Mrs Ogbole said she had a healthy pregnancy, which was the same as her two previous pregnancies and walked to the hospital herself on the scheduled day of delivery  same Az Sint-Jan Bruges  where her sister-in-law had her cervix amputated.

Despite walking to the hospital on her own for delivery on October 15, 2020, Mrs Ogbole was paralysed in the process of the cesarean operation and has remained at the hospital to date, unable to walk or use her legs.

Answering a question on why the family chose the hospital the second time, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael said it was the closest to them and other professionals referred them to the hospital.

We were not expecting another mistake, also, the medical doctor that attended to me first was very remorseful of the outcome and called me personally to apologise. We didnt think another mistake could occur.

Susan opted for a planned C-section, which took place on 15th of October 2020. Susan went into hospital as a full able-bodied woman. She was given an epidural during labour. As a result, Susan is now paralyzed and is still in hospital since giving birth to our baby, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael said.

Mrs Ogbole said she objected to being given the epidural but the doctors insisted it was the best for her.

I felt so much pain when they gave the epidural and after the session, I felt much more pains. I remember telling the midwife of the pains and she said it meant the epidural was good and successful.

It was when I attempted to get up that I observed I felt nothing on my legs, I could not stand. Since then, I have been paralyzed and here at the hospital, she said.

Further agony

Although Mrs Ogbole was delivered of a healthy baby girl for the Spittael couple, she has remained in a wheelchair in the last five months.

The Ogbole family said despite the medical injustice done to them by the Belgian hospital, they have refused to acknowledge the error but keep sending hospital bills to the family.

For Mrs Ogbole, who had her two children in Nigeria, she said the incident is taking a toll on them as she has not been able to return to her family.

A.J Ogbole, her husband and the younger brother to Mrs Ogbole-Spittael, also explained how he and his children are suffering from the hardship brought on the family through medical negligence.

The kids are staying with my mom, this is the time they need all the care and love they can get from their parents but that is not happening due to what is happening.

Mr Ogbole said the children, aged three and five, are psychologically affected by the absence of their mum and could feel that something is off in the family.

Despite getting a surrogate to bear a child for them, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael said she is yet to be recognised as the legal mother of the baby, even when her husband has been registered as the father.

She said if Mrs Ogbole leaves Belgium by October without the family completing the legal process, her ability to be the full legal mother of her child would be denied.

Hospital responds; government silent

Williams Spittael, Ajimas Belgian husband, said all attempts to get the Belgian authority to wade into the matter have been unsuccessful.

We hired lawyers for both cases to fight for the injustice done to Ajima and Susan, especially Susan that is still lying on the hospital bed.

Mr Spittael said they have written to the hospital and the Ministry of Justice in Belgium but are yet to get any response over the questionable administration of epidural which has paralysed Mrs Ogbole.

We have reported these two individuals yet related issues to the hospital, Ajimas in 2018 and Susans October 2020. The hospital is yet to accept responsibility for Susans case and referred her to an orthopaedic to evaluate a gynaecological/anesthesiologic issue.

My family has been through serious agony, it has become clear that the hospital, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges, acting through their insurance, Ethias, has abandoned good faith and chosen the unholy path of frustrating an already agonizing family through unnecessary threats of Court actions, he said.

Mr Spittael said rather than reply to the letters of medical errors, the hospital threatened to drag the case in court and eventually force the family to back out.

As if the injustice against us by AZ Sint-Jan Bruges was insufficient, on 23rd March 2021, we received a most intimidating letter from them threatening to take us to court for daring to speak out about the way they are treating us inhumanly.

The threat and intimidation have only strengthened our resolve to elevate this matter as the public interest matter that it actually is. It cannot be that trusted medical personnel would constitute themselves into an untouchable cult and cannot be held accountable for their actions, Mrs Spittael said.

The Ogbole family has also written to the Nigerian Embassy in Belgium and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) over the matter. They say they are awaiting responses from the agencies.

Adbulrahmon Balogun, the spokesperson to the Director-General, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that the commission cannot wade into the matter.

Any matter in court, we dont dabble into it. They have gone to court, they have done the right thing, so what else can we do? We cannot adjudicate on a matter before the court of law, he said.

Mr Balogun said although the commission is aware of the matter, it is yet to receive any petition from the victims.

In an e-mailed response to PREMIUM TIMES, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges said the womens complaints are currently being properly followed up in accordance with the appropriate procedures in this regard.

The hospital wishes to preserve the serenity of these procedures. Thus, we cannot provide you with any further information or clarification about the content of these cases.

Demands

Listing their demands, the Ogbole family said they want an acceptance of medical errors in the case of Susan Ogbole who has been paralysed since October 2020 and still at the hospital.

The family also wants a letter of unreserved apology in three national dailies in Belgium by AZ Sint-Jan Bruges and for the hospital to take financial responsibility for all of Mrs Ogboles treatments.

They also want the Belgian authorities to consider a bill to grant a humanitarian stay to Susan and patients stay in Susans situation.

This allows me to adopt my child. It is humanly inconceivable to render me incapable of carrying a pregnancy yet take away my ability to be the mother of my child born through surrogacy, Mrs Ogbole-Spittael said.

AZ Sint-Jan should immediately and genuinely return to the negotiating table with our multidisciplinary experts to agree on a fair settlement for the damage done to our lives taking into consideration that my ability to carry my pregnancy has been taken away through their medical error and Susan paralysed, she added.

The family also wants the Belgian authority to consider legislation that sets up an independent commission that adjudicates in matters where settlement impasse exists between patients and hospitals/insurance companies.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the response of AZ Sint-Jan Bruges to the allegations.
TRURO, N.S. - A lone bagpiper played slow airs outside a church Sunday as relatives of 22 people slain during a killer's rampage in rural Nova Scotia gathered for an emotional ceremony to honour the victims one year later.

A man pays his respects at a roadside memorial in Portapique, N.S. on Thursday, April 23, 2021. RCMP say at least 22 people are dead after a man who at one point wore a police uniform and drove a mock-up cruiser, went on a murder rampage in Portapique and several other Nova Scotia communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

TRURO, N.S. - A lone bagpiper played slow airs outside a church Sunday as relatives of 22 people slain during a killer's rampage in rural Nova Scotia gathered for an emotional ceremony to honour the victims one year later.

The sombre event at First United Church in Truro, N.S., which was livestreamed in lieu of being open to the public, began with a provincewide moment of silence.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared remarks through a pre-recorded statement, saying he wished he could have attended the service.

"Even a year later, I know there is no comfort for the anguish of having an adored parent or precious child torn away," he said, standing in front of a row of Canadian flags. "So all I can say is this: You are not alone. All Canadians stand with you and grieve with you."

The prime minister described one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history as an act of evil that should not define the memories of those lost on April 18 and 19, 2020.

"It will not define the communities that still grieve them," he said. "Instead, we will remember the kindness and joy of each person taken from us."

At the front of the church was a blue platform, upon which painted rocks displayed a single rose and the first name of each victim. At one point, relatives placed flowers next to each stone as each victim's name was read aloud.

Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin told the 60-member congregation it was important for those experiencing great loss to come together and seek strength from their community.

"As you and our communities continue on the journey of healing, my hope is that you'll be strengthened by the continued outpouring of support from Nova Scotians and people throughout the world," he said.

The hour-long service was organized by a committee of the Nova Scotia Remembers Legacy Society, led by Jenny Kierstead, the sister of Lisa McCully  a neighbour of the gunman who was among the first killed on the night of April 18.

"We have all suffered so much this year that it is our intention to bring some light and beauty to our lives on this dark day," she said in a pre-recorded statement.

A tribute to Kristen Beaton and her unborn child is one of 22 along a memorial walk in Victoria Park to mark the one-year anniversary of the April 2020 murder rampage in rural Nova Scotia, in Truro, N.S. on Sunday, April 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

"What we know is that a trauma such as the one that we've endured can shatter a person's life. I know it has mine. May this ceremony help you hear the whisper of your own heart, calling you back home to the love, peace and the wholeness that resides within."

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people took part in a series of memorial walks and runs in and around Truro.

The atmosphere in Victoria Park, where the races ended, was one of both sad reflection and optimism, as the crowd cheered and clapped for the runners crossing the finish line -- many with reddened eyes. Money raised from those events will help pay for a permanent memorial, the plans for which are still in the early stages.

Denise Burgess, one of the organizers, said the events were aimed at healing and remembrance.

"We want to turn the lens away from what happened to who these people were," she said in an interview Sunday. "It gives us a chance to reflect on their lives  that they were full, beautiful lives and they were wonderful, giving people who contributed to our community."

A large art installation in the park pays tribute to the victims. Crafted by welder Wayne Smith, the statue features hearts with the name of each victim, including an unborn child.

"There's a bit of healing that takes place when we can make this for people," said Burgess, a teacher in Truro whose students once included Emily Tuck, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student who was killed with her parents in Portapique on April 18.

Willa Kray, who travelled to Truro from Pictou County, said the memorial walk helped her grapple with the anniversary of the mass shooting.

"It was just so horrific," she said. "I wanted to come here to pay my respects and it did give me a sense of closure."

The anniversary was also marked by a peaceful march to the RCMP detachment in nearby Bible Hill, where some protesters expressed their dismay with the Mounties' response to one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history.

Tara Long, the sister of Aaron Tuck, one of the victims, said shes still struggling to understand how someone could go on a shooting spree for 13 hours.

Our province and our country is sad because this shouldn't be able to happen here, she said before the march began under darkening skies.

Sarah Jollimore, whose family was close with one of the victims, said she attended the march to remember the lives lost and to call for transparency from the police.

Theres still so many unanswered questions that we all deserve to know, she said. We need to work better and do better and just be better.

Nova Scotia RCMP Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman said the police force would observe a moment of silence at 2 p.m. on Monday.

"We understand people have questions and want to know as much as possible about the incidents," Bergerman said in a statement on Sunday, adding that a federal-provincial public inquiry will provide some answers.

"It is our hope that the Mass Casualty Commission will provide a full accounting of what happened for the families of the victims and the public."

The Mounties have confirmed that on the night of April 18, 2020, the killer assaulted his common-law spouse, set fire to several homes and proceeded to kill 13 people in Portapique, N.S., a rural community on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy.

Dressed as a Mountie and driving a car he modified to look exactly like an RCMP cruiser, the killer evaded police by driving through a field shortly after officers arrived at the chaotic scene some time after 10 p.m.

Having spent the night hiding at the rear of a welding shop in Debert, N.S., the killer resumed murdering people he knew and others at random early the next day. He was fatally shot by two Mounties at a gas station about 35 kilometres north of Halifax.

The Enfield Big Stop had its jumbo Canadian flag lowered to half-mast Sunday, a reminder of the gruesome events that unfolded there a year ago.

Speculation about the killer's motives has included evidence he was paranoid about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying at one point in an email he was glad he was well-armed because the pandemic would make people desperate "once the money runs out."

As well, the RCMP have said a behavioural analysis revealed he was likely an "injustice collector," whose grudges built up over time and eventually exploded in horrific violence.

The killer's propensity for violence was well known among some of his neighbours in Portapique, who have said he had a long history of abusing his common-law spouse. She survived the mayhem in Portapique.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2021.

 With files from Michael MacDonald in Halifax
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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Soon-to-be home owners are being slugged as much as $100,000 in unexpected costs after signing building contracts as Western Australias construction industry scrambles to cope with trade and supply shortages. The unprecedented demand has been brought about by a perfect storm of dual federal and state building bonus grants, construction time limits to be eligible for the grants, and the inability to recruit interstate or international workers to deal with the overflow. David Orlando and his fiance, Bree, were forced to pull out of their new home contract with Summit Homes after the builder increased the cost by $47,000. Perth resident David Orlando, 33, said he was forced to pull out of a building contract with Summit Homes at the last minute after the builder added $30,000 to his proposed contract over five months between August and December. He said the amount was added after he and his fiance had signed a preliminary agreement and paid a $5000 fee towards their future house on Mr Orlandos Lake Coogee block. It meant the couple missed out on being eligible for the state governments $20,000 Building Bonus grant, which ran between June and December 2020. The pair say they also missed out on $10,000 from the federal governments $25,000 HomeBuilder grant, which was scaled back to $15,000 from January 1.

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We wasted half a year, we put our wedding on hold and weve essentially lost $30,000 worth of grants because we couldnt sign that contract, Mr Orlando said. We couldnt afford it, we already had finance approved for the amount they originally told us. Mr Orlando, who spoke out to warn others of hidden costs, said there needed to be more accountability within the building industry and greater transparency around contract small print. You talk to anyone who is building now, their price increases are pretty much identical to what the grants were, the builders are just absorbing that, he said. However, a Summit Homes Group spokeswoman said the company had at all times acted properly and fairly in relation to its engagement with Mr Orlando, refunding the fees he paid and allowing him to keep the custom home design free of charge. When presented with the contract to construct the home, the clients were not prepared to proceed, she said.

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The introduction of the state and federal grants in 2020 created market conditions which gave rise to significant and unprecedented rises in labour, trade shortages and building material costs which could not be totally absorbed by Summit Homes Group. Regrettably, some of these increased costs had to be passed on to clients. Master Builders Association WA executive director John Gelavis said builders had been caught in the middle of an unprecedented situation. What were finding is, not only are the local trade prices going up for material, but also trade contractor pricing is going up, he said. Its not the builders fault; theyre caught in this process where the amount of increases is frequent and coming at a rapid rate of knots. The brickies rates have gone from $1.60 or $1.70 a brick up to $2.70 or $2.80 a brick  theyve almost doubled in price. Master Builders Association executive director John Gelavis (centre).

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Mr Gelavis said shortages in supplies such as timber and the inability to recruit interstate or international workers exasperated the problem. Every single region around the country is busy because of HomeBuilder so no ones looking to move interstate ... we are going to need to consider a skilled migration policy to facilitate the building in the next few years, he said. Nearly 18,000 West Australian residents applied for the full $25,000 HomeBuilder grant between June and December  more than four times what Treasury forecast. A further 22,671 applications were received for the state government Building Bonus to March 31. New Home Building Brokers managing director Tristan Kirkham said homeowner hopefuls were often unaware of conditions within their contracts which meant builders could pass on unforeseen additional costs. I think in certain situations people have dived in and not understood the ramifications, he said. Most builders will hold their price for 45 or 90 working days so you could be liable [for price increases] if it takes longer than that to get shire approval or if a client doesnt have finance ready.

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The builders can go back saying, Look the brickworks on this house are going up $7000, but some of the major builders are going back with huge numbers ... Ive seen up to $40,000 to $100,000 price increases on houses. Mr Kirkham said for those who did lock in a tight contract with a builder, the company was then at risk of financial stress. If the client signs a contract with a builder and theyre locked in tight and the builder cant go back to them because theyve done everything how theyre supposed to, that builder has to absorb all those increases on a home they sold which now is effectively under-sold unintentionally, and if theyve done that for a lot of homes, that can pull a builder under, he said. Its not a blame game, its just a circumstantial thing how this has happened so right now people need to understand that if youre outside the terms of your contract, a builder has the right to review the price. Australian Bureau of Statistics director of construction statistics, Bill Becker, said building approval figures for February showed private sector housing in WA rose by 16.7 per cent  the second highest in the country after Queensland (25.4 per cent). Dual building stimulus grants have meant thousands of homes in WA are at a similar stage of construction, pushing brickwork costs to nearly double. Credit:Heather McNeill Since the introduction of the HomeBuilder grant in June 2020, [national] private house approvals have risen by almost 70 per cent, he said.

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On a sad weekend for the British Royal family a Tipperary farm is celebrating the arrival of two of Queen Elizabeth's farming stock to their farm.

Two Scottish Highland heifers, straight from the Royal fold at Balmoral Castle, have arrived in Holycross village. Fresh from the ownership of Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip, the two heifers are now owned by Holycross' Philip and Liz Quinn who are privileged to have been chosen to receive the animal. The Royal family very rarely sell any of their stock, so to get two of the eight arriving in Ireland is a major deal.

Speaking to the local media Liz Quinn said: We bought two Scottish Highland heifers from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. They arrived from Balmoral Castle on Monday morning and this is very special for us as they are the first Balmoral heifers to come into Ireland.

She added: Eight in total have come into the country, and we're lucky enough to get two of them. We already have three Scottish Highland cows, two calves and a bull - all are pedigree and registered with the Scottish Highland Society. We are hoping to breed from our two new Balmoral Heifers. They are the most placid, docile animals and they are a familiar sight here to a lot of the walkers in Holycross, who walk around our field.

She added: The calves are particularly friendly and love a scratch on the neck and the cows are very fond of bread and love to be fed by hand. The breed is quite small in height, with very short legs and they have enormous horns, which must be left on them as these are their cooling system. They have very thick hides and long coats which provides them with great insulation- they really are made for the Highlands.

Liz explained that the family have a connection with Dochy Ormiston, Balmorals stock manager and secured the purchase of 10 cattle from the estate in recent weeks.

The other cattle from Ballymoral to arrive in Ireland went to farms in Longford, Waterford Kerry and Omagh.
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On this week's show, RFE/RL media-relations manager Muhammad Tahir moderates a discussion about gender violence in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and why officials in those two countries seem unable to effectively combat it.
Browne jailed for seven years four months after admitting grievous bodily harm

The 4ft sword hit a Met officer partially severing his finger and breaking his hand

Shocking footage shows the moment a police officer's finger is partially severed after a man pulls out a hidden four-foot-long sword.

Footage captured on bodycam shows Anthony Browne, 63, suddenly lunging towards the officer after pulling the large weapon from behind his back at a property in Dagenham, east London.

The Met police officer, who was attending the home on reports of a man behaving aggressively, was hit by the sword which broke his hand and partially severed his finger.

Browne was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault.

He was jailed for seven years and four months after admitting to GBH at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 16 April.

The officer was taken to an east London hospital for treatment. His injuries were not life-threatening but required surgery and ongoing treatment.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Clayman said: 'Anyone watching the body-worn video footage will agree that it is completely unacceptable that officers are met with extreme violence like this.

The Met police officer, who was attending the home on reports of Anthony Browne, 63, (pictured) behaving aggressively, was hit by the sword which partially severed his finger

Here Browne can be seen charging towards the officer as he tries to detain him

The officer pushed Browne to the ground grabbing the weapon from his hand

'The officer's colleagues were certainly quickly on scene when the alarm was raised.

'The fact his injuries were not life-threatening was fortunate, particularly for Browne, who could have found himself facing even more serious charges.

'I'm quite sure that this will have a lasting impact on the officer concerned who showed great courage in the face of danger.

'The dramatic escalation of violence and aggression showed by Browne highlights both the bravery and risks police officers often face, particularly in someone's own home.

Anthony Browne (pictured) of Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, was sentenced to seven years and four months' imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, April 16

'It also demonstrates that anyone who assaults an officer whilst carrying out their duty, no matter what the circumstances, will find themselves before the courts, so be warned.'

The incident happened when police attended a Dagenham address after reports of a disturbance and a man behaving aggressively at 7.40pm on 30 November last year.

Officers were confronted by Browne who started brandishing the sword and waving it in the officers' faces - Browne was tasered and detained by the officer.
Zuber Khan Who Plays Sushant Singh Rajput In Nyay Reacts To Criticism Says, I Know Him More Personally Than You Guys"

Nyay: The Justice, a film based on the life of actor Sushant Singh Rajput whose death shocked the nation last year, has recently come under a lot of criticism. The movies teaser released recently and sheds light on the investigation that followed the actors death.

Fans of Sushant who have been demanding justice for his death for several months now were enraged on seeing the teaser which claims that the actor committed suicide and wondered if the makers even bothered taking the familys permission before making the film.

Actor Zuber Khan who plays Sushant Singh Rajput in Nyay: The Justice has opened up about all the criticism the film has been facing. Talking to Times Now he said that since hes an actor the only way he could see he can pay a tribute to the late actor is through the movie.

Zuber said that he knew the late actor personally and while filming he could hear the actors voice, I know him more personally than you guys. More than how much you guys are connected to him, I more connected to him. When I was shooting, I was getting echoes of his voice, when he used to tell me everything. I have gone through that phase. I think people are right, their sentiments are connected but at the same time, I am also connected and I have to give tribute to him by my own acting, which I did and trying to do.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zuber k khan (@zuberkkhan)

I never thought whether people will love it or not, I wanted to give him a tribute by my acting, which I did. That's my personal motive, my personal agenda and that's why I wanted to do this film, he added.

Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Priyanka recently took to Twitter and without naming the movie called out people for invading the familys privacy without consent and called all such attempts a misappropriation of name of our beloved Sushant which is most unflattering and unfitting.

She further threatened to take legal action against such perpetrators.
The Czech Republic is expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in an ammunition depot explosion in 2014, its government said on Saturday, Reuters reported.

The central European country is a NATO and EU member state, and the expulsions and allegations have triggered its biggest row with Russia since the end of the communist era in 1989.

Its actions could prompt Russia to consider closing the Czech Republics embassy in Moscow, a diplomatic source cited by Russian news agency Interfax suggested.
In the Rush to Socialism, Biden Is Channeling the Worst of FDRBullying the Supreme Court

Commentary

The Democrats are undertaking a full court press in an effort to transform the American form of government into their big-government dream. Their latest push includes an effort to pack the Supreme Court with what would be four liberal justices and a push to eliminate the filibuster in the Senate.

In doing so, the Washington Democrats are channeling the worst of their patron saint, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR).

Few know that when FDR was campaigning for president against Herbert Hoover, FDR ridiculed Hoover for excessive socialist spending. In response to the stock market crash of 1929, Hoover had increased federal spending from $3 billion per year to $4 billion per year. In todays dollars, that would be $63 billion per yearyes, thats how small our government was pre-New Deal.

After his victory, when FDR became president, he did an about-face and dwarfed Hoovers record $4 billion per year spending with New Deal and War spending that reached $39 billion per year.

In order to get his way, the Democrats of the age discarded traditional constitutional practice and, for his part, FDR outright bullied the Supreme Court.

Few remember that FDRs first New Deal legislative package was rejected by the Supreme Court. It was declared unconstitutional.

They stated that extraordinary conditions may call for extraordinary remedies. But the argument necessarily stops short of an attempt to justify action which lies outside the sphere of constitutional authority.

Clearly, the Supreme Court of that time, like our founders, didnt believe the Constitution provided for central planning government.

FDR, however, wasnt interested in such legalisms. On the contrary, FDR asserted that Americans cannot seriously be alarmed when they cry unconstitutional at every effort to better the condition of our people.

According to FDR, We will no longer be permitted to sacrifice each generation in turn while the law catches up with life.

The law that FDR thought needed to catch up was the Constitution. He demanded that it be changed to fit his big-government agenda. FDR believed he knew better than all those who had gone before and, therefore, the Constitution of greater than 140 years shouldnt be an impediment.

He then set about pressuring the Supreme Court by proposing legislation that came to be known as FDRs court-packing scheme. He was eventually rewarded for his bullying when one justice retired and another flipped his vote. The New Deal then became law, and the United States has never been the same. The New Deal paved the way for the largest expansion of government in our history.

To be sure, the current Washington Democrats have studied FDR.

They have no intention of allowing legalisms to get in their way. The law will not be a serious impediment for them.

Theyre willing to disregard the filibuster to push through record spending. If they have to, instead of proposing a spending bill and subjecting it to a vote of the House and a possible Senate filibuster, they will use a legal sleight of hand, the reconciliation process, to pass the law by a majority vote.

As for the Supreme Court, Democrat Senate leader Chuck Schumer already threatened the Supreme Court in early 2020, which threat even got the pliable Chief Justice John Roberts to cry foul.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, despite years of lambasting court-packing schemes, candidate Joe Biden refused to answer whether he would support the plan of some Democrats to pack the Court. Now that he is in office, Joe Bidens intent is clearhe created a commission to study the idea.

The threat to the Supreme Court is palpable and some would say its having an effect on their decisions already.

Will enough Democrats go along with a plan to pack the Supreme Court? Or will the likes of Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema follow Ruth Bader Ginsburgs warning against making the Supreme Court a political branch of government and balk at such a disruptive tactic?

Only time will tell, but given the breakneck speed Democrats are moving to push their immigration, Green New Deal, and spending policies, thoughtful reflection seems out of the question for them.

On the contrary, they know their policies arent popular with a majority of Americans. They also know that even if they lose the House in two years, their big government spending programs will remain. That is the real victory they seek.

As for the Constitution, in their mind, it will just have to catch up. For the rest of us, however, it is the constitutional test of our lifetime.

Thomas Del Beccaro is an acclaimed author, speaker, Fox News, Fox Business, and Epoch Times opinion writer, and former chairman of the California Republican Party. He is the author of the historical perspectives The Divided Era and The New Conservative Paradigm.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
For about one hour and forty minutes, the former President entertained questions that he never knew were coming to him and which he dissected with the scapular of a profound-minded man. His answers were sharp and accurate, a manifestation of his depth and we didnt have to wonder longer where those books on his tables, shelf and virtually everywhere, were deployed.

Did I promise President Olusegun Obasanjo that there would be a rematch? I cannot remember precisely. But here we were, about 20 years after; he having left the office of the President of Nigeria, with his home at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and I, having left the Tribune newspaper, whose platform had brought me to interview him. We had met in 2001 or so at the Villa for the monthly programme of the office of the President called the Presidential Media Chat, beamed live by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Mr. John Momoh of Channels Television anchored the interview. Aside from me, other colleagues  Nkechi Nwankwo of the Champion newspaper and one other journalist from the New Nigerian  completed the interview ensemble. Obasanjo had been in office for barely a year or so and like the biblical Israelites who grumbled about their existential privations in the wilderness and salivated for their Egyptian past, Nigerians had begun to complain about his administration. Then, seated before the No. 1 citizen of Nigeria, with the panoply of power and the majesty of office that he hung around his neck like a talismanic necklace, watched by millions of Nigerians, I felt it would be irresponsible of me not to let Obasanjo know about the dissenting murmurs of Nigerians on the streets, warts and all.

Mr. President, perhaps because of my closeness to that specie of Nigerians called the common manwhich affords me the opportunity of being close to him, perhaps more than you, I hear his complaints every time. The common man is saying that the life he lived under the military was better than the life he lives now under your administration and in a democracy. Are you bothered, Mr. President?, I asked Obasanjo when it was my turn to fire a salvo of questions at him.

Before us, away from the camera of the NTA, was a coterie of aides who, from their remarks after the interview, didnt take kindly to my seeming acidic jab at the President. I still remember Onyema Ugochukwu and the late Mr. Tunji Oseni, his Chief Press Secretary among that crew. Mr. Oseni particularly believed that I must have been sent on an evil assignment to embarrass the President by his political traducers. Obasanjo himself found the question diffident and confrontational. His eyes dilated as he responded. In answering, the President began a catalogue of all his achievements since inauguration in 1999 and ended with a riposte that still rings in my mind till this day, dont let us put words that he did not say in the mouth of the common man.

On Friday, April 16, 2021, an opportunity presented itself again to interview Obasanjo, now a former President, and this time in his house on the Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on behalf of an international institute. The crew and I had arrived the house at about 9am. Arresting, imposing but not vulgar, Obasanjos house will surely make you ponder on its aesthetics. The ambience of the Boulevard is mesmerising and presidential. You would think you are in a mini-presidential villa. The environment was very serene as we drove into the boulevard, with rocks in about two spots in the surrounding as if they are artistic impressions. So also is a small stream on the way to the particular home where the former president lives. On our way, we drove past the Presidential Library and some other sections of the Boulevard. The home is indeed a city of its own. Soon, we were in the front of a three-storey building where the former president has made his home. Promptly, we were taken upstairs in an elevator.

The house where the twice Head of State of Nigeria lives, as said earlier, is humongous but doesnt reek of vulgar opulence. Like a scientist observing a queer object just fallen from Mars, I scanned Obasanjos living room with scientific scrutiny when we were eventually ushered in there. The walls are a screed with majesty that you could almost see yourself inside the mirror that it looks like. The floor, done in shining marble of black and grey, complements the beauty. Nothing proclaims the majesty of the house. Neat and orderly with an obsessive dosage of artistic carvings, you would wonder if you were in a traditional shrine. When you remember that it was during his time that Nigeria celebrated FESTAC 77, you would then realise that Obasanjo is a great lover of art and in love with African ornaments.

A stern-faced security operative, most likely an official of the Department for State Services (DSS), stood observing every movement round the living room. His scant staff of about four also moved round to perform their morning chores, while courteous without being intrusive. Perhaps to underscore his famed love of the traditional game of ayo olopon, the former President has about three of them in his living room, uniquely done upon wood carvings. A particular one, which he seems to use frequently, has his brown chair beside it and a similar brown seat for his player opponent. Standing and seemingly ministering to the players is another black wood carving of a woman with pointed breasts, a wrapper strapped round her waist. She carries an offering basket of libations, if you like. Wherever you go in the house, there are hand sanitisers. Indeed, on the table beside Obasanjos frequently used ayo olopon are three sanitiser jars, a pack of serviette paper and a daily prayer book. Pictures of him, that of his wife, Bola, and late wife, Stella, compete with the carvings, all of which are placed on the floor. A particular carving of all the three major Nigerian nationalities competes with others. On it is an Igbo blowing a flute, a Yoruba beating the bata drum and an Hausa blowing his horn. If time permits, I muttered to myself, I would ask Obasanjo if he still believes in that nationalism of his of yore, judging by how the Nigerian presidency has descended into the sewers of ethnicity and religion today.

We then moved into Obasanjos office for the interview. This is also a not-too-big space but it is beautiful. The former president seems to be in love with the brown colour. Dominated by the colour brown, the office walls are also a screed of orange and light orange colours, with brown floor tiles as well. In the office are three different writing tables and chairs, as well as a conference table with yellow coloured chairs and a couch. On the conference table are books and papers. An imposing marble table stands jauntily in the office. My sparse French didnt allow me take in what is written on it, which begins with, Cadeau Offert A Son Excellence. I, however, was able to decode that the marble table was apparently given to Obasanjo by then Togolese President, Gnasingbe Eyadema, on September 8, 1978, during his official visit to Togo. In French it is written that it was presented to Lt General Obasanjo.

As if the litter of books was not enough, the office has a black book shelf, with neatly arranged books hidden inside its bosom. Books of different kinds like one entitled, The Awo I knew, Ngugi wa Thiongos Wizard of the Crow, biographies of Lamidi Adedibu and Tony Blair, a book written on the stormy petrel of Ibadan politics, Adegoke Adelabu, TD Jakes books, one entitled Life Overflowing and Segun Adeniyis book, Power, Politics and Death, all lay inside the shelf. One thing of uniqueness is that there is quite a dosage of religious books therein as well, one of which is a Daily Guide. Jutting out from the orifice of the shelf was a small inscription with a biblical quotation from John 14: 1 and the word, Believe.

Questions then began to roll, the first being on Africas agricultural challenge, at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Obasanjo mesmerised everybody with his profound reply to the question. Though the pandemic had caught Africa unawares but the fact remains that, since food is essential to us on the continent, Africa must double its efforts to swim ashore.

At about 9.50 am, the former president entered the venue of the interview. He has aged a lot since I last met him about 20 years ago. Did I notice that he has shrunk too? His tribal marks also seem to have disappeared. His gait is still soldierly. He wore a blue shirt and trousers, with the shirt having a red underground lining and a brown pair of sandals, complemented by a blue Yoruba cap. He wore a white nose mask, apparently locally sown. A black pen jutted out of his chest pocket and a silver wristwatch dangled on his wrist. I did a mental calculation. Everything on the man nicknamed OBJ couldnt be up to N15,000. His slippers were locally made and when he sat to begin the interview and his trousers edged up, I scanned his legs, decorated with healed wounds on the tip of the trousers.

Knuckle greetings exchanged between the ex-President and the crew, and he sat down to the interview. Obasanjo displayed a very sharp brain, as usual, sauced with dosages of wit and a profound mastery of issues. His memory was wonderful, like an elephants. At some point, he used his right fingers to remove the nail on the left finger.

The interview then began properly. Unfortunately, the institute I represented made it known to me, ab initio, that the session was to be strictly scientific and not political nor even social. With this, I was constrained in asking the man nicknamed OBJ the questions that bothered me. We were three on the interview; I, a Kenyan colleague simply named Charity, and another young lady called Dolapo. Charity was to conduct her session of the interview virtually. When Obasanjo was told about the arrangement, he reminded the crew that he is an old man whose auditory appreciation is not as perfect as those of the younger ones. He then continued: A friend of mine once said that old age is a disease. So I have got disease of old age. Although I am old, I am not ready for departure. They have bought me my ticket but I havent taken my boarding pass yet. We were almost rolling on the ground with laughter. Charity didnt get what Obasanjo meant and asked, Are you planning to travel shortly, Your Excellency? To this, Obasanjo replied: Yes, I will travel to my Maker someday I will not take the boarding pass yet. And you know that when they buy the ticket, I will collect the boarding pass this will take some time. Then I get to the departure lounge and all that!

Obasanjo asked Charity how Kenya was doing but before she answered, he replied, My two friends  Uhuru and Rahila are working together, which is very good.

Questions then began to roll, the first being on Africas agricultural challenge, at a time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Obasanjo mesmerised everybody with his profound reply to the question. Though the pandemic had caught Africa unawares but the fact remains that, since food is essential to us on the continent, Africa must double its efforts to swim ashore. He was again asked what linkage democracy and good governance have with agriculture. One would think Obasanjo was a professor in his delivery as he answered the question so eloquently: There can be no substitute for good governance. If you look after the wellbeing of the people, you get the best out of them.

What looked like a social question was that posed to the former president when asked to assess what has become of Nigeria since all the lofty policies he put in place in his eight years of governance. As usual, he cleared his throat before answering: What you are asking me to do is to write a confidential report on my successors in government. That is not what I normally would have wanted to do but since you have asked me, I will try to do it in a way. He spoke about how, when he came into government, Nigeria was in a very bad shape, economically and socially. He said many people came to him and told him matter-of-factly that the Nigerian situation was so bad that he would be the last president of Nigeria, as after him there would be no more Nigeria. He then promised them all that he would give leadership and give himself in totality to the task at hand.

The first thing he said he realised what that Nigeria needed a lot of reforms, as no one can remain stagnant and make progress. He said he found out that Nigeria was heavily indebted and was spending about $3.5 billion to service her debt per annum and yet the quantum of debt was not going down. He then went on a debt relief evangelism all over the world; to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and others. Eventually, said Obasanjo, Nigeria got debt relief, with almost $20 billion written off by its creditors. Nigeria then paid off about $12 billion, with her quantum of debt remaining only $3.6 billion, from about $36 billion.

I remember my friend, the President of Algeria, came to me then and asked, how did you do it? I am also in debt. I told him to try his luck. He went round and didnt get even a dime as debt relief. If that was done about 15 years ago and then today, we are in debt, more than when I was in government, I leave that judgment to anybody to say whether those who came into government after me did what is right or followed the example that I laid or not.

why is Nigeria so blest, apologies to Ayi Kwei Armah, with a regression in the quality of leadership, since 1999? The most gratifying thing would have been for Nigeria to be able to boast of a leader after Obasanjo who was far deeper, far more cerebral and far more committed to the Nigerian nationhood template. In this regression, Obasanjo himself is culpable

Obasanjo also gave the instance of cocoa production, which he said, when he took over, was 150,000 metric tones. There were nine states in Nigeria that were cocoa-producing states. He said he got them together to pay attention to the crop and with about $15 million from Cocoa Alliance when it was disbanded. That money, he said, was being deployed into frolicking all over the world by officials. He said he stopped the jamboree and deployed the money into the revitalisation of cocoa production. Thus, from 2003 to 2007, he said his government increased cocoa production from 150,000 metric tones to 400,000 metric tons. Though he confessed that he couldnt meet his projection of 1 million metric tones, yet he wondered what sad state cocoa production is in today. He said President John Kufour once jokingly told him to leave cocoa production for his country and concentrate on other areas and he also jokingly but blatantly refused this suggestion.

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Obasanjo also spoke of how driven he was for service delivery in government immediately he got into office. According to him, he put a call through to Prime Minister Blair and asked for assistance. He, in turn, sent a lady in charge of the programme in his UK cabinet, who set it up for Nigeria. I dont hear of anyone talking about service delivery any longer in Nigeria today. In fact, all that we set up has disappeared. So you asked, am I satisfied? No. How can I be satisfied when the bridge I constructed has either been removed or destroyed in most cases? In every human activities, leadership matters. I see this even in my own little agric-business. Explaining, he said that when he was put in jail, when he was in government, which he called the golden cage and all the time he didnt pay enough attention to it, his agric-business suffered.

Obasanjo also dovetailed into why he chose farming after leaving the Olympian height of a two-term presidency of Nigeria. I was born in a village, he began. My parents never went to school. I was going to farm with my father and never went to school until I was nine years of age. Even with my joining the army and becoming the Head of State, the village didnt go out of me. Though I was out of the village, I was at heart a rural and village boy, in spite of opportunities I have had to live in cities. Also, I left my career too early; I left the army at the age of 42, too young, too early and I left at the height of my military career. I couldnt be going with brief cases to government offices asking what to supply. What was left to me was agriculture. He said he took an agric-guaranteed loan of $1 vmillion by the Central Bank, which was almost equivalent to N2bmillion at that time and went for three months training at the Moore Plantation  developed by the colonial lords in the South for research and training in agriculture, after leaving Dodan Barracks. He also said that he wrote the proposal for his loan in the school.

Obasanjo confessed however that by writing Farming as his profession on his international passport, he nearly once got into problem in Canada when, at the Immigration, upon seeing his passport, they asked him to step aside for further interrogation. His friend who he had gone to see, who came in later, was to explain to him that farming was seen as a bottom of the ladder profession. For a farmer to radiate the luxury of travelling down to Canada to see his friend was queer to the Canadian immigration.

The interview went on and on, with Obasanjo demonstrating a quantum of mental energy that was baffling. I eavesdropped on one of his staff saying that he had gone to play squash early in the morning and had also joined our Islamic brothers in this period of fasting. For about one hour and forty minutes, the former President entertained questions that he never knew were coming to him and which he dissected with the scapular of a profound-minded man. His answers were sharp and accurate, a manifestation of his depth and we didnt have to wonder longer where those books on his tables, shelf and virtually everywhere, were deployed.

As he spoke, I placed him side-by-side all the presidents after him, in terms of depth and commitment to the Nigerian nationhood and I shook my head. To place him side-by-side President Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, would be a criminal comparison. Whoever attempted it should be tied to the stakes and shot. But why is Nigeria so blest, apologies to Ayi Kwei Armah, with a regression in the quality of leadership, since 1999? The most gratifying thing would have been for Nigeria to be able to boast of a leader after Obasanjo who was far deeper, far more cerebral and far more committed to the Nigerian nationhood template. In this regression, Obasanjo himself is culpable as he was instrumental to getting Nigeria the Buharis who have become gross afflictions on the Nigerian state.

To demonstrate his energy, after the interview and Obasanjo was about to leave, he jumped up three times like a toddler and before we could recite Twinkle Twinkle Litter Stars, the man they nicknamed Ebora Owu had disappeared from view.

Peculiar Patterns of Patamis Boko Haram Trajectory

Pantami should not be blamed. The blame should fall squarely at the feet of President Muhammadu Buhari, his appointor, and the Nigerian state whose feeble binoculars could not pinpoint and pin those damaging and dangerous views ascribed to the Minister. Why I do not blame Buhari himself but the Nigerian electors who voted him into office as president, is that

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been in the eye of the storm in the last few days. The major allegation against him is that in the recent past, he canvassed seismic views in support of his Islamic sect, said to be an extremist Salafist group, and shared opinions on pulpits which suggested that he had affinity with insurgency, which is said to be running in his blood. These, the allegation further claims, are manifest in the extremist views Pantami has held and the blatant hatred he is said to have for people of other religions.

Pantami has, however, been struggling to disclaim the allegations. To buttress his declamation of the allegations, the Minister has been fighting frenetically to defend himself. For instance, though he admits to have started as an Islamic preacher at the age of 13, he claims that in the last two decades, he has been invited to and travelled to places like Niger Republic, Katsina, Borno, and Gombe, among other northern states and his preachings have been a denunciation of the Boko Haram ideology and Islamic fundamentalism. Unfortunately, however, video evidence against him, especially as made available on YouTube and by the Peoples Gazette newspaper, suggests the contrary. Pantami, in the videos being shared, was seen fraternising with the destructive views of Bin Laden and he justified the killing of kafirs.

Those who have attempted to exculpate the minister from the charge of sharing indecipherable opinions and an ideology with insurgents, as well as those who claim that Pantami has since distanced himself from those views since he became minister, are spewing bunkum. First, what forensic sieve did they use to determine that he has been purged of such views? What assurance is there that someone who canvassed such demonic views isnt a mole in government for the insurgents and is not funding these terrorist cells? While anyone can share or hold any seismic view that they subscribe to, whether religious or political and whether now or previously, so far as such view is not at variance with the laws of the land, they are in the clear. The state must, however, ensure that holders of such divisive views, which contravene the secularity of the state, must be held far off from the levers of power. That is the crime of the Nigerian state; allowing Pantami to rise to the level he has risen in the affairs of the Nigerian state.

The truth is that many Northern elders unfortunately share huge slices of opinion that are similar to Pantami and Buharis. It is why insurgency is festering in the land like ferns in a plantation. In a saner clime, Pantami would have resigned if he still retains any modicum of honour left in him.

To be sure, Pantamis religious views are not different from those of Sheikh Gumi, the man who has turned himself into the religious avatar whose chosen path is that of going inside the forest to mediate and negotiate between bandits and the Nigerian state. Gumi too has sought to canonise bandits and even insurgents by saying that Nigeria misunderstands them. He is free to trade such irresponsible views too. The problem will arise the day Gumi seeks to handle one of the instruments of administration of a secular Nigerian state.

That is why Pantami should not be blamed. The blame should fall squarely at the feet of President Muhammadu Buhari, his appointor, and the Nigerian state whose feeble binoculars could not pinpoint and pin those damaging and dangerous views ascribed to the Minister. Why I do not blame Buhari himself but the Nigerian electors who voted him into office as president, is that, there seems not to be too much difference between the views held by Pantami and even Buhari himself before the latter became president. We were not too young to read and watch on television Buhari fuming and saying that if he was rigged out of the presidential election, the dogs and the baboons would be soaked in blood. That is an insurgents philosophy. This same man upbraided the Goodluck Jonathan government for attacking Boko Haram insurgents and said that every shelling of the insurgents was an attack against the North.

The truth is that many Northern elders unfortunately share huge slices of opinion that are similar to Pantami and Buharis. It is why insurgency is festering in the land like ferns in a plantation. In a saner clime, Pantami would have resigned if he still retains any modicum of honour left in him. But, this is Nigeria; he wont resign. Has President Buhari himself resigned?

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.
This week in Christian history: Spiritual writers born-again experience, Richard Mather dies

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Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births, notable deaths and everything in between.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while other happenings might be previously unknown by most people.

The following pages highlight events that happened this week  April 18 through April 24  in Christian history.

They include the birth of a prominent British Christian philanthropist, the conversion of an influential 19th century theology student, and the death of the father of Puritan minister Increase Mather.

Angela Burdett born  April 21, 1814

This week marks the anniversary of when Angela Burdett, a prominent wealthy Christian woman known for her charitable donations, was born in London, England.

Born into wealth and eventually attaining the title of baroness, Burdett was known for her extensive giving to projects aimed at elevating the poor and advancing the Church of England.

Burdett saw her sudden wealth as a God-sent opportunity for doing good. Deeply religious, she was strongly attached to the Church of England, and many of her charities were connected with it, noted the Christian History Institute.

Among her proposals were the erection of churches in England and endowment of new dioceses in Britains colonies.

Burdett would die of bronchitis in 1906 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, with King Edward VII having reportedly said that she was after my mother, the most remarkable woman in the kingdom.

James Brainerd Taylor converts  April 23, 1822

This week marks the anniversary of when James Brainerd Taylor, a native of Connecticut whose spiritual writings influenced the faith walks of others, had a born-again experience.

A theology student who died before age 30 due to chronic illness, Taylor was active in religious revivals in New Jersey and helped to found a local Bible society, as well as a Sunday School for African Americans.

Six years after first declaring his conversion to Christianity as a teenager living in New York, Taylor had what was described as a second conversion while in college.

This experience had a very strong bearing on Taylor's religious character and his whole future conduct and was joyfully remembered and referred to by Taylor months and years after its occurrence, explained Uncommon Christian Ministries.

This intensely dramatic, second conversion experience later attracted the attention of Charles Finney and many other nineteenth-century advocates of the various forms of the Arminian/Wesleyan holiness theology.

Richard Mather dies  April 22, 1669

This week marks the anniversary of when Richard Mather, the father of Puritan minister Increase Mather and the grandfather of Cotton Mather, died in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

A native of Lowton, Lancashire, England, Mather migrated to the English colony of Massachusetts and became a prominent minister, teacher, and writer in Dorchester.

Richards most respected work is his summation of principles as adopted at the Cambridge Synod of 1648 and considered to be the clearest statement of Puritan Congregationalism, noted Britannica.

He is remembered for his part, with other ministers, in the literal translation of the Psalms for the Bay Psalm Book (1640), which were set to already accepted tunes; in his preface to that work, Richard excused the terrible results by explaining that the editors would not take poeticall licence to depart from the true and proper sence of Davids words.
While double-masked and cleaning houses all day, Banessa Quiroga carries around a gallon of water to keep herself hydrated. She hears her stomach rumble and feels dizzy while mopping floors and scrubbing bathtubs. And when she comes home, the 34-year-old mother prays for the government to find compassion for the states 460,000 undocumented residents.

Quiroga has lived in New Jersey for 14 years, and has held a job since she illegally crossed the border to America from Peru in 2007. She and her husband pay thousands in taxes every year, using a special number the IRS issues to residents without Social Security numbers.

They lost their jobs  hers cleaning houses, his in construction  for more than three months when the coronavirus pandemic upended life, and still work fewer hours. Theyve been excluded from unemployment benefits, stimulus packages, and most other forms of financial relief.

Were in their towns, their communities, and they need us to work and pay taxes. And I hopeful that because we paid taxes, something would come back for us and wed be counted in relief. I said, Thank God we live in this marvelous state, she said in a phone interview. But every day that went by, we lost hope.

After more than 400 days without access to relief funds, 34 undocumented immigrants and allies, including Quiroga, are on a hunger strike until Gov. Phil Murphy or the state Legislature commits to meaningful relief for excluded workers. Sunday marked the 12th day of the fast.

I get that Ive been here illegally because we crossed a border. But put yourself in our shoes  we do work no one else wants to do, like work in freezers and on farms and clean bathrooms without any breaks or places to sit down. But I pay taxes like every other American citizen, and I assumed one day it would come back to help me, she said.

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Quiroga said one of her biggest fears is arriving in her Elizabeth apartment to turn on the lights, and being left in a dark room. She owes $1,400 in electricity bills, $1,500 in gas, and $350 for internet service  down from $800 after working on a payment plan so her son can continue studying from home. She also gives $100 to $150 to her landlord each week to try to catch up on rent.

Shes not asking for a handout, she said, shes asking for help after contributing taxes. She pointed to the $600 million undocumented immigrants contribute in state and local taxes each year, including $1 billion the the unemployment fund over the last decade, according to a study done by Make the Road New Jersey, the Elizabeth-based group that works with Latino immigrants and is organizing the hunger strike.

Days after the hunger strike began, Murphy officials floated the idea of a $40 million fund for excluded workers during a phone call with progressive immigrant advocacy groups, including Make the Road, New Jersey Immigrant Alliance for Justice, and New Jersey Policy Perspective. Advocacy groups balked, saying far more money is needed to help the undocumented workers who have been accumulating debt since the pandemic began.

The governors office declined to comment on the phone call or potential fund. But Murphy said during a coronavirus press briefing he has been looking for a way to find money  whether allocating state funds or federal stimulus dollars  to help our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Quiroga said Murphy shouldnt keep referring to the community like family if hes only willing to give $40 million, which would come out to $96 per person if split evenly, or roughly $600 to taxpaying households.

He says were his brothers and sisters and were a foundation of New Jersey, but then he doesnt act. It makes me think he says it for re-election, like we should be happy about the drivers licenses and occupational licenses. But we need more and were going to keep fighting, said Quiroga, who has been rallying with Make the Road for over a year.

Protestors support undocumented immigrants who are excluded workers will begin hunger strike to protest not receiving any state or federal covid relief funds, outside the Statehouse Annex in Trenton, N.J. April, 7, 2021Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

Several other states are debating over if and how to help unauthorized residents, which typically are excluded from any federal funds. The New York State Legislature recently allocated $2.1 billion in the state budget for excluded workers, including undocumented immigrants who have to meet a strict set of requirements for a chance at either $15,600 or $3,200.

For 44-year-old Juan Mibelo, that amount of money would allow him to catch up on rent, buy more food, and give him some flexibility on going to work in a local factory while some of his coworkers feel sick.

I know I dont have a lot of rights, but I pay taxes anyway. And then you see legal people with papers, and they arent following the rules or paying all their taxes, but they get benefits anyway. Its very aggravating, because were people too, were all equal, and were not trying to bother anyone, he said.

After 11 days of no eating, he said he felt disheartened to hear how much state officials had proposed after a year of fighting and empty promises  not just with the governor, but also the Legislature, which hasnt taken up a vote in the Senate or Assembly on a bill, S2480, that would allocate $35 million to some tax-paying undocumented residents.

State Sen. Teresa Ruiz, sponsor of the bill, has been a vocal supporter of the undocumented community during the pandemic. The hunger strike has also gained the support of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,

Still, MIbelo says, its better than his home country of Ecuador, which he left three years ago after coming to New Jersey and overstaying his visa. There, he says, politics has become more dangerous and the labor market is volatile due to Venezuelans emigrating across South America.

Its not the same as here, you cant compare it at all. But I came here to give a good quality of life to my son and my daughter, and it hurts not to give them that, he said.

He left his job for six weeks at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but quickly ran out of savings and had to return to day jobs on construction sites. During the slow winter, he picked up a job at the factory where his wife worked, and hopes to find a second job in the construction industry. In Ecuador, he studied to be an architect and wishes he could find more opportunities in America.

Not working is not a choice for him, he explained. Thats why hes doing the hunger strike  to bring attention to the many days he and many other immigrants went without food during the pandemic, including the days his children were hungry.

Id love to see the lawmakers do a strike for just five days, and they can see what its like to not eat  and maybe you can survive  but theres nothing harder than watching your kids be hungry and not be able to do anything. Because then, they can speak from the heart, look at the world through our eyes and understand our hardships a little more, Mibelo said with pain in his voice. Maybe they can imagine it, but until they live it, its very hard.

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Sharon Osbourne has issued another diatribe over contemporary discussions of race, after she exited US chat show The Talk over a racism row.

The TV presenter appeared in her first interview since the incident on Real Time with Bill Maher, in which the pair complained about woke language.

Ive been called so many things in my life, I am so used to being called names, but a racist is one I will not take, Osbourne said.

Im going to be just fine, Im fine, as I said Im a fighter, Im fine.

She added: Its not fair, because it isnt about being a racist. Its about maybe about not knowing what is correct and woke for your language that day, because it changes from day to day.

Maher threw in: The idea in there is that you have two choices if you are white, you are either a racist or a racist and you dont know it.

Maher issued an apology in 2017 for dropping the N-word on live TV during an interview with Nebraska senator Ben Sasse.

Osbourne left The Talk in March after a heated debate with her former co-host Sheryl Underwood.

During the incident, Osbourne had defended her friend and fellow broadcaster Piers Morgan over his controversial criticism of a high-profile TV interview given by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and her husband, Prince Harry, with Oprah Winfrey.

This led to a clash with Underwood, who said Osbourne was giving validation to racist views in her support of Morgan.

Osbourne reacted strongly to the suggestion, claiming she felt like she was about to be put in the electric chair, as she clutched a tissue and told Underwood: And dont you try and cry, because if anyone should be crying, it should be me.

Broadcaster CBS later said Osbournes behaviour towards Underwood did not align with our values for a respectful workplace.
Zimbabwe on Saturday released more than 300 prisoners to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the country's overcrowded prisons, per the New York Times.

Driving the news: The latest round of prisoner releases comes as the country experiences another wave of the pandemic, driven in part by the more contagious B.1.351 variant first discovered in South Africa.

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Zimbabwe has recorded more than 37,500 COVID-19 cases and 1,552 deaths since the pandemic began, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Details: The prisoners are being released under a presidential amnesty program put in place by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018, per AP.

Those released are mostly nonviolent offenders.

Many were held in country's Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, which is known for overcrowding and poor conditions, according to the Times.

The big picture: The country's prisons have the capacity to hold about 17,000 prisoners, but they housed 22,000 before Mnangagwa declared the amnesty.

Zimbabwe released thousands of prisoners between March and June 2020, per the Times.

Of note: Saturday's move also comes "amid growing allegations that a government crackdown has sent dozens of activists, journalists and opposition leaders to prisons," the Times noted.

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The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi on Thursday toured the area to ascertain the level of progress on various development projects in the municipality



Escorted by a representative of the La Traditional Council, Nii Oten Granaky I, and staff of the Assembly, the first stop of the tour was the walled Royal Mausoleum which until recently had become a rubbish dumping ground.



He proceeded to inspect the completed and in-use two-storey GH7 million hundred percent Assembly funded La Market Complex, the La Presby Senior High S, School, the 1933 built La Home School, La Association Community Model Basic School, the Rangoon Camp "2" Basic School and the Chiringa Basic School at Burma Camp



Hon. Kotey also inspected work on the two-storey residence for the MCE and ongoing drain works in the municipality ahead of the rainy season to avoid the perennial floods in the area.



Briefing the media after over five-hour tour, Hon. Kotey, who has been in office for a little over one year told the media that his administration was committed to changing the face of La



On education infrastructure, Hon. Kotey Nikoi said changing the environment of schools has effect on the performance of students, saying "education is the very key to this Assembly because we believe it is the only means by which our people can develop".



To him, appointments to offices like his must be used to address challenges of the community to positively affect the lives of residents.



He declared this year as the year of Participatory Development which would rope in all enterprises and corporate institutions as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities









Recognizing that COVID - 19 might affect the revenue inflows of the Assembly, Hon. Kotey said other means, including property rates, would be explored to support development in the area.



Impressed with the quality of the work output of the MCE in his short spell at the Assembly, Nii Oten Granaky I called for the support of Hon. Kotey and for him to be able to do more for La.



"I commend you for doing wonderfully so well within this short period of time in office and behalf of the Traditional Authorities I appeal to the Presidency and the people of La to endorse another term for you to do more for Lamei.

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CLEVELAND -- The United States will not achieve herd immunity in its fight against COVID-19 unless it can overcome vaccine hesitancy among this nations 45 million adult, white evangelical Christians. According to a recent New York Times article, roughly 45% of that group, or 18 million adults, said they would not get vaccinated.

There are various reasons for this vaccine hesitancy. A woman quoted in the Times article spoke for many persons when she expressed concern that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed with the use of aborted fetal cell tissue. Even though a temporary pause has been announced concerning that vaccine, it is estimated that it may be back in use in weeks and not months. Thus, this issue is likely to remain an obstacle to reaching herd immunity.

Other reasons offered for vaccine hesitancy included how rapidly the vaccines were brought into use, the belief that COVID-19 can be treated with the use of the right nutrients, that faith in God can deliver people from infection and death, and that white people are less likely to contract and die from COVID-19 than are Black, Hispanic, or Native American people. Still others view this as a matter of religious liberty, where the government is trying to overrule individual religious beliefs.

Whatever the reason(s) might be, the sheer size of this group poses a significant threat to reaching herd immunity that would require between 70% and 85% of our population being vaccinated. Jamie Aten of Wheaton College, one of the most prominent evangelical schools in the country, said, If we cant get a significant number of white evangelicals to come around on this, the pandemic is going to last much longer than it needs to.

The Rev. Marvin McMickle is pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland.

There are several matters here that must be addressed.

First, opposition to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should not prevent people from being vaccinated with the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines whose development was not linked to use of fetal cell lines. Some Christian ethicists like Hilary Scarsella have observed that the use of aborted fetal cell lines in medical research can increase others chances of health and healing. That may be a way to offset the trauma abortions may cause for some people.

Second, can vaccine hesitancy be considered a matter of evangelical Christian faith, as that term has been understood for the last 300 years? High-profile evangelicals like Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress, and J.D. Greear, who is president of the Southern Baptist Convention, have all endorsed vaccine use. It should be noted that, when a group of Roman Catholic bishops in this country discouraged COVID-19 vaccinations for this same reason, Pope Francis intervened and encouraged his worldwide flock to be vaccinated.

Third, this is not in any way a religious liberty issue. Congress has passed no law regarding vaccinations that violate First Amendment rights. There is no national mandate regarding vaccination, and no fine or imprisonment awaiting those who fail to comply. No constitutional rights are being infringed upon for white evangelical Christians or any other religious community.

There is a reason why white evangelical Christians should rush to be vaccinated. At the heart of the Christian faith is our responsibility to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and to think as much about our responsibilities to one another as we do about our own personal welfare. Our nation is facing a once-in-a-century pandemic that has already infected nearly 32 million and claimed the lives of over 500,000 of our fellow citizens. That death rate will steadily increase if a significant portion of the U.S. population remains unvaccinated.

I ask this question of those who object to the use of fetal cell lines in vaccine development: Does your pro-life position extend only to the womb, or does it extend to the tomb, which is where thousands more persons are headed if this vaccine hesitancy based upon religious beliefs continues. I do not think Jesus said, I was sick, and you chose vaccine hesitancy.

The Rev. Marvin A. McMickle is pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland and retired president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York.

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The United States and China, the worlds two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to cooperate to curb climate change with urgency, just days before President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.

The agreement was reached by U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua during two days of talks in Shanghai last week, according to a joint statement.

The two countries are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands, said the statement, issued Saturday evening U.S. time.

Meeting with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, Kerry said the language in the statement is strong and that the two countries agreed on critical elements on where we have to go. But the former secretary of state said, I learned in diplomacy that you dont put your back on the words, you put on actions. We all need to see what happens.

China is the worlds biggest carbon emitter, followed by the United States. The two countries pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planets atmosphere. Their cooperation is key to the success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade and Chinas territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine such efforts.

Noting that China is the worlds biggest coal user, Kerry said he and Chinese officials had a lot of discussions on how to accelerate a global energy transition. I have never shied away from expressing our views shared by many, many people that it is imperative to reduce coal, everywhere, he said.

Su Wei, a member of the Chinese negotiation team, told state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday that a major accomplishment of the talks was restarting the dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States on climate change issues. Su said the two countries reached a consensus on key areas for future cooperation on climate issues.

Story continues

Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The U.S. and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.

Its unclear how much Kerrys China visit would promote U.S.-China cooperation on climate issues.

While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signaled Friday that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next weeks summit.

For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered, Le said during an interview with The Associated Press in Beijing. Some countries are asking China to achieve the goals earlier. I am afraid this is not very realistic.

During a video meeting with German and French leaders Friday, Xi said that climate change should not become a geopolitical chip, a target for attacking other countries or an excuse for trade barriers, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

On whether Xi would join the summit, Le said the Chinese side is actively studying the matter.

The joint statement said the two countries look forward to next weeks summit. Kerry said Sunday that we very much hope that (Xi) will take part in the summit but its up to China to make that decision.

Biden, who has said that fighting global warming is among his highest priorities, had the United States rejoin the historic 2015 Paris climate accord in the first hours of his presidency, undoing the U.S. withdrawal ordered by his predecessor Donald Trump.

Major emitters of greenhouse gases are preparing for the next U.N. climate summit taking place in Glasgow, U.K., in November. The summit aims to relaunch global efforts to keep rising global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) as agreed in the Paris accord.

According to the U.S.-China statement, the two countries would enhance their respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

It said both countries also intend to develop their respective long-term strategies before the Glasgow conference and take appropriate actions to maximize international investment and finance in support of the energy transition in developing countries.

Xi announced last year that China would be carbon-neutral by 2060 and aims to reach a peak in its emissions by 2030. In March, Chinas Communist Party pledged to reduce carbon emissions per unit of economic output by 18% over the next five years, in line with its goal for the previous five-year period. But environmentalists say China needs to do more.

Biden has pledged the U.S. will switch to an emissions-free power sector within 14 years, and have an entirely emissions-free economy by 2050. Kerry is also pushing other nations to commit to carbon neutrality by then.

___

Associated Press writers Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Huizhong Wu in Taipei, Taiwan contributed to this report.
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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have made regular visits to see the Queen after Prince Philip's death, with Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex also supporting Her Majesty, it has emerged.

The Queen was left sitting on her own during the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral yesterday at St George's Chapel in Windsor in tear-jerking images that shocked the nation.

However, the royals have rushed to her side following Philip's death, led by Andrew and his ex-wife with sources saying that Edward and Sophie have also spent 'a lot of time' supporting her.

As the Queen returns to life without her husband of 73 years she will also be staying at Windsor Castle with a 'bubble' of 22 Royal household staff, including some of her closest aides.

They include page Paul Whybrew, known as 'Tall Paul, who sits and watches TV with the Queen having starred alongside her in the James Bond sketch at the London 2012 Olympics.

Dresser Angela Kelly, who has been with the monarch since 1993 and has been described as her 'rock', will also stay close.

The other close aides include Ian Carmichael, her Glaswegian hair dresser who visited her on Friday and her Ladies-in-waiting Susan Hussey, who travelled in the car to the funeral with the Queen yesterday, and the longest serving lady Mary Morrison, known as Mossy.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II bows her head as she sits in St. George's Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip, the man who had been by her side for 73 years

The emotional Queen wipes away a tear in the back of the royal Bentley as she saw the procession carrying Prince Philip's coffin

The Queen's Bentley followed the coffin from the castle to the church, behind the Land Rover and her family. The procession included Prince Andrew and Prince Edward who have been regularly visiting the Queen since Philip's death

Her Majesty is only allowed to sit close to her close group of staff, dubbed 'HMS Bubble' by the master of the household Vice-Admiral Sir Tony John-stone-Burt last year.

Sir Tony wrote in an email sent to staff last year: 'There are 22 Royal Household staff inside the Bubble, and it struck me that our predicament is not dissimilar to my former life in the Royal Navy on a long overseas deployment.

'Indeed, the challenges that we are facing, whether self-isolating alone at home, or with our close household and families, have parallels with being at sea, away from home for many months, and having to deal with a sense of dislocation, anxiety and uncertainty.

'Regardless of the roles we perform, we do them to an exceptional standard to allow the Queen and other members to do their duty to the best of their ability, too.'

The Queen and Prince Philip were said to have enjoyed the joke, especially since the Duke's nickname was 'Big Bubble'.

Her Majesty has reportedly already restarted her duties as she has telephoned Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

But her governmental work will be carried out by another member of HMS bubble, Sir Edward Young - her private secretary.

Another member of HMS bubble is Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, the Duke of Edinburgh's private secretary.

There is a long history of monarchs growing close to their aides, such as Queen Victoria who grew close to her Scottish attendant, John Brown, and her Indian attendant, the Munshi.

The Queen wiped away tears and was forced to mourn alone away from her family in St George's Chapel during Prince Philip's Covid-hit Windsor Castle funeral yesterday as she said an emotional final goodbye to her 'strength and stay' after their extraordinary 73-year life together.

Her Majesty looked grief-stricken and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her beloved husband's coffin on its final journey while their eldest son Prince Charles cried as he walked behind the casket into church followed by other devastated royals.

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have been regularly visiting the Queen following Prince Philip's death

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex have also visited the Queen and spent a lot of time with her since Philip died at 99

Paul Whybrew (Queen Elizabeth II's page) leaves the Goring Hotel after attending a Christmas Lunch hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for her close members of staff

Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty The Queen Angela Kelly at Windsor Castle. She will be staying close to Her Majesty

The Queen stands alone as she watches Prince Philip's coffin being carried by soldiers on its final journey into St George's Chapel, Windsor today for the funeral of her beloved husband

The Queen left a personal, hand-written message to Prince Philip at his funeral service today. but the content of the note is not known

Her Majesty, with tears in her eyes, looks on after she had a moment of quiet reflection by her husband's coffin

The monarch had arrived at the service in the royal Bentley with her lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey, 81, widow of former BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey.

Such is her bond with the royal family that Lady Susan is one of the Duke of Cambridge's godparents, and also attended his confirmation in 1997.

During the past year she joined the Queen and Philip in HMS Bubble as one of about 20 staff who cared for the royal couple in lockdown at Windsor Castle.

Ladies-in-waiting are the unsung members of the Queen's household and are personally chosen by the monarch.

They have a variety of duties including attending to private and personal matters for the Queen and handling her correspondence.

They also assist the Queen on official engagements, from handing her money to being passed the bouquets of flowers presented to her.

The Royal Family stand at the bottom of the steps of St George's Chapel as the coffin is carried up into the church

The couple, pictured together on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in November 2007

In 2001, Lady Susan passed the Queen a pound coin so she could buy The Big Issue from a magazine seller while on an official day trip to Brighton.

She has also been present at unique moments in history - such as on the Spirit of Chartwell barge with the Queen and other members of the royal family for the Diamond Jubilee river pageant on the Thames in 2012.

Ladies-in-waiting often serve the Queen for more than 50 years and act as both friends and loyal assistants, and their discretion and support will be invaluable as the Queen mourns.

The late Marmaduke Hussey, who died in 2006, was BBC chairman when Diana, Princess of Wales gave her 1995 Panorama interview but, in accordance with tradition, he was not given a preview.

"Duke" Hussey was a leading newspaper industry executive for decades, taking the prestigious BBC post when he retired from News International.

Lady Susan is also a sister of the former Tory Cabinet minister William Waldegrave.
NEW YORK (AP) - Newly released court documents show an Ohio man arrested for bringing an unloaded, military-style rifle into a Times Square subway station was found by police sitting with the three-foot-long weapon lying on the floor, inches from his foot. A police officer says he recovered an ammunition magazine containing 17 rounds from a paper bag that was also on the floor near the 18-year-old man, Saadiq Teague, along with a loose round. An empty shell casing was found inside the his backpack. Teague, who faces three felony weapons possession charges, was held on a $25,000 cash bail at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Saturday.
What has Sinhala supremacy resulted in for the Sinhala people? View(s):

Meeting a rising tide of strange bedfellows (ie; monks, lawyers, democracy activists, nationalists) protesting against the highly charged Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill tabled in Parliament with just a few days to challenge in the Supreme Court, we hear shrill (state) Ministerial wailing to the effect that the Colombo Port City is a turning point for Sri Lanka.

Lavish confidence reposed in majoritarianism

Apparently this is the one thing, we are told, that will usher in a land of milk and honey, for the stupendously devalued Sri Lanka rupee to recover its lustre and for the miserably beaten down Podi Singho of this land to suddenly become prosperous. This claim is, of course, hilarious but one cannot blame politicians for the outrageous lies they weave. After all, the enormous power of a two-thirds majority in Parliament was conferred by an entirely gullible populace on current rulers based on those very same diabolical lies , despite warnings of dire consequences that would follow.

Now, the lavish confidence reposed in majoritarianism and ethnic dominance, (our Sinhala Buddhist leader, our Sinhala Buddhist nation) has turned full circle. In a generally sleepy Avurudu week, there is dark humor in the spectacle of a monk and a party-hopping parliamentarian, (who once held the ministerial portfolio of Justice no less) complaining in outrage that they had got abused by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for saying that the Port City would result in a Chinese colony in the country. Another monk complains bitterly that the Bill was tabled during the holidays so as to stop legal challenges.

As he says, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution had lessened the period within which a Bill can be challenged, to one week and we had just one day to file a legal challenge. Pray, did not these angrily spluttering complainants know the exact nature of the state beast that they had, with full intent and knowledge aforethought, unleashed upon the Sri Lankan people? What we had were twin evils, a juggernaut majority in the House held aloft on the wings of Sinhala supremacy and the elevation of the Presidency above the law (albeit a nod to limited presidential immunity) through the 20th Amendment?

Devious politicians rallying around racist calls

Are they infants not to realise the dangers therein of which they now complain with fury to a media which, incidentally, does not have the basic competence to call them out for their hypocrisy? Indeed, what has this so-called Sinhala supremacy got for the Sinhala people, except for devious politicians to use as a ralllying call for votes every time an election comes around? Each crisis that grips us is deadlier than the last, on top of massive economic devastation caused by the global pandemic we have the raping of virgin forest land and the agony of contaminated oils, spices and poisoned rice foisted on Sri Lankans by multinationals and corrupt businessmen hand in glove with ruling party politicians.

Instead of legitimate inquiry and the law being moved against suspects, there is denial and threats issued against those who expose the rackets. And even here, majoritarianism is paramount. So when a group of monks and a twittering Podujana party lawyer flocked to the offices of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) to lodge complaints against contaminated food products in the market and were kept waiting for several hours before being allowed in, a woman who was part of that group was heard to grumble loudly in front of television cameras, we are Sinhala Buddhists and we were stranded outside, why are we being treated like this?

This is the sum total of the sickness that has come upon the nation. Is it any wonder therefore that fraught events of the past one and a half years under this Presidency have defied predictions of even the most doleful pessimists? From a defined question of state accountability for abuses during conflict, we have progressed to a full blown crisis of the Rule of Law. Undoubtedly, this will aid and abet the push for international scrutiny of Sri Lanka which indeed forms the plank of Resolution 46/1 which was approved by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) recently.

Directly contrary to the separation of powers

But even with this clear warning to put ones house in order, there is no end, it seems to this gift that keeps giving, with glee as it were, almost if to cock the proverbial finger at the world. Thus, along with the fracas over the Port City Commission Bill, it is reported that the Prime Minister will move to present a Resolution in Parliament with intent to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry probing Incidents of Political Victimisation during the previous regime.

This is a truly startling proposal which flies directly in the face of the constitutional separation of powers. First, the Report of this Commission and the recommendations therein which severely impact on ongoing cases of corruption, emblematic human rights violations including the abduction and killing of children for ransom has already been challenged in the appellate courts by those directly affected by its findings. Those challenges are ongoing. Secondly, a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (established under Law No 7 of 1978) has been appointed to look into those very same recommendations.

This, by itself, is highly problematic given that this body has powers over and above ordinary fact finding Commissions, including the authority to recommend the imposition of civic disabilities. Thirdly, the Attorney General is empowered by law, indeed, the very Act (Act, No 48 of 1978 as amended) under which that Commission of Inquiry was established, to take action, to inquire further into the cases so highlighted. In that context, a Resolution tabled in Parliament by those who directly stand to benefit from the implementation of the Commissions findings, including members of the Rajapaksa family along with other Ministers who are the subject of judicial inquiry is an affront to the very idea of the Rule of Law.

The Government has yet to perform on its primary task

In fact, this goes one step further than what the JR Jayawardene Presidency, also with an overwhelming two thirds majority did in 1978, when the House nullified a decision of the Court of Appeal which had ruled against the vesting of retrospective powers in a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to look into the imposition of civic disabilities of late Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike. This is ugly constitutional history being reenacted with a vengeance. Moreover, it is reported almost unbelievably that prosecutors and judicial officers involved in the cases investigated by this Commission of Inquiry, a farcical exercise if there ever was one, would also be proceeded against. If so, we might as well call for courts of law to cease functioning in this country.

So the turning point for Sri Lanka is not the miracle of the Colombo Port City as politicians would want us to believe. Rather it is the loss of fragile democratic credentials that has left the people piteously vulnerable. When the country is thrust into treacherous cross currents of big-power rivalries with no lifelines at hand, It will matter less and less as to who is Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. This Government has yet to perform the primary task for which it was elected, namely to safeguard the integrity of the nation state. Protecting national security is not locking up the Mayor of Jaffna because he designed blue uniforms to be worn by his staff. This is the stuff of bad satire not the defence of the nation.

So far, it has failed and disastrously so at that duty.
Kern County business developers have seen a surge of interest lately from companies looking to build waste-to-energy projects that could creat
Elon Musk has revealed that Starlink, SpaceXs internet service, is likely to move out of beta testing this summer.

Service uptime, bandwidth & latency are improving rapidly. Probably out of beta this summer, Mr Musk tweeted. The change could mean more people will be able to sign up to the service, which currently has over 10,000 users.

In a subsequent post, Mr Musk said that it will also be fully mobile later this year, so you can move it anywhere or use it on an RV or truck in motion.

He added: We need a few more satellite launches to achieve compete coverage [and] some key software upgrades.

This is not the first time that the company has proposed beaming internet to moving vehicles. Elon Musks space company wrote in filings to the United States Federal Communications Commission in March that it seeks authority to deploy and operate these earth stations as VMES throughout the United States and its territories ... in the territorial waters of the United States and throughout international waters worldwide, and ... on U.S.-registered aircraft operating worldwide and non-U.S.-registered aircraft operating in U.S. airspace.

Mr Musk later clarified on Twitter that this did not refer to Tesla vehicles. Not connecting Tesla cars to Starlink, as our terminal is much too big, the CEO tweeted. This is for aircraft, ships, large trucks [and] RVs.

There are currently over 1,000 Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit around the world, with users in the UK and US already signed up for early-access. SpaceX plans to build a constellation of up to 40,000 satellites over the next few years.

Mr Musk has also claimed that Starlink will double in speed in 2021.Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year, he said, adding that coverage will include most of Earth by end of year, all by next year, then its all about densifying coverage.

However, with such developments come concerns:Starlinks satellites already orbit the Earth lower than many other crafts, and Amazons competing Project Kupiter claims that allowing them to operate lower would interfere with other satellites.

The Satellite Constellations 1 (Satcon1) workshop also found that that constellations of bright satellites will fundamentally change ground-based optical and infrared astronomy.
Two men were killed in Texas after a Tesla they were in crashed on Saturday and caught fire with neither of the men behind the wheel, the authorities said.

Mark Herman, the Harris County Precinct 4 constable, said that physical evidence from the scene and interviews with witnesses led officials to believe no one was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The vehicle, a 2019 Model S, was going at a high rate of speed around a curve at 11:25 p.m. local time when it went off the road about 100 feet and hit a tree, Constable Herman said. The crash occurred in a residential area in the Woodlands, an area about 30 miles north of Houston.

The men were 59 and 69 years old. One was in the front passenger seat and one in the rear seat, Constable Herman said.
On April 25 1915, 16,000 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops established a beachhead in a small cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, at the Western edge of the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

From the outset, the ANZACs were in an impossible position. Their landing spot was tiny, with no groundwater to drink, or any unexposed land to take respite from enemy fire. At their back was the sea, and above them was a series of sheer cliffs fortified by Turkish troops under the command of one Mustafa Kemal Bey (the future leader of the Republic of Turkey).

The ANZACs had no choice but to dig in, and over the course of the next eight months, a futile trench warfare campaign would be fought between the two sides.

Honouring the ANZACs

100 years on, and another invasion force is diverging on ANZAC cove. This year marks the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign, and many thousands of New Zealanders and Australians will make the journey to Gallipoli to honour the dead and remember the sacrifices they made there.

For Kiwis and Aussies, what happened at Gallipoli back in 1915 is much more than simply another one of the many failed offensives of World War I. It has become enshrined and eulogised as a cultural founding myth of sortsan ANZAC identity forged through the crucible of suffering and war. No longer did we consider ourselves simply as transplanted Britons.

The qualities revealed at Gallipoli have undoubtedly shaped the way we think about ourselves as a people: bravery, resourcefulness, resilience, the contempt shown for aristocratic class system as displayed by the British officer class throughout the campaign. All these traits have shaped our nations' consciousnesswhat it means to be an Australian or a New Zealander.

Because of thiswe remember. We seek to ensure that the lives lost were not in vain, in unmarked graves in a faraway land, but had meaning, dignity and purpose.

A centenary of a different kind

However, 2015 also signifies the centenary of another tragic campaign.

On April 24 1915, in the capital of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, Istanbul, some 300 kilometres away from ANZAC cove, several hundred Armenian intellectuals were arrested by government forces and deported to Ankara. There they were executed, and so began the systematic targeting and murder of between 11.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.

Formerly an independent Kingdom (and also the first to adopt Christianity as the state religion), Armenia was subjugated by the Ottomans in the fifteenth century and subsequently incorporated into their empire.

Armenians had, for a long time, struggled under Ottoman rule. As Christians living under Islamic authority, they were regarded as dhimmis, non-Muslim second class citizens with fewer rights, opportunities and protections under Islamic law. Despite these hindrances, they tended to be better educated and wealthier than many of their Turkish neighbours, and were much resented for it.

In 1915, this long-held religious tension, coupled with the rise of nascent nationalism in Turkey, sparked the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian nation in Turkey, the first genocide of the twentieth century.

The way this genocide was carried out was particularly horrific as well. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were deported from their homes and forcibly relocated to concentration camps. Most did not even make it there. Deprived of food and water, marching through the Mesopotamian desert, many died of starvation and exhaustion. Those who refused to go on were executed.

Elsewhere, entire towns and villages would be targeted. The Turkish government employed "killing squads", often comprised of released prisoners, to exterminate entire Armenian communities. Crucifixion was a popular method of execution, with eyewitness accounts describing dozens of people being crucified together, naked, with nails driven through their hands and feet.

Few were spared. Women who were deemed attractive enough would be raped, then sold off as concubines to join a harem. Children would be orphaned, and converted and raised as Muslims. By the end of the genocide, roughly 75% of the Armenian population had been killed, with the rest being driven from their homelandwhere they had previously dwelt for over 2500 years.

Silence instead of justice

100 years later, and still there remains no justice for those who perished in the genocide. The Republic of Turkey, despite overwhelming eyewitness, photographic, and documentary evidence to the contrary, refuses to acknowledge any such genocide took place, let alone apologise for it. Within Turkey, any mention of the genocide is illegal, and is punishable by imprisonment.

At this point in time, 22 nations have officially recognised that what took place in 1915 and after in Turkey, was indeed genocide. Australia and New Zealand are not amongst those nations. While the states of New South Wales and South Australia have indeed passed motions recognising the genocide, in June 2014 the Australian government confirmed that they did not recognise the Armenian genocide, and that the motions passed by New South Wales and South Australia had no bearing on Australia's foreign policy.

As witnessed by the angry reaction from the Turkish government to Pope Francis' condemnation of the genocide last week, any similar statement from the governments of Australia or New Zealand would jeopardise the special relationship we share with Turkey as a result of shared history in Gallipoli.

Next week as Australians and New Zealanders we will stop and remember ANZAC day, recognising the sacrifices of those who died for their country, and the impact that continues to have on us today. And we would be right to do so.

However, as Christians, can we remain silent about the other centenary that will be marked on April 24? As we witness, right now, the persecution and martyrdom of Christians in Iraq and Syria, can we let our governments ignore the massacre of our Christian brothers and sisters in 1915, which was committed on a scale which dwarfs anything ISIS has done to this point in time? Or will we stand and condemn this evil for what it is?
Sunday, April 18, 2021

Theodore Link, a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talked to David Ferrie before he died. Here is his report from the February 23, 1967 edition:

The section on Ferrie starts at the bottom of the third column on the second page. For those of you who cannot read it, here is the text:

"In the Sunday interview with this reporter, Ferrie expressed bitterness over the investigation. He said a rival private investigator [Jack Martin] had started a rumor about an innocent hunting trip to Texas that Ferrie had made with two friends at the time of the assassination.

Garrison's investigators had accepted the story, he said, although the rival private detective had twice been in a mental institution and was known to police as a lunatic-fringe character.

"After Garrison and his detectives searched my place and took a lot of memos and stuff out of it, I arrived back from Texas via Alexandria, La. They didn't arrest me at all," Ferrie said, "I went to them the next day and told all about my trip.

"They took me to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and I think also the Secret Service and I gave them minute accounts of my movements. From what I could gather of the Garrison questioning, someone thought they had information that while on the trip I had taken a plane and flown to Dallas, the Bahamas or Cuba.

"I was working for a New Orleans lawyer in a case involving Carlos Marcello, the supposed Mafia leader of Louisiana on an income tax evasion charge and when it was over about 3 p.m. we decided on the spur of the moment to go hunting. The assassination was all over then.

"The Garrison investigation is a "big joke" but it is killing me. It was dead until last January when I received a summons to appear before the Orleans parish grand jury. I never got before them because I was intercepted by Garrison's men who again questioned me. This time they went into questions about a supposed plot hatched in New Orleans involving me and Lee Harvey Oswald, who killed the president, and a group of Cubans, both pro-Castro and anti-Castro, who had united in their hatred of Kennedy.

"Oswald was publicly known as a pro-Castro man and had held rallies in the Cuban district here. The anti-Castro Cubans were bitter because of the Bay of Pigs fiasco. There was a lot of hate among them just as I understand there was a lot of hate in Texas and the President was warned not to come there.

"I never knew Oswald personally. I read that he had lived here during the summer before the assassination. All I have asked is that they prove something on me or let me get back to my flying," he said.

Ferrie was highly nervous during the interview, but explained that he had been ill with emphysema and the surveillance of the Garrison forces aggravated it."

The last sentence quoted above is interesting. David Ferrie was indeed under surveillance by Garrison:

I haven't included all the surveillance memos - just a few to give a taste of what was going on. In addition to the surveillance, Garrison also had an undercover agent (Jimmy Johnson) insert himself into Ferrie's life. Here are three memos regarding him:

Jimmy Johnson did not like David Ferrie. I'm not sure if it was good for Ferrie's health to have Johnson threaten to "kick the shit" out of him.

Johnson was interviewed for NBC's special on Jim Garrison , which was televised on June 19, 1967. He didn't make the final cut, but here is his interview:

A couple of points from this interview:

Garrison's office called Johnson in January to ask him to inform on Ferrie, and they used his probation violation to make sure he would.

Ferrie was physically sick.

Johnson went through Ferrie's briefcase.

Ferrie never said he had anything to do with the assassination.

Johnson claimed that Ferrie liked Fidel Castro.

Johnson said he flew with Ferrie to Mexico, Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas, to haul chickens.

I don't think Johnson knew Ferrie that well - we do know that Ferrie hated Castro, and the one thing he did like about Kennedy was his support for civil rights.

Here's the question I wonder about. Given Ferrie's precarious health - did the added pressure of surveillance, an informant who is purposely aggravating him, and the fact that investigators were asking about Ferrie around town - did all of that contribute to his death via a berry aneurysm?
This years general election ballot presents the voter with a dilemma. We have wrestled with this years choices, as we imagine many voters have. Up and down the ticket we are faced with choices in political ideologies, personalities, backgrounds and governing styles.
Hannibal Hanschke/AP/Shutterstock / Hannibal Hanschke/AP/Shutterstock

It turns out going green can be as good for your wallet as it is for the environment. In a recent analysis, Bloomberg Green identified billionaires who owe at least part of their fortune to technologies that reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Many have gotten rich thanks to the explosive growth in demand for electric vehicles, batteries and solar power in recent years.

Tips: Building a Green(er) Portfolio

Take a look at how Elon Musk and other billionaires are profiting from the fight against climate change.

Last updated: April 14, 2021

Elon Musk Tesla CEO net worth

Elon Musk

Company: Tesla

Net worth: $199.2 billion

Green net worth (portion of wealth driven by businesses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions): $180.7 billion

Country: U.S.

Teslas electric vehicles are making the world a greener place. According to Bloomberg, Tesla vehicles have been driven more than 10 billion miles to date, resulting in combined savings of more than 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Find Out: Just How Rich Are Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and These Other Big Names?

CATL

Zeng Yuqun, Huang Shilin, Pei Zhenhua, Li Ping

Company: CATL

Net worth: $61.6 billion

Green net worth: $60.7 billion

Country: China

CATL is the worlds largest maker of electric vehicle batteries. It supplies EV batteries to Tesla, BMW, Volvo and more.

See: These 47 Billionaires Got Richer During The Pandemic

Mandatory Credit: Photo by ROMAN PILIPEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (9896428o)An employee works at the production line of Longi Silicon company in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, China, 26 September 2018.

Li Zhenguo, Li Chunan, Li Xiyan, Zhong Baoshen

Company: Longi

Net worth: $16.1 billion

Green net worth: $16.1 billion

Country: China

Established in 2000, Longi is the worlds biggest manufacturer of solar wafers  the building blocks of solar panels. The company supplies roughly a quarter of the solar wafers and modules that are used worldwide.

Read: The Worlds 20 Richest Millennials

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/Shutterstock (11790095n)In this photo illustration a BYD logo of an automotive Chinese multinational is seen on a smartphone and a pc screenIllustrative photo in Ukraine - 07 Mar 2021.

Wang Chuanfu, Lv Xiangyang, Xia Zuoquan

Company: BYD

Net worth: $33.5 billion

Green net worth: $13.4 billion

Country: China

The carmaker is working to convert Shenzhen, Chinas entire fleet of buses, taxis and trucks into plug-in electric vehicles. Berkshire Hathaway has owned a stake in the company since 2008.

Story continues

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Eve Energy

Liu Jincheng

Company: Eve Energy

Net worth: $10.9 billion

Green net worth: $10.9 billion

Country: China

Eve Energy is the fifth-largest supplier to Chinas electric vehicle sector. Its clients include BMW and Daimler.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alex Tai/SOPA Images/Shutterstock (10925185h)Xpeng Motors P7 electric vehicle seen at a store in ShenzhenBrands and Logos in Shenzhen, China - 5 Oct 2020.

He Xiaopeng, Xia Heng

Company: XPeng

Net worth: $10.3 billion

Green net worth: $10.3 billion

Country: China

Automaker Xpeng manufactures an EV sedan and an EV SUV, with an all-electric sedan due to be introduced later this year. The company also provides free EV charging services at 670 stations across 100 Chinese cities.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by JULIAN SMITH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10074209dp)Executive Chairman of Visy Industries, Anthony Pratt is seen in the crowd before the start of the men's singles final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 27 January 2019.

Anthony Pratt

Company: Pratt Industries

Net worth: $9 billion

Green net worth: $9 billion

Country: Australia

Pratt Industries is the largest privately-held producer of 100% recycled paper and packaging in the world. The company said that its operations  which utilize clean energy plants  save 85,000 trees, 35 million gallons of water and more than 5,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each day.

See: These Are 10 of the Richest Teenagers in the World

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP/Shutterstock (10750072f)Chairman William Li speaks during an event at the company flagship store in Beijing on .

Li Bin

Company: Nio

Net worth: $9 billion

Green net worth: $9 billion

Country: China

Electric vehicle maker Nio is currently building out a network of 500 power-swap stations. At these stations, people can change their cars battery rather than recharge it.

See: 20 Hobbies of the Rich Only They Can Afford

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Focke Strangmann/AP/Shutterstock (7068507h)Aloys Wobben Aloys Wobben, Enercon-Geschaeftsfuehrer und Gruender, posiert am Dienstag, 15.

Aloys Wobben

Company: Enercon

Net worth: $8.9 billion

Green net worth: $8.9 billion

Country: Germany

Enercon is one of the worlds largest wind turbine companies. It was founded by Aloys Wobben, who developed his first wind turbine in the 1970s.

Find Out: 15 Rich Influencers Who Didnt Need a College Degree

solar-panels

Lin Jianhua

Company: Hangzhou First Applied Material

Net worth: $8.7 billion

Green net worth: $8.7 billion

Country: China

First Applied Material makes more than half the worlds ethylene vinyl acetate films, an essential component of solar panels.

Read: 28 CEOs That Have Saved or Sunk Major Corporations

Li Auto

Li Xiang, Fan Zheng

Company: Li Auto

Net worth: $6.9 billion

Green net worth: $6.9 billion

Country: China

Founded in 2015, Li Auto delivered more than 32,000 electric vehicles in 2020.

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sungrow power supply

Cao Renxian

Company: Sungrow Power Supply

Net worth: $6.3 billion

Green net worth: $6.3 billion

Country: China

Sungrow Power Supply controls about 15% of the global market for solar inverters. These devices convert solar energy from solar panels into alternating current that can be used to power a home or business, or utility grid.

Find Out: 16 Money Rules That Millionaires Swear By

Yadea

Dong Jinggui, Qian Jinghong

Company: Yadea

Net worth: $5 billion

Green net worth: $5 billion

Country: China

E-scooter company Yadea was founded by husband-and-wife team Dong Jinggui and Qian Jinghong in 2001.

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Wuxi Lead

Wang Yanqing

Company: Wuxi Lead

Net worth: $4.6 billion

Green net worth: $4.6 billion

Country: China

Wuxi Lead is the largest publicly traded manufacturer of lithium battery equipment in China. It counts Panasonic and Sony among its clients.

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rows array of polycrystalline silicon solar cells or photovoltaics in solar power plant turn up skyward absorb the sunlight from the sun on blue sky background.

Jin Baofang

Company: JA Solar Technology

Net worth: $4.5 billion

Green net worth: $4.5 billion

Country: China

JA Solar Technology is one of Chinas largest manufacturers of several solar panel components. The company sells its products to more than 135 countries and regions.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Elon Musk and More Billionaires Who Have Struck It Rich by Going Green
By his own estimation it has been about 65 years since John Adamson of Caringbah sent in his last contribution to Column 8, something about anti-disestablishmentarianism. During that time one of his jobs was as a teller at the Leichhardt branch of the Bank of NSW, where there was a memorable visit from the constabulary to advise that Darcy Dugan was planning an attack. In addition to his revolver being confiscated to prevent against any delusions of grandeur, John remembers that Norton Street was never as clean as the fateful morning, when innumerable officers dressed as ordinary people armed themselves with brooms and buckets and bins, and swept and picked up and polished for ever, and the usually quiet bus stops were filled with gentlemen reading the morning papers for hours. A real anti-climax when Darcy failed to keep his appointment. Maybe he got a loan somewhere else.

Russell Hill from Hobart would like to share this fact with his fellow Column 8 readers. The Tyrannosaurus Rex is closer in time to the mobile phone than to a Stegosaurus.

Robyn Slattery of Heathcote thinks chokos (C8) and coriander are in the same basket, people either love them or hate them. Meanwhile George Manojlovic of Mangerton considers it appropriate that chokos and the first to be thrown under a bus appeared together in Column 8. For it was indeed the humble choko to go under a bus first. That is why its a squash.

Nev Sheather of Bonython (ACT) recalls that his childhood in Kogarah was spent in money-making schemes, such as paper runs, selling scrap metal, picking up bottles for the refund at Jubilee Oval, selling Chrysanthemums on Mothers Day, mowing lawns and so on. The least successful was trying to sell chokos (C8) door-to-door around the neighbourhood.

Pamela Kerr of Moonta Bay (SA) saw Graham Harris brawn story (C8) in Column 8 a few days ago and felt compelled to write the following. I am dobbing in my brother-in-law Graham Harris for his brawn story  he is well-known for his love of tripe.
New Delhi: With 2.61 lakh new infections, India saw the highest-ever daily spike of Covid-19 on Sunday. The daily positivity rate in the past 12 days has doubled from eight per cent to 16.69 per cent, while the fatalities due to the virus in the past 24 hours was 1,501. As several states are running out of hospital beds, medical oxygen, and life-saving drugs, the Central and state governments are scrambling to save lives. The Delhi government has flagged the shortage of oxygen and demanded an extra quota from the Centre as cases continue to rise in the city. Delhi on Sunday recorded 25,462 fresh infections and 161 deaths.

The Indian Railways is getting ready to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) and oxygen cylinders in Oxygen Expresses via green corridors to ensure the fast movement of these trains. This came after the Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments approached the railway ministry to explore whether it could move Liquid Medical Oxygen tankers.

In Delhi, meanwhile, while the weekend curfew ends Monday, traders in Chandni Chowk have decided to pull down shutters down till Sunday. The Delhi government filed FIRs against four airlines under the DDMA Act for not checking RT-PCR negative reports of incoming passengers. It is expected that the Delhi government may extend the weekend curfew for few more days as huge surges in the daily cases continue. A decision in this regard is expected after a meeting between chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Monday.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has, meanwhile, written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting five ways on how to tackle the present pandemic situation. Dr Singh said a big part of effort must be ramping up the vaccination drive, for which the states should be given flexibility to define categories of frontline workers who can be vaccinated even if they are below the age of 45.

Dr Singh added that since domestic supplies of vaccines are limited, any vaccine cleared for use by credible authorities like Americas FDA or the European Medical Agency should be allowed to be imported without insisting on domestic bridging trials. The former PM further said that the government should publicise what are the firm orders for doses placed on different vaccine producers and accepted for delivery over the next six months. If we want to vaccinate a target number in this period, we should place enough orders in advance so that producers can adhere to an agreed schedule of supply. The government should indicate how this expected supply will be distributed across states based on a transparent formula. The Central government could retain 10 per cent of this for distribution based on emergency needs, but other than that, states must have a clear signal of the likely availability so that they can plan their rollout, he wrote.

Dr Singh added the Centre must proactively support vaccine producers to expand their manufacturing facilities quickly by providing funds and other concessions. In addition, I believe this is the time to invoke the compulsory licensing provisions in the law, so that a number of companies are able to produce the vaccines under a licence. This, I recall, had happened earlier in the case of medicines to deal with the HIV/AIDS disease. As far as Covid-19 is concerned, I have read that Israel has already invoked the compulsory licensing provision and there is an overwhelming case for India to do so as well quickly, Dr Singh said.

Across India, several states have announced lockdowns, night curfews and other measures to tackle the pandemic. In Patna, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday imposed new restrictions, including a statewide night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. Also, all educational institutions, religious places, malls, cinema halls and parks have been shut till May 15. Offices and shops were also asked to follow strict Covid-19 guidelines and close after 5 pm.

The Tamil Nadu government imposed a statewide night curfew (10 pm to 4 am) beginning Tuesday. and banned inter-state and intra-state travel by people during the night curfew. Besides, a full lockdown will also be imposed on Sundays across the state.

Maharashtra minister Aditya Thackeray said the state was preparing for a third wave, though it cannot be determined now if it will be as strong or weak. We have come to the genuine belief that underreporting is not going to help Now we are preparing for the third wave. We have five lakh beds, 70 per cent of them oxygenated, said Mr Thackeray.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a review meeting to review the Covid containment measures in his constituency, Varanasi, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced that he would suspend all his election campaign rallies in West Bengal due to the rising cases.
Princes Charles and William will meet to discuss the future of the monarchy after the death of Prince Philip, reports say.

The two heirs will reportedly plan with the Queen which members of 'The Firm' will be working Royals and what they should do.

It comes after the Duke of Edinburgh's death on April 9 raised questions over if his hundreds of patronages should be passed down.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure complicated matters by reducing the number of people available to help the monarch in high-profile roles.

Princes Charles (pictured at his father's funeral on Saturday) and William will meet to discuss the future of the monarchy after the death of Prince Philip, reports say

The two heirs (pictured, William at his grandfather's funeral on Saturday) will reportedly plan with the Queen which members of 'The Firm' will be working Royals and what they should do

Senior royals including Princes Charles and William gather to walk behind Prince Philip's coffin during Saturday's funeral in Windsor

Duke of Edinburgh's death (pictured, his funeral on Saturday) on April 9 raised questions over if his hundreds of patronages should be passed down

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's (pictured during their Oprah chat) departure complicated matters by reducing the number of people available to help the monarch in high-profile roles

Sources told the Telegraph official and personal duties cannot be decided separately because they are too closely linked.

Prince Charles is said to be taking the lead in the talks due to him becoming king first and because any immediate decisions will impact his reign.

But he is understood to have wanted his son the Duke of Cambridge involved every step of the way for major policies that affect him when he inherits the throne.

Meanwhile Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are believed to be stepping into the void left by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's exit.

They are expected to take on bigger roles despite already fulfilling 544 duties as of the last year before the coronavirus lockdown.

Harry and Meghan did 558 jobs between them in 2019, meaning the Royals have to review how these will be redistributed.

Prince Andrew, who stepped back from duties after his Newsnight interview over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, also has roles that may need to be dished out.

The Duke of York, Prince Philip and Prince Harry have hundreds of patronages and military titles that now need to be taken on.

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex (pictured with their children on Saturday) are believed to be stepping into the void left by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's exit

Prince Andrew (pictured on Saturday), who stepped back from duties after his Newsnight interview over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, also has roles that may need to be dished out

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are expected to decide over the next few weeks and months how they will tackle the issues.

They are said to have rocketed in importance for the Queen and Charles after Harry and Meghan's review period ended last month.

But the decline in the Duke of Edinburgh's health followed by his death just over a week ago shifted the focus.

Prince Charles had wanted a smaller monarchy made up of the Queen, Prince Philip, himself, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, the Cambridges and Prince Harry.

In these plans the Duke of Sussex was expected to help out until William and Kate's children George, Charlotte and Louis grew up and took on roles.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge (pictured with the other royals on Saturday) are expected to decide over the next few weeks and months how they will tackle the issues

Insiders revealed Charles, William and the Queen (pictured on Saturday) will need to discuss whether to continue with thousands of engagements annually or cut them down

Insiders revealed Charles, William and the Queen will need to discuss whether to continue with thousands of engagements annually or cut them down.

A source said: 'The question is whether you start off by deciding how many patronages and engagements there should be, and then work out how many people are needed to achieve them, or whether you decide how many people there should be, which will dictate how many engagements and patronages they can take on.'

Prince Charles took part in 550 Royal duties in 2019 while the Duke of Cambridge focused on 220.

Prince William is believed to prefer a targeted approach so he can lend more support to each cause.

Currently around 15 members of the Royal Family take part in more than 3,000 duties per year.
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Chennai, April 18 : Trichy corporation has embarked on an ambitious project to retrieve its Rs 42 crore tax dues, including that of property tax and user charge arrears from top defaulters.

The Trichy corporation in a press release on Saturday said that there are top 100 defaulters and the corporation has already sent notices to them for immediate payment of the arrears and dues.

The release also said that the corporation has set a deadline of May 1 for the officials to collect taxes. The civic body is using lock and key method from commercial properties, as far as home defaulters are concerned, it is disconnecting the drinking water connections. Around 200 water connections are being disconnected on a daily basis.

The Trichy corporation in the release also said that the arrears in tax collection has led to acute fund crunch for the civic body and that this would lead to mounting salary and pension arrears.

Assistant commissioners of taxes, revenue officers and bill collectors have been pressed into service to collect maximum revenue dues. A door to door survey on the water dues, property tax and underground drainage user fee are being conducted to find out the total dues and then to execute the collection drive.

The corporation is getting arrears to the tune of Rs 1 crore to 2 crore a day and the officials are expecting that their target is met. Balasubramanian , Assistant Commissioner taxes, Trichy corporation told IANS, "We have been given a target of Rs 42 crore before May 1 and I think that we are on course for that. We are taking extreme measures, including lock and key and disconnection of drinking water sources which is leading to an increase in collection of arrears." The corporation is expecting to get a minimum of 90 per cent of the arrears collected before May 1 so that the corporation is back into activities.
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that the countrys active COVID-19 cases increased by 39, bringing the total number to 7,821.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Saturday.

It, however, recorded 60 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 164,207. The active cases are the difference between the total number of newly recorded cases and those discharged after treatment on that day (21 on Saturday).

The agency noted that the newly recorded infections were reported across nine states, with Lagos state leading with 22, Rivers 15, Bayelsa 7 and Kaduna 5 cases.

Others were Ogun 4, Akwa Ibom 3, Osun 2, Kano 1 and Ebonyi 1.

The NCDC said that no death was registered on April 17, while the countrys total fatalities stood at 2,061.

It disclosed that 21 people had successfully been treated and discharged from various isolation centers across the country in the last 24 hours, bringing the recovery number to 154,325.

The agency said the country had also tested 1,838,174 people since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced on Feb. 27, 2020.

It noted that a multi-sectoral National Emergency Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 100 million people globally have been infected 16 months after the detection of the coronavirus.

According to a tally by Johns Hopkins University published on Saturday, the number of global deaths that can be traced to COVID-19 have risen above three million,

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,408,245 as of Saturday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

It said the death toll from the pandemic stood at 117,378, while 3,951,191 patients across the continent had recovered from the disease.

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Egypt are among the African countries with the most cases on the continent, according to the Africa CDC.

It noted that Southern Africa was the most affected region, followed by Northern Africa and Eastern Africa regions, while central Africa was the least cases.

South Africa has recorded 1,564,355 COVID-19 cases, Morocco 504,847, while Tunisia was ranked the third on the continent with 281,777 COVID-19 infections.

(NAN)
What's often referred to as "purity culture" is not the same thing as remaining sexually abstinent outside of marriage, though many conflate the two, according to Tim Keller, founder and former pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City.

Keller explained in a Facebook post that in the early church, the Christian sexual ethic  that "sex was only for within a mutual, whole-self-giving, super-consensual life-long covenant"  was "revolutionary," given the prevailing Greco-Roman ethic of the day.

"It was based on a radical egalitarian principle that the husbands body belonged to the wife, and the wifes to the husband (1 Corinthians 7:4). That meant that anyone who within marriage exploited or abused was violating the Christian sex ethic just as much or more as those who had sex outside of marriage," he said.

In the Greco-Roman era, men of higher social status were permitted to demand sex of anyone of lower social status even if they were married.

Source:The Christian Post
The diary entry began:

We flew to Islamabad and then grabbed a U.N. relief flight into Bagram Air Base, 50 miles from Kabul. Joe stayed at the newly reopened U.S. Embassy, with no flush toilets or running water, and I stayed at the house being rented by The New York Times, which had only slightly better plumbing but a friendly group of Afghan drivers and cooks who kept the fireplace roaring and the raisin pilaf and warm Afghan bread on the table. My first impression of Kabul? It was Ground Zero East.

We might as well be doing nation-building on the moon, I wrote in the column I published that week. You see sad and bizarre scenes here: a white donkey galloping down the main street right behind our car; a man with one leg pedaling a bicycle; people washing a car with water from a port-a-potty.  The central government is so broke it has less money than most American network crews here, so the government cant even pay salaries.

Back to the diary:

One morning Biden and I went over to the old Soviet Embassy, where thousands of refugees were packed into a beehive of makeshift one-room apartments, heated only by wood stoves and sheltered from the wet cold by plastic sheets. Everyone seemed to be shuffling around in sandals, with blankets for overcoats. Open sewers and mud were their front yards; hollow cheeks and wide eyes marked their faces.  My heart told me to write that America must remain here, for however long it takes, with however many troops it takes, to repair this country, and provide a minimum level of security so it can get on its feet again. It was the least we owed the place, having already abandoned it once after the Soviet withdrawal. We didnt have to make it Switzerland, just a little better, a little freer, and a little more stable than it was under the Taliban.

But while my heart kept pulling me in one direction, my head, and my eyes, kept encountering things that were deeply troubling. It started when I went along with Biden to meet the Minister of the Interior for the Interim Government, Yunus Qanooni, who is a Tajik. Behind his desk, where a minister should be hanging the picture of his president (Hamid Karzai, an ethnic Pashtun), he had a picture of Ahmed Shah Massoud (an ethnic Tajik), the leader of the Northern Alliance who was assassinated just before September 11.

Tom Friedmans first rule of politics: Never trust a country where a new minister has the picture of his favorite dead militia leader, not the countrys (interim) president, over his desk. It seemed to me that the tribal warrior culture ran so deep in this place, it would be hard for any neutral central government to sink real roots. As I contemplated that militia leaders picture, I wondered to myself: When were the good old days for government in Afghanistan? Before Genghis Khan? Before gunpowder?
The Peruvian Congress on Friday approved the disqualification of former President Martin Vizcarra from holding public office for ten years, over his alleged irregular vaccination against COVID 19.

With 86 votes in favour, zero against and zero abstentions, the plenary of the Congress voted against the ex-president, who was allegedly vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm shot, a case known as the "Vacunagate".

According to a report of the Subcommittee of Constitutional Accusations and a Permanent Commission, Vizcarra committed infractions against six articles of the Constitution.

Vizcarra allegedly received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus from a batch that the Chinese laboratory sent to Peru to inoculate personnel related to the trials being carried out in Peru since 2020.

Speaking to the media after receiving the ruling of the Congress, the former president said "it has not taken us by surprise at all".

"We are confident that this measure will be reversed in the corresponding instances; both national and international autonomous institutions will reverse this situation", he added.

(Image Credits: Associated Press)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
By Sarah Marsh

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban dissidents accused authorities of cutting their web access and preventing them from leaving their homes during the Cuban Communist Party Congress where leaders denounced renewed U.S.-backed attempts at "counterrevolution" using online platforms.

The four-day congress, where Raul Castro is set to step down as Communist Party leader, takes place amid a dire economic crisis that has fueled social discontent. U.S. sanctions and the pandemic have exacerbated the woes of the ailing state-run economy.

The rollout of the internet has also provided new platforms for Cubans to express their frustrations in a one party system which tightly controls public spaces and boosted the growth of non-state media challenging a state monopoly of mass media.

During a speech opening the congress on Friday, Castro warned the "counterrevolution" lacked popular support or leadership but was adept at manipulating the web.

"We are firmly convinced the streets, parks and squares belong to the revolutionaries and we will never deny our heroic people the right to defend its revolution," said Castro.

The U.S. State Department has declined to directly address a Reuters' question about Havana's view that Washington and U.S. groups finance dissidents in a bid to destabilize it.

"We support those in civil society, in Cuba and around the world, who are defending their rights or struggling for freedom," a State Department spokesperson said earlier this month.

So-called "acts of repudiation" when mobs of pro-government supporters show up to harass dissidents have made a comeback in Havana lately after years in which they were not deployed.

Castro said counterrevolutionary groups were seeking to infiltrate and manipulate specific groups like the artistic or religious sectors in a bid to break national unity. The party passed a resolution on Sunday agreeing to strengthen "revolutionary activism" in social networks.

Story continues

Many of those who have denounced state harassment during the congress belong to the dissident artist collective the San Isidro Movement and 27N, a group of artists, thinkers and journalists which arose from a rare protest of several hundred people outside the culture ministry on Nov. 27.

Both call for greater civil liberties and are the fresh face of the Cuban opposition in a country which is proud of its rich arts scene and where traditional political opposition groups have struggled to gain ground.

"State security rang us up to say they would not let anyone leave their homes during the congress, not even to put out the rubbish," 27N member and globally renowned performance artist Tania Bruguera told Reuters by telephone. "They also cut internet for some of us."

Cuban authorities do not comment on police activity such as the detention of dissidents.

Bruguera said she and other members of "27N" had been on and off prevented from leaving their homes and subjected to brief detentions and interrogations ever since the group's formation. State television has done programs on many attacking them.

"That Raul is retiring does not mean there will be change," said Bruguera who six years ago created an Institute of Artivisim in Havana, of the congress, which the party dubbed the "congress of continuity".

"Castro goes but Castrism stays" read an editorial in the non-state online media outlet 14ymedio.

The San Isidro Movement said one of their most prominent members Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara was detained overnight on Friday and his artworks seized from his home. He had been staging a performance in which he planned to sit in a garrote during the congress to denounce repression.

Fellow MSI member and poet Amaury Pacheco told Reuters by phone he was also briefly detained when he tried to leave his house in protest at the seizure of Otero Alcantara's works.

"They don't want any raised voice or embarrassment during these four days," said Pacheco.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh in Havana; Additional Reporting by Nelson Acosta; editing by Diane Craft)
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The 2021 Data Book compiled by the state Human Services Department is a series of snapshots that, when taken together, paint a rather bleak picture of life in the Land of Enchantment.

Many of the problems are long-standing and related to poverty and low levels of education attainment. Our poverty rate of 18.2% was second only to Louisiana and far outstrips the national rate of 12.3%. We lead the nation in the percentage of people receiving Medicaid. Nearly 11% of the states children are being raised by grandparents, and nearly 48% of households with children are single-parent households.

Particularly telling  as we, hopefully, emerge from a COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed nearly 4,000 New Mexican lives and that at times stressed our health care system  are the data points on physicians and hospital beds. We have 17.7 general hospital beds per 10,000 population compared with 23.5 nationally. For intensive care, we have 2.2 beds per 10,000 compared to 2.7 nationally. And we have just 5.5 primary care physicians (full time equivalents) per 10,000 people compared with 7.9 as a national benchmark. Our physician force is one of the oldest in the nation. Our shortage of nurses, specialists in fields such as neurology and other health care providers is not in dispute.

In the face of data compiled by HSD, one would think the governor and state lawmakers in their just-concluded 2021 session would have taken steps to perhaps bolster health care infrastructure. Instead, they did just the opposite on two key pieces of legislation.

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The biggest setback to your chances for quality health care in the future is legislation pushed by trial lawyers to reshape the Medical Malpractice Act. House Bill 75 by Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, kicks hospitals out of the patient compensation fund as well as dramatically increasing the liability limits of $600,000, plus medical expenses, for medical malpractice.

The bill was aimed at strengthening New Mexicos patient compensation fund, which faces projected deficits. The account covers medical malpractice claims that exceed a certain amount. Lawmakers also heard from emotional family members who testified that hospital malpractice seriously harmed or even killed their loved ones, and Ely contended that HB75 would rightfully force large corporate hospitals to take full responsibility for their medical errors.

The bill barely cleared the House of Representatives even with a wide Democratic majority and then moved to the Senate, where the health care industry agreed to a compromise that would phase hospitals out over a six-year period and raise the damages cap for hospitals and outpatient facilities to $4 million next year with eventual increases to $6 million. It also increases the cap for independent physicians to $750,000. The compromise legislation did take the positive step of adding certified nurse practitioners, midwives and certain other medical providers into coverage under the law.

Hospital officials, seeing the handwriting on the wall in the Democrat-controlled Senate, agreed to the deal, noting diplomatically that Obviously, its not everything we would have looked and hoped for.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had an active role in pushing this legislation in the House and then took credit for convening key stakeholders when it moved to the Senate. A spokeswoman said the governor was pleased to sign legislation to strike a balance between granting New Mexico doctors access to affordable legal insurance while also ensuring patients harmed by wrongdoing can get justice in court. The end result will be higher caps, more lawsuits and bigger settlements. And, over time, likely fewer doctors in a state where we already have a shortage.

Dr. Donald Shina, a retired radiation oncologist at Christus St. Vincent in Santa Fe, made the point that HB75 would inhibit the ability to recruit and retain providers. The rural parts of our state already struggle with inadequate access to care, and this proposed legislation will only exacerbate this situation as physicians and specialists will leave the state.

The compromises that reined in the legislation a bit hopefully will slow that dynamic. Lets also hope analysis of this laws effect continues as the six-year phase-in occurs so lawmakers can make changes if evidence proves it is hurting our health care delivery  as we believe it will.

Another misguided piece of legislation, which passed only via some extraordinary 11th-hour legislative maneuvering, was a new $153 million state tax on health insurance premiums that replaced a similar federal provision that expired. Of the new money, $115 will be dedicated to an affordability fund and $38 million to the general fund. But the cost of the legislation by Rep. Deborah Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, will be borne in part by businesses that provide employees with insurance  an ever-shrinking part of the health care picture in New Mexico. And that has consequences because it is commercial insurance that covers underpayment for services by Medicare and Medicaid. Armstrong also says Medicaid and Medicare will pick up a major share of the bill.

The affordability goal is worthwhile. And supporters insist this shouldnt hurt businesses bottom line since it replaces the federal tax that expired. But as Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, points out, small businesses could use some relief after more than a year of health restrictions and there is no guarantee the money collected will ever actually reduce health care costs.

So the state HSD databook presents some depressing data  health care infrastructure being no exception. Lawmakers and the governor  even when trying to address the ailing patient compensation fund and assisting victims of malpractice  would have done well to take into account the admonition in the Hippocratic oath: First, do no harm. Unfortunately, they did just the opposite.

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.


Even before the COVID-19 health crisis, many American colleges and universities started to reconsider the value of tests like the SAT and ACT.

Standardized tests have been criticized for many years. Some education experts argue that they only show how well a student takes tests instead of how much they have learned.

International students and students who did not grow up speaking English have struggled with these tests in the past. Because of this, some universities ended their test requirement.

Research from the company that creates one of these tests, ACT Inc., shows that the number of test-optional schools increased by 200, to over 900, from 2014 to 2019.

But when large group activities, such as testing events for students, were canceled in 2020, even more colleges became test-optional. This means they do not require, but will still accept, standardized test scores in students applications.

As a result, many colleges that are known to be highly selective in their admissions policies received more applicants than usual.

A recent story in the Washington Post newspaper said the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known as MIT, had 66 percent more applicants in 2021 than it did in 2020. The University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA, received 28 percent more.

The research by ACT Inc. showed that many schools will continue their test-optional policy after the coronavirus health crisis ends.

Eric Hoover writes about college admissions for the Chronicle of Higher Education. He said colleges will continue to consider test scores. But test-optional policies should help students who struggle with tests.

If you're someone who doesn't love taking tests and you feel like tests are not the best representation of who you are as a student and what your potential is, then I think it's fair to say that the world's getting a little kinder and gentler for the many, many, great students who for whatever reason just don't fare as well on the ACT or the SAT, those kind of standardized tests.

Earlier this year, VOA spoke with Kidist Bekele, a student from Annandale High School in northern Virginia. She was born in Eritrea and only recently came to the U.S.

VOA spoke to her again to ask about test-optional applications. Bekele said she had taken the SAT before the pandemic and was not happy with her score of 1120 out of a possible 1600. She was planning to take the test again, but it was canceled. She was glad that colleges considered her whole record and did not disqualify her because her score was lower than she hoped.

I know a lot of people that are really good with school, have a good GPA, but still dont do good on the ACT. I think its all about using time and test-taking skills.

She was accepted to a number of universities and is currently considering George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech. All three schools were test-optional and she did not send her score.

Bekele said she moved out of English as a Second Language classes two years ago. But she still had trouble with some of the reading parts of the tests.

The writing was easier than the reading, but the reading was very hard, she said. For people like me, its not a good representation of what people do in school.

Hoover, the education writer, noted that universities use test scores for reasons other than deciding who gets in. They use them as a way to find out which students to recruit and as a way to decide to whom they might offer financial aid.

Bekele said she understands test-optional schools may still use test scores to make a choice between one student who submitted a score and one who did not.

They might choose that student even though it was a test-optional school. It would definitely be recognized, she said.

Zoe Coyle is from Cleveland, Ohio. She will start her first year at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts in the autumn. Tufts was test-optional, but she still sent her scores. Her high schools advisor told students to do that. If we didnt, she said, then it would be telling the school that we were below average.

She said test-optional admissions give students who are outstanding at something other than academics the confidence to send applications. She spoke about her friends who wanted to study music and theater in college. They chose not to send their scores.

Coyle said she sees how test scores can help colleges choose students, but she is pleased that they are making scores less important.

It does feel like notes from teachers and personal essays are way more important, and it kind of feels like colleges are leaning into that more. And for some colleges, COVID kind of gave them the opportunity to take bigger steps in that direction, which I guess is one of the few benefits of COVID.

ACT Inc. said about 30 percent more schools put a test-optional policy in place in 2020. Whether they continue that policy may depend on how the current group of college students perform.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

Do you think colleges that switched to test-optional admissions in the last two years should stay that way? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - Will Colleges Require SAT or ACT Tests in the Future? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

optional adj. available as a choice but not required

potential n. a quality that something has that can be developed to make it better

fare v. to do something well or badly

standardized v. things that are similar and consistent

disqualify v. to stop or prevent (someone) from doing, having, or being a part of something

recruit v. to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc.

tuition n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there

confidence n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

note n. a short letter

essay n. a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject

lean in v. to give your time or effort in order to do something or make something better
Tehran, April 18 : Iran's intelligence service is said to have identified one of the suspects behind an "act of sabotage" at the Natanz nuclear facility a week ago, according to state media on Sunday.

However, the person identified as 43-year-old Reza K had already left the country before the attack took place, dpa news agency quoted the intelligence service as saying in a statement.

The search for the man is reportedly already underway.

No further details have been released, including how the man was able to get into the country's main nuclear facility.

The leadership in Tehran blames Israel for the April 11 attack and calls it an act of terrorism.

At the same time, it accuses Israel of trying to sabotage the ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna.

Israel has not commented on the incident.

New Iranian centrifuges for uranium enrichment are produced in Natanz.

Since Friday, uranium can be enriched to a purity of 60 per cent, according to nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi.

The facility has been the site of several incidents or attacks attributed to Israel.

The Vienna nuclear talks are aimed at the US and Iran returning to the 2015 agreement that aimed to limit Tehran's nuclear weapons programme, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 16:00:54|Editor: huaxia

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The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is holding its annual conference from April 18 to 21 in Boao, a coastal town in China's southernmost province of Hainan.

In an increasingly complex world where economic globalization faces headwinds with a threat looming over multilateralism and free trade, where is humanity headed and what is the future of Asia?

Chinese President Xi Jinping answered these "fundamental questions of our time" at the annual conference of Boao Forum for Asia (BAF) in 2018, vowing to open China further and calling for building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Linus Torvalds: "C++ solves _none_ of the C issues, and only makes things worse. It really is a crap language."

The first patches for Rust support in the Linux kernel have been posted and the man behind the kernel says the fact that these are being discussed is much more important than a long post by Google about the language.

Linus Torvalds told iTWire in response to queries that Rust support was "not there yet", adding that things were "getting to the point where maybe it might be mergeable for 5.14 or something like that".

Release candidate six of the 5.12 kernel branch came out in the first week of April. Each point release normally has eight weekly releases, with a further fortnight taken before the final release. That means it would take some time for 5.14 to emerge.

The Google post, from Wedson Almeida Filho of its Android team, pointed out that Android now supported Rust for developing the operating system itself.

{loadpisiton sam08}"Related to this, we are also participating in the effort to evaluate the use of Rust as a supported language for developing the Linux kernel. In this post, we discuss some technical aspects of this work using a few simple examples," he wrote. Android uses a modified Linux kernel.

The man trying to bring Rust to Linux, Miguel Ojeda, wrote in a post dated 14 April: "Some of you have noticed the past few weeks and months that a serious attempt to bring a second language to the kernel was being forged. We are finally here, with an RFC that adds support for Rust to the Linux kernel."

He outlined the goals behind the project as follows:

"By using Rust in the Linux kernel, our hope is that:

"New code written in Rust has a reduced risk of memory safety bugs, data races and logic bugs overall, thanks to the language properties mentioned below;

"Maintainers are more confident in refactoring and accepting patches for modules, thanks to the safe subset of Rust;

"New drivers and modules become easier to write, thanks to abstractions that are easier to reason about, based on modern language features, as well as backed by detailed documentation;

"More people get involved overall in developing the kernel, thanks to the usage of a modern language; and

"By taking advantage of Rust tooling, we keep enforcing the documentation guidelines we have established so far in the project. For instance, we require having all public APIs, safety preconditions, `unsafe` blocks and type invariants documented."

Torvalds said that it was still early days for Rust support, "but at least it's in a 'this kind of works, there's an example, we can build on it'."

Asked about a suggestion by a commenter on the Linux Weekly News website, who said, during a discussion on the Google post, "The solution here is simple: just use C++ instead of Rust", Torvalds could not restrain himself from chortling.

"LOL," was his response. "C++ solves _none_ of the C issues, and only makes things worse. It really is a crap language.

"For people who don't like C, go to a language that actually offers you something worthwhile. Like languages with memory safety and [which] can avoid some of the dangers of C, or languages that have internal GC [garbage collection] support and make memory management easier.

"C++ solves all the wrong problems, and anybody who says 'rewrite the kernel in C++' is too ignorant to even know that."

He said that when one spoke of the dangers of C, one was also speaking about part of what made C so powerful, "and allows you to implement all those low-level things efficiently".

Torvalds added: "While I think GC [garbage collection] is a wonderful thing for programming simplicity, it's generally not necessarily something you can do in a low-level system programming. So I'm not saying 'integrated GC' is good for OS kernels, but it's a very good thing in most other situations."
Employees of Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) say they have were blindsided with a 33 1/3 per cent pay cut in their salaries.

While some workers were under the impression the cut was supposed to occur next fortnight, many were unprepared for managements move.

One employee told the Express yesterday while talk was being bandied about a few days ago with regard to the pay cut, she thought more notice would have been given to staff since globally theres a pandemic. I am hurt and disappointed.
Myanmar junta leader to attend Asean summit

WORLD: Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmars junta leader, will attend an Asean summit in Jakarta where representatives of the bloc are expected to discuss Myanmars situation, according to Thailands Foreign Ministry.

Myanmarpoliticsviolencedeath

By AFP

Sunday 18 April 2021, 10:15AM

Myanmars junta leader Gen Min Aung Hlaing. Photo: AFP.

I can confirm that the Brunei Chair has proposed the date April 24 with the venue at the Secretariat in Jakarta, ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said in a message to reporters.

Several leaders have confirmed their attendance including Myanmars MAH [Senior General Min Aung Hlaing], he added. Some leaders have yet to confirm.

Mr Tanee declined to name the leaders and also whether the meeting will be face to face, online or a mix of both.

The Myanmar military overthrew the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) on Feb 1. Protests against the coup continue across Myanmar and over 700 people have been killed during the crackdown.

The situation in Myanmar is expected to be highlighted during the summit.

The announcement drew dismay from activists, who have long beseeched foreign leaders not to recognise the junta.

#ASEAN do not legitimise the Myanmar Military junta as a government by inviting MAH to attend the summit, said prominent activist Wai Wai Nu on Twitter. (The) Junta is illegitimate and illegal.

By yesterday evening (Apr 17), #ASEANrejectSAC was among the top-trending on Myanmars twitter.

The military has consistently justified the putsch by alleging widespread fraud in Novembers elections, which Suu Kyis party won in a landslide.

They claim power will be handed back to a civilian administration after elections are held in about a year - though they recently extended the timeline to a two-year period.

New Year crackdown

Yesterday was the first day of Myanmars traditional New Year, and hundreds in commercial hub Yangon visited the famed Shwedagon Pagoda to pray as soldiers patrolled the streets.

Leading up to the Buddhist New Year, the Thingyan festivities were a sombre affair - a far cry from previous years when revellers would take to the streets for city-wide water fights.

Instead, activists sloshed crimson paint in Yangon to symbolise the bloodshed, while protesters wore red across the country in nationwide demonstrations.

More violence erupted yesterday in the central gem-producing city of Mogok, when security forces cracked down on protesters.

According to an AFP-verified video filmed by a resident, soldiers crouched on a street as their commanding officer shouted that he wanted deaths.

A rescue worker told AFP at least one had died.

He was shot in the stomach, he said, adding that six others injured had to be rushed to the hospital.

Despite the threat of violence, protesters have continued to gather across the country in defiance of the junta, carrying posters demanding for Suu Kyi to be freed.

Some demonstrations - like in Yangon and central Monywa city - also touted support of the so-called National Unity Government, a shadow administration formed by ousted MPs working in hiding to thwart junta rule.

It has been more than 70 days since the coup... we can no longer see our future and goals, said 19-year-old Max in Yangon.

We have high hopes for a government that can compete with the military regime.

Freeing up the prisons

The countrys jails are also releasing more than 23,000 prisoners nationwide, a prison official told AFP yesterday - part of its annual amnesty for Myanmars New Year.

Among them, more than 130 were foreigners, state-run media reported in the evening.

There have been two other mass releases since the coup.

The first was in mid-February, which rights groups feared was a move to free up space for military opponents, and the second on the eve of Armed Forces Day when the regime released around 900 detained demonstrators.

But its jails have continued to fill.

So far, more than 3,100 people - the bulk of them anti-coup protesters and activists - have been detained, according to local monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

It remains unclear if those released yesterday included post-coup detainees.

The junta has also issued nightly arrest warrants on state-run media, targeting celebrities, influencers, journalists and prominent activists with large social media followings.

Doctors refusing to work under the regime - leaving hospitals unstaffed in a pandemic - have also drawn the wrath of the junta.

By last night, the arrest warrants for all totalled 420.
Andrew Gutmann, who was pulling his daughter out of Brearley, an expensive private school in New York (annual tuition $54,000), wrote an open letter explaining exactly what was wrong with its anti-racist racism. A walk through the schools website and the school heads response to Gutmanns letter prove that, if anything, he understated how bad things really are there.

Brearley, in New York, caters to rich leftists. It has a cachet. From Jane Foley Fried, the head of the school, on down to every administrator and faculty member, everyone is highly credentialed.

On its statement of beliefs page, Brearley boasts that it challenges girls of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds to think critically and creatively and prepares them for principled engagement in the world. If one goes by the schools response to Gutmanns letter, there is no evidence that either the faculty or the students have any critical thinking skills.

The same page includes statements about Brearleys Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and its being Antiracist. The schools website also has a page dedicated to Diversity and Equity. It repeats the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Anti-racist statements, but the important item is a lengthy calendar showing the energy and time the school dedicates to diversity.

There are constant meetings and seminars for parents and students, all of them led by various facilitators, and most of them divided along racial lines. I cannot urge you strongly enough to check out the calendar because it is a stunning example of the accuracy of Guttmans claim that:

It cannot be stated strongly enough that Brearleys obsession with race must stop. It should be abundantly clear to any thinking parent that Brearley has completely lost its way. [snip] I object to mandatory anti-racism training for parents, especially when presented by the rent-seeking charlatans of Pollyanna. These sessions, in both their content and delivery, are so sophomoric and simplistic, so unsophisticated and inane, that I would be embarrassed if they were taught to Brearley kindergarteners. [snip] I object to Brearleys vacuous, inappropriate, and fanatical use of words such as equity, diversity and inclusiveness.

(Again, if you havent read Gutmanns letter, you must -- and then share it with others.)

Brearley responded with a letter from Principal Jane Fried. It demonstrated how the wokerati invariably cast themselves as victims. And I do mean victims: Fried speaks of physical and psychic terror as if Gutmann had threatened their lives rather than challenging their beliefs. The website at which the letter originally appeared is gone, but this is the text:

Today, Brearley families received a letter from a Brearley parent. The letter then circulated among students, faculty, and staff at school. Many have written to say that they found the opinions expressed in the letter to be deeply offensive and harmful, and we agree. This afternoon, I and others who work closely with Upper School students met with more than one hundred of them, many of whom told us that they felt frightened and intimidated by the letter and the fact that it was sent directly to their homes. Our students noted that as this letter, which denies the presence of systemic racism, crossed their doorways, the evidence of ongoing racism - systemic and otherwise - is daily present in our headlines. We express our unequivocal support for our Black, Asian, Indigenous, Multiracial and Latinx students, faculty, staff, and alums. Many of our students of color, especially those who identify as Black, felt that the letter questioned their belonging in the Brearley community. Their belonging and their excellence are unquestionable. We continue to move forward together to build an inclusive, antiracist school in which all members of our diverse community see that their contributions are acknowledged, know that they are valued and that they belong. Brearley will continue to listen, solicit feedback, and welcome constructive criticism from our students and our community as we challenge racism wherever we may find it. We all share responsibility in preparing our students for purposeful and meaningful lives. We are all expected to engage in this work with respect for one another. This letter failed both in content and delivery to meet that expectation. We are better than this and we must do better for our students. They are counting on us. Sincerely, Jane Fried

The astute reader will notice that nothing in the letter addresses the substance of what Gutmann said. Instead, it claims victimhood and reasserts Brearleys commitment to dividing the world along racial lines. Note, too, the simplistic thinking of the unnamed student who says, uncritically, that the news must accurately portray the reality of racism in America.

If Brearleys faculty and families truly cared about the plight of impoverished minorities, those rich parents would withdraw their daughters from the school and, instead, pay to send an underprivileged child. That they dont shows that this is just virtue signaling on steroids.

IMAGE: Brearley Seal.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
About 230 suspected criminals and commercial sex workers were on Friday dawn arrested by the police at the environs of Soldier bar at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.

Those arrested included Ghanaians and other nationals from Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.



Items found on them included 33 motorbikes, 38 wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be India hemp, cash of GH6,750, a Beninese passport, health insurance card, an ATM card, and 153 mobile phones.



Speaking to journalists, the Director of Operations, ACP Arhin Kwesi Annor said the operation commenced around 11 pm on Thursday, April 15, 2021, to 2 am on Friday, April 16, 2021.



So for the past two weeks we have been monitoring their activities, and then yesternight we decided to swoop on them. Fortunately, when we went there we were able to arrest some people or some suspected criminals. The total number of suspects that were arrested is 230, he said.



We believe that some of these motorbikes are used to commit a lot of crimes. You can talk about snatching of mobile phones, snatching of bags among others, he added.



He said the suspects will be screened and those found culpable will be dealt with.



He said such an operation, will be replicated to curb crime in the city.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Terming the COVID-19 situation in the national capital as "very serious", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday seeking help for beds and oxygen for patients.

Kejriwal also requested the prime minister for reserving at least 7000 central government hospital beds out of the 10000 in Delhi for COVID patients, and immediate supply of oxygen.

"The COVID situation has become very serious in Delhi. There is huge shortage of beds and oxygen. I request that at least 7000 out of 10,000 beds in Central government hospitals in Delhi be reserved for COVID patients and oxygen be immediately provided in Delhi," he wrote.

"We are making all efforts at our level. Your help is needed," he added.

He thanked the prime minister for the 500 ICU beds being readied in Delhi by the DRDO and urged him to raise the number of these beds to 1000.

The Delhi government has received much support from the Centre during the pandemic so far, he said and hoped that the prime minister will help further by providing beds and oxygen for COVID patients



Earlier in the day, the chief minister said that less than 100 ICU beds are available in the national capital where over 25,500 new cases have been reported.

Pointing out that the positivity rate has gone up from 24 per cent to 30 per cent in just 24 hours, he said due to fast pace in increase of COVID-19 infections,hospital beds and oxygen for patients are rapidly depleting in the city.

(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.)
SALEM -- As Jean Hendron climbed the flight of stairs to a Salem motel on the edge of town, she had a feeling she might find Brian Jackman dead.

The night before, she brought him a strawberry milkshake in her routine of regularly checking on him.

Ill be back before you have to pay for your room, she told him before she left for the night.

Her fear gripped her several times over the previous eight months.

Before she slipped the key into the blue door, she knocked, as she had always done when she went to check on Jackman at the various motels he had stayed in on and off over the past year.

When she walked in that February morning, the sounds of cars traveling along Interstate 5 whirred in the distance. Jackman was lying on the bed closest to the window, one foot completely blackened, the other leg amputated from an earlier operation.

The 58-year-old had died sometime in the night.

Hendron doesnt work for the government or a social service agency. She took it as a personal duty to help the troubled Jackman, worrying deeply at times about where in Salem he was.

Jackman is one of 30 people who had lived on the streets in the Salem area who died in the past 14 months, according to anecdotal accounts. Theres no exact counting because the Oregon Health Authority doesnt track homeless deaths.

The account of Jackmans last months reveals the struggles in Salem unhoused people and systems to care for such individuals face. Salem Reporter pieced this account together from interviews, medical records and court records.

Last year was particularly hard on unsheltered people as they were shuffled into city parks to limit the spread of COVID-19, tucked away from general public view as well.

They lost access to services as day rooms limited occupants and doctors moved to telemedicine. One of the citys largest homeless service providers, the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, spent millions to ensure people who were already housed could cover rent to avoid becoming homeless.

Millions more have been spent on short-term fixes. The city in November allocated nearly $800,000 for sheltering to address the problem, putting $350,000 toward a temporary shelter at the Oregon State Fairgrounds for two months and spending tens of thousands to clean up camps that have been allowed at Wallace Marine Park and Cascades Gateway Park, where around 600 people are living.

Community Action now spends $10,000 a day paying for motel rooms for unhoused people who are medically vulnerable.

To address longer-term needs, the Salem Housing Authority in August opened the citys first permanent supportive housing project which pulled 35 chronically homeless people off the street. But the agency has struggled to get landlords to sign on to the Homeless Rental Assistant Program, which currently houses 67 people, during the eviction moratorium in place. There are another 77 seeking placement.

The pandemic has wrought an explosion in health problems in a group of people who already experience chronic health conditions at a higher rate.

Providers are anecdotally seeing the worst cases of things like trench foot, a type of foot damage from prolonged exposure to cold, damp and unsanitary conditions causing feet to swell and smell like decay.

Kevin Holloway, a nurse with Northwest Human Services, checks the blood pressure of Tanja Whitemire at her camp in Cascades Gateway City Park on March 2, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Scourge of amputations

Kevin Holloway, a nurse on the care team at Northwest Human Services West Salem Clinic, said when he goes out into Cascades Gateway or Wallace Marine parks, hes triaging to watch for a medical emergency. He can treat minor wounds like cuts or scrapes, but otherwise hes trying to get people to go to a medical provider at the clinic or the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project.

Holloways visits to the parks are a recent addition to Northwest Human Services, brought in the last year to address the ever-increasing health needs of those living outdoors in Salem.

He said amputations are common and many people have chronic health conditions like congestive heart failure, diabetes, or syphilis.

Those foot amputations, I see that all the time, he said. Its kind of a real scourge.

People have their toes or feet amputated after frostbite leads to gangrene, which can cause nerve damage and kill the tissue.

Medical providers come to HOAP the first three Wednesdays of the month, and Holloway and outreach case manager Peter Buekea also offer bus rides for those who wouldnt otherwise make it. The medical bus also transports people to the West Salem Clinic.

As much as we see a need for medical attention, if they dont want it then we cant force them to, Holloway said.

He knows of at least three clients who have died in the last year. Jackman was one.

COVID-19 has cut off access to services

Ashley Hamilton, ARCHES program director, said her agency collects data on frequent users of emergency medical service, a self-reported number of how often people use the emergency room, have overnight hospital stays or ambulances within a 6-month period.

Her agency has been collecting data since 2017 and the score skyrocketed last year. The average used to be two, meaning most people used emergency services two times in six months. Last year the average score was nine.

The top 2% -- 23 people -- needed publicly paid emergency services 883 times in 2020, up from 500 the year prior, she said.

People have just lost any connectivity to the service network. Its just gone, Hamilton said. And so theyre just getting to these deteriorated states that now once we do find them theyre in such chronic condition.

The ARCHES Project day center once hosted 150 people per day but now sees an average of 44 with COVID-19 limits. HOAP used to see 60 to 160 people come through the doors from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its day center in downtown. Now, the limit is less than 10.

There they could connect with the care management team and other social service providers like Northwest Human Services or Marion County Health and Human Services.

There was a level of connectivity just having services open, Hamilton said Thats just singular to ARCHES, so losing that connectivity was a real loss to those referrals. They lost the advocate that they used to have or the level of advocacy that they used to have.

Charcoal briquettes

No stranger to many advocates with his outgoing, combative and loquacious personality, Jackman shuffled from downtown, to the park, to motels in the last year of his life.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in San Jose, California, Jackman made his way to Oregon around 2003.

He was released from prison in September 2019 after serving 7 and a half years for stealing a handful of DVDs from a Goodwill and Safeway in Salem and attempting to stab a security guard in the leg with an X-acto knife who confronted him.

The year after he was released from prison, he went to the hospital 40 times, his mother, Dawn Jackman said.

His medical problems are documented in his chart from Salem Health: diabetes, neuropathy, bipolar disorder, heart failure, heart murmur, HPV, hepatitis, hypertension, substance abuse.

Many advocates were surprised he lived as long as he did.

Hendron met Jackman as he was living under eaves in front of Rite Aid in December 2019. In a video she took of him, the 6-foot-2 Jackman pulled off his boot and sock, revealing two toes blackened from frostbite.

Dawn Jackman described his toes as little charcoal briquettes.

He has risen, like the Phoenix

Hendron worried Jackman wouldnt make it out of the hospital alive in June. On June 20, he needed intensive care because he was in septic shock.

He arrived at the hospital by ambulance the day before, because his right foot, where his toes had been amputated following the frostbite, was in pain.

Two and a half weeks later, he was discharged, heading for a motel.

Despite aggressive attempts to place the patient to some means of housing versus structured facility, due to his psychosocial history unfortunately these attempts were not (successful), his medical chart reads.

Jackman borrowed a phone from a motel guest and called Hendron for help. She found him lying on the ground unable to get up in front of a reception window at the motel. She pulled his wheelchair out of her car and Jackman struggled to get seated.

Everything that transpired tells me that Brian has chosen to die, and I doubt I will find him alive, in the morning, but he has risen, like the Phoenix, so many times. Most of all, I do not want him to die alone, so I am crying, Hendron wrote on her Facebook on July 10.

That week, Hendron set about finding Jackman a tent and a camping spot in Wallace Marine Park, bringing him blankets, food and clothing.

Days went by where she couldnt find or get ahold of him because he didnt have a working phone. The only guarantee of a phone call was if he was in the hospital.

With limited ability to get around, he relied on friends to help.

Jackman had a spacious eight-person tent that fit his wheelchair, a mattress and some plastic storage drawers.

When he left his tent to get food, he would hobble on his good leg and push his wheelchair in front of him across the pedestrian bridge over the Willamette River to cover the half mile to The ARCHES Project. Often, he would return to a rifled tent.

His morning regime included 12 medications, with another four at night. He worried his medications would get stolen.

When his insulin was stolen, Dawn Jackman said her son would go sky high. His blood sugar levels would spike to a dangerous level and he told her his mind was foggy.

He was in the hospital again in September. Another portion of his right leg was amputated, and he was discharged to the street. He was in the hospital again just before Halloween.

He was frustrated with the system, Dawn Jackman said. He said: I feel like a damn ping pong ball.

She said it was difficult for her son to keep his wound clean on the street. He was using a bucket to go to the bathroom in his tent, and someone once spilled it.

He was mad about that because he was trying hard to keep clean, she said.

He got a MRSA infection, an antibiotic-resistant type of bacteria that causes a skin infection and can cause tissue damage and organ failure if untreated. Then he had a heart attack because of a blood clot in his heart. Then kidney failure, Dawn Jackman said.

In early November, Jackmans SNAP benefits, ID and government benefits card were stolen while he was living in a tent. Hendron and others brought him food, or he would make the trek to ARCHES for a meal.

Christmas landed Jackman back in the emergency room, with someone taking his unattended tent as he went in.

The Kindness Closet, a nonprofit that helps unsheltered people, got Jackman another tent over the holiday after he was discharged again.

Five days before Jackmans birthday on Jan. 29, he got a temporary ID card and worked to replace his government benefits card, now gone three months.

By that time, it was too painful for him to put a shoe on his one remaining foot, and he couldnt stand on it. He was too stiff to reach back to put a jacket on.

Its his birthday Friday. Im hoping something wonderful will happen. Its so hard to know what wonderful means, under Brians circumstances. It could be something totally different than what I might assume, Hendron wrote on Facebook Jan. 27.

On his birthday, Hendron brought Jackman a book about reptiles to his tent situated along a walking path in Wallace Marine Park.

When he got his government benefits card, he could again afford a motel room. Less than two weeks after his birthday, Hendron found Jackman dead.

Dawn Jackman intends to have a service for her son in July, continuing a family tradition of getting black balloons and tying a message to the string with feelings about the person before letting the balloon go.

Services failed Brian

Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, said services in Salem failed Jackman.

He said the question for the community is whether cases like Jackmans, people who are truly the hardest to house, are beyond the scope of any one agency.

People out there with need levels and acuity so high that theres just no resources in place, Jones said.

He said Jackman needed a place where he could get respite care but that just wasnt available for Brian.

ARCHES would place Jackman in a motel, only for him to get kicked out later on. Then, they would try a different motel.

Jones said he doesnt know the specific reason Jackman was kicked out but commonly people are asked to leave if they invite friends over and are using illegal drugs.

Theres this revolving door of people going from hospital, tent to motel back to hospital. It just goes on and on and on until eventually he passes away, Jones said.

He said homelessness like Jackmans is a public health issue for Salem, not a social one.

Its really not a question of whether or not housing is available. Its the simple and final analysis that Brian was going to die if someone did not put him inside and keep him inside, Jones said. He played a role in that not being possible.

Jones turns to the Bible parable of Cain, who killed his brother Able out of jealousy.

When God asks where Able is, Cain replies, I dont know. Am I my brothers keeper?

In other words, hes not my problem, Jones surmised.

In fact, Jones said, such people are collectively the communitys responsibility.
Two oranges. A bag of rice. A glossy red envelope.

Betty Hunter beamed as she pulled each item out of a black canvas bag  one of 347 solidarity kits that the San Francisco Human Rights Commission handed out Saturday afternoon in Civic Center Plaza.

These kits are really intentional  its not just a swag bag, said Hunter, who serves as the commissions educational equity liaison. She pointed to the kits other contents, including free tickets to the Asian Art Museum and a picture book with a cultural theme. The one she held, Grandfather Tangs Story, showed a young girl and an old man on the cover.

The commission was co-hosting the Campaign for Solidarity, which drew more than 100 people to Civic Center and was intended to ease friction between members of different communities.

A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California shows that half of the states Asian American residents think race relations are worse than they were a year ago, compared with 48% of white residents and 44% of Black residents who say the same thing.

We cant allow influences in this country to continue to divide us, said Jon Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Community Youth Council. His group was among several that helped put together the event.

A string of crimes against Asian Americans had left residents of San Francisco and neighboring cities bewildered, as they also witnessed sporadic bursts of violence throughout the nation. Last month a gunman shot eight people  including six women of Asian descent  outside Atlanta. On Thursday, another mass shooting at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis killed eight people, at least four of whom were members of the Sikh community.

We cant address the pandemic of COVID-19 without addressing the pandemic of racism, of ageism, of genderism, of all these different spectrums of isms, Human Rights Commission director Sheryl Davis told the crowd, speaking through a megaphone on Civic Center lawn.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Davis said the commission is approaching racial solidarity as though it were a form of retail politics, acknowledging that the best way to reach people is not by preaching in abstract concepts, but by holding events in public squares, handing out gift bags and  given the constraints of COVID-19  gathering on Zoom. The commission has held a series of public meetings over the past several weeks for members of the Black and Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

Saturdays event was part of that initiative, called Stand Together SF. After the speeches, people sat in a drum circle, banging djembes, while members of the Japanese Community Youth Council folded origami hearts and threw them into a bucket that soon overflowed with paper creations. Some attendees sported Black Lives Matter shirts.

Grassroots organizations donated many of the prizes, all displayed on tables beneath the plazas canopy of London plane trees. People lined up there to assemble the kits, each one an illustration of the cultural patchwork of San Francisco.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who represents the Outer Mission and Excelsior areas, had just arrived from a similar event at Merced Heights Playground.

I just want people to know this isnt a one-day thing, Safai said. Its a shift in the culture.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
The Dooryard, San Antonio's first self-serve taproom, is inviting guests to celebrate 4/20 this year with the tapping of Fair State Brewing Cooporative's Big Doinks IPA, according to a press release.

Big Doinks is known as an "extra dank" IPA brewed with copious amounts of the stickiest hops available and a 6.5 percent ABV, according to the Fair State's website.

RELATED: Big-name San Antonio employer hosting virtual career fair to fill 100-plus positions

The event will also include a swag giveaway, live trivia and classic munchies featuring baby back ribs, steamed buns and giant pretzels for guests to enjoy with this stanky brew.

The Dooryard is located on 4403 De Zavala, Suite 108 and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to midnight and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Their taproom allows guests to enjoy a total of 30 rotating selections of beer on tap available daily.

READ MORE: Photos: $1.5 million Alamo Heights home boasts yoga studio, media room
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York City Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia received the endorsement of a local senator on Sunday, as the race for the citys highest government office intensifies.

Speaking at a press conference in St. George, state Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) named Garcia as her second choice for mayor, during an unprecedented election year in which voters will rank their top choices, in lieu of choosing just one candidate.

Over and over consistently under the last two mayors, the person they turned to implement their grand ideas or to solve their big crisis was Kathryn Garcia, Savino said. Whether it was Hurricane Sandy or the disaster at NYCHA  leading the task force on lead abatement  it was her.

The senators first endorsement went to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Today, I'm sharing my story like Ive never told it before:



It starts right here in NYC, growing up poor & on the brink of eviction. Then at 15, I was the victim of police brutality -- but instead of accepting things as they were, I was determined to change them. pic.twitter.com/Y4GyCNxIdD  Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) November 18, 2020

Garcia served as Commissioner of the citys Sanitation Department, during which she led an effort to ban styrofoam and implemented the nations largest composting program. She also spearheaded an emergency food program at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

We need to break that glass ceiling at City Hall and allow me to really deliver for New Yorkers and for Staten Island, Garcia said Sunday. I know your borough well...and I intend to keep Staten Island at the forefront of all of our policies.

The boroughs family court building on the 100 block of Richmond Terrace was chosen as the backdrop to Sundays press conference to highlight Garcias emphasis on improving the citys foster care system. Its an issue shes personally familiar with, as a product of an adoptive, multi-racial family in Brooklyn.

NY is my home. My parents adopted me as a baby & raised a big, multi-racial family in BK. This city has given me so much. Im running for mayor to make sure all NYers have those same opportunities & more.



Join #TeamGarcia & lets get things done for NYC: https://t.co/hJg6J8KoAb pic.twitter.com/R1KcuJJJFZ  Kathryn Garcia (@KGforNYC) April 3, 2021

It starts with supporting families and making sure that were not equating poverty with neglect to do a removal, Garcia said. But when we cant get that done, when we cant keep that family together, that were creating new forever families for those kids.

Savino said her second endorsement for mayor was a no-brainer, based in part on her experiences as a case worker for foster children on Staten Island during the height of the crack epidemic.

Whether its [Garcia], Eric Adams or any one of us, these are ideas that must be put into action.

A recent poll found that former presidential candidate Andrew Yang is opening a large lead in his support from city voters, at 26% of respondents. Behind him is 13% for Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and city comptroller Scott Springer at 11%.

In the survey, 4% of respondents said they would vote for Garcia if the election was today.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship. Since 2001, more than 50 New Hampshire children and teens have traveled to the U.S. Space Camp & Rocket Center in Hunstville, AL, for a week of simulated astronaut or pilot training, thanks to the scholarship. This represents a combined effort among Alex Higgins family, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to honor Alexs memory. Space Camp provides the opportunity for children and teens to engage in a science and engineering adventure that Alex Higgins truly enjoyed.

These extraordinary young people were chosen from a host of applicants by a panel composed of Discovery Center staff, Alex Higgins family members, and community volunteers. The application process included student essays, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

Primary Crew





Vaibhav Rastogi

Grade 7

Concord, NH

Vaibhav is a problem-solver who enjoys learning about space, math, technology, and science, and hes looking forward to problem-solving in a real-world environment as part of his Space Camp experience. He says, The knowledge and skills I will gain throughout the Space Camp will allow me to perform better in my future career as I plan to become an aerospace engineer. I also hope that my participation in space camp will inspire some of my peers, similar to how one of my friends inspired me to apply for this program.

Charlotte Ray

Grade 7, Windham Middle School

Windham, NH

Charlotte hopes to be an astronomer, and shes been inspired by the example of Christa McAuliffe as the first American civilian in space. She believes that there is still so much to discover about astronomy, and shes looking forward to the new knowledge shell gain at Space Camp. My knowledge of space and astronomy will have grown after attending, and I would have the privilege to spread my newfound knowledge with the grades below me. I could be an inspiration to the younger generation and I could teach them how they could study astronomy one day, and learn about all the wonders space encompasses.

Harun Siddiqui

Grade 5, Penacook Elementary School

Penacook, NH

I want to attend the space and robotics camp because I have always loved learning about astrophysics and astrochemistry, and I want to learn even more, explains Harun. When I grow up, I want to be an astrophysicist, and space camp and the aviation challenge could really teach me a lot about astronomy and aeronautical engineering. The universe is a complete mystery to us, and there is always more to discover. I want to solve at least part of that mystery, but to do that I first have to learn what we already know about the universe. That is why I want to attend space camp, to learn more about the universe and everything in it.

Backup Crew

Susanna Hill; Grade 8, Academy for Science and Design; Nashua, NH

Sophia Kirpolenko; Grade 4; Hillsboro, NH

Tobias Packard; Grade 7, Mount Saint Mary Academy; Bedford, NH

Honorable Mention

Ryan Burbo; Grade 8, Windham Middle School; Windham, NH

Damaris Gilbert; Grade 7, Trinity Christian School; Concord, NH

Flinn Lebsack; Grade 6; Windham, NH

Xavier Martinez; Grade 5; Moultonborough, NH

Samuel Munsey; Grade 7, Londonderry Middle School; Londonderry, NH

All of this years scholarship winners will be recognized at the Discovery Centers AerospaceFest event, which is currently scheduled for September 4, 2021. In light of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, this years scholarship has been extended, so that the Primary Crew winners may attend Space Camp in 2022 or as safety concerns dictate.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on aviation, astronomy, Earth and space sciences, an all-digital, full-dome planetarium and a wide variety of science, technology, and engineering and mathematics programs. The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards families, teens, seniors, students, community groups and lifelong learners. For more information, visit www.starhop.com.
UPDATE: Proposition B headed to defeat by a narrow margin in San Antonio

In an otherwise low-key local election, Proposition B on San Antonios May 1 ballot is arguably generating more debate and heated campaign activity than even the mayoral race.

One reason is the intense spotlight on allegations of police misconduct as witnessed recently in courtrooms and via camera footage across the U.S.

The protest marches and rallies in San Antonio and nationwide that emerged after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis have now segued to political action about police accountability.

Prop B takes aim at the issue by removing some power from the police officers union and giving it to the city. If approved by voters, the proposition  worded in opaque legalese  would repeal the San Antonio Police Officers Associations right to collectively bargain, which voters granted in 1974.

Proponents of Prop B, led by a group called Fix SAPD, say the change would give the city greater latitude in labor negotiations, and they specifically want to put more teeth in the process for suspending or firing officers for misconduct. They also contend that Prop B would give the public some say in the police contract.

Ronald Cortes /Contributor

Opponents  led by the union  argue that the disciplinary rules could be altered without eliminating the unions right to collectively bargain. Prop B would make it harder for the city to recruit, leading to fewer officers on the streets and slower response times, the opponents say.

Collective bargaining is a tool to make sure we can do our jobs effectively and efficiently, San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Rachel Barnes said at a recent debate about the measure. Its also a tool for recruitment for us.  Thats what we need to keep good officers here serving the community.

But city officials and one expert on labor law say arguments on both sides are a bit of a stretch.

Without the requirement of collective bargaining, the city could switch to a meet-and-confer method. Negotiations would essentially function unchanged except for one major difference. Under collective bargaining, city management is required to bargain with the union; with meet and confer, its optional.

Technically, the difference between meet and confer and collective bargaining is very limited, said Julius Getman, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in labor law.

The proposals will come in from the police union, said Getman, who served as a lead negotiator for the Connecticut State Police union in the 1980s. The city will reject or accept them. Collective bargaining, without the right for police to strike, is not that different from meet and confer.

The Danny Diaz Interview

Police unions in Dallas, Houston and Austin negotiate with their respective cities using meet and confer. The same is true for the San Antonio Airport Police and the San Antonio Park Police, whose unions  separate from the San Antonio Police Officers Association  do not have the right to collectively bargain with the city.

Under state law, police officers cannot go on strike.

Taking a hatchet to anything having to do with police is a tricky proposition in San Antonio, where police, firefighters and their unions are effective at turning out their supporters for elections.

In 2018, the firefighters union obtained enough signatures to get three charter amendments on the ballot. Voters approved two, including one that gave the union the upper hand in negotiations with the city.

Early voting for the May 1 election begins Monday. At last count, the outcome for Prop B looked like a toss-up.

According to a recent poll by Bexar Facts, which was conducted in partnership with KSAT 12 and the San Antonio Report, roughly 39 percent of Bexar County voters likely to cast ballots said they would vote against Prop B.

An additional 34 percent said they would vote for it, leaving 28 percent undecided.

(The union has questioned the polls accuracy, as one of the leaders of Bexar Facts is Christian Archer, a well-known political strategist whose consulting firm gave $25,000 to Fix SAPD.)

Here are the main points for and against Prop B.

Discipline disputes

Fix SAPD, a police reform group that helped collect the minimum 20,000 signatures to get the proposition on the ballot, contends that too many officers who were fired for misconduct have won reinstatement to their jobs through the appeal process outlined in the contract.

By various estimates, about two-thirds of police officers who were fired returned to the force: They were either reinstated by the police chief or by independent arbitrators, who hear and rule on officers appeals.

On ExpressNews.com: Arbitrators have final say in discipline

One case often cited by Fix SAPD is that of Officer Matthew Luckhurst, who was accused of giving a homeless man a sandwich of dog feces in 2016. Luckhurst admitted that he handed the man a discarded tray of bread and feces but said he did that so the man could throw it away, not eat it.

An arbitrator later reversed the firing because it was not issued within six months of the incident, as required under the union contract. As it turned out, Luckhurst didnt return to the force: He was fired for a second incident involving feces and a brown substance he left in the female officers locker room. That firing was not overturned.

Fix SAPD Interview

Fix SAPD has said repealing collective bargaining would allow the city to get rid of provisions such as the six-month rule and change the arbitration provisions.

Alternatively, if the city and the union negotiated a contract that didnt address those issues, Fix SAPD says, the public could gather signatures to put it on the ballot for a vote  forcing the union and city to address the publics concerns.

We want to let San Antonio be part of that process, said Ojiyoma Martin, who co-founded Fix SAPD with her brother.

In the future, Fix SAPD hopes to gather enough signatures to place another charter amendment on the ballot, one that would repeal Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code to further roll back what the group describes as unnecessary disciplinary protections for police officers.

Union officials have argued that the best way to make changes in the Police Department is under collective bargaining. They said theres no guarantee that reforms would happen under meet and confer.

If they want reforms, collective bargaining is the fastest way to get reforms, said Barnes, the police sergeant. Meet and confer is not a guarantee, and its not something that will happen quickly.  Weve (the city and union) already come to a consensus on several issues, including 180-day rule.

The union says the number of officers returned to the force during the appeals process  70 percent, according to the Washington Post  is misleading. Only 11 officers have been reinstated by an arbitrator since 2010, the union said. About 20 were reinstated by the police chief.

Evergreen clause

The citys current contract with the union expires in September, and city and union officials have been negotiating a new one.

If both sides dont approve a contract by mid-May, which is likely, the current contract would remain in place until it expires in September, officials have said.

On ExpressNews.com: Police, union open contract talks

The city says that if Prop B passes May 1, it and the union would revert to the rules laid out in Chapter 143, which provides civil service protections for police officers and governs hiring, promotions and discipline.

The union contests this point, arguing that the contracts evergreen clause would take effect and the contract would continue as is for up to eight years or until another one is agreed on.

Its likely the debate about the evergreen clause would end up in the courts if Prop B is approved, officials said.

Dark money claims

Throughout the campaign, the union has accused Fix SAPD of accepting so-called dark money  political donations that cant be traced to specific donors.

Policing the police, a discussion

The bulk of Fix SAPDs money from August to December  $250,000 in cash donations  came from the Texas Organizing Project Education Fund, an arm of TOP, a progressive grassroots group that specializes in community planning and voter participation.

Because TOPs education fund is organized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, it doesnt have to publicly disclose its donors.

On ExpressNews.com: Campaign for Prop B gets boost from unknown donors

Wherever they get their money from, thats on them, union President Danny Diaz said. My concern and my focus right now is to educate the citizens as much as possible on the truth, and not lies or misrepresentations of our policies and procedures.

Fix SAPD has rejected the dark money label.

There is no dark money, there has been no dark money in Fix SAPD, there will be no dark money in Fix SAPD, Martin said.

Defund the police

In its recent campaign material, the union has equated the passage of Prop B with the movement to defund the police, which it warns would lead to more crime.

In one campaign ad posted on social media, the union maintains that cities that have defunded the police  a phrase that is hard to define but has been used to mean outright budget cuts or redirecting money from police to social services  have seen dramatic increases in crime.

Case in point, the union said: Homicides in Austin, where the City Council voted in August to cut its police budget by roughly one-third, increased by 54 percent in 2020.

But the statistic the union has been citing  which was first reported by the U.S. Attorneys Office  reflects only homicides in the first 10 months of the year, compared with the same time a year earlier. By the end of 2020, homicides had increased from 36 to 48, or 33 percent, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Robin Jerstad /Contributor

Criminology experts have cautioned that there is little evidence that the vote to reduce police funding  which occurred in August, more than halfway through the year  was connected to more homicides. The cut made immediately to the budget, $20 million, eliminated three future police cadet classes and reallocated money for other purposes: violence prevention, food access and abortion access programs.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio homicide numbers increased in 2020

Its more likely, experts said, that the spike in Austin  and in many major U.S. cities  was influenced by higher unemployment, additional stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic and racial unrest.

In San Antonio, homicides increased by 22 percent last year  to 128 from 105 a year earlier, according to preliminary data  at the same time more money was allocated for policing.

In another post, the union said Prop B would replace police officers with civilian social workers. Who would you rather have responding to an emergency? Back SA Blue wrote in a Facebook post.

Yet nowhere in the language of Prop B does it mention replacing police officers with civilian social workers.

City leaders  including Mayor Ron Nirenberg and City Manager Erik Walsh  have been hesitant to make sweeping changes in the Police Department like those the post mentioned.

Instead, they have advocated for a longer conversation about the role of police in San Antonio  one that is taking place now.

Campaign tactics

The union has accused Fix SAPD of stealing and vandalizing pro-police campaign signs.

However, union leaders later acknowledged that they had no evidence that the people they accused of vandalizing campaign signs were members of Fix SAPD.

There are a lot of organizations that are supporting the defund the police movement, said Rory McShane, a political consultant working for the union. It could be members of any one of those groups.

Leaders of Fix SAPD said no one in the organization has encouraged its employees or supporters to confront people with opposite views in an aggressive way or to steal or vandalize campaign signs.

They did acknowledge they had fired a paid canvasser who was accused of aggressively confronting a police union supporter in December  an incident that apparently was captured on a homeowners video security system.

As soon as we heard about that issue, we looked over the video, we got all the evidence and we let that person go, said Ananda Tomas, deputy director of Fix SAPD. They are not representative of Fix SAPD and its values. We have never ever trained anyone to act that way.

A public vote on contract

Fix SAPD has contended that under the meet-and-confer system, the public could have a say in the police contract if it doesnt agree with it. However, it could be a tall order.

Ronald Cortes /Contributor

Depending on which statute the union decided to negotiate under, the public would have 45 to 60 days after a contract is approved to gather signatures equal to 10 percent of voters in the last municipal or mayoral election. That would amount to roughly 10,000 petition signatures today, city officials said.

At that point, a referendum to repeal the agreement would be placed on the ballot in the next election.

City Attorney Andy Segovia said the idea is conceptually correct but practically a long shot.

In comparison, it took Fix SAPD around six months to collect the 20,000 signatures necessary to put Prop B on the ballot.

Negotiate or not

One argument against Prop B, the union says, is that the city would no longer be required to negotiate with officers, and it could refuse.

After the current contract expires, Segovia said, the union would have to request to meet and confer with the city.

City officials have indicated they would continue to negotiate with the union regardless of Prop B.

Some of the flavor that you get from the union is that were going to completely abandon them, Segovia said. Thats not the case.

We fully recognize that we need a highly effective police force in place, he added. We would have to have sound health care, pay and benefits to attract officers.

Getman, the law professor, agreed that it would be highly unusual for a city government to ignore a police union.

They are going to make the same points back and forth, Getman said. Yes, the ultimate power is going to be with the city, but they will be reluctant to use it.

The people who negotiate for the city dont want to defund the police, he added. Thats not going to happen.  The officials dont want to have an angry police force.

This story has been corrected to reflect the number of days that the public has to gather signatures to place a contract between the city and union on the ballot for repeal, in addition to the number of signatures needed.

Staff writer Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.

eeaton@express-news.net
Britain says it stands with the Czech Republic as it hunts for two men suspected of a 2014 explosion who could also be connected to the 2018 Novichok poisonings in Salisbury.

Czech police have released photos of two foreign citizens, who they said carried Russian passports matching the names of Alexander Petrov, 41, and Ruslan Boshirov, 43.

The men are already wanted in the UK over the poisonings of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, although both they and Moscow deny any involvement.

Now investigators say the men may also have been involved in an explosion on 16 October 2014 at a depot in the town of Vrbetice where 50 metric tons of ammunition was stored. The incident claimed the lives of two people.

Another explosion of 13 tonnes of ammunition occurred in the same depot on 3 December of that same year.

Czech police said the men had visited the country between 11 and 16 October 2014, and that they also visited the capital of Prague and another northeastern Czech region.

They said the suspects were also using passports issued by Moldova for Nicolai Popa and a passport issued by Tajikistan for Ruslan Tabarov.

A man carrying a Nato flag to protest over Russian intelligence services alleged involvement in an ammunition depot explosion in the Vrbetice area in 2014 walks past police officers outside the Russian embassy in Prague, 18 April 2021 (David W Cerny/Reuters)

Dominic Raab said the UK government gave its full backing to the Czech Republic as the country announced it was expelling 18 Russian diplomats who it had identified as spies during the investigation into the depot explosion.

The foreign secretary said: The UK stands in full support of our Czech allies, who have exposed the lengths that the Russian intelligence services will go to in their attempts to conduct dangerous and malign operations in Europe.

We are as determined and committed as ever to bring those responsible for the attack in Salisbury to justice, and commend the actions of the Czech authorities to do the same.

Russia must desist from these actions, which violate the most basic international norms.

The Czech Republic said on Sunday it had informed Nato and European Union allies about suspected Russian involvement in the 2014 depot explosion.

The EUs executive commission later confirmed the matter would be addressed during a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco REUTERS World news in pictures 18 May 2021 Horse-drawn carriages drive through the mudflats near Cuxhaven, northern Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 17 May 2021 Kanoya Onishi in action during the Cycling BMX Free Style of Tokyo 2020 Olympics test event at Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan EPA World news in pictures 16 May 2021 Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Reuters World news in pictures 15 May 2021 A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 May 2021 Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers inside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh AP World news in pictures 13 May 2021 Muslim girls ride on a mini train after attending the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 7 April 2021 Protesters laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases AFP/Getty World news in pictures 6 April 2021 Voters stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during third phase of West Bengal state elections in Baruipur, South 24 Pargana district, India AP World news in pictures 5 April 2021 The Statue of Christ appears behind clouds from the Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon as the Portuguese government eased coronavirus restrictions AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 April 2021 Christian worshippers light candles during an Easter service in Yerevan, the Armenian capital AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 April 2021 Anti-coup protesters hold improvised weapons during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmars military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition Getty World news in pictures 2 April 2021 A rescue works at the site after a train derailed in a tunnel north of Hualien, Taiwan Reuters World news in pictures 1 April 2021 Man flashes three-finger salute next to burning tires during a protest against the military c Reuters World news in pictures 31 March 2021 Mannequins wrapped in barrier tape stand in front of Berlins landmark Brandenburg Gate as part of German artist Dennis Josef Mesegs Corona Memorial called It is Like it is AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 March 2021 A ship heads down the Suez Canal, in Ismalia, Egypt EPA

Mr Skripal, a former Russian spy turned double agent for MI6, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia, survived the Novichok attack in Salisbury on 4 March 2018 but the incident later claimed the life of Dawn Sturgess, after she came into contact with a perfume bottle believed to have been used in the attack before being discarded.

The suspects were seen on CCTV footage in Salisbury the day before the attack.

Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement, with president Vladimir Putin claiming the two suspects were civilians.

However, they are wanted in the UK, where the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against them in connection with the attempted killings.

Meanwhile, the government is reportedly set to introduce new laws to prosecute and deport foreign spies amid concerns over the actions of states such as Russia and China.

Boris Johnson will use the Queens Speech next month to announce a bill, which will make it a requirement for individuals working on behalf of foreign governments to register their presence in the UK, according to The Times.

The newspaper said the bill will also update the Officials Secrets Act to target those who try to sabotage the UK from abroad by carrying out activities such as cyber hacking.

Additional reporting by agencies
KENOSHA, Wis.  Authorities say they have apprehended a person in connection with a shooting at a busy tavern in southeastern Wisconsin early Sunday that left three men dead and three men injured.

Kenosha County Sheriffs Department spokesman Sgt. David Wright said the suspect is facing a charge of first-degree intentional homicide, with additional criminal charges likely after further investigation. Authorities said earlier they werent sure if there was more than one shooter.

There is no threat to the community at this time, Wright said in a release. He said no further information on the suspect would be released Sunday.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said earlier a suspect was asked to leave the Somers House Tavern in Kenosha County but returned and opened fire. Beth said shots were fired inside and outside the bar, which he described as very busy at the time. He said he believed at least one handgun was used.

Kenosha is about 30 miles south of Milwaukee, not far from the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

Officials originally said two people were injured but said they were checking with hospitals for people who may have been hurt in the shooting. Wright said in the updated release that authorities believe there is one possible unknown shooting victim.

Beth said two people died at the scene. The third person hopped in a car with two other people, who moments later flagged down a police vehicle. The officer drove the victim to a hospital where that person was pronounced dead, Beth said.

Wright said investigators have reviewing surveillance video from the scene. The tavern installed video cameras a couple of years ago, Beth said, but he didnt know if the surveillance video is from the business.

Wright called it a complex investigation that involves several crime scenes.

Detectives have followed up on multiple leads and gathered surveillance video evidence during extensive neighborhood canvasses, he said.

A man who lives near the bar, Peter Ploskee, told WLS-TV that he heard gun shots, looked out a window and saw people running from the bar in every direction.

It was just chaos, he said. People are just running, people screaming.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called it a senseless tragedy and said he and his wife are thinking of the families and loved ones affected and the entire Kenosha community as they grieve and grapple with yet another tragic incident of gun violence.

It was the latest in a recent string of shootings across the country, including the killings of eight people at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis on Thursday. Last month, four people were killed at an office shooting in California, eight people were fatally shot at massage businesses in the Atlanta area, and 10 died in gunfire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

The nearby city of Kenosha was the scene of serious unrest last summer, after police shot a young Black man, Jacob Blake, leaving him paralyzed. A white Illinois teenager was accused of fatally shooting two people during the Kenosha protests. Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch is charged with homicide and attempted homicide in the Aug. 25 shootings. He has pleaded not guilty and says he fired in self-defense.
Our advice columnists have heard it all over the years. Each Sunday, we dive into the Dear Prudie archives and sharing a selection of classic letters with our readers. Join Slate Plus for even more advice columnsyour first month is only $1.

Dear Prudence,

After a lot of soul-searching, Ive decided to divorce my wife of five years. All we did was fight, and we had little in the way of sexual intimacy. The problem is that my soon-to-be ex-wife just had a baby a few weeks ago. I was thinking about divorce when I found out she was pregnant but decided to stay for the sake of the baby. Its four weeks after the birth, and things are worse. We fight constantly and we havent had sex for almost four months, so last week I finally got the courage to break ties and move into an apartment.

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The problem? My friends and family say Im horriblethat my wife just had a baby; that were in the miserable newborn stage and of course wed fight; that shes not even cleared by the doctor for sex yet, so of course were not sleeping together. Even my brother says Im being selfish. What do I say to these people? My wife stopped being the woman I loved almost a year ago, but I only hung around because she got pregnant.

I dont know that hanging around was the best response to a surprise pregnancy. You didnt stay for the sake of the baby; you merely postponed your exit for the duration of the pregnancy! You seem to have chosen the worst of both worlds over the past year: You halfheartedly decided to stay a bit longer without trying anything new, and now youve chosen an awfully inopportune time to move out. (Im not enormously sympathetic to your four-month-long dry spell, but Ill take you at your word that sex had been infrequent long before this particular jab of celibacy.)

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Frankly, your biggest problem is not what people are saying about you but about how youre going to be a present co-parent to a month-old baby and a newly minted ex-wife. If your friends and family criticize you for moving out at a particularly inconvenient time, you may have to simply bear it as the price you pay for leaving a marriage where youve already emotionally checked out. If pressed, you can simply tell the truth: Our marriage has actually been rocky for quite a while, but I think this is for the best, and now Im trying to focus on raising our child together. Danny M. Lavery

From: Help! Im Divorcing My Wife a Month After She Gave Birth. (June 9, 2016)

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Dear Prudence,

My husbands parents divorced about two years ago, which was the same time we were getting engaged and then married. Hes in his early 30s, but the separation was still extremely upsetting for him. We learned his mom had been having an affair with a married man before the divorce. His dad was completely devastated and relied heavily on my husband for support. Supporting his dad took a real toll. Meanwhile, his mom was living it up and going to parties with her boyfriend. Now, wounds are healing, and my husband has returned to having a loving relationship with his mother. Before all this I had a pretty good relationship with her, too. But Ive lost so much respect for her. We all live near each other, and I try to be pleasant, but inside Im still a little bitter. Am I being ridiculous for holding onto this grudge? If so, how do I can let it go?

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Be grateful youre describing a happy ending to this mess. Many grown children whose parents have divorced go through life pressured by one parent to forever punish the other. It is not your mother-in-laws fault that your father-in-law overstepped his bounds and turned his son into his confidant. Fortunately, it sounds as if that phase has passed, and, most importantly, your husband no longer feels he has to side with his father against his mother. In the years to come you will see versions of your in-laws drama played out among your friends. These marital misadventures will confirm just how messy, painful, and even silly life can be. While your husband continues to restore his relationship with his mother, focus on being cordial and enjoying her company. Having a good time with her will help blot out your mental images of her good times. If you someday have children, she will be their grandmother, and probably a devoted one. In that case youll realize despite her failings, youre lucky to have her around.Emily Yoffe

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From: Help! My Mother Keeps Trying to Force Plastic Surgery on Me. (May 10, 2012)

Dear Prudence,

I have a close friend, Sam, who I met in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting many years ago. He has gotten very serious with a woman, Amanda, and they have been living together now for a little over a year. They have four children between the two of them. Sam recently told me that one of the rules he had set down was that he could not, under any circumstances, be involved with a woman who drank, so his girlfriend supposedly swore off alcohol for him. Well, I was at a social function and Amanda happened to be there. She was drinking, and she was buzzed. When she saw me she made me promise not to say anything, and now I feel torn. As a fellow recovering alcoholic, I feel its my duty to tell my friend because as alcoholics, our recovery must always come first and foremost, and she might end up jeopardizing this. On the other hand, I would feel terribly if I tore the family apart they are trying to build by speaking the truth. What should I do?

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I agree that for an alcoholic staying sober is a foremost task in life. But the person who cant drink has to learn to navigate through a world of people who do. I know many recovering alcoholics who are married to people who enjoy having a glass of wine in their presence and all is fine. I cant tell from your description whether you think Amanda herself is hiding a drinking problem, or she was just a little tipsy at a social event. Building a relationship on unreasonable demands and lies is a poor basis for success. But I dont see how Amanda drinking at a party jeopardizes Sams own sobriety. I think this is an issue for the two of them, and you should stay out of it. EY

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From: Help! My Father-in-Law Is Sort of Perverted. (Nov. 7, 2011)

Dear Prudence,

I am a straight, single woman. On Friday night, I had sex with a man Ive had a loose friendship with for about a year and had been hanging out with more often in the last month. It was terrible. I never felt unsafe or violated, but this guy who has been generous and empathetic in all other contexts was way off the mark in bed. Maybe he has limited experience, watches a lot of terrible porn, gets bad advice  who knows! Every time I said no or redirected he apologized and stopped and seemed embarrassed. He wants to hang out again and I think I need to break things offwhat level of explanation do I offer? Do I owe it to him and the women who come next to let him know that his understanding of female anatomy is incorrect and his approach is riddled with misogyny? I dont think hes a jerk and I believe he could be a great partner to someone if he does some homework, but I also dont know if its cruel to point out someones sexual illiteracy as a reason for wanting to go our separate ways.

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I think that if you repeatedly stopped him during sex and he had to apologize and fumble about nervously more than once, he probably wont be too surprised when you turn him down. Tell him you dont think you two connect well sexually, and leave it at that; you dont have to become his sex tutor out of a sense of obligation to future women. You dont want to sleep with him again, and its not cruel to be honest about the fact that the sex you two had was bad. You dont have to belabor the point or enumerate the ways in which he failed you as a lover, but go ahead and make it clear that youre not interested in trying again, and move on. DL

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From: Help! I Hit a Child With My Car and Have No Choice but to Sue His Parents. (Sept. 15, 2016)

More From Dear Prudence

I am a freelance Web developer who was almost bankrupted by the economic collapse. A few years ago a client referred me to a friend who needed some search engine optimization. The friend operates an adult website. One job turned into another, and working with adult websites has become a thriving business for me. My problem is that nobody knows I do this. My wife thinks that I design websites for local companies. Im getting to a point where I cant hide this anymore. Im going to get a prestigious industry award, which means that an Internet search of my name will reveal the nature of my business. Ive wanted to walk away for a while, but the money has gotten us a lifestyle that we struggled to have for years. I feel like Im stuck between disappointing my family by turning off the money pump or having them find out that I work in the adult entertainment industry. What should I do?
A woman experiencing a mental health crisis fatally shot herself in a van parked in the middle of a road near the entrance to the Columbia Gorge Outlets in Troutdale on Saturday afternoon.

The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, which had responded to help the woman, is investigating. The womans van, which was parked in the median on Graham Road, was towed from the area by early evening.

Sgt. Bryan White said 911 received multiple calls from witnesses who said they saw a woman with a handgun in severe distress inside the vehicle. He said the woman was alone.

White said law enforcement officers had no previous contact with the woman, who has not been publicly identified.

The incident disrupted traffic in the area for about an hour, he said.

The womans van was spray painted inexplicably with phrases this was murder and pet killer. White said he had no information about what the messages were about.

Portland is home to Lines for Life, a nonprofit devoted to suicide prevention throughout the Pacific Northwest. It operates a suicide prevention line that is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It can be reached at 800-273-8255 or by texting 273TALK to 839863.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
"Kathy was just outstanding  with tremendous insight as a shrewd and savvy chief executive, and as a compassionate, thoughtful leader," said McMeel. "I am honored to call her my business partner, and my dear friend, of more than 50 years. She was a very special human being  and we will miss her wise counsel and dry wit very much."

"Kathy is essential to the DNA of AMU," said Sareyan. "She has been integral to many of its most successful ventures  from Ziggy and Doonesbury to The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes. We will strive to continue her mission with John as a "creator-first" operation, and are honored to have such a tremendous example to guide us."

"Kathy was the indispensable Mom in the Mom-and-Pop basement operation that drew young creators to Leawood, Kansas," said Garry Trudeau, creator of Doonesbury. "Success seemed unlikely, so it took someone with a sharp, critical financial eye to make it probable. Kathy's mastery of spreadsheets kept the lights on; her warmth and graciousness kept her visitors charmed and reassured  then and for years to come. All of us will miss her greatly."

"After joining Universal Press Syndicate and arriving in Kansas City for a meet and greet, I was given a tour of the building, met various people in various departments, and was eventually introduced to the company's owners," said Gary Larson, creator of The Far Side. "I remember being a little overwhelmed with everything, not to mention all that was happening in my life in general, but being introduced to Kathy is as memorable as it was grounding. Immediately down-to-earth and likable, she put me at ease with her informal manner and humor. The two of us sat and chatted in her office for a while, and later had lunch. I liked everyone I met that day, but I think it's when I met Kathy that I truly felt the welcome mat come out, and knew I was in a good place. She's part of my own story, for which I'll be forever grateful."

"My career as a cartoonist began at Kathy Andrews' kitchen table the night her husband, Jim, brought my submission home and asked her if she thought it was sellable," said Cathy Guisewite, creator of the comic strip Cathy. "The blessing she gave my work that night launched my comic strip. Her great, generous heart helped hold me together in the beginning years. Her devotion to her own family and to the corporate family she helped wrap around all of us lucky enough to be with Universal Press Syndicate (now AMU) helped sustain me for all the years that followed. She was a rock of security, a trusted sounding board, and a dear friend. I will be always be grateful to Kathy for being such a great role model of strength, integrity and humor, and for the wonderful life my family and I had because of her belief in me."

A native of Ashtabula Ohio, Kathleen was a graduate of Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio, and earned a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. She met her future husband, James (Jim) Andrews, as a graduate student.

With Jim, Kathleen founded Universal Press Syndicate (now AMU) in 1970 with John and Susan McMeel. She served as chief financial officer and secretary in its early years, and her discovery of Ziggy, by Tom Wilson, helped propel the company into character licensing and merchandising through books, calendars, and greeting cards. After the company's first few years, she paused her full-time involvement to care for her two young sons, Hugh and Jim, although she remained closely tied to its operations.

After Jim's untimely death at the age of 44 in 1980, Kathleen returned to the company she helped create. With characteristic strength, determination, and an enduring and droll sense of humor, she worked diligently with McMeel to grow the company into the largest independent newspaper syndicate in the world and a renowned publishing powerhouse, Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP), serving as chief executive officer of AMP. Although she retired in 2006, her presence remains in AMU's culture and heritage.

Along with McMeel, she established the James F. Andrews Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Notre Dame, which underwrites students in the summer service-learning program in conjunction with the University's Alumni Clubs. Since its inception, thousands of students have served in communities throughout the country and the world, to benefit the lives of those less fortunate, an enduring and exceptional legacy.

In 1993, Kathleen was named a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Notre Dame, and was named a Fellow of the Board of Trustees in 1996, the first woman to serve on the 12-member group that is the University's core governing body. She received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2003, and had been an Emeritus member of Board since 2007. In June 2004, she was presented with the Edward Sorin Award by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, and received the Father Hesburgh Award from the Notre Dame Club of Kansas City in 2006.

She also served on the Board of the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and the Boards of Avila College in Kansas City, Missouri, and Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and received honorary degrees from both. She also received honorary doctorates from the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon and Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a director of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in Washington, DC, and was a Dame of the Federal Association of the Sovereign of Military Order of Malta. She was involved in numerous charitable endeavors, including Christmas in October, fundraising for Catholic Charities, and as founder and chairman of the Andrews Family Foundation, directed funding to a variety charitable causes.

Kathleen savored spending time with family, friends, and business associates. She leaves behind sons Hugh (Cynthia) and James (JoMarie), and grandchildren Mary Katherine, Anne Marie, James, and William Andrews; and Abigail and James Andrews; sister, Annabelle Whalen, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Contact: Kathy Hilliard, Vice President, Marketing

[email protected], 816.581.7497

SOURCE Andrews McMeel Universal
Church planting is God's primary mission strategy for expanding His work  and every member of the Body of Christ has a role to play in bringing the message of Jesus Christ to people in all contexts, the head of a global church planting network has said.

Church planting is critical to fulfilling the mission of Jesus. Its a myth that there are enough churches already. We need to be treating North America as a mission field in the same way that we in the West have oftentimes seen the rest of the world, Brian Howard, executive director of Acts 29, told The Christian Post.

Church planting is not just the thing for pastors; it's something that we all need to be involved in, he said, adding that Acts 29 strives to take the importance of church planting beyond just pastors and seminary classrooms and into congregations.

Church planting not only revitalizes older congregations, but its the best way to reach new people groups and generations and achieve diversity, he said. And we all have a role to play in that, whether we give financially or volunteer.

Source:The Christian Post
Everyone I know has been shocked and surprised by Helen McCrorys death. The much-loved actress was just 52 when she died of cancer last week. A nurse at work summed it up when she said in a disbelieving tone: But I didnt even know she was ill.

Yet why should we know such intimate things about people? In this age of oversharing, there is something to be said for keeping certain matters to ourselves, especially when its something as emotionally complex as cancer.

Perhaps thats why McCrory chose to keep her illness private. The idea of having everyone crowding round you with their heads on one side, offering smiles, advice and tray bakes, fills me with dread. It would drive me mad.

As McCrory did, I would much rather just be left alone to deal with it by myself. Head down, sort it out and come to terms with things in your own way, in your own time and at your own pace.

Dr Max Pemberton examines the reasons why people with cancer may choose to avoid telling others about their diagnosis. Pictured: Helen McCrory with her husband Damian Lewis

The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre wrote that hell is other people, and too often I have seen just how hellish they can be.

Those around coo and fuss  but some people hate being mollycoddled like that. I cant think of anything worse.

Of course, if you are a public figure and announce you have cancer, it follows that strangers will continually be coming up to you and wishing you well, which sounds nice but must soon become exhausting.

And even for those of us who arent famous, news soon spreads and before you know it youre being accosted in the supermarket by some vague acquaintance you once nodded at outside the school gates, as they engage you in an hour-long conversation about one of their relatives who had the same thing as you and died. Awful.

People are well-meaning; they want to help and support and care for you. But too often it becomes about them  about trying to make themselves feel better, managing their grief and anxieties, so the person with cancer ends up almost getting lost in it all.

I have seen this many times in clinics and on the wards, where you notice that the patient  the person who actually has to deal with cancer  is having to consider the feelings of their friends or family, rather than their own.

One of the strange things about cancer that Ive noticed time and again is the way the patient will often feel responsible for making those around them feel better.

They put on a brave face, not wanting to burden anyone; worried about the impact their diagnosis is having on others.

Dr Max (pictured) said cancer patients will often feel responsible for making those around them feel better

When I worked in breast surgery as a junior doctor, I remember a young woman who had been diagnosed with a tumour breaking down in tears.

Yet all she was worried about was how her mother and her husband were going to cope.

I was gobsmacked that this was the first thing she thought of.

I mean, really, if there is any time when you should be the focus of your worries, it is when you have just been told you have cancer.

Over the years, I have known several people decide not to tell their nearest and dearest they had cancer until they had come to terms with the diagnosis themselves.

At first I thought that this was odd  lying to the people closest to you about where you were going, then coming to hospital and sitting with doctors making some of the most important decisions of your life, totally alone. It has mostly been women.

I think they feel they need to be there to process and deal with everything themselves first, knowing that when they tell their husband they will have to be there to emotionally support him.

Mental health referrals for children and young people have risen by more than a quarter in the pandemic, and Im sorry to say we are responsible for this. Despite them being at next to no risk, we have petrified them and placed extraordinary restrictions on their lives. Now we must ensure they get the help they need.

They need to be strong to do this, and not be battling their own feelings, too.

But there is also the fact that when youve got cancer, everything is experienced through that prism.

It is always there, colouring your experiences with other people, muscling in on any fun youre having. It is like a constant worry in the back of everyones mind.

You are no longer the person you were. Youre a tumour, a cancer patient, instead of silly, funny old you who just happens to have cancer as well. There is no more chat about the implausible plot line in Line Of Duty, or funny stories about getting drunk and falling out of a cab.

From now on its all stony-faced, serious cancer discussion. How dire.

The last thing you want when you have cancer is to be forced to talk about it continually or have it overshadowing every conversation you have, lurking in the background like an expectant waiter.

The fact is, everyone deals with a cancer diagnosis differently. Like McCrory, the Irish novelist and poetry-lover Josephine Hart, who was married to Maurice Saatchi, also didnt tell people about her cancer. Victoria Wood and TV presenter Caron Keating told only very close friends.

But equally, there are plenty of people who want the distraction of other people.

Other cancer sufferers, including Linda Nolan, Sharon Osbourne and Victoria Derbyshire not only went public with their diagnosis but talked in detail about it.

There is no right or wrong way to go about this  but I totally understand those who want to keep their personal battles totally private.

GPs must face up to their patients

Why are some GPs still refusing to see patients face to face?

Yes, phone or video consultations have been a godsend for many during this pandemic, but it simply isnt the same. Non-essential shops are open, yet there are still GPs who decline to actually see their patients. I fear that if they continue in this vein, they will lose the publics goodwill  and that will damage the NHS, as people start to question whether the health service really has their best interests at heart.

The question is whether effective, patient-centred, clinically accurate care can really be delivered without seeing someone in person. For some time I have been unconvinced that a virtual appointment results in an accurate diagnosis. When I had to seek medical advice as a patient via a phone consultation, the experience was far from ideal.

In fact, several times the diagnosis was wrong and the treatment prescribed incorrect. I think that was because the GP couldnt properly examine me.

Really, there is no excuse not to see patients in person now.

Dr Max said Fearne Cottons Happy Place podcast (pictured) is riveting and at times incredibly moving

Almost two fifths of young smokers are smoking more in the pandemic due to stress, new research shows. As a former smoker, I do understand how cigarettes can appear to relieve stress  but that is an illusion. After you smoke a cigarette, nicotine levels in the body slowly drop until you experience a withdrawal, which is very stressful and is alleviated by having another cigarette. So our minds learn to equate cigarettes with easing stress  but the only stress they relieve is that induced by the nicotine addiction they created in the first place. Understanding this was a eureka moment for me and helped me kick the habit.

Dr Max prescribes...

Blues-busting chat

Fearne Cottons Happy Place podcast (official fearnecotton.com/happy-place) is about how to overcome feeling blue. Fearne talks to people from Hillary and Chelsea Clinton to Gareth Southgate about what happiness means to them. Its riveting and at times incredibly moving.
Since the 1990s North Korea has been training more and more Internet software engineers and hackers, even though North Korea has limited access to the Internet. They made the best of their situation by having North Korean Internet engineers build an intranet. This is an Internet type network for North Korea that has no access to the rest of the Internet. By 2010 this intranet program included a locally created own operating system, based on Unix, for North Korean PCs. Called Red Star, it features a front end that makes it look identical to Microsoft Windows. One difference was a custom browser called "My Country" that, for example, can only use a local search engine called "My Country BBS." North Korean computer users can only search the North Korean Internet, with only a few people allowed access to the international Internet. Most of the world wide web users belong to North Korean Cyber War organizations, or Internet security personnel who decide what to import for use on the isolated North Korean Internet.

Details of how this unique North Korea Internet and hacker development were scarce until 2015, when South Korea struck an intelligence goldmine when a North Korean colonel defected. This colonel worked for military intelligence, more specifically the RGB (Reconnaissance General Bureau), which runs the hacking operations and espionage operates agents in South Korea and China. The RGB colonel was able to provide details of major changes North Korea hacking operations since 2009. The RGB was formed in 2009 by combining several other intel agencies and that required a lot of data to get reorganized and combined. RGB handles a lot of Cyber War operations and provides information for attacks on South Korea. This includes the 2010 North Korea artillery and torpedo attacks that almost revived the Korean War. South Korea realized that getting an RGB insider was a big deal as it not only provided more details on who is doing what in North Korea, but what exactly is going on between China and North Korea and what role China was playing in the expanding North Korean hacking efforts.

The 2015 defector also made it possible to more quickly detect and analyze new North Korean hacking campaigns. For example, the defector explained how the RGB had different bureaus for the various intelligence specialties. Bureau 121 handled Cyber Warfare research and hacking teams operating in North Korea and China. With the leads provided by the 2015 defector South Korea was better prepared to track North Korea hacking and intelligence operations.

In late 2020 this led to the discovery that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had created another RGB hacking organization, Bureau 325, that handled special assignments and reported directly to Kim and not the head of the RGB. Before the end of 2020 Kim ordered Bureau 121 transferred to the control of Bureau 325. Kim Jong Un was making hacking operations his own personal project. This was really no surprise because Kim Jong Un's father, the late (since 2011) Kim Jong Il ) had always been a big fan of PCs and electronic gadgets in general. While Kim Jong Il ruled he founded Mirim College to train hackers and backed this new school consistently. The only instance of Kim Jong Il's displeasure was suspicions about those who graduated from Mirim between 1986 through the early 1990s. These graduates had been tainted by visits (until 1991) by Russian electronic warfare experts. Some Mirim students also went to Russia to study for a semester or two. All these students were suspected of having become spies for the Russians, and most, if not all, were purged from the Internet hacking program. Thus, it wasn't until the late 1990s that there were a sufficient number of trusted Internet experts that could be used to begin building a Cyber War organization.

Kim Jong Un spent many years in the West getting an education and keeping up to date on new tech, especially computers. This was one thing that made him, the youngest son, the favorite and ultimately the successor to Kim Jong Il. The current Great Leader Kim was still in his 20s when he took over from his father.

Kim Jong Un put a lot more money and resources into high-tech areas like nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and hacking as a major source of hard currency income. When covid19 arrived in early 2020, Kim ordered Bureau 121 to monitor Western progress in developing a vaccine. Kim knew China and Russia were also developing covid19 vaccines but were dependent on Western advances in that area. Soon Western pharma (pharmaceutical) firms developing covid19 vaccines noted more hacking attacks on them and the hackers seemed to be after covid19 related work. This was anticipated and precautions were taken. It was noted by Internet security firms that a disproportionate number of the hacking efforts were coming from North Korea. By the end of 2020 it was noted that North Korea hacking efforts were up more than 30 percent for the year. North Korea had shifted a lot of its hacking teams from money raising hacks to ones that concentrated on covid19, especially what was needed to make one of the several successful Western covid19 vaccines. Not only that, but more hackers were seeking any health-related tech that could help North Korea cope with covid19. North Korea has no nationwide health care capability. The spread of covid19 in North Korea could have disastrous impact because most of the population was suffering more than a decade of less food, medical care, heat and much else. That was the result of Kim Jong Un diverting scarce cash to tech projects. The only place in North Korea you can get any modern treatment for covid19 is a few hospitals in the capital.

Kim Jong Un also spent a lot of money on trying to keep details of these disasters from getting out of the country. A recent example of this was when another specialized college for intelligence operations was established in 2019. This took place at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy, which now offers a three-year course for international IW (information warfare) specialists. Students in this course also study the detection and monitoring of radio traffic, including location of radio signals. These tech elements are already taught at Mangyongdae but not as intensively as was the case with the new IW major. Another important area of study is how to block certain types of wireless communications at the North Korean border. This will includes unwanted cell phone signals.

Prime candidates for the new course are younger (under 30) officers who demonstrate technical skills on the entry exam. Those who get into the course and graduate will have much improved career and promotion prospects. This new specialty is the latest of several new programs at Mangyongdae that are only available to the most loyal and capable upper-class North Koreans.

This new IW course is part of a trend that began in 2014 when North Korea established a program for foreign agents that was only open to members of the elite North Korea families. The children of these families are eligible to attend the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy, but many courses of study are only open to applicants with special aptitudes. Graduates of Mangyongdae are likely to get the most senior government and military jobs and there are only about a hundred graduates a year. A growing number of those graduates have gained some very special skills. There is a computer science program for Mangyongdae students seeking to become foreign agents in enemy countries, especially South Korea. These agents are trained to hunt down high-level defectors in foreign countries and either arrange to kill the defector or at least find out how the defector is doing, how many secrets they have divulged and, if possible, persuade the defector to shut up or even return to North Korea.

To accomplish this defector remediation task the Mangyongdae students are taught the latest hacking techniques, what tools and mercenary hackers are available in the hacker underground, and how to deal with the tools, nd the mercs to put together specialized efforts to track down defectors and monitor them. This means the Mangyongdae must be able to pass as a South Korean, as in speak with a South Korea accent, as well as use the customs and slang. This makes it possible to assume a false identity convincingly and play the role of an Internet criminal. There are a lot of those in both Koreas.

As important as all these skills are, the most important item is loyalty to North Korea. The Mangyongdae agents go after the growing number of high-level North Koreans who are illegally leaving the country. The agents are trained to use social media to seek out known or suspected defectors, make contact and obtain more information about them.

Since 2005 North Korea has been increasingly concerned about key people defecting to South Korea, or simply getting into China and making asylum deals with the Chinese government. The Chinese have always been receptive to such arrangements and there has been more of this as the hundreds of families at the top of the social pyramid in North Korea get out. This is a risky endeavor although there are more and more people smugglers who, for enough money, can get anyone out of the country. Worse, many senior officials became defectors while already outside North Korea on official business. There they can arrange to disappear and defect. Some of these defectors have been diplomats and some of them were senior enough to be noticed when they disappeared.

These high-caste North Koreans report that there is a sense in the ruling families that the system isnt working and is doomed. The top people in North Korea are easy to identify. When North Korea was founded in the late 1940s, a caste system was established to ensure that the most loyal and capable North Korean communists were recognized and rewarded for their efforts to maintain the new communist government for generations to come. The newly established secret police and communist party reported on everyone, making it possible to create an official list of every family assigned to one of 51 social classes. From the beginning, most (29) of these classes were composed of people considered either hostile to the government or leaning that way. These new lower classes are where most of the new (and often quite wealthy) donju (entrepreneurs) are coming from. Most of the population falls into these 29 social classes, and many of them are now getting increasingly hostile to a government that seems to do nothing but create one disaster after another.

Members of higher-caste families are catching on as well and younger members are increasingly abandoning promising careers to flee the country. All that bribe money making its way to the higher caste North Koreans doesnt just go to buy an easier life in North Korea because that is already assured if you are high caste. The bribe money often goes to buy an escape. To deal with this problem among the most trusted classes, another special program at the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy created elite counter-intelligence (spy catcher) agents who often operate in China and South Korea. Apparently, some of the Mangyongdae agents have been identified or even caught and this program is no longer as secret as it once was. Meanwhile, the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Academy and its ultra-loyal students get a lot more publicity inside (and outside) North Korea.

In addition to tracking down high-caste defectors, some Mangyongdae graduates are also assigned to monitor the loyalty of North Korea hackers working outside North Korea. This became known as escapees from North Korean revealed much about how North Korea has managed to establish and maintain hacking operations outside North Korea, an operation whose main purpose is to make a lot of money for the cash hungry North Korea government. This became a higher priority operation in the last few years because of the growing list of economic sanctions imposed, while at the same time there were more opportunities for Internet-based misbehavior. Some of these defectors were associated with the North Korean hackers who are, it turns out, mostly based outside North Korea because Internet access is better and operating outside North Korea makes it easier to deny that North Korean hackers are engaged in illegal activity. South Korea has obtained a lot of details about the North Korean hacker operations and even allowed some defectors familiar with those operations to speak openly about it. Obviously many of these North Korean hackers are not as loyal as they are supposed to be, so North Korea became determined to identify and punish the ones that defect and expose how the hacker program works. Each time that happens North Korea has to revise the way its hackers operate. This is time-consuming and expensive.

The Mangyongdae agents are also trained in the usual methods of secretly contacting the center, usually via North Korea operatives based outside of North Korea who relay messages to and from North Korea itself. The skills North Korea hackers have developed are world-class and increasingly difficult to counter or even detect. But this edge in skills and techniques depends on having loyal operatives in key positions, thus the importance of the Mangyongdae agents.

South Korea is particularly vulnerable to North Korean Cyber War capabilities because South Korea has become more dependent on the Internet than any other on the planet, with the exception of the United States. As in the past, if the north is to start any new kind of Internet mischief, they try it out on South Korea first. While many of the first serious attacks in 2009 were more annoying than anything else, they revealed a new threat out there, and one that not only got worse but turned out to be from the usual suspects. Now the threat is very real and growing rapidly. North Korea is seeing its Internet-based capabilities damaged by the growing number of high-level defectors with valuable secrets to sell to China, South Korea or whoever will pay the most. Given the worldwide depredations of North Korean hackers, this provides defectors with a lot of potential hiding places. This led to the Mangyongdae Academy programs for specialized agents. Now some of the Mangyongdae grads are suspected of wavering loyalty and reliability. North Korea may lack food, electrical power, freedom and much more but there is no shortage of paranoia.
McCracken Kindergarten Ready Event Coming Saturday

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The McCracken County Early Childhood Council is hosting a Kindergarten Ready Drive Thru event on Saturday, April 24 from noon until 2 pm in the parking lot of Heartland Church, 4777Alben Barkley Dr.This is the 8th year the local Early Childhood Council has hosted a community-wide kindergarten event for families with children starting school in August. Last years event was cancelled due to covid-19. This year, the Council felt compelled to safely reach out to families in order to give information about getting ready to start school for these young children.Kristy Lewis, Chairperson for the McCracken County Early Childhood Council said, The purpose of the McCracken Co Early Childhood Council is to build innovative, collaborative partnerships that promote school readiness for children so that all children can begin school ready to learn or have the proper supports in place to be successful. Our Council felt that a drive thru event was the safest way to get this important school readiness information to our families.Market House Theatre will be the main draw for the event this year. Their crew will be acting out highlights from the popular children's book You Are Not Small in three separate stops along the route thru Heartland Churchs parking lot. In between the story stops, other stops include information about the domains of learning, educational materials, books, school information, surveys and door prize information. Paducah Public Schools Tornado Take Out food service program will be giving a healthy snack as the last stop on the drive thru route.There are five domains of school readiness that the Council focuses all educational efforts on. These domains are General Knowledge and Math; Health and Well-Being; Social Emotional Development; Language and Communication Development; and Approaches to Learning.This event is sponsored by Paducah Head Start, Paducah Public Schools, McCracken Preschool, McCracken County Schools, and the Purchase Area Community Early Childhood Council.Hosts
Supporters of ousted Australia Post boss Christine Holgate who sent $5 notes to Scott Morrison to cover the cost of Cartier watches purchased for four highly-paid company executives have demanded to know where their money went.

The Licensed Post Office Group - representing 3,000 privately owned and operated post offices - launched the $5 campaign after being angered by comments made by the Prime Minister in the wake of controversy over the watches, worth $5000 each.

In a heated Question Time debate after the lavish gifts came to light in October last year, a furious Mr Morrison called for her to stand aside, saying 'she can go'.

The watches were a reward for securing a Bank@Post deal with three of the four big banks, for which Australia Post earned $220million.

Supporters of Christine Holgate (pictured), who resigned as Australia Post CEO in November, sent $5 notes to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in response to controversy surrounding the purchase of Cartier watches for company executives

The $5 notes were sent to cover the cost of the watches, four of which were purchased for $5000 each (stock image)

Ms Holgate eventually resigned in November - but claims she was illegally forced to step aside.

She told a Senate inquiry into Australia Post last week she was of the belief more than 20,000 notes had been sent to Mr Morrison by angry post office licensees.

'(We) were told that it was over 20,000 $5 notes, but we don't know. It's hearsay,' Ms Holgate said.

Angela Cramp, Licensed Post Office Group executive director, said she and her members were curious to know where their money ended up, in response to a question by Senator Kimberley Kitching during the inquiry.

Senator Kitching said she had put a question to the Prime Minister's office asking how money $5 notes were sent but never got a response.

'We suspect there are many thousands of people who would like an answer to that,' Ms Cramp said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) called for Ms Holgate to stand aside, saying 'she can go' after details of the watch controversy came to light

The watches were awarded as a bonus to Ms Holgate's team after they successfully pulled off a $70 billion deal to create Bank@Post, which provides banking services at every post office (stock image)

'A lot of taxpayers told us that they had sent one in. They sent emails and sent pictures of themselves sending them in. We suspect thousands did.'

But according to Mr Morrison's office, the amount of cash sent to the Prime Minister only equated to 180 people sending in $5 notes.

'The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet handles correspondence sent to the Prime Minister. There was a total of $900 sent regarding the Australia Post matter,' a spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ms Holgate told the inquiry on Tuesday Mr Morrison's comments during question time amounted to bullying and harassment and insisted she did nothing wrong.

She also said she was left suicidal and took insomnia medication due to her poor mental health as a result of Mr Morrison's public rebuke.

In an interview with The West Australian on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said he regretted causing distress but stopped short of an apology.

'I see that this has caused some very strong reaction from Christine and had hurt her deeply. That was not my intention and so I regret that,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia contacted the Prime Minister's Office for comment.

Lifeline 13 11 14
Ramallah, April 18 : The Israeli police have arrested three Palestinian electoral candidates attempting to hold a news briefing in East Jerusalem, sources said here.

Two of the candidates are on the list of the Fatah party led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the third is on the list of the Palestinian Democratic Union, Xinhua news agency quoted the sources as saying on Saturday following the arrests.

The three candidates planned to hold a news conference to call on the international community to pressure Israel to allow the elections to be held in East Jerusalem, the sources added.

Wassel Abu Yousef, a member of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told reporters that Abbas will chair a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday to discuss the possibility of enabling the Palestinians in East Jerusalem to participate in the upcoming elections.

"The PLO and the Palestinian leadership will never accept that the elections are only held in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip without East Jerusalem," he said.

Palestine will hold the legislative elections on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the elections of the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the PLO, on August 31.

The Palestinians insist that they want to hold the general elections to elect a new Parliament and President in all Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The Palestinians in East Jerusalem participated in the last presidential and legislative elections held in 2005 and 2006.
Health care workers Saturday staged a protest in front of the Brooklyn Center Police Station of the use of so-called less-lethal riot-control weapons, following a week of clashes between police and civilians.

Protests over former officer Kimberly Potter's killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright have featured nonviolent marches and demonstrations, but also brick-throwing and fireworks. Police have responded with flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas and mass arrests.

Some of those people struck by police projectiles, including a Star Tribune photojournalist, have needed emergency medical care.

Victor Ramirez, a 19-year-old who protested multiple nights, was shot Tuesday with a projectile that narrowly missed his left eye and fractured a bone.

"These weapons are being used on people that don't have no weapons in their hands," Ramirez said. He said he's tired of police "saying that they're scared when they have full body armor, when they're the ones with these guns."

In February, University of Minnesota medical student Erika Kaske published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine analyzing projectile injuries stemming from civil unrest over the death of George Floyd.

A review of hospital records from Hennepin Healthcare and M Health Fairview found 89 emergency room visits, including seven people hit directly by tear gas canisters, 10 people struck in the eye, and three left blinded. In 40% of emergency room visits, the patient had been struck in the head, contrary to U.N. guidance on the use of such projectiles.

Kaske said the study was motivated by a teenage patient under 18 who was shot in the head and suffered a skull fracture with bone fragments protruding into the brain, forcing urgent neurosurgery.

"As scientists, we believe in evidence-based practice science  The science is telling us that we must do something different, so let's listen," said Dr. Brooke Cunningham, a family physician and community health professor.

Story continues

The Brooklyn Center City Council passed a resolution last week banning rubber bullets and tear gas. The Minneapolis City Council issued its own nonbinding resolution.

Neurosurgeon Dr. David Darrow said it wasn't his place to recommend alternative police tactics, so much as show that projectiles are inaccurate and sometimes improperly used.

"I'm not a police officer. I'm a surgeon and a physician and a scientist," he said.

Susan Du  612-673-4028
A charitable organization led by New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy has spearheaded a $2.4 million investment in a summer tutoring program for students in high-need communities.

The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund will partner with The College of New Jersey to deploy hundreds of tutors to Boys and Girls Clubs of America, YMCAs and other community organizations for eight weeks of math instruction, Murphy said in an interview with NJ Advance Media.

The goal is to help 2,000 students entering kindergarten through fifth grade make up for the academic disruption caused by COVID-19, Murphy said. Each tutor will work with groups of three to four students in one-hour sessions three times a week.

I think we have seen studies that tell us that  across the world  kids are falling behind, said Murphy, the founding chair of the relief fund. This is absolutely going to be really helpful to these particular students because it is not only that they are going to be helped academically, but it is also going to give them some sort of relationship with a teacher on an ongoing basis.

The program, set to launch June 28, comes as early returns suggest more students are failing classes, falling behind or skipping virtual school. An optional state exam administered in the fall found one in three students could need strong support in reading and math.

Though many schools are planning enhanced summer programs, some lawmakers and advocates have pressed state leaders for a more urgent, sweeping response. About one in five New Jersey school districts and charter schools currently offer five days of in-person instruction a week. But students in many of the largest districts have yet to return to the classroom full-time, if at all.

The New Jersey public school systems strong reputation might obscure the fact that some children were struggling even before the pandemic, said Suzanne McCotter, dean of TCNJs School of Education.

The learning gaps among New Jersey students are not new, but the disparities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said in a statement.

TCNJ will hire and train the tutors and oversee the program. It will pull from students in its teacher preparation programs, from other New Jersey universities and from substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and other community members who are qualified.

The tutoring could continue into the fall as an after-school program, pending funding availability.

The initial $2.4 million comes from the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and the Overdeck Family Foundation, an organization that funds education initiatives.

The learning loss caused by the pandemic is nothing short of an emergency, and it is imperative to address it before the coming school year, said Laura Overdeck, chair of the Overdeck Family Foundation and a founding board member of the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here.
The US Treasury has removed Vietnam from the list of countries labeled as currency manipulators.





Vietnam welcomes the US Department of the Treasurys positive adjustment to the content related to Vietnam in the departments latest report on the macroeconomic and foreign exchange policies of major trading partners of the US, said Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Replying to reporters question about the report released on April 16 by the US Department of the Treasury, Hang noted that the report said there is insufficient evidence to decide that Vietnam manipulates its exchange rate.

She added that in the recent past, Vietnamese relevant agencies have shared information and discussed with the US to clarify that Vietnams exchange rate policy has been steered by managerial agencies in a uniform and flexible manner that matches the reality in the country for the purpose of stabilising macro-balances, not to create unfair competitive advantages in international trade.

In the spirit of respecting the economic  trade ties with the US, a pillar in the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, Vietnam will maintain constructive dialogue and consultation with the US side about this issue, the spokeswoman added.

VNA
Oslo, Norway, 16 April 2021



Vistin Pharma ASA will release its first quarter 2021 results on Friday 23rd of April 2021. Vistin Pharma will host a conference call for all shareholders and interested parties on Friday 23rd of April at 08:30 CET. There will be a Q&A session following the management discussion.

The conference call will be held in Norwegian.

The first quarter conference call will be available via web and audio through the following access points:

Telephone conference:

Confirmation Code:........ 4598958

International Dial-In:........ +44 (0) 2071 928338

Norway, Oslo:................ +47 21563015

United States, New York: +1 6467413167

Webcast:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/rso5ngk4

*****

For further information, please contact:

Alexander Karlsen

CFO

+47 97053621

alexander.karlsen@vistin.com

About Vistin Pharma | www.vistin.com

Vistin Pharma is a Norwegian pharmaceutical company producing Metformin Hydrochloride (API). The Metformin is also available as Direct Compressible lubricated granules. As a solely dedicated European Metformin producer, Vistin Pharma is a well-positioned supplier to leading pharmaceutical companies. Vistin Pharma is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and has highly qualified employees and a dedicated manufacturing facility in Krager.




Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka has claimed he was the target of a U.S.-backed assassination plot, and Russian intelligence said that two Belarusians detained in Moscow this week were allegedly linked to the plot.

In his announcement on April 17, Lukashenka did not provide evidence to back up his claim. U.S. officials did not immediately respond to the allegations, while senior Belarusian opposition figures dismissed the report.

But the head of Belaruss main security agency, the KGB, tied the alleged plot to an online Zoom discussion room last summer that featured Belarusian experts, along with several former law enforcement officials, discussing the countrys political situation.

Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus for nearly three decades, has frequently accused Western countries of trying to topple him after he claimed victory in the August presidential election.

The allegations of the assassination plot also come with tensions soaring in neighboring Ukraine, as Russia masses troops along the eastern Ukraine border, and Kyiv warns of possible military intervention.

Russia is Belaruss closest ally, and Moscow for years has sought to pull Minsk into a tighter union. But Lukashenka has resisted, fearing both a loss of Belarusian independence but also his authority.

Lukashenka said on state TV on April 17 that he and his children were the targets of the alleged assassination plot. He claimed it had been approved by "the top political leadership" of the United States, though he provided no evidence to back up the claim.

Lukashenka also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had brought up the alleged plot in a recent phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who says she won a presidential election last August that Lukashenka claims to have taken in a landslide victory, said on April 18 that the allegation appears to be an act of "provocation" by Russian and Belarusian secret services.

Her team added in a statement that "there should be no jumping to conclusions that could harm the national interest, sovereignty and independence of Belarus" over the allegations.

Russias main domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, said the two Belarusians detained in Moscow this past week by Russian agents were allegedly part of that plot.

The two were identified as Yuras Zyankovich, a Belarusian-born lawyer who also holds U.S. citizenship, and Alyaksandr Fyaduta.

Zyankovich is a former regional leader of the opposition Belarusian Popular Front (BNF) party and once sought to be its presidential candidate. He has been living in the United States since 2007 but recently traveled to the Russian capital.

Zyankovich's wife, Alena Dzenisavets, told RFE/RL on April 13 that Russian security officers "abducted" her husband from the Nordic Rooms Hotel in Moscow on April 11 and brought him to the Belarusian capital.

Fyaduta, who was Lukashenka's spokesman when the Belarusian strongman was first elected president in 1994, worked as a media consultant in Moscow.

The Belarusian KGB had announced on April 13 that Fyaduta was in custody in Minsk.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that the detentions had prevented a military coup in Belarus planned for the May 9 Victory Day parade in Minsk, while Russia's ONT TV reported that a coup was planned for June or July.

In its announcement on April 17, the FSB also claimed that the alleged plotters were advised in the United States and Poland.

Speaking on Belarusian TV, KGB chief Ivan Tertel said the alleged coup was discussed during an online Zoom conference last summer that included several former Belarusian law enforcement officials.

One participant, political scientist Alyaksandr Perepechka, told RFE/RL that he was surprised that authorities had accused the online chat as being a plot to overthrow Lukashenka. The chat was a recurring event, he said, and many people were invited to attend.

"On this platform, we discuss all possible and impossible options, opportunities, scenarios for overcoming the deep political in Belarus," he said in an interview.

"A coup d'etat is the main way to get rid of bloody dictatorships," he said. "It would be unprofessional to not discuss this problem and various scenarios of regime change in Belarus."

But he said these discussions were academic, and theoretical, not actual planning.

"Getting funds and planning is a completely different matter," he said.

Since the August election, Belarus has been gripped by unprecedented protest and political turmoil, with opposition groups saying it was a stolen election.

Belarusian security forces have arrested tens of thousands of people in a crackdown that has led to accusations of beatings and other rights abuses against demonstrators. The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions against individuals and companies tied to Lukashenka's regime.

Most prominent opposition leaders -- including Tsikhanouskaya -- have left the country.

The West has refused to accept Lukashenka's victory, and few countries aside from Russia acknowledge him as president of Belarus.
New Delhi, April 18 : The Delhi government has updated its Corona app, which was launched in early 2020, to help track availability of hospital beds and ventilators for Covid-19 patients, and schedule vaccine doses, among others.

Developed by the state Information Technology Department and IIT-Delhi to contain a self-assessment tool, guidelines and all important helplines to ensure right information to people during the pandemic last year, it had served the purpose of accessing lockdown services like ration, e-pass and hunger relief/shelter centres.

Now, the updated Delhi Corona app is serving to access e-pass for emergency travelling, booking for vaccination, information regarding beds in Delhi government hospitals, for plasma and many other health services.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that all government and private hospitals have been given separate login IDs to provide authentic information.

As of now, lockdown has not been imposed in the national capital, though daily Covid cases have risen multi-fold. Last year, Delhi had registered the highest single-day spike of 8,500, while this year, over 24,000 new cases were reported on Saturday.

In its attempt to break the chain of infection, the Delhi government has imposed certain restrictions, including night curfew and weekend curfews.

Sources in Delhi government told IANS that two private hospitals in Delhi have been found giving inaccurate information about beds availability and they will be penalised for violating Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) norms.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that more than 30 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are being pushed into poverty by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.



It has called on wealthier nations to help African countries get better access to vaccines.



The IMF estimates that some African countries - aiming to vaccinate 60% of their populations - will need to increase their health spending by 50%.



Last year, economies in sub-Saharan Africa contracted by almost 2% - the worst year on record.



The lockdowns have hurt businesses - from market-stall holders to tourist resorts and multinationals.



Having a young population seems to have helped protect the continent from the coronavirus.



But with Africa's population growing so fast, vast numbers of young people need work.



So the lockdowns need to end as soon as possible and the vaccines rolled out quickly to reduce the economic impact across the continent.



The IMF estimates that they will recover this year with a growth spurt of 3.4%, although all other regions in the world are expected to experience greater economic growth.

Source: BBC









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Biden Foreign Policy (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The White House has warned Russia that there will be consequences if Alexei Navalny, a Putin critic, dies in prison, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.

This comes after President Joe Biden gave a speech on Thursday about Russia where he failed to mention the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, which angered critics. But Mr Sullivan said the White House aims to deal with the issue privately and through diplomatic channels.

John Kerry has also apologised for former President Donald Trumps non-leadership on the effort to address the climate crisis during his four years as US leader.

Speaking on Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Kerry, the Biden administrations climate envoy, said the government was very sorry for the last four years with a president who didnt care about science.

Meanwhile, a number of defendants accused of storming the US Capitol Building in the 6 January insurrection are claiming to have been acting as journalists during the incident.

According to The Associated Press, at least eight people accused of attacking the Capitol have claimed that they were only there to record history as journalists or filmmakers - not to help incite a deadly insurrection.

The finding comes following an AP review of court records in nearly 400 cases.

The United States also hit a milestone on Sunday with half of American adults receiving at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Eligibility will open to Americans ages 16 years and older on Monday, Mr Biden said.
Henan, China, April 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pecron, an under-the-radar brand specialized in portable power source and outdoor energy solutions, is launching its latest model S1500: the most compact portable power station on Indiegogo.

The S1500 weights 25lbs with an overall dimension of 13.8"(L)x 7.3"(W)x 10"(H), which is similar to the size of a lid opened MacBook 13".

With 1,461.6Wh automotive-grade battery pack at its core, Pecron S1500 is able to produce 1,500 watts power to run most appliances. Other features of Pecron S1500 including:

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S1500 backup power is quiet in operation and maintenance-free. Most important, it can give you enough power to run your home essentials including refrigerator, juicer, projector, etc. It is also capable to power your heavy duty tool like electric saw, drill, or even your Tesla.

This power storage has equipped a high-definition LCD display, users can intuitively observe the real-time status of the battery level, temperature, remaining hours of use, etc. A sturdy handle design further enhanced its portability that allows for provision of power to the place where it is most needed in a matter of a few minutes.

Another fascinating features of Pecron S1500 is its super-fast charging technology. The built in real-time charge controller (IC) regulates the overall flow of electricity to produce 441W of juice to quickly power up the S1500 within 4 hours without doing harm to the battery, which beat most of the well-knowns in the industry.

Shoppers call Pecron a solid tool for outdoor power supply, and rave that its lightweight, long-lasting, and surprisingly powerful.

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To protect our shared home, we need to become better at powering it with green energy. Said Vincent Shi, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Pecron LLC.

About Pecron:

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Last year, Chris Allen got a notice on his door that roadwork would soon be starting near his home in the Black Pearl. He and his neighbors readied themselves, moving their cars and making other preparations before the day construction was set to begin.

The day came, and nothing happened. Then, he said, a week later a crew arrived and dug a small trench on Adams Street. Soon, crews were tearing up streets all over the area, leaving 10-foot deep holes scattered throughout the neighborhood.

Some were filled with dirt and rocks but haven't yet been covered over with asphalt. Others sit open, surrounded by construction cones.

The work begun in the Black Pearl is part of $500 million worth of projects, largely funded with FEMA money, that are now underway throughout New Orleans. The scale of the construction is some of the most comprehensive the city has seen in modern memory, with projects littered through neighborhoods old and new. By the time the money is spent - a process that is expected to take until 2025 - almost one third of New Orleans' streets will have had some kind of work.

Many will be completely reconstructed with new drainage, water and sewer lines as well, and eventually the rebuilding boom should mean smoother streets and better drainage. But at the moment, many residents, including Allen, say it's been a mess, with long periods where no work is done, and little to no word from City Hall on what's going on.

They tear holes everywhere in Black Pearl, and then they go somewhere else and dig holes, Allen said. Black Pearl is destroyed right now, and the bottom line is it doesnt have to be this way."

City officials say theyre taking steps to get projects done more quickly and to keep residents informed. But they also argue that disruption is part of the cost of improving New Orleans' dilapidated roads.

I guess the question you ask is, Would you rather have a safer city with better streets and in the long term were a better city for it? said Ramsey Green, Mayor LaToya Cantrells infrastructure chief. I get peoples complaints. When you renovate a house, the renovation part is no fun at all. It disrupts your life.

People tend to be OK with that disruption once that work is done, he said.

New Orleans has completed 33 road projects totaling $93.5 million over the past 12 months, including work on most streets in Lake Vista between the Orleans Avenue Canal and Bayou St. John from Robert E. Lee Boulevard to Lake Pontchartrain; patching potholes near Dwyer Road; reconstructing Canal Boulevard and areas nearby; and repairs throughout the St. Claude neighborhood. According to City Hall data, the projects have taken an average of about 10 months.

There are 51 more projects in various stages of construction, and on average they've been underway for about 8 months, suggesting that the average time to completion is likely increasing.

City Council member Joe Giarrusso, who chairs a committee that oversees the Department of Public Works, said he and other members have been inundated with complaints from residents about long delays.

If you tell people its going to be a month, then it needs to be a month, said Giarrusso, whose district includes much of the roadwork. If it's not a month, there needs to be an explanation.

Work across the city

Many of the current projects are part of a $2 billion settlement between New Orleans and FEMA in 2015 over damage that the roadways and the pipes beneath them suffered after Hurricane Katrina. That money was set to repave or rebuild about 400 miles of road.

The individual projects are far smaller than the construction on the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, which snarled traffic for years on major avenues Uptown as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed huge culverts under the neutral ground. A handful of torn-up roads around the city are still related to those projects.

But this time around the construction is more widespread, affecting neighborhoods and smaller streets throughout the city.

+25 Bourbon Street roadwork finally finished; 'Holy cow, we got the frigging job done,' city official says Two and a half years after crews began tearing up Bourbon Street in an effort to rehab the tourist drag and the of tangle of pipes that lie be

Efforts to get the projects underway began under Mayor Mitch Landrieu, with goals to have dozens of projects started by 2018. But lengthy historical and environmental reviews proved a significant obstacle in getting many of them started. Green has regularly pointed out that when the Cantrell administration took office that year, only a small fraction of the money from the settlement had been spent.

To move faster, newer neighborhoods along Lake Pontchartrain, where approvals were easier to obtain, came first, officials have said.

When the coronavirus pandemic arrived in the spring of 2020, Cantrell administration officials were already planning for the work to move to older neighborhoods. And Green said there was a conscious decision to push ahead through the pandemic, when people were less likely to be driving. But that's also meant more people at home during the day, able to watch as road construction drags on.

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Unexpected problems

There are numerous potential problems for road construction in New Orleans, starting with the fact that the streets and water, sewer and drainage lines beneath them are old and often have significant problems that crews can't detect until work begins.

In some areas, crews have found wooden lines were being used to carry water. In others, such as the French Quarter, projects were delayed when workers found pipes connected in unexpected ways or in different places than where schematics showed them. In still other areas, subsidence has shifted or broken pipes and left gaps underneath the roads surface.

Repairs in one area can also cause problems in others. The replacement of water mains along South Claiborne Avenue in 2019, for example, might have contributed to breaks in other spots by increasing the water pressure on older pipes nearby.

Often, crews tear up a road only to realize that far more work than expected is needed to fix the issues beneath it, causing delays as the project is up-scoped to address the discovery.

New Orleans' burst water main the latest episode highlighting issues with ancient infrastructure As if to re-emphasize Mayor LaToya Cantrell's continuing call for more money to upgrade the city's aging infrastructure, torrents of water fro

Addressing problems when crews have already dug into the street is an improvement over past practices, which often saw the city excavate roadways, do the originally scheduled work then come back months later and tear up the new repairs to fix the other problems. But it also means residents are left wondering about the status of their street.

I am elated that we are in a position now that when you start work on a street and you see something else is wrong that we are fixing it when you see it, because I thought it was absolutely asinine to repair a street and then come and dig it up again six months later, Councilmember Jay Banks told administration officials during a roadwork committee meeting Thursday. I think the disconnect comes when that information isnt shared.

Sarah McLaughlin Porteous, a spokesperson for City Hall's road construction program, said that while it's understandable such delays frustrate residents, it can take a while to come up with a new timeline.

A lack of notice

Adding to frustrations is what residents say is a seeming lack of logic to how projects are being undertaken.

Patrick Braud, president of the Central Carrollton Neighborhood Association, said he and his neighbors received notice that a project in their area would start nine months ago, but havent seen much more than a few surveyors on streets in the neighborhood.

I just know people are thinking it's taking too long. This typically happens with New Orleans work in general, and someone will come out there and do something, and the next people who need to do their work dont come out, Braud said.

First projects in New Orleans' multibillion-dollar street repair campaign behind schedule; what's the hold-up? New Orleans' ambitious plan to pour billions of dollars into fixing its crumbling streets is already behind schedule before it has really gott

Allen raised similar complaints, saying projects were started but never completed.

Im in construction management. If theyre allowing the contractor to get away with that ... they dont know what theyre doing, Allen said.

Braud said a major problem is a lack of notice about what the city is actually doing and why, as well as a failure to reach out to residents proactively to talk about the projects.

He said crews on road repairs near Carrollton Cemetery filled a drainage ditch along Adams and Birch streets to provide a place to park their equipment - causing flooding. It's something residents could have told City Hall would happen, he said.

Officials say theyve been holding virtual meetings with residents about projects near them and plan to update City Hall's website to provide more information on projects. Green also said the Cantrell administration is working to rein in the timelines given to contractors, to push them to complete projects more rapidly.

What were learning now is what can go quicker and what will take a little more time, he said.
A legislator wants to make Louisiana a fossil fuel sanctuary state, quixotically asserting special sovereignty to nullify any federal law, regulation or tax that in any way harms the oil and gas industry.

Rep. Danny McCormick, a Republican from Oil City, a town of about 1,000 residents in northwest Louisiana, says his House Bill 617 is a preemptive effort to protect the industry from the future policies of President Joe Bidens administration.

What hell do, I cant answer yet, McCormick said Wednesday, shortly after the bill was introduced in the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. There may be no limit to his attacks on the fossil fuel industry.

The bill was partially inspired by the cities and other local jurisdictions that defied the immigration policies of former President Donald Trumps administration. These so-called sanctuary cities refused to hand over immigration detainees for deportation.

McCormicks bill claims Louisianas right to autonomy from federal regulations or laws that restrict oil drilling and any other method of fossil fuel acquisition. It would also bar any act that forbids possession, use or sale of fossil fuels. Any tax or fee that may have a negative effect on the industry could also be prohibited.

The bill elicited disbelief and ridicule from legal analysts.

Its an act of legislative theater, said Mark Davis, director of the Tulane University Center for Environmental Law. If they were giving a prize for the most unconstitutional bill ... this would be a candidate to win it.

William Goodell, a former state assistant attorney general for environmental enforcement, said the bill is almost incomprehensible. For starters, the state cant simply nullify a swath of federal laws. Trying to do so could drag the state into long and expensive litigation on dozens of fronts, he said

Its hard to wrap my head around it, Goodell said. Its so vague that it makes the bill unconstitutional and totally unenforceable.

Its unclear whether the bill will get a hearing. The Natural Resources Committee chairman, Jean-Paul Coussan, R-Lafayette, did not return calls to discuss the bill.

McCormick owns a small oil business and frequently sponsors and supports legislation benefiting the industry. His business, M & M Oil, laid off workers after the price of oil fell. He sees the industry as the lifeblood of his community and the state economy. Anything that threatens it threatens his way of life.

We are an oil and gas state, he said. One of nine jobs are related to it. It pays for our roads and every school.

McCormick says his father pulled his family out of poverty with work in the oilfields. The industry offered good pay for people without college degrees.

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I know guys with only a high school [diploma] making six figures, he said. But those jobs are being destroyed.

Louisianas oil fortunes have been sinking for decades. In the 1960s, oil and gas taxes financed more than half of the state budget. Last year, it was less than 5%, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office.

Over the same period, oil production has plummeted, from 449 million barrels in 1965 to just 36 million last year.

While McCormick puts much of the blame on government regulations, many industry analysts attribute the oil and gas industrys decline in Louisiana to high production of shale drilling in other parts of the country combined with a strong global oil supply and weakening consumer demand.

The coronavirus pandemic dealt another blow. An LSU Center for Energy Studies' report estimates the states oil and gas sector lost more than 7,000 jobs  a 21% reduction  last year amid stay-at-home orders.

McCormick thinks the industrys setbacks will bolster support for his bill.

The question is: How will we replace all those jobs if the fossil fuel industry is destroyed, he said. Nobodys been able to answer that.

Elected in 2019, McCormick is known less for legislation and more for incendiary social media posts and videos. He drew national attention last year when he posted a video comparing coronavirus mask mandates to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. In one scene, he takes a chain saw to a surgical mask while saying the Constitution is being shredded before our very eyes." The video elicited a rebuke from Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who called it nonsense and sad.

Tulane law professor Oliver Houck said McCormicks bill does more of the same: It just makes the state look stupid.

He chain-sawed a mask, and now hes chain-sawing the Louisiana Legislature, Houck said. They need to kill this bill quick.

'A big deal:' Jeff Landry to sign onto potential landmark settlement with oil and gas company A potentially ground-breaking settlement with a major oil and gas company to help restore Louisianas disappearing coast will take a big step 
Landmarks_and_legacies

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Linnie McAdams reflects on her lifetime of advocacy in Denton

Emma Saldivar/For the DRC Linnie McAdams, shown Friday, became the first woman of color elected to the Denton City Council in 1984. Dallas Morning News file photo Linnie McAdams, center, then the president of the Denton Affordable Housing Corp., poses with general contractor Gina Hightower, left, and plumber Jeri Coe in one of the agencys newly remodeled houses in 1996. DRC file photo In a 2003 photo, Linnie McAdams, left, and fellow Denia Area Community Group member Alice Gore listen to University of North Texas President Norval Pohl talking about the universitys plans for a 600-bed residence hall and an athletic center.

When Linnie Johnson McAdams moved to Denton in 1957, she thought she had gone back in time.

The Ku Klux Klan regularly made their presence known, and Dentons library was whites-only. Books were important to McAdams.

Brown v. Board of Education passed in 1954, but Denton acted like it hadnt happened, she recalled.

She became a public servant to a city that initially didnt serve her.

McAdams was born in Dallas, just east of present-day Love Field. Her father worked as a property caretaker. The family moved to present-day Lake Dallas, which was too rural to have a colored school, so she didnt go to school when she turned 6.

We saw the yellow school bus go past our house, she recalled. And we knew it took kids to school where they learned things.

McAdams mother taught her to read using old textbooks given to the family by a teacher, Mrs. Gotsher. Just before she turned 10, the family moved to Roanoke, which had the one-room Walnut Grove colored school.

I was so excited to be going to a real school, McAdams said.

The school closed after two and a half years, and her parents had a choice between sending her to Fort Worth schools or Denton schools.

Thankfully, they chose Fort Worth because their colored schools were light years ahead of Denton. They had a bookmobile, and it was the most wonderful place I had ever been.

McAdams rode the bus 45 minutes each way to Milton L. Kirkpatrick Elementary School, and then to I.M. Terrell High School, where she graduated as valedictorian.

Linnie married Novie McAdams, a licensed barber who graduated from Dentons Fred Moore School, when she was 19. They moved to Denton and had a son and a daughter.

McAdams joined the Young Democrats, and she was one of the first members of the Denton Womens Interracial Fellowship. The group had approximately equal numbers of Black and white women seeking to ease Dentons school desegregation after the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed.

The one thing I am angriest about is that people knew education wasnt equal, she said. The women offered to do what they could to correct racial inequities. We didnt destroy anything; nothing was burned down. We simply asked to be treated like everybody else. Having people on our side, listening, made a big difference. It was great to tell how, as a people, we had not been allowed to do anything.

Once the group started, residents of Southeast Denton who had been pushed out of Quakertown started talking to the fellowship.

They were still somewhat traumatized. The group was a place to talk about it without fear, she said. You could finally say what happened, and you were listened to.

Quakertown was a thriving middle-class Black community in Denton until the early 1920s, when the city moved its residents to Solomon Hill, a cow pasture next to Shack Town, the poor Black community.

As the womens group grew, they had picnics and summer meetings with families that became more social. They went to Trudi Fosters house and let the kids swim in her swimming pool. We became further acquainted and found common ground, McAdams said. Whats wrong is that people wont say something is wrong. They dont understand democracy.

I remember going to the school board when they finally integrated schools because they had moved the kids out of Fred Moore, she remembered. All those kids were behind, and Im sure it was awful. I knew what it was like to be behind, so I sympathized.

Much later in life, she realized how many learning opportunities Denton Black students missed. The womens fellowship championed education for Black students, tutoring programs to help them catch up, and cultural opportunities, like attending performances at the University of North Texas.

After working as a garment ironer at a Denton factory, and cleaning private homes while attending Texas Womans University, McAdams finally got a job at Moore Business Forms. She tried to get a job at the city, but after she applied, the city boosted the stenography requirement to 90 words per minute, the same as Dallas top executive assistants.

People ignored what was happening, but there was always someone willing to help me, she said. I got a score of 98.6 on the Civil Service exam. I was on the list for a year, and no one called me from Denton.

A friend and agent of Sen. Ralph Yarborough sent a letter to the civil service agency after two white women with lower scores got hired and McAdams wasnt even interviewed. They offered me a temporary job. I said no, and they made it permanent. Thats how I got to work for the federal government.

After Elinor Hughes was elected mayor in 1976, she asked McAdams to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

It was an eye-opening experience because it was as if Southeast Denton didnt exist, McAdams recalled. After all those people got moved out of Quakertown, it was like, Its ours, but the city ignored them.

Friends in the League of Women Voters and the Planning and Zoning Commission encouraged McAdams to run for Denton City Council.

No one was running at large, and I was acutely aware I had a better chance because I had lots of friends throughout the city. I didnt live in Southeast Denton, and I dont think they were happy with me because they felt abandoned, she remembered. The first time I ran I lost, but I was not dissuaded.

She was the first woman of color elected to the Denton City Council, and one of the first at-large council members when she started serving in 1984.

After her election to the council, McAdams was disappointed the first time they proposed to make the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a city holiday.

Its hard when you think you know someone, and they vote against you, and dont support you. I felt alone, like we were not there yet, but I learned a lot. McAdams was elected to council two more times.

McAdams believes peoples homes are their biggest investment; homeowners are here because this is their home, and their needs are important.

I learned to listen to people who were living anywhere in town because their home, their most valuable possession, must be protected, she said. I understood because of my own experience of not being listened to.

McAdams was also concerned about affordable housing.

We werent doing anything about that because it just wasnt perceived as a real need, she said.

When she left the council, she wanted to form a group to focus on housing for the city, and she helped start the Denton Affordable Housing Corp. She still cares deeply about housing. Thats not enough, she emphasized. We still need to be doing things.

McAdams continues to serve on city boards and commissions. America could go the way of other countries by not participating, and we would lose our democracy, she concluded.

McAdams is one of Dentons treasures.
BARBADOS:--- As the region rallies to assist the thousands of people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines displaced by the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano, CIBC FirstCaribbean has sent a shipment of much-needed supplies to the island.



The shipment which was coordinated by the Barbados Coast Guard left the island on Thursday evening aboard the Admiral Bay which was due to arrive in St. Vincent early Friday morning and will be presented to the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO).



The relief supplies which include over 40 pallets of food, water, cleaning supplies, and sanitary items were purchased by funds donated by the banks charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation.



The foundations Chair and the banks Chief Executive Officer Colette Delaney said the bank shared a deep concern for the wellbeing and safety of the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as they are confronted with the twin threats of an erupting volcano and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.



She said the eruption in St. Vincent and the subsequent ash falls in Barbados and neighboring islands demonstrated how interconnected the islands of the region are. She also noted the sense of community demonstrated within the Caribbean in times of disaster, which she observed was borne out in how quickly the Caribbean reached out within hours of the first eruption  with offers of aid to the people of St. Vincent.



It is a testament to the closeness and sense of family of our region. Weve seen this in times of disaster and need over and over again. It proves that despite our differences of opinion and sometimes our squabbles, family always comes first. Our thoughts immediately go to the people of St. Vincent and our prayer is that they will continue to be safe, Ms. Delaney said.
Kenneth Parker is officially the Katy Fire Departments newest fire chief. At the April 12 city council meeting, city council unanimously voted to name Parker chief of the department. Parker has been acting as interim chief since the abrupt departure of former chief Russell Wilson in October.

While the Katy Fire Department already has a sterling reputation and a profusion of accolades, Parker has plans to elevate the department even more. Parker shared his vision for the future of the Katy Fire Department and the tools he needs to make it happen.

Congratulations on being appointed chief. How does it feel to be the newest fire chief for the city of Katy?

I am extremely excited and honored to have been allowed to lead such a fine department.

Related: Katy city council appoints new fire chief, passes resolution to protect against sex offenders

Tell us about your history and experience as a first responder? How did you get to where you are now?

I have been in the fire service for 23 years. I started as a volunteer firefighter with the Cy-Fair Fire Department in 1998. I was with this department for over 20 years. I worked my way up through the ranks and ended up as a district chief over the paid duty crews for the department.

In 2002 I started working for the Port of Houston Fire Department and was assigned to the Barbours Cut Terminal where we responded to land-based fires as well as marine fires. In 2004 I went to work for the Memorial Villages fire department where I worked for a little over 10 years as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2014 I was given the opportunity to come and work for the Katy Fire Department. I was hired as a captain. We were a growing department, and I was very fortunate to help make the department what it is today.

I was promoted to Battalion Chief in early 2016 and then Assistant Chief of Operations in late 2016, where I served until being named the interim chief in October of 2020. My current certifications are Master Structural Firefighter, Fire Officer 4, Instructor 2, Driver Operator, Aircraft Rescue Firefighter, Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Investigator, Marine Firefighter and Hazardous Materials Incident Commander.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Hakeem Olajuwon, Calvin Murphy to present Rudy Tomjanovich for Hall induction

Youve been serving as the interim chief since the departure of former Katy Fire Chief Russell Wilson. What are some of your thoughts on the job so far?

I love serving the citizens of Katy. Never have I worked for a community that has truly cared for their first responders like the residents of Katy do.

When I was appointed as the interim chief, we were in the middle of the COVID pandemic. We constantly had to adjust operations to ensure that we protected our members and still provided great service to our citizens. We constantly evolved and made changes based on best practices to keep everyone safe.

The severe snow and ice event we all experienced caused some drastic operational changes to the department. We worked closely with our emergency management team and planned in advance to have additional staffing in place before the event started. We staffed extra fire trucks and ambulances with additional personnel to answer the call when we were needed.

One of the great things about the Katy Fire Department is our members. During this event, everyone worked together and responded to all the calls safely and efficiently. When someone had an idea, we all listened and implemented the changes that needed to be made. We have a talented group here that loves their jobs and their community.

Is there anything in particular that you plan to focus on as chief? Are there any specific goals youd like to see the department achieve?

We have a couple of items for the upcoming bond election. One of those items is a training tower. When I asked the members what they needed, the majority wanted additional training and more particularly a training tower. This tower will benefit all of our firefighters, especially our newer members. This is a multi-use tower that can be used for ladder training and hose line training. It will save the city money because we will be able to train more in-house instead of sending members to outside training.

We are surrounded by different fire departments that we depend on daily. We work closely together on incidents all the time but rarely do we get to train together. We are in the process of setting up different multi-company training events to try to get to know different departments and their capabilities. COVID has put a stop to in-person training, but we are coming up with a plan to start back. We recently invited Community Fire Department out to do a show and tell with some of their specialty equipment so that everyone knows what is available when there is an emergency.

One of the goals that I would like to see is the department obtain its Best Practices designation. The Texas Fire Chiefs Association has developed a Best Practices program to encourage fire departments in Texas to seek continual improvement in their services to their local community. The TFCA Best Practices program provides a pathway for a fire department to push its level of service to a status of excellence that is validated by independent experts. This designation will demonstrate to our citizens that their fire department is among the very best in the Texas fire service.

The area is continuing to grow and expand. How will the department adapt to that growth?

We are constantly tracking the analytics of the responses. Everyone knows that the city of Katy is growing, and we must stay ahead of the growth. We are currently looking into adding a third full-time medic unit to our department as well as an additional fire station out in our western response area around the Willowcreek Farms area.

We have had exponential growth in this area and we anticipate more residences and commercial developments coming in the near future. We are working with the city administration to come up with a plan to make this happen.

claire.goodman@chron.com
Iran on Saturday named a man it wants arrested in connection with a recent explosion and power outage at its main Natanz nuclear plant, as talks got underway in Vienna to try to save Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

"Reza Karimi, the perpetrator of this sabotage... has been identified" by Iran's intelligence ministry, state TV said. It said the suspect had fled Iran before last Sundays blast that the Islamic Republic has blamed on arch-foe Israel.

Officials from the remaining parties to Iran's nuclear deal began a formal meeting in Vienna, suggesting that this round of talks which began on Thursday was wrapping up.

The television showed what it said was a photograph of the suspected perpetrator on a red card that had "Interpol Wanted" written on it. The card listed his age as 43.

"Necessary steps are underway for his arrest and return to the country through legal channels," the report added.

State TV also aired footage of rows of what it said were centrifuges which had replaced the ones damaged in the blast at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

It added that "a large number" of centrifuges whose enrichment activity was disrupted by the explosion had been returned to normal service, the report said.

Iran and global powers are meeting in Vienna to try to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Washington three years ago. The talks are potentially complicated by Tehrans decision to ramp up uranium enrichment and what it called Israeli sabotage at the Natanz nuclear site.

Meanwhile a source, echoing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis stance, reiterated Iran's demand for the removal of all sanctions imposed under former President Donald Trump.

"In Tehran, nothing will be accepted but the removal of all sanctions, including those related to the JCPOA (nuclear accord), reimposed and relabeled during the Trump era," the unnamed source told Irans state-run Press TV.

Israeli media outlets have quoted unnamed intelligence sources as saying the country's Mossad spy service carried out the Natanz sabotage operation. Israel - widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear arsenal - has not formally commented on the incident.

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Former Bachelorette Georgia Love has revealed how she paid tribute to her mother Belinda at her wedding to Lee Elliott last month.

Georgia, 32, revealed there were a number of ways her beloved mother was remembered during the ceremony while speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle on Sunday.

'We had a photo of mum during the ceremony, she was sitting there on the table where we signed the wedding certificate,' she said.

Sweet: Former Bachelorette Georgia Love has revealed how she paid tribute to her late mother Belinda (both pictured) at her wedding to Lee Elliott in Hobart last month

Georgia said that framed photo was also taken to the reception so her beloved mother would be there too.

The blushing bride said she was also mentioned in everyone's speeches with friends and family paying tribute to her.

'She was brought up in everyone's speeches because she was hardly a wallflower! She would have loved to be there,' she said.

Remembered: 'She was brought up in everyone's speeches because she was hardly a wallflower! She would have loved to be there,' Georgia said. Here with her mother

Georgia finished by saying she had a special locket with some of her mother's ashes in there and picture of her from her father.

'I had that with a little blue bow pinned into the inside of my dress. So she was actually there with me all day,' she added.

Belinda Love died from pancreatic cancer in October 2016, a month after her 60th birthday, and just one day after The Bachelorette finale had aired.

With love: 'I had that with a little blue bow pinned into the inside of my dress. So she was actually there with me all day,' Georgia said of her mother Belinda (pictured)

Georgia said that she and her fiance, Lee Elliott, had decided to cancel most of their media commitments the day after the finale.

The pair spent the day with her, not realising it would be her last. Georgia has since done work raising funds with the Pancare Foundation.

Georgia and Lee said 'I Do' at the Frogmore Creek Winery, just 20 minutes outside of Hobart's city centre, followed by an outdoor reception at the Shene Distillery.

Husband and wife: Georgia and Lee, 39, (both pictured) tied the knot in a stunning ceremony in Hobart in early March with no expense spared for the wedding

The bride stunned in a custom couture gown by Australian designer Jason Grech, while the groom donned a white tuxedo jacket and bow tie by YSG Tailors.

Georgia changed into a fun and flirty dress, also by Jason Grech, for the reception.

It featured a bust with intricate beading detail and a tulle skirt that flowed just past her knee.

Beautiful: The evening reception was held at Shene Distillery. Shene Estate hosts limited bespoke wedding ceremonies each year at the historic property

The evening reception was held at Shene Distillery.

Shene Estate hosts limited bespoke wedding ceremonies each year at the historic property.

Georgia and Lee were due to marry in Italy last year, but were forced to cancel their wedding due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services nurse gives the first Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Lib Island on April 8. Since dispensing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Lib Island, the ministry has paused its use and stationed nurses on the distant island to monitor the population.

Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services photo
GEORGETOWN  Tymia Green has spent countless hours in hospitals, battling sickle cell disease with 80 blood transfusions at the age of 15  with subsequent blockages causing excruciating pain.

But Tymia doesn't use the disease as a crutch, she wants to be just like her fellow teens.

As a lifelong beauty pageant participant  even appearing on TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras" at the age of 6  she has always had to manage her health before and after competitions.

In 2017, she was hospitalized four days before a North Carolina pageant.

It wasn't going to stop her from competing, no way. Her mother, Susie Green, was nervous about Tymia competing, but she knew there was no convincing Tymia otherwise.

So, after her blood transfusion, Tymia left the hospital utilizing a walker, eventually competing with a fully swollen leg  bringing along plenty of stares and questions from other participants.

That's just Tymia, a two-time winner of the Miss South Carolina at the National American Miss pageant.

Sickle cell disease is a disorder where blood cells are shaped like crescent moons, causing them to stick together and block her blood vessels. These blockages, called crises, cause Tymia severe pain.

When these crises happen, Tymia may have to get a blood transfusion, which breaks up the blockages and allows blood to flow more freely in the body. The trick, though, is she never knows when a crises will happen, or if blood will be readily available if she needs a transfusion. One time she had to wait 10 hours for her blood to be found.

Susie knew she was a sickle cell carrier, and that any children she had would be at risk of the disease. Tymia is the only one of her four, soon to be five, with the disease, and Tymia's first crises happened when she was only two months old.

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Getting the blood for a blood transfusion is only half the battle  the more blood transfusions someone has, the more antibodies their body develops.

"Her body has developed particular antibodies and they have to match (those in the blood) for her body to accept the blood and not reject it," Susie said.

Because of her disease, Tymia has been doing school virtually for the last year along with her other brothers and sisters. Tymia can get sick much easier than other children, and even before COVID-19, Susie was communicating with her teachers to make sure Tymia was as safe as possible from other sick children.

Though she loves spending time with her family, Tymia said she is definitely ready to get back in the classroom when its safe and be with her friends every day.

One blood donation can save up to three lives, according to The American Red Cross, and every two seconds in the United States, someone like Tymia needs blood. Georgetown Mayor Brendon Barber recently presented Tymia with a Red Cross Month Proclamation, and Susie said she is grateful for the Red Cross because without them and the generous blood donations, Tymia would not be alive.

"Blood transfusions, to me, mean a lot because when I get it, it feels like I am me again, I can do anything," Tymia said. "And just knowing a person is just sitting in a chair for 15, 20 minutes giving their blood to someone like me, it means a lot."
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  It may be April, but its still Christmas in Santa Fe.

At least for an upcoming Lifetime movie that has been filming in the City Different for the past month.

Jody Hahn is at the helm of the production as director. It marks the longtime TV directors turn into feature film.

Its my first time in Santa Fe, Hahn says. Oh my god, I love it. Honesty, Ive been here a month and what Ive seen is gorgeous. The food has been delicious and I cant wait to come back when Im not working.

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The film is produced by Mario Lopez and Mark Roberts. The pair teamed up for the film, Feliz NaviDAD, for Lifetime last year.

Lopez and Roberts are both Mexican American and get behind projects that tell the stories.

Holiday in Santa Fe was written by Cristela Alonzo and was one of four pitches to Lifetime.

Roberts says it was the film given the green light from the network.

Mario and I are both Mexican American, Roberts says. We think about us as hybrid versions of Mexicans. We dont understand the deep details of the Mexican culture. This film is a mixture of American culture as well as Mexican culture. Our families have instilled us with neat ideas and we are trying to speak to both sides. Mario loves to say that he doesnt want to hit you over the head with a tortilla. We want to tell stories that speak to a bigger audience by not leaning into the culture that people just dont understand.

Holiday in Santa Fe tells the story of a family-owned business, Casa de Milagro, dreamed up by matriarch Milagro, and her beloved husband Manuel Ortega.

Together the tight-knit family creates ornaments and decorations inspired by Mexican Christmas traditions. The award-winning creations have become collectors items and the unique pieces are highly sought after each holiday season. Siblings Tony, played by Lopez, and Magdalena, played by Aimee Garcia, help run the shop in Santa Fe, but when Milagro unexpectedly dies, the family struggles to find its heart.

Enter Belinda Sawyer, played by Emeraude Toubia, an executive at Warm Wishes Inc., which is one of the largest greeting card/holiday decor chains in the United States.

Warm Wishes has had its eye on the Milagro company for a sometime and sees and opportunity.

As Tony fights for the future of the company, Belinda comes into town set on acquiring Casa de Milagro, but when she meets Tony, sparks fly, and she realizes that there is more to Casa de Milagro than meets the eye.

 Holiday in Santa Fe is a feel-good Christmas movie that New Mexicans should look forward to watching, because of the way this production team has embraced our charming city, says Jennifer LaBar-Tapia, Santa Fe Film Office film liaison. Mario Lopez and his talented team of producers put a lot of thought and time into writing the script to showcase Santa Fes history and culture, including using local artisans and musicians.

Production wrapped up on April 16.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production employed approximately 20 New Mexico crew members and 50 New Mexico background talent.

We are very excited about this production being filmed in New Mexico. Mario Lopez has already been a major advocate on behalf of Santa Fe, our crew, our local businesses, and our culture, in his short time in our state, says Amber Dodson, New Mexico Film Office director.

Roberts says there werent many obstacles while filming in Santa Fe.

Most of the production took place on the Santa Fe Plaza or in nearby businesses. There was one off-site location.

Its like filming in the wild, Roberts says. Even though we rented the space, it couldnt completely be controlled. People were still able to walk by and see the production. You cant shut down a place like the plaza unless you had millions and millions of dollars. Were not that kind of production. The biggest obstacle is trying to get what you need in that one day. We had the winds to contend with. When we started filming, it was snowing and would have been perfect, but the snow doesnt last and we shoot nonlinear.

Lopez has enjoyed his time and posted his excitement when on the location scout earlier this year.

I love Santa Fe! Everyone has been terrific, Lopez says.  The community has been very welcoming. I hope to come back and shoot here again soon.
Helen McCrory, the British actress best known for her roles in the 'Harry Potter' films and 'Peaky Blinders,' has died, her husband, actor Damian Lewis, announced on Friday.

McCrory, who was 52, died "peacefully at home" after "an heroic battle with cancer," the "Homeland" star said in a tweet.

The London-born actress, who starred as Narcissa Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" franchise, had an arch, mysterious quality that served her well in villainous roles, including the period dramas "Peaky Blinders" and "Penny Dreadful" and the "Vampires of Venice" episode of the long running "Doctor Who."

Last year, she appeared in two miniseries: The Masterpiece production "Roadkill," in which she played the UK's Prime Minister opposite Hugh Laurie; and "Quiz," a fact-based drama about the "Who Wants to be a MIllionaire" scandal.

She was no stranger to political roles, playing Cherie Blair -- the wife of British prime minister Tony Blair -- twice, in "The Queen" and the TV movie "The Special Relationship," both times with Michael Sheen and "The Crown" writer Peter Morgan.

McCrory was also an accomplished stage actress, playing strong women from Lady Macbeth to Medea in London's West End.

"She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you," Lewis said in his tweet.

McCrory and Lewis shared two children together. Speaking about the unique juggling their lives sometimes required to British Vogue in 2013, McCrory credited her desire to be there for her children for her impressive resume.

"It's got to be a damn good offer to coax me away from them," she told the publication. "Which is probably why the projects I've worked on since they were born have been such interesting ones."

Fellow actor Matt Lucas paid tribute to McCrory in a post.

"Helen McCrory will be remembered not just for her remarkable stage and screen performances, but also for her selflessness and generosity," Lucas wrote. "She and Damian were the motor driving FeedNHS, working tirelessly during the pandemic to raise millions for others. What a tremendous loss."
Thiruvananthapuram, April 18 : The "Metro Man of India", Dr E. Sreedharan is a late entrant to politics and he entered with a bang bringing in both bouquets and brickbats. While there has been an overwhelming response to his politics from the middle and upper class, there has been harsh criticism from the ruling Left Democratic Front and the opposition, United Democratic Front. The BJP on the other hand is brimming with confidence that their Kerala unit could rope in such a person with a national appeal to its fold. Metro Man spoke to IANS in a brief interview.

Q: Sir you are in the new garb of a politician, How was the transition? A: The decision to join BJP and contest Kerala Assembly elections was sudden but with a firm purpose to bring good and clean governance to the State.

Q: What are your expectations from the Palakkad seat? A: I am confident I will win the seat with a comfortable margin.

Q: After your joining the BJP, the party has gained semblance of respect in Kerala, Your comment? A: The BJP has earned respect and confidence of the whole country. Otherwise people would not have voted and elected it to power for a 2nd time with a thumping majority in 2019. No doubt, by my joining the BJP, its Kerala front got a good boost to its image.

Q: If elected, what are your priorities for Palakkad? A: I have already drawn up a master plan for Palakkad for the next 20 years, in which priorities are - ensuring 24X7 drinking water supply, set up facilities for solid waste management, massive afforestation to provide a green cover to the city, improved roads and a public transport system, upgrade medical and educational facilities and to bring industries to the district to provide employment opportunities.

Q: What was your experience as electioneering was a first time activity? A: Electioneering was a relaxed and easy affair as BJP had provided a strong and effective support for this purpose.

Q: The Government of India under Prime minister Narendra Modi is doing several good schemes for the welfare of the people. Do you feel that the state government failed to implement these in Kerala? A: The State Government not only failed to sincerely implement the Central Schemes but also took credit for some of the schemes showing them as State schemes. All the time the State Govt was at loggerheads with the Centre. Thus the State lost a good opportunity for development - like losing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Q: There were harsh critcisms when you entered politics. What was your feel? A: I don't think there were harsh criticisms. Obviously the LDF and a section of UDF did not like the idea as it would take away their traditional votes. In any case, as an ardent follower of Bhagwat Gita, I have learned to receive bouquets and brick-bats with equal ease and comforts.

Q: You are the "Metro Man of India" and as a person who lived in Delhi, I've experienced the smooth functioning of the metro rail there. Do you have any master plan for Kerala which will transform lives of people here? A: In my professional life also, I had many ups and downs but I was able to finally achieve my objectives. In politics it may not be so easy. To Kerala State, my priorities are basic infrastructure facilities, attract and establish industries in the State which will bring in wealth and job opportunities, lift up the educational and medical standards across the board, and bring in a transparent, corruption free and effective Government. In short, make Kerala the most prosperous state in the country.
Courtesy of Mr Curiosity



By David A Tizzard




She's known for her close relationship to her media-savvy family.

And on Sunday, Kourtney Kardashian was showered with love and affection in the form of numerous Instagram posts from her siblings and friends that were meant to commemorate her 42nd birthday.

Leading the tributes to the reality television personality were her younger sister Kim and her mother Kris, who both uploaded several images with her to their respective accounts.

Special occasion: Kourtney Kardashian was showered with affection in the form of Instagram tributes from her friends and family members to commemorate her 42nd birthday on Sunday

The estranged wife of Kanye West began her message to her older sibling by writing: 'Happy Birthday to my Armenian Queen @kourtneykardash!'

The 40-year-old went on to describe her sister as 'The person on this planet Ive known the longest! The person that will try any beauty treatment with me LOL.'

She added: 'You always know what you want in this life and will never conform to what others ideals are and I admire that so much! You always stick up for whats right and have become the best therapist a girl could ask for!'

Kim concluded her message by telling her sister: 'I love you too the end of time and beyond! Have the best birthday, you deserve it all!!!'

Sensational sibling: The reality television personality's younger sister Kim led many of the tributes and shared a few throwback images to her Instagram

Impressive quality: In her message, the estranged wife of Kanye West commented on her sister's tendency to 'stick up for whats right'

Always and forever: Kim concluded her message by expressing that she loved her sister to 'the end of time and beyond'

Kris Jenner began her Kourtney-directed message by proclaiming: 'I am beyond proud of the amazing woman you are.'

The 65-year-old then commented on her daughter's skills as a parent and as a confidant for the rest of her family.

She wrote, 'you are the most fabulous mommy, daughter, sister, friend, and auntie and you are an inspiration and such a beautiful source of love and support to all of us!'

The matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner clan finished her message by writing that she wished nothing but the best for her eldest child.

Mom knows best: Kris Jenner also shared a set of images to her account to commemorate her eldest child's birthday

Kind words: In her message, the matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner clan called her daughter 'an inspiration and such a beautiful source of love and support'

'Have the most magical day filled with all of the joy you deserve... I love you beyond measure and I thank God every day for blessing me with you. I love and adore you,' Jenner noted.

Kourtney also shared an image of a text exchange she had with her mother, who told her that the day her first daughter was born was the 'best day of my life.'

Khloe Kardashian also wrote a lengthy message for her older sister and told her followers about the close bond that the siblings shared.

'You are my soulmate!! My partner in every way. In any lifetime I will find you. I cant imagine my life without you, nor would I ever want to imagine that,' she expressed.

Kind words: Kourtney later shared an image of a text exchange she had with her mother, who noted that the day her eldest daughter was born was 'the best day of my life'

Family affair: Khloe Kardashian also shared several images to her account and wrote a touching tribute to her 'partner in every way'

Multiple roles: In her post's caption, the Good American co-founder noted that Kourtney was 'my best friend, my wrestling partner...the Danny Devito to my Arnold Schwarzenegger'

The 36-year-old then spoke about how she and Kourtney were inseparable and how they would stick together through both good and bad times.

'You and I have an incredible rare bond that no matter what, it can never be broken. You are my best friend, my wrestling partner, you are the Danny Devito to my Arnold Schwarzenegger,' Kardashian wrote.

The Good American cofounder went on to note, 'Thank God I was blessed with the most incredible siblings I could dream of.'

Khloe finished her message by writing that she hoped that her sister would find nothing but contentment in her future endeavors.

Happy sibling: Khloe also wrote that she was happy to have been 'blessed with the most incredible siblings I could dream of.'

Sending a shout-out: Several images featuring Kourtney were shared to Kylie Cosmetics' official Instagram account on Sunday

She expressed, 'Today and every day, I pray that your soul is covered in love and from your core, I pray that youre happy! For the rest of your life, You deserve only magical things!'

A set of images featuring the reality television personality was also shared to the official Instagram account of Kylie Cosmetics.

Kourtney previously collaborated with the beauty brand on a set of lipstick and eyeshadow palettes, which were released in 2018.

A brief message in the caption for the company's post read: 'happy birthday @kourtneykardash.'

Letting everyone know: Kourtney shared several birthday tributes from her friends' Instagram Stories to her own on Sunday morning

Extended family: Kris Jenner's boyfriend, Corey Gamble, also shared two shots with Kourtney to his Story

The mother of three went on to share several other congratulatory messages and images from her friends' Instagram Stories to her own.

Kourtney notably reposted two images that had been posted to Corey Gamble's account, the first of which showed the two spending time together at a family event.

Another shot that was shared by Kris Jenner's boyfriend featured him sitting next to the designer while they wore similar American flag-printed shirts.

Kendall Jenner also shared a photo with her older half-sister to her Story, in which the siblings were seen enjoying a bit of pasta together.

Clothing coordination: One of Gamble's shots showed him sitting next to the designer as they wore similar button-up shirts

Sibling support: Kendall Jenner posted an image to her Story that showed her enjoying a bit of pasta with her older half-sister

The supermodel added a text graphic to her post that read 'birthdayyyyy,' which was accompanied by two gray hearts.

Kourtney went on to share a video to her Story where she showed her 116 million followers a birthday card that Kim had sent.

During the clip, the social media personality pointed out that her sister had written the wrong age on the card, which she seemed to take in stride.

She remarked, 'So Kim thinks I'm 41...I guess last year really didn't count.'

Sending her best wishes: Kourtney later shared a video to her Instagram Story where she showed off a card that Kim had sent her
The Opec Fund for International Development has announced the signing of a $50 million term loan agreement with Acwa Power to support the construction and operation of a 1.5 gigawatt (GW) combined cycle gas-turbine power plant in Sirdarya, Uzbekistan.

The new plant, located near the border with Tajikistan, will replace an ageing, less efficient thermal power facility, resulting in lower operating costs and a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, said the statement from the Opec Fund.

The Fund and Uzbekistan have been development partners for more than two decades. The organisation has, to date, committed funding to various sectors including but not limited to the banking, agriculture, transportation and education sectors to support Uzbekistans development priorities.

On the deal, Opec Fund Director-General Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "We are pleased to contribute to Uzbekistans massive efforts to upgrade and modernise the countrys power generation capacity with reliable and efficient infrastructure."

"Private sector participation in the energy sector will expedite this process and landmark projects such as Sirdarya will pave the way, setting examples of great cooperation among governments, development finance institutions and the private sector," he added.

The Opec Fund was established in January 1976 by the then 13 member countries of the oil producing nations; including the UAE. It is the development finance institution established as a channel of aid to developing countries.-TradeArabia News Service
SCRANTON  A state grant will help Scranton Tomorrow look to the future.

The nonprofit organization leading the citys downtown economic development efforts received a $50,000 state pandemic-assistance grant toward continuing its mission.

Announced Wednesday by Gov. Tom Wolf, the grant was among 43 statewide totaling nearly $2 million provided under the COVID-19 Relief Supporting Elm and Main (SEAM) program.

SEAM provides financial assistance to revitalization organizations dedicated to community and economic development in older and historic downtowns, commercial districts and neighborhoods.

Over the past year, communities across the commonwealth have faced devastating impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Pennsylvanias network of community development organizations never ceased answering the call for help, Wolf said in a statement.

The pandemic hurt Scranton Tomorrows ability to raise funds, as the organization had to cancel all of its events in 2020, President/CEO Leslie Collins said. Those included an annual fundraising campaign, the Electric City Classic bicycle race and hill climb, and the annual Mayors Prayer Breakfast, to name a few.

We provided all of our services for free and have not asked for any sponsorship dollars, because we knew businesses would be hurting and that would be counterproductive, Collins said. Yet, with limited staff and fundraising, we realized we had to pivot to support businesses that were pivoting for (their own) survival.

For example, Scranton Tomorrow helped support local restaurants through the Electric City Connection project that injected nearly $60,000 into the local food industry, Collins said.

The SEAM grant will go toward operations, including continuing the Electric City Connection, creating a pocket park on a vacant lot at Wyoming Avenue and Linden Street, doing curb-appeal and streetscape beautification projects, creating a downtown master plan and undertaking seasonal marketing campaigns, Collins said.
Amid a drop in COVID-19 infection rates in Israel, the country's Health Ministry has cancelled the mandatory wearing of face masks in the open-air, starting Sunday.

"In light of the morbidity figures that continue to be low throughout the country ... Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Hezi Levy, amended the Public Health Order so that there is no obligation to wear a mask in an open area, starting tomorrow, April 18," the ministry said on Saturday, as quoted by Sputnik.

This comes as global COVID-19 deaths crossed the 3 million mark on Saturday, according to the latest update by Johns Hopkins University. As of 04.30 am IST, the total COVID-19 cases worldwide stand at 140,379,953 and the deaths across the world stand at 3,007,708.

Following the drop in infection rates, the health ministry advised the public to wear face coverings at large outdoor gatherings and stressed that mask-wearing is still obligatory indoors.

According to the Russian news agency, started vaccinating its population against the COVID-19 on December 20 last year and the country has seen one of the most rapid vaccine rollouts of anywhere in the world.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OTTAWA, ON, April 17, 2021 /CNW/ - Throughout the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic response, the Government of Canada has collaborated with provinces and territories to ensure they have the equipment and supplies needed to carry on the fight against COVID-19.

Today, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, confirmed that the Government of Canada will provide a two-month extension on the two federal Mobile Health Units (MHU) it provided to Ontario in January. Those units were originally made available to Ontario until May 1st. With the extension, Ontario can count on having the two MHUs until at least June 30th, 2021.

The MHUs are just one of the services offered under the COVID-19 Federal Rapid Surge Capacity  a means for provinces and territories to access equipment and resources, when they need it most.

Quotes

"The federal government is there to provide support where it is needed most, such as Ontario which has seen an alarming resurgence in COVID-19 cases. Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is the Government of Canada's top priority."

- The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Quick Facts

The MHUs will provide additional hospital beds and facilitate the transfer of non-critical care patients out of critical care to ensure those specialized resources are available for those who need it most. Each MHU has the capacity to include up-to 100 hospital beds. The units will be staffed by the province.

Associated Links

COVID-19 Support to Provinces and Territories

January 2021: Government of Canada provides Mobile Health Units to assist Ontario with COVID-19 response

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2021/17/c5931.html
Dr. John Sygielski, president of Harrisburg Area Community College, wrote the following on his Facebook page on Thursday:

Got a call from a Black HACC student asking to drive him to work because he was afraid. Established a phone tree of drivers to assist him until he feels safe to drive alone, again. I have never before received this request from a White student. Have you?

The post reflects the stark reality of our times. Many Black people are afraid. Mothers are afraid for their Black sons who would simply like to live life and pursue their dreams like everyone else.

A rally organized by Nevin Perkins, founder of the Jersey City -based Black Men United Coalition, took place outside the Greenville Precinct on Sunday, May 10, 2020. The event was organized to demand justice and reform after police used pepper spray and batons to break up a street brawl in Jersey City last Tuesday. Dante Perkins, of Jersey City, holds up a sign.

Wives are afraid for their Black husbands who hope to avoid being stopped by police coming home from work. And young Black women remember Breonna Taylor, shot in her bed before she could even hold up her hands.

But police say that was just a mistake. Like the one that killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Minneapolis. It was a just an accident, police said. Just a mistake.

FILE - This photo provided by Ben Crump Law, PLLC. shows Daunte Wright and his son, Daunte Jr., at his first birthday party. Wright, 20, was killed during a traffic stop by a white suburban Minneapolis police officer on Sunday, April 11, 2021. (Ben Crump Law, PLLC. via AP)AP

Its the stark reality of our times. Police are killing black people, often by mistake. And all Black people have reason to be afraid they could be victims of the next mistake.

Things were already at the boiling point last week with nightly protests over Wrights shooting, just as a good part of the caring world was riveted to the trial of Derek Chauvin, accused of the murder of George Floyd.

Community members rally on 26th St. after the body camera footage of Chicago police killing Adam Toledo was released, Thursday, April 15, 2021 in Chicago. A 13-year-old Chicago boy appears to have dropped a handgun and begun raising his hands less than a second before a police officer shot and killed him last month, footage released Thursday under community pressure shows. (Tyler LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)AP

Then, Chicago police killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who made the fatal mistake of running away. Kids do the dumbest things, but theres no leeway for a Black or Brown kid to do dumb things. Police shoot them.

Considering the stark reality of our times, the child may have thought he had a better chance of living by running away than by surrendering to police custody. He may have remembered George Floyd.

Who can forget? Who can forget the video of a Black man on the ground with a police officers knee on his neck? Who can forget his groans of I cant breathe? And who can forget his calls for Mama?

On the third day of the trial of former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, prosecution shows the jury and the witness on the stand the split screen of security footage (left) and bystander video of the arrest of George Floyd. Chauvin was captured on tape on May 25, 2020 pressing his knee onto Floyd's neck for some nine minutes during an arrest. Chauvin was later charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. Floyd's death sparked outrage all around the world and resulted in massive protests against police brutality and racism. (Pool Video Via Court Tv/Ny Times/ZUMA Wire/TNS)TNS

Reina Wooden, an acclaimed artist in Harrisburg, posted this on her Facebook page:

Dear All People,

If you see a cop talking to any African American person, I KNOW YOU BETTER STOP WALKING. You better stay right there till that cop gets back in their car and drives away. Let them know WE ARE WATCHING THEM and they are not ALONE. This is the LEAST we can do.

This is the stark reality of our times. Many Black people  our co-workers, friends and neighbors -- are afraid. Easing tensions and reducing anxieties may require driving someone to work, like Dr. Sygielski did. Or, it may require taking out your cell phone and staying right there, as Wooden suggests.

Most of all, it requires significant changes in how some police view Black people.

It requires many police officers to stop assuming every Black man is a criminal deserving of prison or death. And it requires them all to take concrete steps to treat Black people with the same respect and restraint they readily show white men in business suits.

Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Pay Your Workers $24 m the apparel industry owes View(s):

Apparel sector trade unions have commenced a campaign Pay Your Workers as part of a global initiative highlighting worker problems amid the COVID-19 pandemic that activists claim Sri Lankan brands and suppliers owe workers US$24 million.

The Sri Lankan apparel sectors suppliers and brands owe its workers US$24 million in payments calculated for the months of March, April and May of 2020, Free Trade Zone workers Trade Union General Secretary Anton Marcus told the Business Times on Friday.

He noted that this sum was calculated with figures taken for this three month period last year where workers were not paid for attendance, overtime pay and non-provision of transport due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result the trade unions have globally commenced a campaign called Clean Clothes Campaign demanding companies to Pay Your Workers that was kicked off in Sri Lanka from March 24-26 and is expected to resume in April as well.

Meanwhile, during the New Year celebrations while some apparel workers received bonus payments from their companies others were not so lucky as some were paid only half and still others none at all, Mr. Marcus said. He noted that they do not agree with this since the export of apparel in Sri Lanka was not severely impacted by the COVID-19 as they have achieved the same productivity as last year with less number of workers following lay-offs.

Worker rights activist also noted that there was a strike carried out at one of the Katunayaka Free Trade Zone factories that resulted in the establishment of a union arm within the company and it is believed that they would have received 75 per cent of their bonus payment.

Further, Mr. Marcus explained that they will be awaiting the companys response tomorrow once work resumes to the formal notice made to the company on the formation of a trade union within the factory with the appointment of office bearers of the union committee.

Trade unions point out that during the pandemic apparel brands, traders and manufacturers in the garment industry are slashing workers health, job security as well as workers rights and making huge profits from their income.

In this respect the trade unions have requested brands and employers of the Sri Lanka apparel sector to initiate a national dialogue with the trade unions to ensure the protection of the rights, wages and health of workers in the industry. (SD)
New data show the number of HIV infections confirmed in Japan last year dropped nearly 20 percent from a year earlier. The health ministry attributes the decline to a fall in HIV testing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and says the actual figure could be higher.

Preliminary figures released by the ministry show 740 people were found to be infected with the HIV virus in 2020 at public health centers and medical institutions across the country. That's down 163, or 18 percent, from the previous year.

The number of people tested was less than half the figure from a year before, at about 69,000. Ministry officials say this is because many public health centers suspended HIV testing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of infections confirmed in tests required for blood donation rose for the first time in six years to 0.876 per 100,000 people.

The health ministry is calling on people to go to medical institutions or public health centers where tests are available, if they think they may be infected with HIV.
China will never allow island of Taiwan to go independent: vice foreign minister

Global Times) 13:53, April 18, 2021

Photo/Unsplash

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said China will never allow the island of Taiwan to go independent as Beijing hit back at a US-Japan joint statement which for the first time in half a century mentioned China's Taiwan.

"National reunification of the island of Taiwan and China is a historical process. It will not be stopped by anyone or any force. We will never let Taiwan go independent," Le made the remarks on Friday in an interview with the Associated Press.

Asked if there was any timeline for the reunification and if the current situation could continue to exist for many years, Le stressed that "it's a process of history."

Le said China is firmly committed to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and promoting national reunification. "We are prepared to do everything we can for a peaceful reunification. That said, we don't pledge to give up other options. No option is excluded."

Le's remarks comes amidst the recent provocation from the US and Japan's joint statement.

The direct mentioning of Taiwan was regarded as a severe interference in China's domestic affairs and sends a signal that Japan and the US are attempting to challenge China's possible moves to reunification.

Chinese analysts said the US and Japan's move will only send the wrong signal to the Taiwan separatists and allow the DPP to go further down the wrong path.

Le stressed the one-China principle is China's red line and no one should try to cross it, whether low-level or high-level, official engagement is what China firmly opposes.

"The Taiwan question bears on China's core interests. There is simply no room for compromise," the Chinese vice foreign minister noted.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Israelis stepped into the streets without masks on Sunday for the first time in a year, a key milestone as the country vaccinates its way out of a coronavirus nightmare.

"It's very strange but it's very nice," said Eliana Gamulka, 26, after getting off a bus near the busy Jerusalem shopping boulevard of Jaffa Street and removing her face covering.

"You can't pretend that you don't know anyone any more," she smiled.

With over half the population fully vaccinated in one of the world's fastest anti-COVID 19 inoculation campaigns, the health ministry announced on Thursday that masks would no longer be required in public outdoor spaces.

For Gamulka, a project manager, the good news came at the perfect time: just two weeks before her wedding.

It will be "very nice to celebrate with everyone, now without masks," she said. "The pictures will be great! I'm very relieved. We can start living again."

The vaccination of close to five million people has sent Israel's coronavirus caseload tumbling from some 10,000 new infections per day as recently as mid-January, to around 200 cases a day.

That has allowed the re-opening of schools, bars, restaurants and other indoor gatheringsalthough masks are still required in indoor public spaces.

And even before Health Minister Yuli Edelstein's announcement came into effect, punters in the popular bars of Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market were mask-free and smiling on Thursday evening.

Yet on Sunday, office worker Ester Malka said she wasn't quite ready to let down her guard.

"We're allowed, but I'm still afraid, I got used to (wearing a mask)," she said.

"I feel like it's part of my life. We'll see what happens when everyone has taken them off. If it goes well for a couple of months, then I'll remove mine."

Mass vaccination

Israel just months ago had the world's highest infection rate, a coronavirus outbreak that left 6,300 people dead among 836,000 cases.

But the Jewish state sent its coronavirus caseload tumbling after striking a deal for a vast stock of Pfizer/BioNTech jabs.

In exchange, it agreed to pay above market price and share data it gathers on the recipients, using one of the world's most sophisticated medical data systems.

Since December, some 53 percent of Israel's 9.3 million people have received both doses of the jab, including around four-fifths of the population aged over 20.

As recently as January it was registering 10,000 cases per day.

But as the effects of mass vaccination kicked in, by March it was able to implement a gradual re-opening.

"There's no better advertisement for Pfizer," said Shalom Yatzkan, a computer programmer who had been in quarantine after catching the virus.

"I was sick for three days, I had neck pains and felt weak," he said as he walked through central Jerusalem. "I just hope the new variants don't catch up with us."

Full classrooms

Another Sunday landmark in Israel's exit from coronavirus restrictions was the full resumption of the country's educational system, without restrictions on the numbers of pupils in classrooms.

Speaking at a Jerusalem high school, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the "festivity" of the day for the schools, while warning of complacency.

"We're not done with the coronavirus yet, since it can return," he said, stressing the need to obtain "millions more vaccinations".

"Sooner or later, we'll need another vaccination (dose)," he said.

The situation in Israel is in stark contrast to the occupied West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip, where infection rates remain high and vaccinations are low.

Gaza, which is ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas, said on Sunday it had recorded 23 deaths over the past 24 hoursthe highest ever daily coronavirus toll, with 761 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Rights groups have urged Israel to supply vaccines to the 4.8 million Palestinians living there, but Israel says that falls under the Palestinian Authority's responsibility.

It has however vaccinated over 105,000 Palestinian workers who hold permits for employment in Israel and the settlements.

In Jerusalem, meanwhile, Gamulka was enjoying the simple pleasure of new-found freedoms.

"It's nice not to have something on your face any more," she said.

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

 2021 AFP
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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Sweet Spreads in the United Arab Emirates" under Food category. The United Arab Emirates Sweet Spreads Market is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

Sweet spreads has seen slightly higher retail volume and current value growth rates in 2020 than in the previous year, with COVID-19 contributing to this increase. Many people have spent more time at home due to the government encouraging people to work from home where possible, and due to the closure of schools, leading to higher home consumption. However, foodservice volume sales have seen a strong decline, with sales nearly halving.

Sweet Spreads in United Arab Emirates report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 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: Chocolate Spreads, Honey, Jams and Preserves, Nut and Seed Based Spreads.

Request a free sample copy of United Arab Emirates Sweet Spreads Market Report @

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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

Sweet Spreads in the United Arab Emirates

March 2021

List OF CONTENTS AND TABLES

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2020 IMPACT

Higher retail volume growth helps to compensate for the foodservice decline

More snacking at home, especially by children, boosts sales of chocolate spreads

Ferrero leads due to high sales in the largest category, chocolate spreads

RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

Steady growth throughout the forecast period, but stronger in retail than foodservice

Chocolate spreads set to remain most popular and see the highest volume growth

Growth opportunities for nut and seed based spreads

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Volume 2015-2020

Table 2 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 3 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 4 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 5 Sales of Jams and Preserves by Leading Flavours: Rankings 2015-2020

Table 6 NBO Company Shares of Sweet Spreads: % Value 2016-2020

Table 7 LBN Brand Shares of Sweet Spreads: % Value 2017-2020

Table 8 Distribution of Sweet Spreads by Format: % Value 2015-2020

Table 9 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Volume 2020-2025

Table 10 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 11 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025

Table 12 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sweet-spreads-in-the-united-arab-emirates/1355248

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Washington, 18 April 2021 (SPS) - UN Former Minister for the Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, said that the decision of Ex-President Donald Trump to recognize Moroccos sovereignty over Sahrawi Territories is ill-considered and dangerous, calling the United States to return to their prior position in favor of the UN settlement Plan.



In a statement published Saturday on his facebook page, Ross recalled that UN Former Security Minister, John Bolton and him have addressed, on April 14, during a video-conference organized by the New York Bar city Association on the Western Sahara issue and its review by the Trump administration.



The Former American Diplomat reaffirmed his rejection of the Trump decision given its consequences on three fronts namely, the negotiation process, the region and the U.S. policy.



Bolton and I called for it to be rescinded. Bolton did so because of his belief that a referendum to determine the territorys future remains possible and should be held. I did so because of the harm that the decision will cause, said Ross.



"To date, no other major country, not even France, has followed suit, and for good reason. The decision was gratuitous," Ross said.



Normalizing relations between Morocco and the Zionist entity in exchange for U.S. recognition of Moroccan claims to Western Sahara "was not necessary, he added.



Relations between Morocco and the Zionist entity "are long-standing and close," although "they have been mostly out of the public eye," he said. (SPS)



062/090/700
The American University of Bahrain (AUBH), has announced the appointment of Dr Jeff Zabudsky, as the institutions Provost, assuming the role from Dr Mark D. Shermis, who is returning to the United States to pursue other opportunities.

Dr Zabudsky will work closely with AUBHs Founding President, Dr Susan E. Saxton, to help lead the academic operations of the University. He joins the team with more than 35 years of experience in higher education, most recently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Polytechnic for the last four and a half years.

He will lead the continued development of AUBH academic programmes to deliver an American-style experience in line with the Universitys strategic vision and mission.

Speaking on his appointment, Dr Zabudsky commented: I am honoured to continue to play a role in the thriving higher education system here in Bahrain and particularly pleased to become part of the team at this exciting new University with its accomplished faculty and world-class campus.

Dr Zabudsky has held a variety of senior-level leadership positions in higher education. Throughout his career, Dr Zabudsky has developed more than 30 degree programmes relevant to the rapidly evolving international job markets they served, while overseeing the recruitment of expert faculty to run them.

He has led global institutions throughout North America and the Middle East, in the integration of pioneering and relevant technology into the teaching and learning process, facilitating partnership development and student recruitment, and managing institutional and program accreditation by both government and industry-based accreditors.

Dr Zabudskys expertise will be vital as the University is forming a partnership with California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and seeking U.S. regional accreditation, with AUBH being approved to seek eligibility for accreditation by WSCUC. If accredited by the latter, the University would be among a handful of universities that are accredited by WSCUC in the Mena and GCC regions.

Dr Saxton commented: I have tremendous confidence in Dr Zabudskys extensive local and international academic and business experience, and I am sure that he will make invaluable, pioneering contributions to AUBH, in line with our mission of equipping AUBH Students with the skills and knowledge they require to succeed in life. His knowledge of Bahrain will play a vital role of supporting our Vision to position Bahrain as the regional educational destination of choice.

Dr Zabudsky holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Alberta, a Master of Distance Education from Athabasca University, an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology from Athabasca University, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Ryerson University.-- Tradearabia News Service
A series of attacks on random strangers is putting New Yorkers on edge.

Although assaults were commonplace in the 1980s, a crackdown on the crooks saw crime levels drop making neighborhoods that were previously known as no-go areas, safe to walk around, even at night.

But now, there are fears the city is returning to the bad old days.

Areas of the city which were generally thought to be safe, such as Midtown Manhattan, Chelsea and the leafy Upper West Side, have all been locations on random assaults in recent months.

Some are describing the assaults as proof of the return of the so-called 'knockout game.'

Police in January released surveillance video of a man sucker punching a Catholic deacon inside a Bronx subway station in January. The first of many random attacks of 2021

In March, a 68-year-old man was left bloodied in a racially motivated attack on the subway

Two men were beaten up in the Bronx recently while one woman was knocked to the ground outside an Upper West Side subway station.

'My friend was screaming, ran to a building on CPW (Central Park West) where doorman called police,' an online poster explained in a Facebook group.

'This is happening all over. I was sucker punched by a disturbed man in Chelsea and left with two black eyes,' a man from Upper West Side responded.

In Washington Heights, a man walked into a store and slashed the nose of a female manager.

The suspect was captured on video and approaching the victim while she was sitting behind the counter.

A woman was slashed across the face at a store where she is employed as a manager in Manhattan

A suspect was seen on a surveillance camera reaching for the 22-year-old manager

The suspect manage to run out of the store and escape after slashing the woman

Unprovoked attacks are leaving some residents on edge and even looking for self-defense classes.

'I carry pepper spray because we are now a lawless city and need to police ourselves,' Upper West Side resident Jacqueline Bolier said to DailyMail.com

'The attackers are generally mentally disturbed people with nothing to lose. There are no mental hospitals and no foot patrols taking place by police.'

'These incidents aren't happening in front of officers. They are happening due to opportunists taking advantage of the anti-police, anti-accountability era,' NYPD Sgt. Joseph Imperatrice, founder of Blue Lives Matter NYC told The New York Post.

'It is a dangerous time to be out and about strolling in New York City. The combination of criminals and mentally ill individuals roaming the streets equals disaster waiting to happen.

'The city needs to get back to old-school policing  high visibility foot posts and patrol,' he said.

Similar fears were echoed by retired NYPD sergeant Joseph Giacalone.

'It might be the power of social media that makes the perception that it's happening everywhere, but it is a real concern that shouldn't be taken lightly.'

In March, a 65-year-old woman was pushed to floor and kicked in the head by an unidentified passer-by during the vicious daylight attack

The suspect was also caught clearly on surveillance camera as he walked away from the scene

In March, an Asian woman was knocked to the ground and viciously beaten on her way to church in Manhattan.

The video shows the victim, 65, being pushed to floor and kicked in the head by an unidentified passer-by during the vicious daylight attack.

She had been walking towards the man in the moments before he attacked her. He reportedly told her: 'F*** you, you don't belong here.'

The suspect stomped on her head and face at least three times.

Last month, a man was arrested and charged with an assault on a 68-year-old man Asian man on the subway, accused of shouting racial insults.

The suspect had been arrested nine times before.

Another Asian man, 66, was also punched in the face in an apparent random attack.

In that incident, an unknown man believed to be homeless approached the victim, began yelling at him and then struck him in the face with a closed fist.

It comes amid national outcry over anti-Asian violence, which has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, the NYPD revealed that it had recorded a 1,300 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic.

Many activists blame the antagonism toward Asians on former president Donald Trump, who frequently called COVID-19 the 'China virus'.

The data shows crime in the city increasing from recent years

The NYPD announced it was deploying plainclothes officers as part of their Asian Hate Crime Task Force to help tackle the recent uptick.

The department reported that New York City alone has at least 35 anti-Asian hate crime reports since January, compared to the 28 in all of 2020.

Crime does appears to be increasing in New York City as more and more people exit various stages of lockdown from the coronavirus pandemic.

So far this year, shooting incidents in NYC are up 57 percent from the same period last year. Murders are up 20 percent.

NYPD crime data for March showed overall crime went up 2.4 percent compared with the same time last year. But shootings skyrocketed year-over-year, increasing 77 percent, and gun arrests jumped 67 percent from last March.

Police unions have blamed policy changes such as bail reform, which eliminated cash bail for many crimes, and last year's move to cut the NYPD budget by $1 billion.

Demonstrators attend the Rally Against Hate to protest the recent violence against the Asian American community at Columbus Park Rally Against Hate in New York in March
After the announcement of reinstating DA and DR benefits to central government employees and pensioners, the government has taken a step forward to give 'monetary incentives' for a particular section of officers belonging to North East Cadres of All India services to the All India Service (AIS) officers working in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

"It has now been decided to extend the provisions of additional monetary incentives to the All India Service officers working in UT of Ladakh, subject to ceiling, and instructions issued in this regard from time to time," said Devendra Kumar, Under Secretary to Government of India, in a letter to chief secretaries of all state governments.

Furthermore, a special allowance and special duty allowance will be given to AIS officers posted in the UT of Ladakh with a hike at 20 percent and 10 percent of their basic salary respectively.

Previously, the government had already announced that it would reinstate the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) from July 1. The central government employee's DA will be increased from 17 percent to 28 percent which includes a 3 percent, 4 percent, and expected 4 percent DA hike due from 1st January 2021.

As and when the decision to release the future installments of Dearness Allowance due from 01.07.2021 is taken, the rates of DA as effective from 01.01.2020, 01.07.2020 and 01.01. 2021 will be restored prospectively and will be subsumed in the cumulative revised rates effective from 01.07.2021, Anurag Thakur, the Minister of State (MoS) for Finance, had said earlier in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

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The US is likely to resume Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine this coming week, possibly with restrictions or broader warnings after reports of some very rare blood clot cases, the governments top infectious diseases expert said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a series of news show interviews, said he expects a decision when advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meet Friday to discuss the pause in J&Js single-dose vaccine.

'I would be very surprised if we dont have a resumption in some form by Friday,' he said. 'I dont really anticipate that theyre going to want it stretch it out a bit longer.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a series of news show interviews, said he expects a decision when advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meet Friday to discuss the pause in J&Js single-dose vaccine

Fauci, who is President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser, said he believed that federal regulators could bring the shots back with restrictions based on age or gender or with a blanket warning, so that it is administered in a way 'a little bit different than we were before the pause.'

The J&J vaccine has been in limbo after the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration said last week they needed more evidence to decide if a handful of unusual blood clots were linked to the shot - and if so, how big the risk is.

The reports are rare - six cases out of more than 7 million U.S. inoculations with J&J vaccine. The clots were found in six women between the ages of 18 and 48. One person died.

The acting FDA commissioner had said she expected the pause to last only a matter of days. Still, the decision last Tuesday triggered swift action in Europe and elsewhere.

Fauci said he doubted very seriously that the U.S. would permanently halt use of the J&J vaccine.

Boxes stand next vials of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the pharmacy of National Jewish Hospital for distribution in Denver. Image taken in March

'I dont think thats going to happen,' he said. 'The pause was to take a look, make sure we know all the information we can have within that timeframe, and also warn some of the physicians out there who might see people, particularly women, who have this particular adverse event, that they treat them properly.'

'I think itll likely say, `OK, were going to use it. But be careful under these certain circumstances.'

More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been given in the U.S., the vast majority with no or mild side effects. Authorities stressed they have found no sign of clot problems with the most widely used COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. - from Moderna and Pfizer.

Fauci appeared on NBCs 'Meet the Press,' CNNs 'State of the Union,' ABCs 'This Week' and CBS 'Face the Nation.'
Incident 1099

When: Jan. 30, 2021

Where: 200 block of Broadway

An unknown male attempted to open two online bank accounts with a financial institution downtown using identification that obviously did not belong to him. Both attempts were denied but the financial institution retained a digital image of the suspects face.

Incident 1099

Incident 1100

When: Dec. 14, 2020

Where: 300 block of Ellice Avenue

Unknown male and female went to a convenience store downtown and used a stolen credit card to purchase hundreds of dollars of merchandies. Both suspects fled the store with the merchandise.
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will present a budget on Monday with billions of dollars for pandemic recovery measures as COVID-19 infections skyrocket, C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) toward national childcare, and new taxes on luxury goods.

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's first budget in two years will also set aside C$12 billion ($9.6 billion) to extend wage and rent subsidy programs to the autumn, the Toronto Star reported on Sunday.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is due to present the budget at about 4 p.m. (2000 GMT).

The document promises in excess of C$2 billion as a "starting point" for a national childcare program, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp said, adding that the 2020-2021 federal deficit had come in under C$400 billion.

In November, the government forecast a deficit of C$381.6 billion, which would be its highest level since World War Two. [https://tmsnrt.rs/3wSJPcm]

The budget will also include a luxury tax effective from 2022 on new cars and private aircraft valued at more than C$100,000 ($79,970), and boats worth over C$250,000, government sources familiar with the document told Reuters.

There will be a sales tax for online platforms and e-commerce warehouses from July, and a digital services tax for Web giants like Alphabet Inc's Google and Facebook Inc from 2022.

Freeland promised in November up to C$100 billion in stimulus over three years to "jump-start" an economic recovery during what is likely to be an election year, and the government so far not backed away from that commitment.

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, speaking to the CBC, confirmed that the budget would be "ambitious" and that the government would "invest for jobs and growth to rebuild this economy," although he added there would be "fiscal guardrails" to put spending on a "sustainable track."

Amid a spiking third wave of infections, Ontario, Canada's most-populous province, announced new public health restrictions on Friday, including closing the province's borders to non-essential domestic travel.

Story continues

Canada has been ramping up its vaccination campaign but still has a smaller percentage of its population inoculated than dozens of other countries, including the United States and Britain.

($1 = 1.2514 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Peter Cooney)
Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD) has announced the opening of its brand new campus within the Dubai Knowledge Park.

The new building occupies 218,000 sq ft, which are distributed over seven floors, with eight different types of teaching spaces that have been carefully designed to deliver a myriad of learning experiences.

The dedicated campus will be serving nearly 4,000 students  representing 105 nationalities from around the world  who have joined Heriot-Watt seeking research-informed, industry-focused British education of the highest standard in the UAE.

Prof Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal at Heriot-Watt University Dubai said: "I am extremely pleased to open doors to our new campus today. The development of this campus is a testament to our continued commitment towards offering world class education and enviable infrastructure to our students."

"Our new campus building has been designed keeping the future student experience in mind; we believe that the supportive environment will allow us to deliver inspiring learning, increase academic success, cutting edge research and the holistic development of our students," he stated.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said: "In 2005, Heriot-Watt University Dubai became the first campus of an international university to open in Dubai Academic City."

"Since then, Heriot-Watt University Dubai has made an invaluable contribution to higher education in Dubai, helping to transform the sector into the international study destination it is today," stated Al Karam.

"Students at Heriot-Watt University Dubai benefit both from the universitys rich culture and history, and its dynamic, future-focused approach. The new campus will not only enrich students academic learning, but also the authentic experiences and memories that will last a lifetime," he added.

Classrooms have been designed to be interactive. Rather than traditional lecture theatres, the new campus houses collaborative lecture theatres which offer booth-style seating to encourage small-group discussions and group challenges at appropriate points; pod rooms which are designed to offer group-based learning and the sharing of learning between teachers and peers via interconnected PCs and screens; and teaching and seminar rooms which have been designed as flexible spaces for a range of classroom learning and teaching activities.

The many laboratories and workshops cover automotive, chemical, civil, mechanical, electrical, energy, robotic and structural engineering, and offer facilities for students to learn through practical application as well as through formal timetabled classes.

The new campus also features the Watt Inc., a business incubator run by the Edinburgh Business School, which will develop and support founders and start-ups, as well as the Bloomberg Trading Room where students can work with a simulated market environment using actual, real-time data, and a variety of functions simulating both trading and non-trading workflows.

The building also features a multipurpose venue, aptly named the Town Hall, with a cafeteria and auditorium-style seating suitable for hosting Open Days, presentations, and other interactive events.-TradeArabia News Service
Allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are raising alarm bells over the imprisoned Kremlin critics rapidly deteriorating health as he carries out a hunger strike behind bars while his body is still suffering from the effects of a poisoning last year. Navalny has been in a hunger strike for three weeks to protest the refusal of prison officials to allow him to see a private doctor to treat back pain and a loss of feelings in his legs.

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Over the weekend, Dr. Yaroslav Ashikhmin, a personal physician, said test results show Navalny could die at any moment. Navalnys blood tests show he has a high level of potassium that could lead to a potentially lethal irregular heartbeat. A patient with this level of potassium should be in intensive care as at any moment a fatal arrhythmia could develop, Dr. Ashikhmin wrote on Facebook. Alexei is dying, Navalnys spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on Facebook. In his condition, it is a matter of days. And on the weekend lawyers just cant get to him, and no one knows what will happen on Monday.

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Navalnys allies are calling on his supporters to take part in what they hope will be the largest street protest in modern Russian history on Wednesday to call attention to Navalnys plight as well as the way his supporters are being persecuted. Things are developing too quickly and too badly, reads a statement posted on Navalnys website announcing plans for the protests across the country. We can no longer wait and postpone. An extreme situation demands extreme decisions. The protest will take place the same day as President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to give his annual state-of-the-nation speech.

There has also been reaction from Washington with Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, warning there will be consequences if Navalny dies while behind bars. We have communicated to the Russian government that what happens to Mr. Navalny in their custody is their responsibility and they will be held accountable by the international community, Sullivan told CNN. In terms of the specific measures that we would undertake, we are looking at a variety of different costs that we would impose and Im not going to telegraph that publicly at this point.

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"There will be consequences if Mr. Navalny dies," says National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. pic.twitter.com/jUrybs1pVB  Jan Wolfe (@JanNWolfe) April 18, 2021

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Russian authorities insist they have tried to provide Navalny with the appropriate medical care but he has refused it and insists on being treated outside of the prison. In an interview with the BBC, Russias ambassador to Britain dismissed the warnings about Navalnys health but said the 44-year-old opposition leader will not be allowed to die in prison. Andrei Kelin characterized Navalnys demands for medical treatment as a way to attract attention.

As Navalnys health makes news around the world, a group of 11 Russian politicians published an open letter saying Putin is personally responsible for Navalnys life. We regard what is happening in relation to Navalny as an attempt on the life of a politician, committed out of personal and political hatred, reads the letter that Russian citizens can sign. You, the President of the Russian Federation, personally bear responsibility for the life of Alexey Navalny on the territory of the Russian Federation, including in prison facilities.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  For their work over the last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, 11 health care/elder care providers are being honored as finalists for an award recognizing their heroism.

West Michigan Works! recognizes the commitment, integrity and passion of frontline workers who go above-and-beyond their daily responsibilities with the annual Beverly A. Drake Essential Service Awards.

Although we have been celebrating the Essential Service Awards for 13 years, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic underscores how critical frontline workers are to our regions wellbeing and economy, Mark Bergsma, chair of the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, said in a written statement.

Essential workers continue to risk their health to ensure that we have access to groceries, critical services and health care. These extraordinary frontline heroes keep West Michigan running during a time of uncertainty and it is an honor to recognize them, he said.

A committee, established by the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, selects the finalists from a list of nominees submitted earlier by the public. An overall winner for the health care/elder care provider award will be announced at the Monday, April 19 meeting of The Economic Club of Grand Rapids.

In addition to recognizing a health care/elder care winner, the awards program also honors a winner in administrative/office, cleaning/housekeeping/groundskeeping, childcare, food service, government, hospitality, nonprofit, retail, skilled labor and transportation fields. Each honoree will receive a $100 Meijer gift card.

According to the West Michigan Works! award description, Anyone can nominate a frontline worker for an Essential Service Award. To be eligible, the individual must have at least two years of employment with their current company, hold a non-managerial position, exhibit pride in their job, a positive attitude, strong work ethic and effective time management.

The nominees must work within the West Michigan Works! service area of Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

Here are the 11 finalists in no particular order:

Jesseca Schrader, full-time nurse at Metro Health ICU and works two days-a-week as a HealthBar school nurse at Kenowa Hills. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Jesseca Schrader

Where employed: Full-time nurse at Metro Health ICU and also works two days-a-week as a HealthBar school nurse at Kenowa Hills.

Quote: Its been the hardest year of my almost ten years of nursing. The ups the downs. The highs were high and the lows were low.

Violet Nyamwaya, patient care coordinator at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Violet Nyamwaya

Where employed: Patient care coordinator at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids helping patients with custom seating for their wheelchairs.

Quote: We get to do what we get to do for our patients. To give them hope and freedom. You know, theres always dim days, theres always bright days. So you know, as long as were in it together.

Carol Lyman, senior executive administrative assistant at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Carol Lyman

Where employed: Senior executive administrative assistant at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids.

Quote: Weve all pulled up our bootstraps and just do what we needed to do to get the job done.

Stephanie Hamilton, Dr. Charles R. Barker Family Practice in Belding. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Stephanie Hamilton

Where employed: Works at Dr. Charles R. Barker Family Practice in Belding welcoming patients, billing and Jack of all trades stepping in where needed at the small town practice.

Quote: Choose kindness. I mean, even in times of a pandemic. It doesnt pay to be negative.

Debra Scott, caregiver through Leaves Personal Care in Grandville. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Debra Scott

Where employed: Caregiver for West Michigan elderly patients through Leaves Personal Care in Grandville.

Quote: They still needed people to take care of them with their personal needs, their housekeeping, their errands. We still needed to go in there.

Jennifer Simon, CNA at The Laurels of Kent in Lowell. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Jennifer Simon

Where employed: CNA at The Laurels of Kent nursing and rehabilitation center in Lowell.

Quote: If you have family members or friends in the nursing home, write letters, make phone calls, let them know youre still there and that you love them and theyre not alone.

Kendalyn Nielsen, CNA at Riverside Nursing and Rehab in Grand Haven. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Kendalyn Nielsen

Where employed: CNA at Riverside Nursing and Rehab in Grand Haven.

Quote: Holding someones hand and letting them know they werent alone in their final moments. We became family.

Christy Olgine-Bolt, Mary Free Bed physical therapist at Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan - East in Grand Rapids. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Christy Olgine-Bolt

Where employed: Mary Free Bed physical therapist at Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan - East in Grand Rapids.

Quote: Learning to adapt quickly, working as a team as a whole, just made things run as smoothly as we could during the pandemic.

Denise Morrison, clinical secretary monitor tech at Metro Health Hospital, Wyoming. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Denise Morrison

Where employed: Clinical secretary monitor tech at Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming.

Quote: It was pretty rough. We see the sickest of the sick, so it was very difficult to try to figure out exactly what was going on.

Richelle Engle, lead patient service coordinator at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Richelle Engle

Where employed: Lead patient service coordinator at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids.

Quote: Healthcare is fluid and weve just done what we do best, which is adapt.

Nikki Stoner, Community Care Coordinator at Hanger Clinic, Byron Center. Cory Morse | MLive.com

Nikki Stoner

Where employed: Community Care Coordinator at Hanger Clinic in Byron Center. An amputee herself, she guides those who have recently undergone an amputation in the hospital system.

Quote: This is my dream job. Being an amputee myself, I didnt have that support in 1994, and now I can offer the support to people and follow that new journey with them. Theyre part of a new family now.

Read more from MLive:

Family wants to reopen farm stand. Zoning dispute stands in the way

Grand Rapids manufacturer seeking tax break for addition, anticipates creating 54 jobs

Teen charged after homemade bomb explodes in classroom
In the last 12 months, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has blazed a trail to the courthouse. Or, more accurately, to the press release machine.

Almost a year ago, Schmitt sued China. He has sued Facebook and Google, too. Last week, he filed a lawsuit against the Biden administrations immigration policies. Hes suing over state tax cuts.

Schmitt has sued over the XL Pipeline. Hes in court over federal oil and gas leases. He wants federal environmental regulations reduced by court order. And, of course, he was part of the lawsuit against Pennsylvania, trying to erase the presidential votes of about 7 million people who live there.

Have any of these lawsuits succeeded? Nah. Some, such as the one against China, have brought giggles. Others, such as the one against Pennsylvania, have been anti-constitutional nonsense, and therefore dangerous.

Did these lawsuits reflect the will of Missourians? Hardly. Schmitt wasnt even elected attorney general until last November. He was first appointed to the job. Theres little evidence Missourians are mad at Google, or oppose insurance coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, which Schmitt has also attacked.

Are the cases designed to help Schmitts political career? You bet. And that should concern every Missouri voter, whose taxes are paying for Schmitts ambition.

The Missouri Constitution requires an attorney general, but unlike other offices it gives him or her very little to actually do. State statutes say the AG must live in the seat of government (a law Sen. Josh Hawley ignored.) The attorney general can offer legal opinions, and help local prosecutors.

The attorney general also represents the state in court, and can file lawsuits to protect the rights and interests of the state.

But there is no evidence Schmitts frivolous trips to the courthouse are protecting anyones rights or interests beyond his own. In fact, the opposite is the case: While the AG wastes time in a desperate search for headlines, important legal problems  inadequate public defense, for example, or alleged maltreatment of teenagers at reform schools  go unaddressed.

Story continues

Until the newspapers report those stories, or course. Then Schmitt goes looking for the cameras again.

The attorney general, who now wants to be a U.S. senator, insists these cases dont really cost that much taxpayer money. But any amount is wasted in a state where poor people cant get the health care they approved at the polls, because, apparently, there isnt enough cash.

And wasted money? Missouri was recently ordered to pay $138,000 in court costs and fees because it failed to adhere to its own Sunshine Law and release birth and death records to a genealogy group.

The costs might have been much lower, but massive turnover in the attorney generals office over a four-year period led to delays in finishing the case. Maybe the remaining lawyers were busy Googling China.

Like all states, Missouri deserves an attorney general who understands the law and is committed to it. Missourians also need someone who can be bipartisan, not someone who enjoys playing lapdog to the AG in Texas.

Eric Schmitt continues to fail on all counts.
Part I : focused on the background to USSR /Israel relations til the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Part II: reviewed the Russian courtship of Israel during the first two decades of this century.

Part III: Russias Predicaments both foreign and domestic

Under Vladimir Putin, Moscow is positioning itself as a center of power in world politics, capable of acting as a mediator in regional and local conflicts - something that the United States and Europe are unable to do.

Hard boiled Putin probably sees the policy of the West generally, and the USA specifically as characterized by:

* Inconsistency, unpredictability, and incompetence

Every administration since Obama has radically changed the course of the previous administration. This policy has become grotesque today under Biden. As a result, American friends and allies simply do not know what to expect from Washington.

* The spirit of Munich. Pacifying enemies and betraying friends. From the Obama administration on to Biden-Harris, interrupted by Trump, the US has embarked on a course of appeasing its enemies instead of making them pay their bills. Obama betrayed the Gulf countries and Israel to appease Iran. He betrayed Hosni Mubarak to appease the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2009, he shook hands with Gaddafi but two years later he bombed Tripoli and promoted "jihadists" in this country. He imposed sanctions against al-Sisi, who sought to draw closer to America and battled with ISIS on Sinai Peninsula. He forced Netanyahu to apologize to Erdogan for Erdogan's own brazen provocation with Mavi Marmara near the coast of Gaza. It was a public humiliation of Israel. He also held back Israel in the Gaza war against Hamas and supported anti-Israel resolutions at the UN.

Unfortunately Trump, too, allowed the Kurds (loyal allies of the US) to be torn apart by Erdogan and his thugs. He called Erdogan "my friend", honest, damn good leader, "a tough man, a strong man".

The Biden-Harris administration stepped up their hostility toward Saudi Arabia further to appease Iran and its proxy, the Yemeni Houthis.

* Cowardice, weakness. The US is not ready to fulfill its own obligations. Obama was afraid to strike Syria when Assad crossed Obama's red line, and then let jihadists tear to pieces the American Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi. Obama left Iraq to the mercy of fate and opened the door to the atrocities of ISIS and Iran. American presidents let Erdogan systematically humiliate all the allies of America - Israel, Cyprus, Greece (not to mention the Kurds). When the Turks and Iranians slaughter the Kurds, and Erdogan sends Syrian militants to Libya, the West expresses "deep concern" and calls for a "peaceful solution to the conflict." Would you rely on a power whose contribution to the protection of world order and its allies is expressed in "deep concern"? Could you imagine British Empire the 19th century behaving in such way?

* Moralization and "double standards". Is the US really committed to protecting democracy and moral values? Its UN Ambassador just attacked it as based on racism. Its own behavior suggests principles have little to do with US policy, If the US was protecting Kosovars from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, then why is it not protecting the Serbian minority in Kosovo who were victims of ethnic cleansing? Obama supported the Palestinians who handed out candy, danced on rooftops after 9/11 and murders American citizens. Why? Why did he support the "Muslim Brothers" in Egypt and Libya? If the US is defending "democratic values" in Saudi Arabia now, why isn't it defending those in Iran, Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan? And why did Obama leave Iranian students to the mercy of fate during the Green Revolution? Is this called "moral values"?

In any case it's not about "democratic values". It's about unpredictable preferences and ideological bias.

Unfortunately, only a madman would now trust America.

Putin is leveraging the perceived weakness of America to influence events in the Middle East. Here are some examples.

Moscow:

acted as a successful intermediary during the escalation of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in 2018;

established a coordination mechanism with Israel in Syria; and recently

organized a meeting between representatives of Israel and Syria at a high level, which was an unprecedented event.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Syrian and Israeli officials reportedly met at Hmeimim Air Base in Syria under the auspices of Russia in December 2020.

The Russia-sponsored meeting tackled several issues, including Israels demand for Iran to pull out its militias from Syria, said the Jusoor for Studies website. "The website said the meeting included Syrian national security bureau chief Ali Mamlouk, presidential palace security aide Bassam Hassan, Israels former Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot and commander of Russian forces in Syria, Alexander Chayko."

It was a great achievement for the Kremlin.

"The website said that no specific agreements were reached, but it represented the beginning of Russian efforts towards a certain objective. More meetings are expected in 2021."

On March 3/20, Al Monitor reported: Russia as mediator could change Israel, Hamas game rules

Hamas went to the Kremlin March 2 for a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. We can only guess at how senior Israeli figures would have reacted if such a visit had taken place in a European, Asian or Latin American state. But when Putin opens the Kremlin gates to Hamas, Netanyahu chooses to remain silent.

Pragmatic Reasons

Israel is a part (and a highly developed part) of the Western world, but at the same time it is not involved in the blocs and alliances directed against Russia. This is Israel's uniqueness for Putin.

So far, Israel does not participate in the sanctions against Moscow and could be a supplier of Western know-how, which Russia, is in dire need of. For example, in 2011 the Russian innovation center Skolkovo and the Israeli company Ariel R&D launched the Israel Skolkovo Gateway project for development of innovative technologies. The Russian company Rusalox has launched the production of boards for electronic devices using a patented Israeli technology; a number of Russian companies operate in the Israeli IT market.

For Russia, this is a unique way to gain knowledge and experience in the area of high-tech, where Russians are far behind the West.

For Russia, Israel, if not a friendly, is definitely not a hostile country. On the rare occasions when Israel has supported friendly countries like Georgia or Ukraine at the UN, it has always remained neutral toward Moscow. Israel has also never issued moral preaching to Russia about "human rights" and "civil liberties" which are extremely irritating to the Kremlin.

Fortunately, Netanyahu avoids following such a mediocre course.

Cultural Reasons

A huge Russian-speaking community has formed in Israel (in proportion to the country's population, it is the largest Russian diaspora in the world). Economic and cultural cooperation between Russia and the Israeli Russian community is flourishing. This community has become a bridge between the two countries. In addition to bringing the two countries closer together culturally, there are substantial economic dividends.

"Jewish influence" in Washington

In Russia, as in many other countries, the ancient myth of an influential and powerful American Jewish community is traditionally very strong. Russians know a little here about the specifics of relations between Israel and the American Jews, many of whom are basically progressive and no longer Zionist (and sometimes even anti-Zionist). The Russians still believe (sometimes on a subconscious level) that a powerful Zionist lobby with close ties to Israel is behind any American government. As absurd as it is, they believe that Israel has powerful leverage over the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon.

Conclusions

The mediocre diplomacy of the US under the Democrat party plays into the hands of Putin. Of course he doesn't want to lose the opportunity this offers.

After the Obama administration ostracized the Sisi government for overthrowing the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt, Putin traveled to Cairo and turned Egypt into a Russian strategic ally. Amid Obama's attacks on Israel, he forged good relations with Netanyahu and created conditions for cooperation in Syria.

After Trump, contrary to his promises, left the Kurds to their fate and started withdrawing American troops from Northern Syria, Russia came there as a defender of the same Kurds. Today, as Biden turns its back on Saudi Arabia and its allies, Russia is preparing a bilateral roadmap for trade and economic cooperation with the kingdom, which includes cutting oil production. Given the financial difficulties of the US and the abandonment by the Democrats the project of pipeline from Canada, their ban on drilling new oil and gas wells on federal lands and the extraction of shale oil, this decision could have far-reaching consequences.

By political pressure, rhetoric about "human rights", appeasement of Iran and flirting with the MB, the USA is pushing the countries of the region into the arms of Russia.

And what about Israel? Without doubt, Putin will not give up Moscow's declarative traditional support for the Palestinians, but at same time he can sabotage the backstage efforts of Democrats to isolate Israel and put pressure on it, as was the case during the UN vote at the end of Obama's presidency.

Now that the US has returned to backing the Palestinians with diplomatic and financial support, Putin can reconsider his backing of the Palestinians (leaving aside the traditional rhetoric about a Palestinian state) and consider becoming a primary diplomatic supporter of Israel. Such a move would undermine the US in the Middle East and endear Putin to the MAGA crowd in the US. Israel would be in a far better position to benefit the Russians for their support than the Palestinians are. Putin could also strongly support the Abrahamic Accords at a time when Biden is pulling back somewhat. Russian support for these accords would be warmly received by the Gulf states and Egypt. The combination of Russian diplomatic and military support and Saudi money would put great pressure on the US and Iran.

For Israel, this approach, paradoxically, could be beneficial. It would be great if Israel had Russian support to counter-balance American pressure from the Obama-Biden crowd and future Democrats. Who knows, maybe Putin can be induced to use Russias UN veto to protect Israel

In Syria, the Russians, like Israelis, are interested in weakening Iran. Russia will not formally recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan but at the same time it will try to prevent Iranian provocations there. At same time Russia will also contain Turkey in Syria, which is very important for Israel.

Strategically, through its empty rhetoric together with unskillful and hostile actions, the Biden administration will further bring the positions of the Arab countries and Israel closer together. To resist US pressure and the expansion of Iran and Turkey, both Arabs and Israel will have to increasingly turn to Russia for mediation. As a result of this, Russia will get a good chance to replace the USA as the most influential actor in the region.

A more predictable, careful and balanced course of the Kremlin might even be better than the policy of appeasement and the betrayal of their allies by Biden-Harris administration.

Photo credit: Dmitri Sevastopol Pixabay License

Ted Belman is the editor and publisher of Israpundit. Journalist Alexander Maistrovoy published articles in Moscow before immigrating to Israel in 1988, and now works for Russian-language Israeli publications, including the Russian-language newspaper Novosty Nedely. He has been published in several English websites including Israel National News, Jihad Watch, anada Free Press, Liberty Unyielding, World Tribune and others. He is the author of Agony of Hercules or a Farewell to Democracy (Notes of a Stranger)

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WEST HAVEN  State and local Republicans, on a mission to quash proposed legislation that would remove zoning issues from local control, implored the public at a rally Saturday to raise the matter with their elected officials.

The power with you the people and with you the people only, said Steven R. Mullins, a city Planning and Zoning commissioner who has taken on the cause statewide. This is going to affect your neighborhoods.

Mullins told the group they elect the legislators and they can take them out, at election time.

State Rep. Charles Ferraro, R-West Haven, urged the group of about 15 at the rally to contact their representatives to voice opposition and for each of them to contact 10 people and have those 10 do it as well.

Ferraro said a state-regulated cookie-cutter approach to zoning wont work, in part, because municipalities will lose their character, he said. What works in West Haven might not work in Orange, Ferraro said. He said the capacity of sewers and similar systems vary by community, so the one-size-fits-all approach doesnt work.

Its a very bad idea, he said.

The rally was hosted CT 169 Strong, a coalition fighting proposed state legislation the group says will take away local zoning.

They have held rallies in East Haven and Fairfield, and promise more to come.

Proposed bills in the state House and Senate call for changes to local zoning, some of which would overrule local zoning authorities and mandate the construction of multi-family and affordable housing, regardless of existing local regulations.

One of a dozen bills that CT 169 Strong is particularly opposed to is S.B. No. 1024, An Act Concerning Zoning Authority, Certain Design Guidelines, Qualifications of Certain Land Use Officials and Certain Sewage Disposal Systems.

The proposals include mandating where and what type of multi-family housing and accessory apartments are built, and mandating what towns take into account when determining whether to approve a housing project. In some cases, public hearings would be eliminated.

The officials agreed that increasing affordable housing and diversifying communities is an important goal, but state zoning control isnt the answer.

State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, and a ranking member of the Planning and Development Committee, said what the Democratically-controlled state is trying to do is unAmerican and un-Connecticut, because individual rights and property rights matter.

He said nobody knows a community better than local people and that zoning is a difficult issue to get behind because most people think issues wont arise with them. But its local control that keeps those from arising, he said.

Wong decried the one party rule in Hartford.

Some 15 attended Saturdays rally on the Green and several were from Fairfield County and other places outside of West Haven. Organizers said they expected more to attend.

Carola Cammann, of Stamford, said people in Hartford dont know whats going on in her city.

I want to be able to have a say. You cant do that when its (the decisions) up in Hartford, she said.

Wilm Donath, also of Stamford, called moving control to the state will lead to huge mistakes, that will require money and bureaucracy to rectify.

That distance from the action (in local municipalities), you dont know whats going on, Donath said.

The group held a rally in Fairfield, where some 50 people attended, many from other Fairfield County towns, some carrying signs advocating local zoning control.

Aa number of communities statewide expressed objection to the proposals through letters to legislators and local rallies.

Opponents of the proposed bills argue that people choose to live in a community in part because of its character and local planning and zoning boards make that happen.

In Shelton, state Reps. Ben McGorty and Jason Perillo, both Republicans, are pushing back against the proposals, which they describe as a money and power grab by Hartford Democrats.

Perillo, who is deputy House Republican leader, has said the legislation is being introduced by legislators who represent larger, fiscally distressed cities, to undermine the local efforts of Connecticuts well-managed towns.

Hundreds of people signed up to testify live online March 15 on several proposals to implement a new statewide property tax and override local zoning control.

State Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, has listed a number of bills, including S.B. 1024, H.B. 6107, H.B. 6611, H.B. 6613, S.B. 1026, S.B. 1027, and H.B. 6107, as those opposed by Republicans as an overreach on zoning laws.

Kelly has said many of the zoning proposals would allow developers to overdevelop in communities, threaten open space, endanger the environment.

In Winsted, the Planning and Zoning Commission last month approved a resolution to the state that says, in part, localized decision-making ensures the greatest level of accountability, while allowing affected community members the greatest level of input and a platform...

The list of bills the Winsted PZC said are of concern is lengthy. Many of the proposed bills are in the hands of the legislatures Planning and Development Committee and are in various stages of the decision-making process.

Another bill the Winsted PZC says is of concern, addresses transportation and housing; lot and yard sizes, and a number of other areas of regulatory authority.

Another bill would set a statewide assessment on properties based on a towns percentage of affordable housing.

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said at the April 10 rally in Fairfield the bills are fairly frightening.

Among those at the Fairfield rally was Dana Benson, of Easton, who stood along Old Post Road with his sign yelling a range of slogans to passing cars, including Hartford go home; Leave Fairfield County alone, Will Haskell, you rascal, and Lamont, move to Vermont!
Amaravati, April 18 : Skyrocketing fuel prices across the country over the last several months are impacting people relying on fields as diverse as aquaculture and insurance, including the fishermen who go into the sea for their catch in Andhra Pradesh.

In a state like Andhra Pradesh, which is majorly an agrarian state, some farmers who converted their paddy fields into aquaculture ponds have emerged as the unlikely sufferers of high fuel prices.

As part of the baby-like care they are required to take for the shrimps, these farmers have to run aerators in the ponds to increase oxygen supply in the water and thereby nurture the growth and safety of the prawns.

Many prawn farmers manage to get a power connection to run the aerators and incur an average monthly power bill of Rs 5,000 for a pond of 4 acres in the Godavari districts.

However, a good number of aquaculture farmers are not so fortunate to get a power connection and end up installing engines or auto rickshaw engines on the banks of a pond and run them with diesel.

"For a 4-acre prawn pond, it costs me Rs 90,000 per month just for fuel while it is only Rs 5,000 for a pond with electric power connection to run the aerators," Kumar, an aquaculture farmer, told IANS.

Highlighting the massive Rs 85,000 difference, he said those without access to electric power are being compelled to limit their aerator operations.

Kumar said this predicament is mostly common with aquaculture farmers whose ponds are located far away from the villages, and admitted that it would not be easy for power lines to be established there as the non-firm black soil may not hold the electric poles, while disunity among farmers is also a cause.

"Running aerators with electric power has the convenience of a monthly bill but in the case of diesel powered engines, it demands a daily cost of about Rs 3,000 for a 4-acre pond," he said.

Because of this exorbitant cost, aqua farmers have reduced aerator operations by 3-4 hours a day. Earlier, they used to run the aerators all through the night for 12 hours and for another four hours in the morning.

"The fuel burden has drastically diminished the profitability in aquaculture. From around Rs 64 a litre of diesel some time ago, it has now risen to nearly Rs 90 oer litre," he lamented.

In the event of power cuts, even those farmers with electric power are forced to use generators to rotate their aerators and get a taste of the diesel blues suffered by some of their fellow farmers.

Not just aquaculture farmers, even many paddy farmers pump water into their fields from irrigation canals using engines powered by diesel.

This is a very old practice, preceding aquaculture by more than 40 years. However, centuries old agricultural practices are changing with the massive adoption in aquaculture.

Likewise, fishermen who go into the sea in diesel-powered mechanised boats are also feeling the heat of exorbitant fuel prices.

Aquaculture farmers, who go to the hatcheries to buy prawn seeds to culture them in their ponds, have heard the fishermen's side of the story.

"The government gives around Rs 6 subsidy on diesel for fishermen, but that is not of much help. Mechanised boats require a high amount of diesel while venturing into the sea," said Venkat from Srikakulam, who hails from a fisherman's family.

Unlike a cab driver who can pass on the higher fuel costs to the customer, Venkat reasoned that fishermen may not have that luxury as they deal with perishable goods, and are always on the lookout to quickly sell their catch before they get spoiled.

In similar fashion, Bhaskar, an insurance agent from Vijayawada, complained that the fuel allowance he receives from his employer is just one-fourth the cost of the fuel charges he incurs in a month.

"I get Rs 2,000 fuel allowance but my monthly fuel bill is Rs 6,000. I ride about 150 km a day as part of my job," said Bhaskar.

He lamented that exorbitant fuel prices have raised the cost of living, imposing a heavy burden on the common man.

Curiously, global crude prices and Indian retail fuel prices do not go hand in hand with respect to prices at the fuel stations, as has been promised since 2017.

Back then, state-owned oil companies Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation synced their retail fuel pump prices to the international crude prices with the mandate of daily dynamic pricing, reflecting international crude prices. However, that was a short lived promise shortchanging crores of Indians.

One of those companies even said in a statement back then that the 'benefits' of even the smallest change in international oil prices could percolate to the dealer and then to the masses.

Indians, who had weathered the storm of $147 per barrel of crude in 2008 during the regulated petrol prices regime, are now suffering peak prices when the crude barrel not even costs $75.

For more than six years already, the Indian government has been enjoying lower crude prices, including reneging on the promise of passing on the benefits to people for a long time and conveniently resorting to the practice of raising taxes with impunity.

When will the fuel prices reflect their true cost in India? Keep waiting...

(Sharon Thambala can be contacted at thambalasharon@gmail.com)
William and Harry's reunion following Prince Philip's funeral 'would have truly warmed Diana's heart,' a royal biographer has claimed.

The estranged brothers spoke to each other after leaving their grandfather Philip's funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday.

Harry was initially seen speaking to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton but she then appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her.

Andrew Morton, who famously penned Princess Diana's blockbuster biography in 1992, has said the brief chat 'was the first sign of a possible reconciliation'.

Prince William and Harry walked next to each other after leaving the funeral service at St George's Chapel on Saturday

Andrew Morton, who famously penned Princess Diana's blockbuster biography in 1992, has said the brief chat 'would have truly warmed Diana's heart'

The princes had taken part in the funeral procession earlier in the day as they walked either side of their cousin Peter Phillips behind the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin.

It was the first time they appeared in public together for more than a year.

The brothers' discussion came following an impromptu decision by some of the Royal Family to walk back to the castle, despite state cars having been put on for them - and it gave the cameras a chance to see them talk.

But royal biographer Andrew believes their spontaneous chat would have pleased their mother.

He wrote in The Sun: 'What would have truly warmed Diana's heart is that William and Harry, who did not even glance at one another during the procession with other royal men, did speak to one another at the conclusion of the funeral service -the first time they had met face to masked face in a year.

'Their five-minute chat was the first sign of a possible reconciliation since Harry and Meghan's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview more than a month ago.'

Royal Biographer Andrew added that the brief chat 'was the first sign of a possible reconciliation' and would have 'warmed Diana's heart' (pictured with her sons in 1992)

Harry's friend Tom Bradby, who was presenting ITV's coverage of the funeral, said: 'Funerals are a time of reconciliation and that a sight, let's be honest, that's many wanted to see. Not least the family itself.'

About an hour earlier, the Duke of Cambridge entered the chapel one place ahead of his younger brother  and the brothers were seated opposite one another during the service, with William next to his wife Kate.

William and Harry, who both wore black suits, had looked sombre as they walked in silence behind the specially-adapted Land Rover carrying their grandfather's coffin as it made its way to the chapel.

It had been quietly hoped that the loss of their beloved grandfather, who both men loved deeply, might start the process of rapprochement - but the brothers are not thought to have seen each other before the funeral.

It is likely to have been a particularly difficult day for the brothers and evoke memories of having to walk behind their mother Princess Diana's coffin in September 1997, when they were aged just 15 and 13

JUDI JAMES: William and Harry shared a 'genuine moment of unity' as they left St George's Chapel By JUDI JAMES, BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT Ahead of the funeral, Harry appeared to be performing the body language of subtle bravado, looking about and even chatting to some of the royal behind him, but looking less confident as he emerged to walk behind his grandfather's coffin. While William strode looking straight ahead and giving nothing away in terms of any acknowledgment of his brother, Harry performed a couple of self-comfort rituals that hinted at levels of suppressed anxiety. Pulling at his waistcoat he also performed a shoulder-roll in the actual chapel, a gesture that can imply someone is bracing themselves and trying to boost their own confidence. The moment of connection between William and Harry came right at the end of the service as they left the chapel. In a well-co-ordinated but also relatively natural-looking moment Harry walked up behind William and Kate to then join them, walking between them and chatting to them both. After a few seconds of what looked like natural and not self-conscious conversation Kate fell back, leaving the two brothers walking off talking alone. It looked like a genuine moment of unity rather than something contrived for the cameras. Advertisement

Saturday marked the first time Harry and William have been seen together since March 2020, when they attended a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey with other royals and could barely look each other in the eye.

Speaking about the brothers' conversation today, body language expert Judi James told MailOnline: 'The moment of connection between William and Harry came right at the end of the service as they left the chapel.

'In a well-co-ordinated but also relatively natural-looking moment, Harry walked up behind William and Kate to then join them, walking between them and chatting to them both.

'After a few seconds of what looked like natural and not self-conscious conversation, Kate fell back, leaving the two brothers walking off talking alone.

'It looked like a genuine moment of unity rather than something contrived for the cameras.'

Royal aides have been 'walking on eggshells' as they try to navigate the rift between the brothers, sources said last night as tensions remain following Harry and Meghan's acrimonious split from the Royal Family last year.

Relations were further soured by the couple's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, in which they attacked senior royals while Philip, who died on April 9 at the age of 99, lay in hospital in London.

And it is likely to have been a particularly difficult day for the brothers and evoke memories of having to walk behind their mother Princess Diana's coffin in September 1997, when they were aged just 15 and 13.

Insiders have stressed that the arrangement involving the positioning of the brothers in the funeral procession should not be taken as a sign that William and Harry refused to walk alongside each other.

Asked beforehand whether arrangements for the procession reflected the royal siblings' relationship, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'This is a funeral, we're not going to be drawn into those perceptions of drama, or anything like that, this is a funeral.

'The arrangements have been agreed, and they represent Her Majesty's wishes, so we're not going to say anything more on that.'
Nicola Sturgeon today lashed out at Boris Johnson's plan for a 'traffic light' system for travel from May 17 - warning 'lax' rules could allow variants to spread.

The Scottish First Minister said allowing people to go abroad for non-essential reasons 'poses a risk' because it is impossible to know where a dangerous mutant strain might emerge.

She said she is pushing the UK government to take a harder line, pointing out that alongside the ban on foreign arrivals Scotland currently requires all British residents returning from overseas to self-isolate in a quarantine hotel. In England the restrictions only apply to a 'red list'.

Her comments came as the PM prepares to travel to India, where a new variant of coronavirus has been identified.

The government's plan is for countries to be classed as either green, amber or red from next month - depending on the threat they pose of fuelling the pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon, speaking on the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News, ackowledged that the India strain was currently classed as a 'variant of interest' rather than a variant of concern'.

But she said: 'I think the thing we have got to recognise about Covid is that it is mutating and we are seeing new variants appear in different parts of the world.

'We don't know where the variants of real concern are going to come from, which is why an approach to travel that tries to categorise risk, with some countries categorised as red-list countries and other countries deemed to be safer, I think poses a risk.

'Because none of us know right now where the next variant that might be really problematic is going to occur.'

Nicola Sturgeon (left) today lashed out at Boris Johnson's (right) plan for a 'traffic light' system for travel from May 17

Mr Johnson's lockdown roadmap laid out that non-essential travel abroad could return from May 17. Pictured, Heathrow Airport last week

Just eight countries set for 'green' travel list Only eight countries are set to feature on the Government's green travel list when the ban on overseas holidays lifts on May 17. The British overseas territory of Gibraltar, along with Israel, Iceland and the US, will be among the nations and territories on the safe list, according to industry modelling reported by the Telegraph. The research was carried out by Robert Boyle - the former strategy chief at British Airways. It also reveals that nearly all of Europe is either on the Government's 'amber' list, where arrivals must go into self-isolation for ten days, or the red list - where arrivals have to quarantine in hotels at a cost of 1,750. According to the new research, the other countries which will reportedly be on the green list are Malta, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Both Australia and New Zealand are currently closed to foreign arrivals while Iceland, Gibraltar, Israel, Malta and the United States all have heavy restrictions in place which ban holidaymakers travelling to the countries. Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon insisted: 'We have got to be very careful as we continue to suppress things at home, we don't allow it to be reseeded with more dangerous variants from elsewhere.'

She insisted that last summer Scotland had 'almost eliminated the strains that were circulating'.

But she said 'we probably opened up international travel too quickly, so we allowed the virus to reseed into our domestic population'.

Ms Sturgeon added: 'I think it is important we try as hard as we can to avoid that in the weeks and months ahead.'

She accepted that such an approach is 'really difficult for the aviation sector, airports, tourism'  saying theses businesses need to be supported.

But she was clear: 'The big risk that we face, not just in Scotland but across the UK right now is the importation of new variants of the virus, variants that might be faster spreading, that might be more severe and crucially variants that might undermine the efficacy of the vaccine.

'So we've got to be very careful about that.

'Which is why I think one of the restrictions we're all going to have to live with for longer is a restriction on international travel.

'In Scotland we insist that people quarantine in managed isolation wherever in the world they come from if they come directly into Scotland, and we continue to try to persuade the UK Government to take a similar approach.

'Because we mustn't allow the progress we are making domestically to be undermined by too lax a position on international travel.

'It is very difficult for the sector and it is important governments support it as we try to continue to protect ourselves against the virus.'

Environment Secretary George Eustice said it is 'appropriate' for Mr Johnson to go ahead with a visit to India later this month, insisting steps will be taken to ensure it is 'Covid secure'.

But the UK government is reviewing whether India should be added to the UK's travel red list as cases soar, driven by a new variant that has already arrived in Britain.

Mr Eustice told the BBC's Andrew Marr that the travel red list is kept under 'constant review' - but gave no indication that guidance might be changed.

Scientists fear that India's brutal second wave of Covid is being driven by a double-mutated version of the virus that makes vaccines less effective and the disease more infectious.

Danny Altmann, a professor of infectious disease at Imperial College London, has warned that the country should immediately be added to the travel red list to protect Britons from the variant.

But on Sunday, Mr Eustice said: 'We're allowing people in from India provided they have had a pre-departure test, provided they then quarantine - albeit not in a hotel or a designated facility, but quarantine at home - and then have a test at two and eight days.

'But we keep this under regular review. We take the advice of the scientific experts on this. If the advice is we should change that and move to the red list we would.'
Traffic cop stomping on a suspect: The unanswered question View(s):

The incident of the behaviour of the Maharagama traffic cop on March 29 has riveted public attention severely. Judging from media reports including videos, this is an abominable attack on a hapless person who was not aggressive or resisting arrest. The incident went viral and it traumatised those who witnessed it. In addition, it attracted an embarrassing comparison with the case of George Floyd who died when a police officer in Minneapolis in Minnesota, the United States, pressed his neck down with his knee.

The Maharagama incident is even more significant in that it is one of a series of other incidents of brutal assault by police. Similar cases have also been reported from Peliyagoda, and Gokeralla. But these cases did not grab the attention as that of the Maharagama incident. Their relevance to each other is, however, in the fact that violence at the hands of police is but a recurring feature; and the recent incident is one of a series.

The people who saw this were disturbed in their ethics and principles they were long accustomed to. The values and traditions the people long upheld troubled them, judging by their response to the incident. Disruption of their sense of ethics, values that sustained their lives, the traditions they were heir to, all caused them much distress. That in effect was the incident. Is it not that the ethics, values, principles and traditions are also built on religion and beliefs? Are all these, which make for dignity and culture, of little effect as this recent incident revealed? Dignity of public office is the concern here, leaving aside human dignity for the moment.

The George Floyd case and the case of Sri Lankan traffic cop stomping a suspect brought out many comparable issues for policing and other surrounding issues that may be discerned, such as class discrimination.

In an interview with the Police, a journalist asked about these repeated assaults on suspects. Answers were given by the Police media spokesman (PMS). The question still remains unanswered and reasons given appear blurry in mid-air. The media interview, however, was useful in that it gave a platform to advance other views.

At this interview, the PMS attempted to tender a legal aspect to account for the incident. His legal account was just a quibble to avoid the question.

If the law was insufficient to explain why these repeated assaults on suspects take place, apart from the case of the traffic cop stomping the suspect, other aspects may help to understand. For this incident also raises the question of supervision against recurrence of such misconduct. All these law issues apart, there does not appear to be any administrative check or curb on these assaults by police on suspects from any of the other authorities who are obliged to exercise control. As a result, such assaults by police on suspects, escapes of suspects from police custody, disappearances, introduction of drugs on suspects to cover up the assault charges, and a run of such reported incidents, are very much the order of the day. Interdictions for the moment are done. Follow up after the moment of interdiction to arrest the deterioration of the situation, is left to the imagination because the problem remains in their repeated incidence.

Failure of supervision, therefore appears another possible answer to the question posed  why these repeated assaults on suspects? The issue is then not only misconduct of the miscreant officer, but, more importantly, failure of supervision of the police service to check misconduct. To this question, too, the interviewer did neither ask nor was given an answer. If the police service itself is in default, what is the role of the Secretary and the Minister of Police?

Failure of supervision can mean, in this context, an administrative failure. But failure has an added dimension in the tone set by the superiors and it regulates the conduct of the subordinates. In fact, this incident reflects on the tenor of the more powerful superior and his direction.

What then of the Police Commission? On the Gokerella assault, the Police Commission evades the issue. The Police Commission only reports that police were wrong in not allowing the suspect to sit for the examination that was due. The Police Commission does not speak anything about the charges the suspect makes against the police of assault and making false charges of possession of drugs etc. The Police Commission does not appear to be serving its purpose. Despite the publicised high-sounding strategic plans drawn up by the Police Commission, little has proceeded beyond.

Another type of such assault or confrontation is of police vis-a-vis lawyers; this too only at police stations. Over some of these incidents, special laws or regulations have been passed in favour of lawyers visiting police stations. Hitherto all who visit police stations were safeguarded by one law. This includes Buddhist priests and all others who visit police stations in their numbers, and for over one hundred and fifty years of police experience with little let or hindrance. What then is the problem with lawyers visiting police stations, only very recently, only since about twenty to thirty years?

The problem is in supply and demand. Supply of issues for lawyers is now very limited because of the influx of law professionals, and, as a result, their action is heightened. There is conflict in the wake of these issues at police stations as practice in courts is limited. Special laws for lawyers have been considered in the wake of this. But there is inequality and unequal treatment by this law. Such issues did not engage the media interview with the PMS.

The question, why then are these continuing assaults by police on suspects in custody, still beckons some other answer. The Attorney General finds himself in no role in this situation unless matters are referred to him. The Bar Association (BASL) will distance itself from such incidents out of expediency. What then of the Judiciary? The Judiciary will come into the picture only on a rights issue. There is, however, Constitutional provision for democracy and socialism governing all these aforementioned authorities including the Judiciary. However, there is no impetus or impulse given to check that which is neither democratic nor socialist, in continuing assaults against the people, of which all these authorities are obliged to prevent. But police are the easy bashing boys for everyone, worst by the media.

I remember, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the courts calling for immediate reports from the police when any misdemeanor is revealed or suggested in the media, and making strictures on errant police officers. This kept all police officers from top to bottom, on their toes. That supervision is now unheard of.

Taking in all the aforesaid, the one thing clear is that the instituted means are not delivering. It is inevitable therefore that the police have been either left to their own devices or even have been encouraged otherwise towards these untoward incidents of misconduct. More pertinently, is the traffic cop stomping the suspect simply taking the tone set for him? The answer to the Media question, WHY these continuing assaults on suspects, is now anybodys guess. This suggests the situation is pathetically parlous. A more competent media interview would be useful in the wake of all this, to discuss the problem in correct perspective.

(The writer is Retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted at seneviratnetz@gmail.com.

TP 077 44 751 44)
A Loveland, Colorado, police officer is on administrative leave and two other officers have been reassigned to administrative duties after a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging excessive use of force was filed against the city of Loveland and the three officers.

The lawsuit, filed April 14, alleges that 73-year-old Karen Garner was forcibly arrested last June for allegedly shoplifting from a Walmart.

According to the lawsuit, Garner has dementia and suffered multiple injuries, including a broken humerus, a dislocated shoulder and a sprained wrist, after she was taken to the ground and handcuffed by an officer on June 26 as she was walking along a road.

The complaint described Garner as 5 feet tall and weighing 80 pounds. The suit claims she accidentally left the store, forgetting to pay for $14 in items.

According to both police and the lawsuit, Walmart employees stopped Garner and took the items back.

CNN obtained the police body camera footage from the office of Garner's attorney.

The video shows Loveland Police Officer Austin Hopp knocking Garner to the ground within 30 seconds after he first got on scene and attempting to detain her.

Garner repeatedly told Hopp that she was going home as he held her down on the ground alongside the road.

"After a short struggle, she is now detained," Hopp says over his radio, with Garner calling out "don't do that" from the ground.

"I told you to stop, you don't get to act this way," he tells her.

The bodycam footage shows the officer pulling Garner off the ground as he tries to get her into the police car.

"Right now you're resisting, which is not going to fly with me, and before that you tried to steal from Walmart and they caught you and took the stuff back," he tells her as he pushes her toward the police vehicle.

Witness attempted to intervene

According to the lawsuit, Garner suffers from dementia and sensory aphasia, which limited her ability to understand what was occurring.

"I'm going home," Garner continues to insist.

Another police officer arrives on scene and walks up to Garner, who is pressed against the police car.

"Quit," the second officer says, as Garner slides down to the ground and says "Ow."

Hopp searches Garner and she struggles with the officers as they try to get her in the car.

A witness attempts to intervene. "Do you have to use that much aggression?" he asks the officers.

"What are you doing, get out of here, this is not your business," Hopp tells him.

The witness asks Hopp for his sergeant's name and tells the officer he saw him "throw the little kid."

"She's not a little kid," Hopp says, adding, "I have to use force to safely detain her, that's what this is. This isn't just some random act of aggression."

"Before you go to a snap judgment, you've got to get all of the facts," he tells the witness.

Several minutes later, a Loveland police sergeant arrives on scene and speaks to both officers.

"A little bloody, a little muddy, that's how it works," the female officer says.

"Is the blood on her?" the sergeant asks.

"Yeah, that's her blood," Hopp replies.

District attorney's office will review incident

The bodycam video also shows the officers processing Garner at the police station where she repeatedly tells them she was going to pay for the items.

The 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office of Colorado said a previous administration dismissed Garner's case and "no investigation regarding any improper use of force has been presented to our office."

The district attorney's office said it will review the incident and consider if an independent criminal investigation is needed.

The Loveland Police Department said in a statement that it first learned of the incident via an edited bodycam video posted to its Facebook page on April 14.

"LPD takes very seriously the allegations concerning the arrest of resident Karen Garner, and shares with the community the concerns about video images that became public on Wednesday," the police statement said.

CNN has contacted the Loveland Police Officers Association for comment. It's not clear if Hopp has an attorney and attempts to reach the officer were unsuccessful.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said earlier a suspect was asked to leave the Somers House Tavern in Kenosha County but returned and opened fire. Beth said shots were fired inside and outside the bar, which he described as very busy at the time. He said he believed at least one handgun was used.
Two more Louisiana families got word Saturday of loved ones perishing in the Seacor Power lift boat catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, as the Coast Guard led a fifth day of searching with nine crew members still to be found.

Confirmed deaths stood at four after the Lafourche Parish coroner identified the latest victims, both found inside the jackup barge: Anthony Hartford, 53, of New Orleans and James "Tracy" Wallingsford, 55, of the northeast Louisiana village of Gilbert.

Hartfords wife, Janet, said a knock came to her door at 3 a.m. with news of her husbands death.

Inside the house where family members began to gather hours later, six wilted red roses stood in a vase on the kitchen island. Hartford, a longtime cook on the Seacor Power, had brought the roses and a cake to his wife at her job at University Medical Center for her birthday, she said.

That was March 30, the last time she saw her husband of 24 years, a father to four.

Its no feeling right now, she said inside a home that was filling fast.

Hartford, relatives said, was prone to pinstripe suits, fancy old cars, top-shelf cigars and showing up for loved ones.

I had the best dad in the whole world. The whole world, said a trembling Antranae Hartford, 24, the youngest of their four children.

The Seacor Power left Port Fourchon on Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m., bound for an oil platform near the mouth of the Mississippi River. It flipped in a brutal storm three hours later and eight miles south of port.

The Coast Guard said the bodies of Hartford and Wallingsford were found Friday in the port-side engine room of the mostly sunken vessel, which toppled onto its starboard side.

Janet Hartford said her husband had been due back home Tuesday but called to ask to work an extra trip for the overtime. The last text from him, sending hugs and kisses, came Sunday, she said.

What we know about capsized lift boat Seacor Power and rescue efforts off Louisiana coast Five crew members are dead and eight are missing as U.S. Coast Guard rescuers continued to search the waters of the Gulf of Mexico for survivo

A Coast Guard spokesman said Saturday afternoon the search continued by air and sea for the nine crew members whose whereabouts remain uncertain. But for the first time, the Coast Guard deferred questions about divers to their employers, Donjon Marine Co. A spokesman there referred questions to Seacor, the Houston-based company that operated the boat. A Seacor spokesman had no comment.

Family members have questioned why the Seacor Power's captain motored out of Port Fourchon with a tempest bearing down - though the storm would become far more destructive than expected -- and just who ordered it to leave.

Talos Energy, the company that commissioned the Seacor Power to work at one of its platforms at the eastern end of the Mississipi River Delta, sought to address those questions in a statement Saturday. It said Seacor Marine was in command of the vessel when it was dispatched from port.

Marion Cuyler, whose fiance, Chaz Morales of Slidell, remains missing, said a Seacor representative told relatives at a meeting in Cut Off on Saturday morning that divers had been in the water around the capsized vessel beginning about 9 a.m. She said they were told divers had swept the engine rooms, the control room and the wheelhouse of the jackup barge, found nothing, and had worked their way down into a third level.

None of the missing crew members had turned up as yet, she said.

The fifth day of a search that has covered more than 4,000 square miles of the Gulf offered little by way of hope for the families of the nine missing. Six of the 19 people aboard were rescued Tuesday, four of them by good Samaritans.

The first body was recovered Wednesday, that of 63-year-old captain David Ledet of Thibodaux. The second was found Thursday in the waters near Cocodrie, about 30 miles west of the toppled vessel.

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He was 69-year-old Ernest Williams of Arnaudville, also a cook, and word of his death left relatives grieving, although stepdaughter Trenita Jasman of Lafayette said their attorney has instructed family members to say little.

Williams was "a family man, a good man" who enjoyed cooking for his hard-working colleagues and family, too, she said.

In Gilbert, population 504, and across Franklin Parish, everyone seemed to know Wallingsford, a crane operator for Seacor, his parents and his wife, Shelia. Word of his death spread fast across the parish and down Gilberts main drag, U.S. Route 425.

In a small community like ours, it affects everybody, Rev. Kevin Bates said. Bates was with the family at a hotel in Golden Meadow on Saturday when the news came that Wallingsford was dead.

He said his friend is being remembered as a physically striking man: tall and slim with a mustache, a head full of dark hair and glasses.

Beautiful inside and out, Bates said.

Although he spent almost half of his time working in the Gulf of Mexico, Wallingsford spent all his time at home with his wife and the couples only child, daughter Dakota Nielson, 23. In recent years, he did his best to spoil her two young sons, his grandsons.

Here he was a hard-working mans man who worked in the oil business. But he wasnt gruff, Bates said. He was a kind and gentle soul to everyone, someone who had almost a permanent smile on his face.

In New Orleans, Janet Hartford said her husband loved his work and had been a cook on the Seacor Power since it was owned by a different company and called by a different name, the Dixie Endeavor.

A friend and former co-worker, who would not be identified for this story, said he and Hartford worked together about a decade ago and that Hartford served as captain Dave Ledet's cook. "Him and Captain Dave were real close."

The cook they called Big Ant, who was at least 6 feet, 2 inches tall and maybe 300 pounds, was a big presence on the vessel, his friend said: "He was a real jolly guy, always happy. He had the same greeting for everybody. He'd say, 'Whats up, Big Dawg?'"

As a cook, Hartford would be out to sea for six to eight weeks at a stretch. "He was one of the best cooks in the fleet. He barbecued the best steaks Id ever tasted," the friend said.

Usually, Saturday and Tuesday were steak days. Sundays was chicken. Mondays was red beans or any kind of beans. Seafood days were Friday.

Earlier in the week, Hartford's relatives drove south to Port Fourchon to join other pensive families of the missing. But they returned home.

It was overwhelming, seeing families grieving, not knowing whats going on. It was too much, Janet Hartford said.

Hartford taught his children not to settle, telling them to go for whatever you want, said Lucretia McKendall, his oldest daughter. He was in the process of doing that himself, building a man cave in a room off the house.

He was a lovable giant. Didnt know a stranger, said another relative, Felicia Wilson. Always upbeat, looking for the positive.

Saturdays news left little to be positive about in the place he called home.

Ramon Antonio Vargas, Anthony McAuley and Claire Taylor contributed to this story.
An Apple Insider claims that users should be more careful when using their iPhones and iPads since the official App Store might have some security flaws that could lead to a serious security breach.

Also Read: Ransomware Demands Two Bitcoins: Attack Disguises as Security Software Exploiting VPN Weakness, Two Manufacturing Plants Down

Michael Gartenberg, the tech giant manufacturer's former Senior Director of Worldwide Product Marketing, confirmed that he believes Kosta Eleftheriou's previous reports about the possible security vulnerabilities that Apple App Store might currently have.

If you have no idea who Eleftheriou is, he is the founder of FlickType, a digital keyboard that can be downloaded through Apple's App Store.

On the other hand, Gartenberg also explained that these security issues could have some implications for all iPhone models and iPad flagships.

"I believe @keleftheriou has brought an important issue about the App Store to a mainstream audience," said Gartenberg via his official Twitter account.

"I hope Apple gets its act together soon. The ecosystem that is often praised is breaking at the seams IMHO," he added.

Why iPad and iPhone are not safe to use

Right now, the applications that people install on their iPads and iPhones come from Apple App Store. Forbes reported that Eleftheriou previously confirmed that the company's app publisher has some scams that could endanger users' sensitive info.

He added that one of these malicious acts disguises itself as a harmless app for kids. Eleftheriou found the scam after he used his own VPN on the said application and relaunch it in Turkey.

I believe @keleftheriou has brought an important issue about the App Store to a mainstream audience. I hope Apple gets its act together soon. The ecosystem that is often praised is breaking at the seams IMHO  Michael Gartenberg (@Gartenberg) April 16, 2021

After that, the app revealed its true nature, which is an online casino. The alarming thing about this is that this app doesn't even use Apple's IAP.

Is the new scam app serious?

Digital Information reported that the new scam app can evade Apple App Store's in-app acquisition system. This is currently a serious matter since the tech giant company confirmed that it is keeping a close eye on the apps that are being published on App Store, making sure that these applications are safe and secure.

But, since App Store's security system is not 100% efficient, there are still some developers that are able to bypass it by using some sneaky methods. Right now, the best thing you can do is check the background of an app before you download it.

For more news updates about Apple's App Store and other products of the company, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Spyware Detected by a Security Firm Pretends to be a Smartphone Update, Android Issues Warning to Users

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Giuliano de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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.
Coinciding with the 100 Million Meals campaign, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH) announced the expansion of food relief operations to 10 additional countries.

The MBRCH will finance and implement food support operations in a new list of countries including Benin and Senegal in Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Nepal in Asia, Kosovo in Europe, and Brazil in South America, thus contributing to financing the 100 Million Meals campaign efforts in 30 countries, and carrying out on-ground distribution operations in 17 of them.

The 100 Million Meals campaign, launched on April 11, aims to provide food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The MBRCH is working with the campaigns organiser, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, and local humanitarian organisations to ensure swift and integrated food distribution to beneficiaries in target countries.

MBRCH also earlier announced a donation of AED20 million to the campaign to provide 20 million meals for vulnerable communities.

COLLABORATE ON LAND

Ibrahim Boumelha, Advisor for Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs to His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MBRCH, said the Establishment has channeled its resources to support the objectives of the 100 Million Meals campaign.

He added that MBRCH is working closely with all partners involved to ensure food aid reach their beneficiaries as quickly as possible.

Boumelha stressed that the success of the campaign is widely attributed to the close cooperation of all segments of the society, with its entities, the public and logistic partners. Partnering entities on ground particularly bear the big responsibility of ensuring food parcels reach everyone in need, at a great time of need. The campaign reflects the UAEs dedicated humanitarian efforts to vulnerable and low-income communities across the world, regardless of religion, race or nationality.

ANYONE CAN DONATE

Donations to the 100 Million Meals campaign can be made in four simple ways. First, on the campaigns website www.100millionmeals.ae; second, by making a transfer to the campaigns designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201); third, by sending Meal on SMS to the UAE specified numbers (Du or Etisalat) listed on the campaigns website; and fourth, by contacting the campaign call center on the toll-free number 8004999.

A QUARTER CENTURY OF PHILANTHROPY

Since its inception in 1997, the MBRCH has been implementing local and international projects in the fields of relief, health care, social support, education and orphan care.

MBRCHs local projects include health programs, financial aid, educational programmes, zakat, food vouchers and Mir Ramadan, construction and housing maintenance, seasonal projects, and community partnership.

On a global scale, MBRCH has carried out numerous relief projects, provided hundreds of tonnes of aid, and implemented charity projects in more than 40 countries. Key projects include providing aid to those affected by the earthquakes in Haiti and Pakistan, as well as the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia; providing dozens of ambulances equipped with medical supplies in Sudan and Libya; building schools, rehabilitating universities and equipping them with computers in Kosovo, Tajikistan, and Iraq; and digging wells for communities affected by drought in the countries of the Horn of Africa, like Somalia and Djibouti.

FOR HUMANITYS SAKE

MBRCH, a humanitarian entity under the umbrella of MBRGI, aims to help the poor, patients, widows, orphans, needy, and those afflicted in the UAE and around the globe. It further contributes to the international relief and rescue processes in areas affected by disasters and scourge of wars and aims to help the poor through various forms of aid. It is also involved in building places of worship, schools, hospitals, dwellings, and in drilling wells, among other facilities, inside and outside the UAE, as well as supporting regional efforts such as the 100 Million Meals campaign. -- Tradearabia News Service
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- When six women of Asian descent were killed last month in shootings at three Atlanta spas, Michigan Sen. Stephanie Chang worried about the safety of other Asian-Americans.

I remember feeling first very sad at the lives that were lost, then angry at the law enforcement response that was happening and then also just scared, worrying about safety and the safety of my parents and their generation, wondering where are the public spaces that are safe for us to be in, Chang, D-Detroit, said at a Stop Asian Hate rally in Grand Rapids.

Related: Community rallies in Grand Rapids to denounce Asian hate, remember those killed in Atlanta

Chang and more than a dozen other people spoke at the Saturday, April 17 rally at Rosa Parks Circle. More than 100 people showed up for the event.

The goal, according to organizers, was to bring voices together from several different groups to combat racism and hate. Among the groups taking part were the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, the West Michigan Asian American Association and the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote.

Hate crimes have increased significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, event organizers said.

Rhetoric used on the national stage only exacerbated the situation, Chang said.

Asian American community leaders and elected officials from around the country had been talking about the fact that we knew that, during the pandemic, that words like Kung flu and China virus were going to lead to this kind of racism, she said.

Chang didnt name former President Donald Trump specifically, but he has used both those terms.

Related: Anti-Asian hate instances, attacks spike but people are reluctant to report to police

San Hpound of Wyoming, who came to the United States about 10 years ago from Burma, watched from the crowd Saturday.

She said shes experienced at least some degree of racism, even if its only subtle behavior. Sometimes at stores, people look at us like we are a different people, she said.

But we are human beings, we are all the same. Its just our skin color, our appearance and our language that are different, she said.

Lilly Cheng-Schulting helped organize Saturdays rally.

We know that Asian-American hate crimes have increased 150 percent and thats only those that are reported. But I think those hate crimes are related to a lot of the prejudices and the stereotypes that exist in our society that make it possible for the hate crimes to happen, she said.

She believes part of the solution to stopping hate or racism against Asian-Americans is breaking stereotypes. Some are that Asian Americans are meek and mild or an invisible minority.

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Despite the elimination of the Syrian Democratic Forces, on March 23, 2019, on the last strongholds of ISIS mercenaries geographically in north and east Syria in Al-Baghouz area, multi-linked cells under the guise of ISIS are still moving in different areas of north and east Syria, and specifically in the southeastern countryside of Al-Hasakah city, and the northern and eastern suburbs of Deir Ezzor.

The escalation of these cells' movement is concentrated from the town of Al-Shaddadeh to the town of Dashisha and Markada in the southern and southeastern countryside of the city of Hasakah in eastern Syria, through the town of Al-Sor and Al-Ezbah area, up to the Euphrates River north and east of Deir Ezzor, along the river towards the Syrian-Iraqi border, at Al-Baghouz town.

These areas are the last areas liberated by SDF from ISIS mercenaries, between 2018 and 2019, during their military operations against ISIS, the last of which was Al-Jazira Storm campaign.

Since its liberation, the region has witnessed killings and intimidation committed against clans' notables and community prominent figures in the region, as well as assassinations of workers in civil administrations, whether in Al-Hasakah or Deir Ezzor, and targeting operations of the Syrian Democratic Forces' presence and movements in the region.

These moves have always prompted SDF to carry out large-scale security operations in the region, in addition to the continuation to carry out specific operations targeting cell officials, based on intelligence information, the last of which was its security operations that began on Wednesday morning in Wadi Al-Ajej.

On February 8th this year, the Commander of the US Central Command, General Kenneth McKenzie, stressed to the Middle East Institute conference the need for continued vigilance, enhanced cooperation and support for local partners to defeat ISIS and prevent the revival of its extremist ideas.

And no longer goes a night without incidents and targeting operations in those areas, despite the intense movements of the Internal Security Forces' patrols, as well as of the Syrian Democratic Forces to reduce these incidents, so what drives the activity of these cells in this way, and from where do they derive their support.

The forms of cells vary in terms of tasks and connections in those areas, and they are not limited to cells affiliated with ISIS only, but there are cells linked to the Damascus government and a regional state loyal to it, others linked to the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries, and others spread in the form of bandits under the name of "ISIS."

In view of the movements of these cells, the reasons and factors that push the cells to revive in the geography we are talking about differ, which affect the inability of the security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces to impose their security grip on them. The first is the vast desert geography of this region, which ensures the ease of movement of cells, especially ISIS cells which turned to hiding in the desert, "Al-Rawda desert and the Syrian Badia."

In addition, the cells benefit in their movement and activity in those areas from the long desert borders that connect the Syrian lands with Iraq, as the Syrian and Iraqi lands combine desert borders with a length of approximately more than 600 km.

The cells also benefit from the Anbar desert, in which ISIS is intensively active, and crimes are committed on Syrian and Iraqi sides, starting from that desert, taking advantage of the security gaps along those borders.

Likewise, the borders separating the Autonomous Administration areas, the Damascus government forces and its militias on the eastern and western sides of Deir Ezzor, and the illegal crossings along the eastern and western banks of Euphrates River between the two sides give the opportunity for the cells to reach the areas of north and east Syria and escalate their activity.

The Member of the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Newroz Ahmed, indicated in a previous statement to our agency that there are security gaps on the borders of their areas, and that their forces are working to enable the common borders with neighboring parties, especially Iraq, and the areas separating their areas from those of the Damascus government forces, and their areas and areas occupied by the Turkish occupation army.

As for the other two factors, they are: first, the difficult living conditions of the residents of those areas that facilitate the process of cell recruitment for their residents, and secondly, the existence of a popular incubator for the ideas and policies of those cells, whether extremist ISIS or those seeking to achieve other goals, foremost of which are "Turkey, the government of Damascus and its militias."

For example, ISIS declared itself in 2014 under the cloak of Islam, so that it could quickly control the region in Syria and Iraq, inhabited by the majority of Muslims, and despite its distance from true Islam, it was able to control vast areas in the two countries within a very short period of time, and attracted tens of thousands of young people to its areas of control.

The lack of advanced military technology for the security authorities in north and east Syria, especially the Syrian Democratic Forces, is one of the biggest factors that make it difficult for their tasks to limit the escalation of the movements of these cells.

In view of this huge number of factors that drive the return of ISIS and contribute to the escalation of cell movement in north and east Syria, SDF need more logistical and military support, and more international pressure on the parties aiming to target the security and stability of the region "Turkey and the Damascus government."

The region also needs political recognition of the model of government there "Autonomous Administration," as well as the military and logistical support for its military forces to bring the region to safety.

D.H

ANHA
RESIDENTS of the RM of Piney and Buffalo Point First Nation are once again allowed to cross the U.S. border to receive medical care without having to quarantine for two weeks upon their return to Manitoba.

RESIDENTS of the RM of Piney and Buffalo Point First Nation are once again allowed to cross the U.S. border to receive medical care without having to quarantine for two weeks upon their return to Manitoba.

A spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed recently that a quarantine exemption for residents of Piney and Buffalo Point was added to the national mandatory isolation order on March 19.

Those residents who must leave Canada to receive essential medical services in the U.S. can do so provided they carry "written evidence from a licensed health-care practitioner in the foreign country indicating services or treatments were provided in that country."

If necessary, one person can also accompany the individual who receives treatment.

Residents of border towns get their medical care in Warroad and Roseau, which are in Minnesota.

A couple in the town of Sprague questions why prescription refills arent considered essential.

Donna Bartinski said she and her husband, Mike, welcome the new exemption but wish trips to refill prescriptions were deemed essential.

"I phoned Customs, we cant go over for our prescriptions, because thats (considered) secondary," Bartinski explained.

"I cant see how a prescription is secondary when you have to take your medication. It doesnt make too much sense to me."

The Bartinskis quarantined twice in the winter, once after a doctors checkup and once more after refilling their prescriptions. From now on, theyll have to do both at the same time to avoid another two-week shut-in.

"Its no fun being quarantined. You feel like a prisoner in your own home," Bartinski said.

Their next planned medical trip is in early May. Bartinski said they will try to see their doctor and get their prescriptions filled at the same time. They were thankful for their American pharmacist, who provides 90-day refills during the pandemic.

"Theyre pretty good at that because theyre aware of whats going on," Bartinski said. The Bartinskis received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a March 23 pop-up clinic in Sprague, but havent been told when to expect their second dose, unlike their children just across the border in Warroad, who were to receive theirs last week.

The Minnesota government says 48 per cent of Roseau County residents aged 16 and over had received at least one dose of vaccine by April 13.

"Theyre really on the ball there," Bartinski said.

The couple may ask if they can get their second doses while in the U.S.

"Even if I have to pay for it, we would just like to get it, because we dont know when were getting our second one."

In the meantime, they are only leaving home for gas and groceries.

"Were trying to follow all the rules and regulations," Bartinski said.

 Steinbach Carillon
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
A man has been arrested after three friends were killed and two were left wounded in a late night shooting at a tavern in southeastern Wisconsin in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Kevin Donaldson, Cedric Gaston and Atkeen Stevenson who were all friends were shot dead while enjoying a night out at the Somers House tavern.

The bar is a popular hangout for students from nearby Carthage College and was also the trios favorite bar to go to.

Sheriff's officials said the suspect, who has not yet been publicly identified, was known by the three.

Cedric Gaston, 25, aka Cartier Ced aka King Cedric, left, and friend Atkeen Stevenson, 26, were killed in the shooting, according to social media

Rapper Kevin Donaldson, aka GBG KEVO, is seen in a photo from his YouTube channel, left, and Instagram page, right, was also shot to death at the bar in Kenosha

The suspect was asked to leave the Somers House Tavern in the village of Somers in Kenosha County just after midnight, but then returned and opened fire killing the trio.

'They had no hate towards nobody,' said Azriel Raasch to Fox 6. 'They didn't hate anybody. It just sucks. It sucks because our city's falling apart.

'They are the most kind-hearted, kid-loving spirit. It's just so hard to explain because they loved everybody, even if they didn't know you,' said Raasch.

'I felt my life crash as if I lost my brother. I did lose my brother,' Raasch told News 12 as she spoke about Cedric Gaston. 'Cedric was the light of any place you would go to.'

Three people have been killed and two left wounded early Sunday morning in a shooting at a tavern in southeastern Wisconsin

State and local investigators are at the scene after three people are reported killed and two wounded in an early morning shooting at The Somers House bar in the Village of Somers

Law enforcement officers stand near the body of a victim as they investigate at the Somers House bar where a shooting occurred just after midnight on Sunday

Victim Atkeen Stevenson, known as Yo At on Facebook, is pictured in images from social media

Cedric Gaston is pictured in a photo from 2019. He lost his life on Sunday morning at the bar

Raasch said he loved kids and was the godfather to her daughter.

'It sucks that this is how my daughter has to remember him rather than remembering him in her arms,' she said. 'He was an amazing man. That man, I will never forget Cedric.'

From the very start, police have said the attack was target and the public were never in any danger.

Officials say the suspect will be officially charged with one count of first degree intentional homicide with additional criminal charges to follow pending further investigation.

Officials investigate what appears to be a shell casing at the scene of the deadly shooting

The bar is near Carthage College in Kenosha. One man has been arrested yet in what the police are calling a 'targeted shooting'

'We believe our suspect knew who he was targeting,' Kenosha Sheriff David Beth said said during a Sunday morning news conference. 'He wasn't cooperating with the management there, so exactly what he did, I can't tell you, but I believe he returned a short time later and came in and did the shootings.'

Beth asked that anyone with information about the incident to contact the Kenosha Sheriff's Department.

'I'm led to believe there was some type of confrontation inside, the management asked that person to leave and then that person came back a short time later and shot people,' Beth said.

Two men died at the bar while a third man died in hospital.

Two more people were seriously injured. Beth said one of those men had a chest wound. All of those who were shot were men.

Beth left open the possibility that there was more than one suspect and said he believed at least one handgun was used.

One victim's white-covered body is visible under a car as state and local investigators are at the scene

Investigators were on the scene throughout Sunday as they investigated what had happened

The shooting happened at The Somers House bar which is popular with students

'Detectives and other involved law enforcement officers have conducted numerous interviews and collected a great deal of evidence from the crime scenes including the impounding of several vehicles,' Sheriff's Sgt. David Wright said in a formal statement on Sunday afternoon.

'Detectives have followed up on multiple leads and gathered surveillance video evidence during extensive neighborhood canvasses. KSD detectives and crime scene technicians continue to process the crime scenes.'

The suspect was described as a black male over six feet tall wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt

Police say there may have been more people with less serious injuries, and the sheriff's department has contacted local hospitals to find them.

A man who lives near the bar, Peter Ploskee, told WLS-TV that he heard gun shots, looked out a window and saw 'people running from the bar in every direction'.

'It was just chaos,' he said. 'People are just running, people screaming.'

State and Local officials reacted to the news of the shootings, including Governor Tony Evers.

'My heart breaks for Kenosha this morning in the wake of a shooting that took three lives and injured at least two others,' Evers said in a statement. 'I want to thank the first responders who reacted quickly and are still working to investigate and find those involved in this senseless tragedy.'

Evers said he and his wife are 'thinking of the families and loved ones affected and the entire Kenosha community as they grieve and grapple with yet another tragic incident of gun violence'.

No one has yet been arrested and the suspect is still at large, but police believe it was a targeted attack and that the public are not in any danger

The Somers House Tavern is in the village of Somers in Kenosha County about 30 miles south of Milwaukee

Somers is about 30 miles south of Milwaukee, not far from the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

The incident is the latest in a string of mass shootings in the United States.

On Thursday, eight people were killed at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis when a former employee entered the facility where 100 people were working and opened fire.

Last month, a shooting at a Southern California office building left four people dead, including a child, and in a separate incident gunman Ahmad Alissa shot dead ten people including a police officer, in a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

The village of Somers, where the tavern is located, is about 30 miles south of Milwaukee, not far from the Wisconsin-Illinois border

On March 16, Robert Aaron Long, 21, gunned down eight people in a series of attacks at three Atlanta spas, with six of the victims being Asian women.

The city of Kenosha, which is close to Somers, was the scene of serious unrest last summer, after police shot a young Black man, Jacob Blake, leaving him paralyzed.

A white Illinois teenager was accused of fatally shooting two people during the Kenosha protests.

Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, is charged with homicide and attempted homicide in the August 25 shootings. He has pleaded not guilty and says he fired in self-defense.

The Kenosha County Sheriff's department continues to investigate the above incident.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the department at (262) 605-5100 or leave an anonymous tip to the the Kenosha County Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333.
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - The United States and China, the worlds two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to co-operate to curb climate change with urgency, just days before President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.

In this photo provided by U.S. Embassy Seoul, U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry gestures while speaking during a round table meeting with the media in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 18, 2021. The United States and China, the world's two biggest carbon polluters, have agreed to cooperate with other countries to curb climate change, just days before U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue. (U.S. Embassy Seoul via AP)

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - The United States and China, the worlds two biggest carbon polluters, agreed to co-operate to curb climate change with urgency, just days before President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit of world leaders to discuss the issue.

The agreement was reached by U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua during two days of talks in Shanghai last week, according to a joint statement.

The two countries are committed to co-operating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands, said the statement, issued Saturday evening U.S. time.

Meeting with reporters in Seoul on Sunday, Kerry said the language in the statement is strong and that the two countries agreed on critical elements on where we have to go. But the former secretary of state said, I learned in diplomacy that you dont put your back on the words, you put on actions. We all need to see what happens.

China is the worlds biggest carbon emitter, followed by the United States. The two countries pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planets atmosphere. Their co-operation is key to the success of global efforts to curb climate change, but frayed ties over human rights, trade and Chinas territorial claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea have been threatening to undermine such efforts.

Noting that China is the worlds biggest coal user, Kerry said he and Chinese officials had a lot of discussions on how to accelerate a global energy transition. I have never shied away from expressing our views shared by many, many people that it is imperative to reduce coal, everywhere, he said.

Su Wei, a member of the Chinese negotiation team, told state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday that a major accomplishment of the talks was restarting the dialogue and co-operation between China and the United States on climate change issues. Su said the two countries reached a consensus on key areas for future co-operation on climate issues.

Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the April 22-23 summit. The U.S. and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting carbon emissions ahead of or at the meeting, along with pledging financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.

Its unclear how much Kerrys China visit would promote U.S.-China co-operation on climate issues.

While Kerry was still in Shanghai, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng signalled Friday that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at next weeks summit.

For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered, Le said during an interview with The Associated Press in Beijing. Some countries are asking China to achieve the goals earlier. I am afraid this is not very realistic.

During a video meeting with German and French leaders Friday, Xi said that climate change should not become a geopolitical chip, a target for attacking other countries or an excuse for trade barriers, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

On whether Xi would join the summit, Le said the Chinese side is actively studying the matter.

The joint statement said the two countries look forward to next weeks summit. Kerry said Sunday that we very much hope that (Xi) will take part in the summit but its up to China to make that decision.

Biden, who has said that fighting global warming is among his highest priorities, had the United States rejoin the historic 2015 Paris climate accord in the first hours of his presidency, undoing the U.S. withdrawal ordered by his predecessor Donald Trump.

Major emitters of greenhouse gases are preparing for the next U.N. climate summit taking place in Glasgow, U.K., in November. The summit aims to relaunch global efforts to keep rising global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) as agreed in the Paris accord.

According to the U.S.-China statement, the two countries would enhance their respective actions and co-operating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

It said both countries also intend to develop their respective long-term strategies before the Glasgow conference and take appropriate actions to maximize international investment and finance in support of the energy transition in developing countries.

Xi announced last year that China would be carbon-neutral by 2060 and aims to reach a peak in its emissions by 2030. In March, Chinas Communist Party pledged to reduce carbon emissions per unit of economic output by 18% over the next five years, in line with its goal for the previous five-year period. But environmentalists say China needs to do more.

Biden has pledged the U.S. will switch to an emissions-free power sector within 14 years, and have an entirely emissions-free economy by 2050. Kerry is also pushing other nations to commit to carbon neutrality by then.

Associated Press writers Ken Moritsugu in Beijing and Huizhong Wu in Taipei, Taiwan contributed to this report.
Right about now, you can bet someone in Fort Lauderdale is either riding a Jet Ski or complaining about one.

Thats because theyve become one of the top complaints lately, right up there with the biker brats on souped up motorcycles breaking the rules of the road, city officials say.

Personal watercraft, commonly known by the brand name Jet Skis, are the motorbikes of the waterways, loved for their adrenaline-stoking speed and loathed for their high-pitched roar and the daredevil behavior of some who ride them.

Some riders obey the rules, but the hot rods zip and zoom past boaters on the Intracoastal Waterway and completely ignore posted speed limits, critics say. Others buzz docks and come dangerously close to water skiers and passing boats.

Now Fort Lauderdale is promising to crack down on reckless riders and bootleg operators whove been renting personal watercraft from city parks without a permit.

The problem with hotdog riders seems to have gotten worse in the past couple months, says Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Heather Moraitis, whos fielded several complaints from people who live along the Intracoastal both north and south of Sunrise Boulevard.

Ive seen Jet Skis swerving in and out of the boat traffic, she said. Theyre going fast, zigzagging, putting kids on the handlebars. Kids go tubing off the back of the boats, and when you have Jet Skis swerving in and out thats a dangerous situation.

Chris Gaba and his husband have lived in their home along the Intracoastal for a dozen years and cant remember things being this bad.

Here you go, jet ski flying, Gaba told a reporter. Hes doing doughnuts in front of my house. Its the equivalent of motorcycles flying by in front of your house every day. They usually travel in packs, four or more. I feel like Ive turned into my dad. Im [complaining] about the party next door when I used to be the party next door.

As he chatted, Gaba stared in disbelief as one guy on a Jet Ski ran right into a no wake sign.

Story continues

He just slammed right into it, Gaba said. He did not fall; he wasnt going fast. But its not a small sign. Its 5 feet tall and 7 or 8 feet wide. These are not experienced boaters. Many times they are going too fast and not paying attention to the no wake sign. Its probably tourists who are not even aware of that the rules are.

Gaba has called marine patrol more times than he can count. But hes not sure what good it does.

The police can cite a Jet Skier, but they can easily leave town and not pay it, he said. Its not like theyre going to track them down. Theres no real sting to a ticket. Its not like its going on your permanent record and following you around.

In response to complaints from residents like Gaba, the Police Departments marine patrol unit has stepped up its presence on the Intracoastal, Assistant Chief Frank Sousa said.

Sousa declined to say how many officers are assigned to the unit, citing department policy that prohibits him from discussing staffing levels.

In 2021, we issued 32 citations and 75 written warnings, Sousa said. That was solely to Jet Skis. Our officers are seeing speed zone violations, inexperienced operators and operators not slowing down for wake zones.

Fines range from $73 for not having the proper registration to $90 for speeding and other infractions.

The city has already shut down some bootleg operators who were renting jet skis at George English Park in the 1100 block of Bayview Drive without a permit. Next up is figuring out whether to allow Jet Ski rentals there at all.

Sousa said three rental companies have been caught operating at the park without a permit: Aqua Flight, Jet Ski Rentals Fort Lauderdale and YOLO Boat Rentals.

Aqua Flight stopped operating out of George English Park, Sousa said. The two other companies have been given seven days to comply or face $150-a-day fines.

Sousa said city officials are still in discussions about whether to allow Jet Ski rental companies to operate at George English.

Fast and loud

Chris Williams, president of the Coral Ridge Homeowners Association, doesnt think its a good idea.

These things are basically like a motorcycle in the water, and they come zipping by peoples homes, Williams said. Its loud. The faster they go, the louder they are.

As head of the Coral Ridge Homeowners Association, Williams represents 2,000 homes and condos between Sunrise and Oakland boulevards, bordered by the Intracoastal on the east and the Middle River on the west.

Just yesterday a Jet Skier came flying by, Williams said. People renting them have no clue what damage they can do. The wake thats thrown off can cause docked boats to start rocking hard against the dock. Theyre zipping around boats. Theyre not obeying rules. Theyre a danger to boaters and themselves.

Increasingly congested waterways are part of the problem.

Jet Skis have seen a huge spike in popularity due to the pandemic and Spring Break too, experts say.

An estimated 2 million personal watercraft are in use nationwide, with nearly 140,000 in Florida alone. And theyre sharing the waterway with at least 960,000 registered vessels in the state.

When COVID-19 hit, boating has exploded, said Peggy Mathews, the Florida spokeswoman for the American Watercraft Association. Its the only thing people could do to get out. More people are out on the water, from the Panhandle down to the Keys.

They can be deadly

A ride on the water can turn fatal for people who dont know what theyre doing.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported 46 deaths and 614 injuries related to water scooter accidents nationwide in 2019, the latest year available. In Florida, six people died and 169 were injured that year.

Thats one reason the state requires boater education courses, Mathews said.

Under Florida law, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, is required to complete a boating education course or temporary certificate exam to legally operate a Jet Ski.

You have to be at least 14 years old to drive a personal watercraft in Florida. And you need to be at least 18 to rent one.

A water scooters standard speed is 40 to 60 mph, but turbo-charged models can go much faster, buzzing along north of 100 mph.

There are some rogue rental companies renting them out to tourists who dont know what theyre doing, said John Fiore, a boating expert and longtime member of Broward Countys marine advisory board. They are incredibly fun. But your IQ drops about 30 points as soon as the engine starts.

Cheap to rent

Many can be rented for as little as $100 an hour  another part of the appeal.

Some people use them to go cruising up and down the Intracoastal, said Wolfgang Tweraser, manager at the Fun Center Fort Lauderdale, one of several water scooter rental shops near George English Park.

But Tweraser is well aware that some daredevil riders have given Jet Skis a bad rep.

Trust me, Ive seen a lot of crazy things, he said. Some people take off like theyre on a rocket from Elon Musk.

Thats why his store installed speed control on its personal watercraft along with GPS  all the better to track riders who get lost.

We make sure our customers are following the rules, Tweraser said. We give instructions twice. We even have a video running that shows what to do. Were probably a little different than the rest.

In recent months, Tweraser said hes noticed bootleg operators renting water scooters from George English Park.

Some are coming in with a U-Haul truck, he said. Theres no company name on the truck or the Jet Skis. I saw it even today. Sometimes its the wild Wild West in Florida. I want everyone to do it by the books. And if they dont, the city should enforce the rules. We follow them, but a lot of other people dont.

Safety tips

Heres the responsible way to operate a water scooter.

Wear a helmet.","type":"text

Know and observe the speed limit.","type":"text

Stay away from alcohol. It can impair your judgment and slow your reaction time.","type":"text

Be aware of other boats and vessels sharing the waterway to help avoid a collision.","type":"text

Stay to the right when approaching an oncoming vessel.","type":"text

Remember, Jet Skis dont have brakes. So keep a safe distance from other vessels to give yourself room to stop if necessary.","type":"text

Keep your safety lanyard attached to you, your clothing or your life jacket. If you fall, the lanyard will immediately cut off the Jet Skis engine.","type":"text

Under state law, personal watercraft cannot be in use from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, even if navigation lights are on.

Under state law, personal watercraft cannot be in use from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, even if navigation lights are on.

The following dumb moves are considered reckless operation of a vessel and are first-degree misdemeanors that can result in fines and jail time:

Jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably close or when you cant see around the vessel.","type":"text

Swerving at the last possible moment to avoid a collision.","type":"text

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4554 or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan
The last year has been challenging for everyone, but has been particularly tough for those who own and run small businesses.

And while some have been able to switch to an online-only model, or pivot to a different kind of trade, for many SMEs this wasn't an option. Some have gone bust, others are struggling through with the help of loans and the furlough scheme, all while suffering huge losses.

But with restrictions lifting and the end of lockdown on the horizon, business owners are getting ready for what they hope will be a busy summer and a return to normality.

And to help boost their chances of a successful reopening, small businesses are flocking to use the new MailOnline Ad Manager.

Launched in March to help SMEs coming out of lockdown, Ad Manager offers the chance to advertise to MailOnline's huge audiences without a huge price tag.

Ian Cox, managing director at VIRE Escape Rooms, was among the first to try this brand new service, after an incredibly difficult 12 months that saw his newest venture in Hemel Hempstead close overnight.

Ian Cox used the Ad Manager to advertise the reopening of VIRE Escape Rooms (pictured outside the Hemel Hempstead branch)

Ian said: 'We were booked solid every weekend with parties and escape rooms and were having hundreds of bookings each week. In February, before lockdown, wed made just under 20,000 in the month and then in March we made nothing, as we had to close down.

The MailOnline ad designed by Ian

'It fell off a cliff and one of the things with this business is that parties are often booked a long way in advance, so not only did we have no income, we had to refund people too. So it was a double whammy.'

In a bid to keep the business going, VIRE moved into providing outdoor games which enabled them to reopen in June 2020, ahead of the indoor escape rooms reopening in August.

Ian said: 'We also managed to have a pilot with English Heritage at a nearby castle in August that went really well. Were launching 32 similar games this year off the back of that - adventureoutgames.co.uk - so thats a massive change for us.

'As long as when we open again in May we can get going at a reasonable rate we should be okay, but its touch and go like a lot of other businesses.'

'We just want to get people back in, get them working again and back to doing what we do well.'

Ian was thrilled to have the opportunity to advertise on MailOnline, targeting local customers and escape room enthusiasts.

He created the ads himself, set the budget and chose the people he wanted to target.

VIRE ESCAPE ROOMS ADS: THE RESULTS Cost: 1178

Ad impressions (how many times the ads were viewed): 269,543 in less than a week

Rush of new bookings

Website traffic up more than 21%

'Really easy to use; help we received from MailOnline was excellent and we felt supported throughout the process.' Advertisement

He said: 'I think its great because a lot of this is about trust, so a brand like the MailOnline, it brings a trust and is something people will recognise.

'Were looking at every area we can to let people know that were there, that were opening up, that itll be safe.

'The more trusted that communication can be, that will make a fundamental difference.'

In just under a week, the ads Ian created with the MailOnline Ad Manager increased his website traffic by nearly a quarter - a huge achievement considering the ongoing restrictions lockdown has on his business.

And that's not all: 'Before we started these ads, our last booking was April 1 and the customer used a voucher,' says Ian.

'However, since my adverts launched, we've already made eight bookings. This is huge for us as we weren't expecting any bookings this early.

'Of all the people who've been driven to the website, it means a quarter have bought so the conversion rate is great - and it's clearly drawing genuinely interested customers.'

If you're a small business owner looking to boost the visibility of your business, Ian couldn't recommend MailOnline's Ad Manager enough.

'Advertising through the Mail is a powerful thing and gives a small business like mine incredible reach. Plus, if you receive the great level of support we did, you're going to be delighted.'

HOW AD MANAGER WORKS

The new self-serve Ad Manager makes reaching a large, but targeted audience easy and is enabling small businesses to reach more adults across all UK regions than ever before, with hyper-local advertising for relevant, affluent customers.

It takes only minutes to set up and your campaign could be live in less than 24 hours.

Not only can you advertise to more people in your area than your local titles can reach, you can also target customers by postcode, interests and life stage, ensuring you reach as many of our 25 million consumers as you choose.

There are no hidden fees and you can control everything, from budget to target and audience to creative design.

Here's how:

Visit manager.mailmetromedia.co.uk today to see how YOU can transform YOUR small business!

Ad Manager allows you to see live data for your campaign, adjust targeting and pause campaigns as you like.

You can set up automated email reports, and experiment with different creative and targeting strategies to get the very best for your business.

This new opportunity means that SMEs can easily and effectively manage their own ad campaigns across MailMetroMedia's online portfolio, which engages more than 10 million UK adults every day.

Martin Clarke, publisher of MailOnline, Metro.co.uk and iNews.co.uk, said: 'We are passionate about helping SMEs recover from the covid crisis, and proud to be launching a tool which will enable small business owners to purchase and set up ad campaigns in a few easy steps.

'We look forward to helping you build your business.'
Representative Image

Taipei [Taiwan], April 18 (ANI): In what could be called another massive setback to China, Taiwan has welcomed a joint statement issued by Japan and the United States affirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

According to Kyodo News, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou on Saturday said the Taiwan government is happy to see the United States and Japan are concerned about the current state of security in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The Taiwan government would like to express our most sincere welcome and gratitude," Ou said, as reported by Kyodo News.

"We will continue to work closely with Japan, the United States and other like-minded countries to safeguard democracy, universal values and a rules-based international order to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in the region," she said.

On Friday, in their first in-person meeting at the White House, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden said in their joint statement that they "underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" and "encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues," marking the first time that Taiwan has been mentioned in a US-Japan leaders' statement since 1969.

Ou said because of its strategic position in the first island chain, stretching from the Japanese archipelago through Taiwan, the Philippines and on to Borneo, Taiwan plays a key role in regional stability and prosperity.

Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang said the Taiwan government welcomed the joint statement, commending the move as conducive to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We look forward to seeing Beijing authorities act responsibly and make a positive contribution to peace and well-being across the Taiwan Strait and the region," he said.

Chang emphasized that President Tsai Ing-wen's cross-strait policy has been consistent in maintaining that Taiwan will not succumb to pressure exerted by China, nor will it act rashly.

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However, Beijing on Saturday expressed 'firm opposition to Washington and Tokyo's demand for a 'stable' Taiwan strait.

According to a joint leaders' statement posted on the White House's website, the two leaders exchanged views on the impact of China's actions on peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world and shared their concerns over Chinese activities that are inconsistent with the international rules-based order, including the use of economic and other forms of coercion.

"We will continue to work with each other based on universal values and common principles. We also recognize the importance of deterrence to maintain peace and stability in the region. We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea," the joint leaders' statement read.

The two leaders also reiterated their objections to China's unlawful maritime claims and activities in the South China Sea and reaffirmed our strong shared interest in a free and open South China Sea governed by international law, in which freedom of navigation and overflight are guaranteed, consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

China has been increasing its maritime activities in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the past few months, partly in response to Beijing's concerns over the increasing US military presence in the region because of escalating Sino-US tensions. Beijing's rising assertiveness against counter claimants in the East and South Sea has resulted in unprecedented agreement across the Indo-Pacific.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war. (ANI)
GET THE niggers, was their slogan, / Kill them, burn, them, set the pace. / Let them know that we are white men. /Teach them how to keep their place. AJ Smitherman, The Tulsa Race Riot and Massacre (1922).

I had just left Harvard University as an assistant professor and was doing Time to Talk, a series of interviews for T&T Television.
After being labeled a terrorist by Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams earlier this week, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, said those comments are grounds for his constituents to decide to choose another person for that job.



It's inflammatory and dangerous, especially in this day and age. I believe that the group he was speaking with is also an extremely problematic audience that was clearly talking about taking justice into their own hands and that's a problem, Herod said in an interview with Colorado Politics. To call me a terrorist for fighting for my community and fighting for my country is wrong.

Reams comments, first reported by the Colorado Times Recorder, came Monday at a meeting of Keep Colorado Free & Open, a group that opposes public health orders issued to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The comments came after an attendee said the federal Supreme Courts Marbury v. Madison ruling gives Americans the right to ignore laws they feel are repugnant to the Constitution and instead abide by natural law. In a video of the meeting posted on the groups Facebook page, Reams responded by telling those in attendance to be willing to question authority and go to elected officials in order to put them on record.

I guarantee you, Leslie Herod down at the state Capitol has made a name for herself. In my mind, shes a terrorist, shes a terrorist against the citizens of Colorado. Her record speaks volumes, Reams said.

If theres anybody that you should have a reason to get out of office, its Leslie Herod because she is absolutely running bills to strip law enforcement from your daily lives to prevent law enforcement from protecting you and shes turning the state upside-down. Shes on record. How many others can we get on record and then who do we run against them? Thats the ultimate question.

A spokesman for the Weld County Sheriffs office was not available for comment.

Herod has previously championed a number of law enforcement reform bills, including a proposal signed into law last summer in the wake of George Floyds death that among other things mandated officers:

Can no longer use chokeholds.

Must wear body cameras when dealing with the public.

Cannot use deadly force unless they feel their lives are in imminent danger.

Can be sued individually for misconduct for up to $25,000, or for 5% of the judgment.

Are required to intervene if they feel that another officer is using deadly force.

Herod said the incident encapsulated exactly why we ran law enforcement accountability measures.

It's exactly why I fight for reform every single day: to make sure that people who have that badge and who are sworn to serve and protect actually do that work, she said. With what's happened here, it's clear that that is not a value [Reams] upholds.



Reams comments drew swift condemnation from a number of Herods House Democratic colleagues  including Speaker Alec Garnett of Denver and Majority Leader Daneya Esgar of Pueblo -- as well as the creation of the #StandWithLeslie hashtag.



Sage Naumann, a spokesman for the Senate GOP caucus, noted in a tweet that Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, had previously referred to GOP lawmakers who refused to wear masks as terrorists and also highlighted that Herod used the term in reference to former President Donald Trump.



[S]ince I'm sure somebody will ask, yes, Sheriff Reams was wrong to call Representative Herod a terrorist. I don't agree with her on much but she is the furthest from a terrorist. She's an elected official in a democratic republic. That rhetoric does nothing good, Naumann tweeted.



Asked about her use of the term directed at Trump, Herod told Colorado Politics she stood by her previous comments.



I think it's very different to make a statement like that versus to be a law enforcement officer talking to a group of anti-government folks who are asking to take the law into their own hands, to publicly name me and call me out as someone who is a terrorist, she said.


New Delhi: The Union home ministry is coordinating with police departments of all states and Union Territories to crack down on those indulging in hoarding and over-pricing of essential medicines like remdesivir, Covid vaccines, and oxygen cylinders.

Source said a team of officials has been set up in the ministry, which is in constant touch with all state police forces. The ministry has also assured states that paramilitary forces can also be provided for their assistance to check misuse of medicines and vaccines.

We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock across the country. All state police forces have been directed to take stringent actions against hoarders or those selling essential medicines, oxygen or other Corona related important health items at a much higher price than what is prescribed by the government. In addition, raids are being conducted by respective state police at various police during which remdisivir and Corona vaccine have been recovered, remarked a senior ministry official.

The home ministry officials admitted that maintaining law and order at hospitals or other Covid facilities is a huge challenge since people are likely to get agitated in view of the high casualty rate or not getting proper facilities like bed or oxygen at hospitals.

One needs to understand that the scale of Corona pandemic is massive and our heath warriors are working under tremendous pressure. But we understand that if someone loses a family member, the person is likely to get agitated and this could lead to violence at some places. So if required, security should be provided at such places, the official further added.
Maxine Waters - Chandan Kanna/AFP

A veteran Democratic congresswoman has urged demonstrators to become more confrontational if Derek Chauvin is cleared of killing George Floyd.

Maxine Waters, who has represented her California district since 1991, joined a crowd in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota protesting the last week's police shooting of Daunte Wright.

Mr Wright, 20, an Afro-American, was shot dead by Kimberley Potter, a veteran police officer who said she had accidentally fired her gun, thinking it was a taser. Potter, who has since resigned, is facing charges of second-degree manslaughter.

The incident triggered days of protests in a state already on high alert pending the verdict in the case of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, an unarmed black man last year.

"Im going to fight with all of the people who stand for justice, Ms Waters said on Saturday.

Weve got to get justice in this country and we cannot allow these killings to continue.

Asked what demonstrators should do over the days ahead, she continued: Weve got to stay on the street and weve got to get more active, weve got to get more confrontational. Weve got to make sure that they know that we mean business.

I hope were going to get a verdict that will say guilty, guilty, guilty, in the Chauvin trial. And if we dont, we cannot go away.

Ms Waters remarks came amid a backdrop of renewed protests across the US over a series of police shootings with unrest reported in Oakland, California and Chicago.

Lawyers in the Chauvin case are due to present their closing argumentson Monday, before the jury retires to consider its verdict.
A judge has blocked the arrest of journalists covering Minnesota protests amid reports members of the press were rounded up for state patrol to take images of them.

The order comes after protests erupted in response to a police officer from the Brooklyn Centre Police Department shooting 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Minnesotas Brooklyn Centre.

Hundreds of protesters have descended on the streets every night for the last week - with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets as well as openly threatening to arrest journalists via loudspeakers.

Federal judge Wilhelmina M Wright drew attention to police mistreatment of members of the media in the last week in a 22-page order issued on Friday - noting police orders specifically targeted journalists to leave protest areas, as well as journalists being struck by projectiles, pepper-sprayed, and grabbed.

The temporary restraining order blocks Minnesota state law enforcement officers from employing force against members of the media and arresting them or confiscating their cameras or audio recordings.

Plaintiffs in the case refer to a number of alleged examples of police ordering members of the media to disperse even though curfew rules do not apply to them, and other acts impeding the press's ability to observe and report about the demonstrations.

Liz Sawyer, a journalist, shared footage on Twitter that appeared to show members of the press being rounded up by state patrol.

Media has been ushered to a checkpoint where state patrol is taking pictures of every journalists credentials and face, she tweeted.

Evan Frost, a photojournalist, said: Im with photographer Tim Evans. Says he was maced, tackled and punched in the face by a state trooper as they cleared the area, despite showing his badge and stating he was press. Hes been processed and released but has facial bruising.

The US Press Freedom Tracker states at least 134 journalists were arrested or detained last year, while there were 413 incidents of reporters being hurt or assaulted.
The Facebook post caught my eye. It was focused on pointers on how to make long term relationships work and had insights from couples who had been through tough times.

A couple of things made me think. One was the phrase long term relationships  thats being inclusive, I guess, because not everyone is married. Marriage has always been for the long haul  till we are parted by death as the traditional vows put it. (Though some have opted to vow for as long as love will last.)

The phrase long term doesnt necessarily mean for life. Thats one major difference between marriage, and long-term relationships. (Celebrities serial marriages are an aberration, and divorce can be regarded as marriage failure, but it is not a denial of marriage or of validity.)

The other phrase was making it work. The assumption behind that was that a relationship needs work put into it in order for it to last. Thats certainly true, I thought, whether its marriage or-long term relationships.

The very fact the post was highlighting the need to put work into a relationship shows where our culture has moved to. In previous generations, making a marriage work was taken for granted.

My parents married at the age of 19 and 20, my father was called up for army service in World War 2 and sailed for Italy after six months of marriage. I was born while he was away, so he didnt meet me till he returned when I was just over 2 years old. On their 60th wedding anniversary my mother commented, When we married, we expected to have to work at it.

What marriage is (and is not):

The more I thought about it, the more I realised that marriage has so much more to offer than being just one version of a long-term relationship. I would never have imagined that marriage would need defending, or that the advantages of marriage would need to be spelled out, but it seems that they do!

Marriage is a commitment of the will. When a couple make their vows to each other, they are making a commitment of their wills; they are promising to do certain things. (Some couples get confused between what a vow is, as compared with an expression of feelings. Couples who write their own vows sometimes simply offer a statement of how they feel about the person they are marrying. That is not a vow.) One of the best definitions I have heard of marriage is that each person is making a commitment to the others best good.

Marriage is not a wedding. The wedding is the occasion when couples make their vows, but it is not the marriage. A wedding is a special time for family and friends to gather and support the couple  and celebrate. When couples get married, its not primarily about having a wedding with all the trimmings, or celebrating; instead its about beginning a commitment together.

Many couples now dont bother with a wedding, maybe because of the cost, or because they feel they dont need to have one. Were committed to each other anyway, many say. Undoubtedly thats true, but they do miss out on the opportunity to make a public affirmation of that commitment, and on the support that friends and family can give. Getting married publicly cements the commitment in the lives of those who gather  and it also helps affirm that commitment in the couples life also.

Marriage belongs in the community. A couple, unless they are total hermits, are part of a community. They are a separate entity, belonging to a network of family and friends, and interacting with them. As a couple grows together, they can often become more than the sum of the two parts, and can contribute in a stronger way to community life than they may have done as individuals. There are many married couples who have given a huge amount to their communities, each supporting their spouse in ways that makes their contributions even more effective.

Marriage is the best environment for children to be raised in. Children dont make a marriage, but marriage is the best context for children. Growing up with two parents, in a stable family life, provides children with the best possible outcomes.

Research has shown that children growing up with the model of a good marriage, with parents who love, respect and support each other, enjoy so many benefits that are not found to the same extent in other alternative family environments. Such children enjoy a security and stability, and educational, sporting and cultural benefits, as well as many social opportunities. They know they belong, they have the input of a father and mother as role models, and usually theres a wider extended family that they are part of too.

(Of course, solo and divorced parents, will often do their utmost to do and be the best that they can for their children, and many children turn out well as a result, especially if extended family are available. The challenges for such families are so much greater though, and some children inevitably miss out.)

Marriages are not perfect. And they never will be. Each marriage is made up of two imperfect human beings. Because of that imperfection some marriages wont last, some have to be abandoned because they are toxic, or unsafe, and of course people make mistakes and should never have married each other. Some peoples negative experiences of their parents marriage too, or that of others, means that their expectations of marriage are very low, or unrealistic. Because of that, some people could never marry.

Because marriage is so important, it then means that a separation or divorce can be devastating. Not only for each spouse, but also for the children. More research is being done on the impact of divorce on children, and the awareness is growing of just how negative a divorce can be. Inevitably children are split down the middle, because in essence they belong to each parent.

Divorces too have such an impact on families and the community  and the ripples spread far and wide. (My daughter when she was six, was really concerned that we her parents would separate, because her friend at school was experiencing the separation and divorce of her parents.) This is where the wider community of the church is so important too  and where churches have such a significant role  to welcome and include the solo parents, the divorced parents, those whose relationships are faltering  and the children affected.

Theres nothing better than a good marriage in this life! Having a spouse who is utterly faithful, who is your best friend, who you can share joys and difficulties with, who you can laugh with, who brings out the best in you and who supports you, who forgives you, who is always there for you, whom you can have adventures with  the list is endless. Having a spouse whom you can support, whom you can respect and be proud of, who overlooks your foibles, who complements you with skills and interests and opinions, and who surprises you  how good is that?

All these things come from the bedrock of the commitment that a marriage is based on  and it is made even stronger when that commitment is also a shared commitment to God and his church family. That commitment can become even stronger when there are tough challenges to deal with, but no couple is an island to itself, and thats where the support of a church family, of other friends and family also comes in. The nuclear family in previous generations was not an island, but was part of a wider network and whanau. Today, increasingly people are rediscovering thats how it is meant to be.

When we marry, we are not just in a long term relationship; rather, we are committed to each other, as couples  and as families  for better or for worse.
Provincial governor Ziaulhaq Amarkhail said the incident happened in police district nine of the provincial capital, Jalalabad, reports dpa news agency.

Kabul, April 18 (IANS) At least eight members of a family were killed after unknown gunmen opened fire on them at a mosque in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, officials said on Sunday.

"Initial findings show the incident happened as a result of a dispute over a private land," Amarkhail added.

A police spokesperson said they were investigating the incident, but no one has been arrested yet.

Clashes about disputed land are common across Afghanistan.

Last April, at least six tribal members were killed and nearly 20 others wounded in armed clashes about disputed land in the same province.

The fighting lasted for several days.

Nangarhar, a stronghold of the Taliban and Islamic State terror group, is rich in plains and is one of the most important areas for agriculture in Afghanistan.

--IANS

ksk/
The Japanese minister overseeing the government's COVID-19 vaccination program says Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has effectively reached agreement with US pharmaceutical firm Pfizer for additional vaccine supplies.

Suga asked for more doses when he spoke by phone with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during his visit to Washington.

Regulatory Reform Minister Kono Taro indicated on a TV program on Sunday that a substantial agreement was reached in the telephone talks.

He also suggested the government will be able to provide enough doses to cover all eligible people by the end of September. Japan's rollout currently targets the population aged 16 or older.

As for the inoculation of younger people, Kono noted an application has been made in the United States to allow the use of the vaccine for children aged 12 to 15.

He said he thinks a similar move will be made in Japan sooner or later. He added the government will ask experts to discuss the matter including vaccination schedules and will work to make preparations.
Thierry, 27, a refugee from the Central African Republic, rides his bicycle in Inke camp, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to promote good hygiene practices.  UNHCR/Claris Neh Mokom Achu

JAMJANG, South Sudan  At a distribution centre in Pamir refugee camp in Jamjang, South Sudan, hundreds of bars of soap are stacked in neat rows on bright blue trestle tables. Dozens of refugees wearing masks form an orderly queue, trying their best to be mindful of the COVID-19 measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

Camp resident George David, a refugee from Sudan, collects 30 bars of soap for himself and his family. The soap is very important to us to prevent disease, he said.

Here and in other operations around the world, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has stepped up health, water, sanitation and hygiene services during the pandemic to protect people who have been forced to flee their homes.

Refugees and internally displaced people are at particular risk during COVID-19 because they often have limited access to water, sanitation systems and health facilities, with multi-generational families living side-by-side in crowded shelters, settlements and camps.

As part of its COVID-19 response, UNHCR, in partnership with Unilever, has delivered 30 million bars of soap, hand sanitizer and disinfectant to more than 50 countries worldwide, including developing countries, where 85 per cent of the worlds forcibly displaced people live.

Additional support for information campaigns in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan was made possible by the Hygiene & Behaviour Change Coalition, funded by Unilever and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and has reached 20 million refugees, teaching them the importance of clean hands to stay healthy.

The coalitions global outreach initiative has become the worlds largest hygiene campaign aimed at tackling COVID-19, reaching 1 billion people.

"Coronavirus is a killer disease."

There are many steps we are taking to prevent COVID-19, UNHCR Associate WASH Officer in South Sudan, Ben Ngbamborigbe Wanga, said of the outreach efforts. We have spread information through radio broadcasts, refugee leaders, and we also, during our monitoring, advise refugees to stay home and wash their hands.

Refugees themselves are actively involved in COVID-19 prevention efforts, educating their communities about the virus and the vital role of hygiene and safety measures in preventing infection.

In North and South Ubangi provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNHCR has provided bicycles to a network of refugee hygiene promoters who ride around the camps refilling handwashing stations and promoting good hygiene practices among refugees.

I go around disinfecting latrines. I also do door-to-door awareness raising on water and hygiene issues, explained Thierry Angazika, 27, a refugee from Central African Republic living in DRCs Inke camp. With the bicycle provided by UNHCR, I ride through the camp and can refill three to five times a day the handwashing stations.

"I am seeing now the community is changing."

In South Sudan, Hana Kafi Tia is a Sudanese refugee and community outreach volunteer in Pamir Camp who promotes good hygiene practices among her community.

Coronavirus is a killer disease, and it really doesn't have treatment. The only safe measures to protect ourselves from COVID-19 is to avoid shaking hands, wear face masks, avoid crowding, and we should stay one and a half metres from each other when we are in public places, she said.

Hana added that sharing information about COVID-19 throughout the camp is making a big difference in the behaviour she sees within the community.

I am seeing now the community is changing  they are changing their hygiene, they are not crowding, they wash their hands frequently, and when one falls sick, they see doctors. I am proud of my work, she said.
president Lalu Prasad, who is



likely to walk out of jail on Monday having secured his bail in the multi-crore-rupees fodder scam cases, will, however, take time to return home as treatment for his various ailments is still underway at AIIMS Delhi.

Supporters of the RJD, after getting to know about his bail, had been busy making preparations to greet him on his arrival, but Prasad's family clarified that he would return only after full recovery.

The Jharkhand High Court granted bail to Prasad in the Dumka treasury case on Saturday, noting that he has already served half the tenure of his sentence, and paved the way for his release from jail after 39 months and 25 days.

Prasad's younger son and political heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav wished the former chief minister a speedy recovery, and said that his treatment, as of now, will continue at AIIMS Delhi.

He is a diabetic and suffers from heart ailments, kidney infection and breathing problems, Yadav pointed out, adding that he and other family members are in touch with the doctors attending to him.

Sources close to Prasad said the supremo, on hearing about the Jharkhand High Court bail order, maintained that he had always had faith in the country's judicial system.

His wife Rabri Devi, a two-time chief minister, and daughter Misa Bharti, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, met him in Delhi on Saturday. Prasad has seven daughters and two sons.

Bharti's younger sibling Ragini, who had earlier announced that she is observing Ramzan and 'chaiti' puja, said her prayers have been answered.

The leader's lawyer, Devarshi Mandal, had told PTI on Saturday that he will move a special CBI court in Ranchi after it opens on Monday to seek his release.

The central investigation agency had been probing the fodder scam cases.

Asked about the release procedure, Mandal said that an application has been sent to Prasad for his signature, which will then be submitted to a CBI court on Monday along with a copy of the high court order.

Prasad need not appear in person before the CBI court, he explained.

An order will be duly sent by the CBI court to Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi, where Prasad was originally sent after his conviction in the fodder scam cases, Mandal said.

Authorities at Birsa Munda jail will forward necessary papers to Tihar jail in the capital, where Prasad was subsequently shifted, to ensure his release, he stated.

All formalities are expected to be completed expeditiously and the release, most likely, will be secured on Monday, the lawyer added.

Earlier, Prasad had acquired bail in three other fodder scam cases pertaining to Deogarh, Chaibasa and Ranchi's Doranda treasuries. He was waiting for the court's verdict in the Dumka case.

The high court, while granting the RJD supremo bail, directed him to submit his passport and not leave the country without permission.

It also instructed him not to change his address and mobile number during the bail period.

The court further ordered him to deposit Rs 5 lakh each as penalties in two cases -- one under an IPC section and another under the Prevention of Corruption Act -- and two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each.

Prasad, who has also served as the railway minister from 2004 to 2009, was airlifted to AIIMS, Delhi on January 24 in view of his ill health.

The Rs 950-crore fodder scam had taken place in the animal husbandry department when Prasad was the chief minister of undivided Bihar.

The RJD boss was sent to jail on December 23, 2017 following his conviction in the Deogarh treasury case.

(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 Volta Region House of Chief has congratulated Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State and the Africa World Airlines (AWA) on a successful test flight to the Ho Airport.



The Embraer 145 flight landed smoothly on Thursday at exactly 1419 hours from the Kotoka International Airport.



This was contained in a release signed by Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, copied to the Ghana News Agency.



It noted that the leadership and members of the House were thrilled as the historic event was conceived and executed through the collaboration of their very own Togbe Afede, and his business entity.



The statement said that Togbe Afede became the co-pilot of the flight that kick-started processes for commercial flights to begin in earnest.



It noted that it was the hope that the Ho Airport would be considered seriously as an alternative arrival and departure point for flights.



It disclosed that the House was hopeful that other airlines would follow suit thereby enhance the overall fortunes of the aviation industry in the Region and country as a whole.



It urged the people of the Region to patronise AWA flights in order to enhance aviation business and prospects in the Region.



The statement lauded the Regional Minister and governments for executing such initiative, adding that, it has the potential to impact tremendously the growth of the Region, Ghana and West Africa.

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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Syracuse, N.Y.  A delivery driver for South Side Wings reported Saturday night he was carjacked by five men with guns, according to Onondaga County 911 Center dispatches.

The driver called 911 at about 9:30 p.m. to report that 30 minutes prior the five men had stolen a blue 2008 Dodge Caravan, money and food on Kramer Drive, according to dispatches. Kramer Drive is near West Seneca Turnpike and Valley Drive.

He made the call from the restaurant on South Salina Street, according to a restaurant employee who declined to be identified.

The driver was also robbed at gunpoint during a delivery last week at a different location, the restaurant employee said.

The driver reported the car had temporary South Carolina plates, according to dispatches.

A Syracuse police spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the armed robbery.

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.
Dean Kilpatrick, a psychologist and sexual violence researcher at the Medical University of South Carolina, hardly expected his 1992 research "Rape in America: A Report to the Nation" to have the lasting impact that it did. It is still widely cited today. He says the #MeToo movement is a start in the right direction, but is still brand new, and much still needs to change. Andrew J. Whitaker/ Staff
Wearing protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a man rides his bicycle and a woman crosses a street in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 5, 2021. Iran's capital is once again under a code red status, the highest level of restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus as the country struggles with a new surge in daily deaths. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran's daily coronavirus death toll climbed over 400 for the first time in months on Sunday, as the country, which has long had the region's largest outbreak, battles a post-holiday infection surge.

Iranian health authorities recorded 405 fatalities from the virus, pushing the total death toll to 66,732. Officials increasingly have warned about the impact of trends seen nationwide during the Persian New Year, or Nowruz. The two-week holiday last month brought increased travel, relaxed restrictions and large gatherings without precautions.

After COVID-19 cases broke record after record earlier this month, the Health Ministry reported 21,644 infections on Sunday, bringing the total count over 2.2 million. Hospitals are rapidly filling across the country, particularly in the capital. Authorities reported 130 deaths in Tehran alone, according to Mohsen Hashemi, head of the Tehran municipal council. The single-day death toll nationwide reached a peak of over 480 last November.

The coronavirus pandemic has hammered Iran for months, but the government has signaled it can't sustain the punishing lockdowns seen in the U.S. and Europe without risking economic catastrophe, especially for the nation's poorest. Its ailing economy has struggled under harsh U.S. sanctions, reimposed when former President Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 landmark nuclear deal that granted the country sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Still, Iran has restricted business operations in more than 250 cities for a period of 10 days, shuttering restaurants, beauty salons, malls and bookstores, confectionaries and public parks.

The country's inoculation rollout has gotten off to a slow start, with Iran producing and promoting a range of domestically made vaccines and warning against the import of American-made ones amid deep-rooted suspicion of the West.

However, President Hassan Rouhani stressed the importance of importing foreign-made vaccines in a speech last week.

"We cannot wait for the domestic vaccine to reach mass production," he said. "We need to expand vaccination this spring by importing vaccines in appropriate ways."

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.
Senior Saudi and Iranian officials have held direct talks in a bid to repair their relations, four years after they cut off diplomatic ties, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing officials briefed on the discussions, Reuters reports.

The first round of Saudi-Iranian talks took place in Baghdad on April 9, and included discussions about attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, the FT report added, citing one of the officials.

The talks were positive, the official told the FT.

The FT also said that a senior Saudi official denied there had been any talks with Iran. Lebanon's pro-Iran Al Mayadeen television channel and Unews news agency on Sunday both cited an Iranian source denying talks with Saudi Arabia.
The leader of Ireland's Sinn Fein party has today apologised for the 1979 IRA assassination of Prince Philip's uncle Louis Mountbatten.

The IRA, of which Sinn Fein was once the political wing, killed Philip's uncle and mentor to Prince Charles as part of the decades-long conflict waged between Irish republicans and those who wanted Northern Ireland to remain in British hands.

Mary Lou McDonald, now leader of the party, said today that the bomb attack which killed Lord Mountbatten as he holidayed with his family at Classiebawn Castle was 'heartbreaking' and she is 'sorry it happened'.

Her comments came the day after Prince Philip was laid to rest at St George's Chapel in Windsor in front of his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, after his death at the age of 99.

The leader of Ireland's Sinn Fein party - once the political wing of the IRA - has apologised for the 1979 assassination of Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle (pictured together in 1965)

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Macdonald (right) described the killing of Lord Mountbatten (left) by the IRA as heartbreaking as she apologised the day after his nephew Prince Philip's funeral

'Of course I am sorry that happened, of course that is heart-breaking,' McDonald told Times Radio.

'I am happy to reiterate that on the weekend that your queen buried her beloved husband,' she added.

It marks the first time the political leader of Irish republicans has apologised for the bombing.

Gerry Adams, her predecessor, pointedly refused to apologise for the attack when he met Prince Charles in 2015.

Lord Mountbatten, who was known as the last Viceroy of India and had overseen its partition, was a popular and well-known royal figure who had not been involved in the fighting in Ireland, but held a prominent position as mentor to Prince Charles.

The IRA had repeatedly threatened to assassinate him, and came close in 1978 when a sniper reportedly tried to fire at retired admiral from a boat - but was unable to take his shot due to bad weather.

Lord Mountbatten had dismissed the threats, one quipping: 'Who the hell would want to kill an old man?'

But in 1979, the IRA succeeded using a 50lb remote-control bomb fastened to the hull of Lord Mountbatten's custom fishing boat, the Shadow V.

The explosion took place while the 79-year-old was on his yearly holiday to Classiebawn Castle in County Sligo - close to an area of known IRA activity - along with members of his family.

On the night of August 26, two members of the IRA had snuck down to the docks where the boat was moored and affixed the bomb to its hull.

The following day, a Bank Holiday, the Earl had taken Shadow V out on an expedition alongside six others - his daughter Patricia, her husband, Lord John Brabourne, their 14-year-old twins, Timothy and Nicholas, and Lord Brabournes mother, the dowager Lady Doreen Brabourne.

Louis Mountbatten pictured with members of his family on Shadow V at Mullaghmore, County Sligo in the Republic of Ireland, circa 1975. He was killed on a similar fishing trip in 1979

Around 30 minutes into the voyage, the bomb was detonated - killing Lord Mountbatten, Nicholas and Paul instantly.

Lady Brabourne died the next day of her injuries.

The attack also coincided with a major attack on British armed forces at Warrenpoint in a roadside bomb ambush.

Eighteen soldiers died in what was the heaviest one-day loss of life for the army since The Troubles began.

The group stated at the time that the 'bombing was a discriminate act to bring to the attention of the English people the continuing occupation of our country'.

Lord Mountbatten was Philip's maternal uncle as the brother of Philip's mother Alice and it is thought the two were extremely close up until his death.

Lord Mountbatten's daughter, Lady Patrica Brabourne, 55, her husband Lord Brabourne, 54, the Dowager Lady Brabourne, 82, and Nicholas's twin brother, Timothy, also were on board and were taken to hospital.

Mountbatten was also a mentor to Philip's son Prince Charles.

McDonald said Sunday that 'my job, and I think Prince Charles... would absolutely appreciate this, is to lead from the front now, in these times.

'It's all of our jobs to make sure that no other child, no other family, irrespective of who they are, face the kind of trauma and heartbreak that was all too common sadly in all sides on this island and beyond,' she said.

Around 3,500 lives were lost in the conflict between unionists and nationalists over the future of Northern Ireland that ended with a landmark peace deal in 1998.

On Saturday, Irish prime minister Micheal Martin warned against a 'spiral back' into sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, as a week of riots raised fears for the future of the fragile deal.
Getty/Leon Neal

Labour told Boris Johnson to cancel his planned trip to India next month.

It comes amid a massive surge in COVID-19 cases there.

"I'd much rather the prime minister did it by Zoom rather than traveling to India," said Labour's Steve Reed.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

The opposition Labour Party has told Boris Johnson to cancel his planned trip to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month amid a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.

The prime minister is set to visit India on April 26, and Downing Street has refused to cancel it, with a Number 10 spokesman on Friday saying the trip had been made "slightly shorter than it will have been."

Labour on Sunday said Johnson should cancel the trip altogether.

"I think he shouldn't be [traveling to India]," Labour's shadow communities secretary told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

"There are new variants emerging all around the world, the government is telling people 'don't travel if you don't absolutely have to travel.'

"I can't see why the prime minister can't conduct his business with the Indian government via Zoom."

"The prime minister, like all of us in public life, needs to try and set an example. I'd much rather the prime minister did it by Zoom rather than traveling to India."

India reported a further 261,500 coronavirus cases on Sunday, per Reuters, a figure which has surged in recent weeks.

That took the total number of confirmed cases to nearly 14.8 million, with the chief minister of New Delhi warning that hospital beds were "filling fast."

The new Indian variant of the COVID-19 virus is potentially very dangerous, experts warn.

It has two mutations that allow the virus to lessen the potency of the vaccine.

The variant - officially named B.1.617 - is believed to driving the spike in India's cases and 77 cases have been reported in the UK, Sky News reported.

Story continues

Boris Johnson's spokesperson was also unable to explain on Friday why India had not been placed on the red list of countries from which people arriving in the UK must enter quarantine.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Johnson was due to visit India for four days for talks with the government, but most meetings will now occur on Monday, April 26, Downing Street said, per BBC News.

Read the original article on Business Insider
We may never know if a Manchester police officers act of kindness to a teen would-be shoplifter will make a difference in the teens life. But it certainly brightened the day of a lot of Manchester residents and others who read our story or saw the TV newscast about Officer George Morales.


Sr. Motion Sensor Algorithm and State Estimation Engineer - SPG Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Hardware Summary

Posted: Apr 16, 2021 Role Number: 200239815 One of Apple's R&D groups is currently seeking a Sr. Motion Sensor Algorithm and State Estimation Engineer. This engineer will develop custom algorithms for sensor fusion, calibration and processing of our motion sensing subsystem. This individual will drive algorithm design, architecture, development workflow, and system level integration. Typical work products will include reference algorithm designs or embedded implementation, performance analysis, proofs of concept, and integration plans. Does working on autonomous technology excite you? Innovation is in your hands! We are ready to help you help us grow. Key Qualifications Skilled in the of development, theory, design, modeling, and implementation of sensor fusion algorithms based on inertial sensors + external aiding. eg. Kalman filters, batch least squares, complementary filters, etc.

Experience with robotic platform dead-reckoning solutions that include kinematic modeling, odometry, and inertial propagation.

Expert in calibration and signal processing of motion sensors and intrinsic parameters. Description In this role you will partner with other subject matter experts and work with a cross functional team: sensor/actuator HW engineers, control designers, and embedded FW resources to develop motion sensor processing algorithms. Create a robust state estimation and sensor fusion algorithm architecture allowing for exploration of challenging safety critical environments. Develop extensive and scaleable testing, tuning and evaluation systems for these algorithms Perform simulation and analysis to support use cases and requirements/specs Maintain a strong relationship with internal customers, hardware/software teams, and external vendors Drive SW/HW Algs/sensor integration and tuning on a host of program platforms. Develop test/validation plans and manage execution of these activities Consult on other applications of motion sensors, algorithms and estimation (robotics, various sensor-system applications) Education & Experience B.S. in Engineering + minimum of 10 years of industry experience M.S. in Engineering + minimum of 5 years of industry experience Additional Requirements Nice to have:



Experience implementing and releasing software/algorithm designs into products.



Familiarity and experience testing integrated GPS/INS products



Experience with functional safety, redundancy, and graceful degradation for navigation.



Experience with source control (Git) on multi developer projects

Apple's most important resource, our soul, is our people. Apple benefits help further the well-being of our employees and their families in significant ways. No matter where you work at Apple, you can take advantage of our health and wellness resources and time-away programmes. We're proud to provide stock grants to employees at all levels of the company, and we also give employees the option to buy Apple stock at a discount - both offer everyone at Apple the chance to share in the company's success. You'll discover many more benefits of working at Apple, such as programmes that match your charitable contributions, reimburse you for continuing your education and give you special employee pricing on Apple products.

Apple benefits programmes vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace






The Delhi government has issued an order making it mandatory for all residents of Delhi who visit the Kumbh in Haridwar to quarantine themselves at home for fourteen days on return. Anyone who violates the order will face legal action.

An order issued by Chief Secretary Vijay Dev states, "All those residents of Delhi, who have visited or are going to visit Kumbh, will be required to compulsory home quarantine themselves for 14 days on arrival to Delhi."

"Residents of Delhi who visited the between April 4 and April 17 are required to upload their details on a link provided on the Delhi government website within 24 hours," he added in an official letter.

"Those who are going to visit Kumbh between April 18 and April 30 must fill in their details before leaving Delhi. This will allow the government to effectively trace all visitors," the letter reads.

It further stated that If anyone who visits the fails to upload their information, they will be sent to an institutional quarantine centre for two weeks, the official order reads.

More than 1,700 people have tested positive for Covid-19 at the Kumbh in Haridwar. The COVID-19 protocol including wearing of masks and social distancing was openly violated as lakhs gathered for the major Hindu pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, Delhi reported 24,374 fresh Covid-19 cases in 24 hours on Saturday in its highest ever single-day tally. There are now almost 70,000 active cases in Delhi.
Amazon says it removed a conservative Christian scholar's book on transgenderism because it framed "LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness."

Ryan T. Anderson shared last month that his bestselling book, When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment, had been removed without notice or explanation by Amazon.

The book challenges prevailing transgender ideology, particularly the idea that people can be 'trapped' in the wrong body.

Last month, Republican senators, among them Marco Rubio of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah, wrote to the online retailer asking it to explain its actions.

Criticizing the removal of Anderson's 2018 book, the senators said the internet works best "when it is an open marketplace of ideas that brings people together to share, learn from one another, and engage in a range of commercial activities."

"Many Americans have come to rely on online retail more than ever before to meet their basic needs, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," they said.

"In its decision to remove Mr. Anderson's book from its platforms, Amazon has openly signaled to conservative Americans that their views are not welcome on its platforms."

In a written reply to Congress, Amazon Vice President for Public Policy Brian Huseman said: "We have chosen not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness."

The response has angered Anderson, who in a series of Twitter posts denied framing LGBTQ+ people as having a mental illness. He also accused Amazon of silencing debate around treatment for gender dysphoria.

"Amazon appears to have never read my book, but relied on hit pieces. As I pointed out before: 'Please quote the passage where I 'call them mentally ill.' You can't quote that passage because it doesn't exist,'" he said.

"Gender dysphoria is listed in the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which Amazon sells. So the real deciding factor seems to be whether you endorse hormones and surgery as the proper treatment or counseling.

"Everyone agrees that gender dysphoria is a serious condition that causes great suffering. There is a debate, however, which amazon is seeking to shut down, about how best to treat patients who experience gender dysphoria."

Anderson expressed further frustrations over the withdrawal of his book in a joint statement with his publisher, Encounter Books.

"No good comes from shutting down a debate about important matters on which reasonable people of good will disagree," Anderson said.



"Amazon is using its massive power to distort the marketplace of ideas and is deceiving its own customers in the process."
A NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) astronaut, Jessica Meir, said that VR could help the international space agency to improve future space missions.

Meir added that although virtual reality simulation is not perfect or complete, it is still a valuable tool when it comes to space mission preparations. The space expert specifically refers to Space Explorers, a 360-degree VR documentary.

Right now, this VR experience offers various places and other fictional scenarios. Here are some of them that you should know:

The ISS Experience

Alegria a Spark of Light

Gymnasia

Traveling While Black

The Marshall From Detroit

Jurassic World (Blue)

Isle of Dogs: Behind the Scenes

The Confessional

Through the Ages: President Obama

If you want to experience more of these, all you need to do is visit Felix and Paul Studios' official website. But, you need to remember that Oculus Rift, Gear VR, or Windows Mixed Reality is required.

How VR helps NASA

According to CNET's latest report, Meir explained that VR technology could help her and other astronauts to share their experiences with people who are on Earth.

Also Read: SpaceX Gets $2.89B Contract from NASA for Artemis Moon Mission to Use HLS Starship Lander Since the Apollo

"We're kind of used to that as astronauts already: We're always under the microscope, and we have other cameras on the space station throughout our workday, pretty much always recording what we're doing up there," said Meir.

"It really gives us a way of sharing our experiences," she added.

Aside from this, the astronaut also said that VR is really essential when it comes to relaying their research and studies to those stationed on the planet. She said that their experiences are usually hard to describe in words, which VR innovation could solve.

NASA already tested VR technology

NASA Gov's previous report confirmed that the international agency already tested mixed-reality innovation. The space company said that it worked with mixed reality technologies. These include augmented reality apps and VR headsets. If you want to know more details, all you need to do is click here.

For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Makes Modern Wright Brothers Moment After Successful Test Spin in Mars

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Giuliano de Leon

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

While the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office asked for public comment on revisions to its use-of-force policies, some members of the public found it difficult to give their input because they couldnt access the existing policies online.

Several members of the public who submitted comments said they couldnt find the existing policy on the sheriffs website and, when they asked for more clarification on the policies, they didnt receive an answer.

Juan Rios, the Sheriffs Office media coordinator, said the sheriffs office is in the process of reviewing the public comments they did receive and letting staff members share their thoughts on the current policy. Rios said new legislation regarding law enforcement  such as the New Mexico Civil Rights Act that passed during this years legislative session  will also be taken into account when creating the new policy.

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He said Sheriff Adan Mendoza wouldnt comment on the publics input at present.

The Journal North reviewed some of the comments the Sheriffs Office got to get an idea what people are saying.

County resident Steven Mesko, for example, wanted to know more specifics about the sheriffs offices policy regarding the use of police dogs and how it relates to the use-of-force policy. He said he finds it concerning that police K-9s are in the same category as batons and blunt objects.

This implies the dogs are used to attack, disable, maim or even kill in the same way a firearm or other weapons are used, he commented.

In a phone interview, Mesko said he found the public comment process disappointing. He didnt hear back from the Sheriffs Office after submitting his comment. He said the process felt disingenuous and insincere due to the lack of feedback or acknowledgment of his questions.

Rachel Feldman, a task force chairwoman of the politically progressive nonprofit group Indivisible SOS, along with other group members, submitted a packet of recommendations to the sheriff. The recommendations included shifting from a warrior to a guardian model of policing.

That would shift the focus onto protecting the public, instead of defending officers own behavior, the recommendations stated.

Other recommendations from the group included focusing on de-escalation techniques and increased training to decrease confrontations.

As much attention should be given to training personnel to use these (de-escalation) methods as to the detailing of different uses of force, they said.

The public input process occurred during the last three weeks of the legislative session. Feldman said she wrote to Mendoza and told him that, with the passage of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act, the best thing to do would to have good policies and training for officers. The act eliminates qualified immunity as a defense for law enforcement agencies.

Feldman also added that taking the use-of-force policy out of the policy manual doesnt make any sense. The public isnt able to see the linkage to the rest of the policies, which is something Mesko also had trouble with.

His policies are not accessible to people, you have to do a (public records) request, she said. I think that all Sheriff policies  should be on their websites and available for the public to view, and theyre not.

Barron Jones, senior policy analyst with the New Mexico American Civil Liberties Union, said he would like all sheriffs offices across the state to take the steps the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office has to address excessive force in the department.

I think the New Mexico Civil Rights Act will incentivize government agencies not only to produce better policies that lessen incidents of excessive force and abuse by government officials, but also will incentivize these agencies, our government agencies, and public employees to create systems of accountability, he said.

Jones said Senate Bill 227 introduced in the Legislature this year would have created unified use-of-force standards statewide, including the ban of chokeholds. The bill did not, however, make it through the Legislature.

With the national awareness on chokeholds increasing and the attention being given to the George Floyd case, Jones said he supports a chokehold ban.

Jones said its good practice to seek community input when adapting policies. But he said the issue he has with the Santa Fe Sheriffs Office process was that the public comment period ran during the same time as the legislative session. That meant advocacy groups, such as the ACLU and others, werent able to offer input on the policy.

I do think that it would probably be nice to see that public comment period open back up so more advocacy organizations could sort of weigh in on it, Jones said.
Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., visited the Bridgeport Emergency Operation Center on Sunday to recognize the 911 dispatchers during Telecommunications Week and push for first responder recognition.

During the visit, Blumenthal said that dispatchers deserve to be called first responders under the law.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th April, 2021) At least three people were killed in a shooting incident in the US city of Austin, Texas and the attacker is still at large, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) said.

"Active Attack incident ... To this point #ATCEMSMedics have obtained Deceased On Scene pronouncements of 3 adult patients. This is still an active scene, please continue to avoid the area," ATCEMS said on Twitter.

Austin police department (APD) said they were at the shooting site in the northwest of the city and advised residents to take shelter and leave the area.

"APD is currently on scene of an active shooting incident at Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway. All residents are advised to shelter in place and avoid the area ... While a suspect is still at large it appears this is a domestic situation that is isolated and there is no risk to the general public," the police said on Twitter.
At least 11 people have been killed and 98 left injured in Egypt after four carriages on a passenger train derailed, Egyptian authorities said.

Four train wagons ran off the rails at 1.54pm today in the Qalyubia province, just north of Cairo, the railway authority said in a statement.

The train had been heading to the Nile Delta city of Mansoura from the Egyptian capital when the carriages derailed.

The health ministry confirming that at least 11 people had been killed and 98 people had been left with injuries, including broken bones, cuts and bruises.

At least 11 people have been killed and 98 left injured in Egypt after a passenger train derailed just north of Cairo, Egyptian authorities said

A crane works to move one of the derailed passenger train carriages after it derailed in Egypt earlier today

Four train wagons ran off the rails at 1.54pm today at the city of Banha in Qalyubia province, just north of Cairo, the railway authority said in a statement. Pictured: One person sits on the tracks in front of the rolled over train carriage

People look beneath one of the overturned passenger train carriages in Egypt earlier today as salvage teams work to locate any survivors

More than 60 ambulances had been dispatched to the site of the derailed train and had been working to transport those injured in the incident to hospital.

Salvage teams were also seen working to find survivors and move the derailed wagons.

It was not immediately clear what caused the train to derail but prosecutors said they were investigating the crash.

This is the latest in a number of derailing incidents to take place in Egypt in recent years.

The health ministry confirming that at least 11 people had been killed and 98 people had been left with injuries, including broken bones, cuts and bruises

More than 60 ambulances had been dispatched to the site of the derailed train and had been working to transport those injured in the incident to hospital

It was not immediately clear what caused the train to derail but prosecutors said they were investigating the crash

Last month, two passenger trains collided in southern Egypt, leaving at least 32 dead and around 100 wounded as multiple carriages derailed and flipped over.

The crash happened in Sohag province, 285 miles south of Cario, on Friday when 'unknown individuals' pulled the emergency brake on one train headed from Luxor to Alexandria, causing it to stop on the tracks.

A second train going from Aswan to Cairo then ploughed into it from behind, causing at least two carriages to derail while others were left buckled and broken by the force of the impact.

Fifteen people were injured this month when two train carriages derailed near Minya al-Qamh city, about 44 miles north of Cairo.

A paramedic speaks to a member of the public next to one of the derailed passenger train carriages in Egypt earlier today

People broke their fast during the holy month of Ramadan at the site of the passenger train, in Egypt, which derailed earlier today

A group of men stood on top of the derailed train peer down between two carriages in search of any survivors trapped

Egypt's deadliest train crash came in 2002, when over 300 people were killed after a fire broke out in an overnight train traveling from Cairo to southern Egypt.

Train wrecks and mishaps are common in Egypt, where the railway system has a history of badly maintained equipment and mismanagement.

The government says it has launched a broad renovation and modernization initiative.

Egypt's transportation minister Kamel El-Wazir, a former army general, has faced calls to resign from some Egyptians on social media.

He has rejected these and vowed to keep working on developing the ageing rail network.
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The Governments approach to financial management adds to the countrys woes View(s):

It was not for nothing that an anonymous writer once did say, there was never a dull moment in this resplendent isle. Never has it been more true than in current times. The news headlines keep changing so rapidly that one is hardly able to digest some incredible story before an even stranger one emerges.

A sugar scam which cost the national revenue a loss of R. 16 billion was followed by the revelation that coconut oil containing cancer causing Aflatoxins has been released to the market on the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Yearthe period where coconut oil is in high demand for making festive delicacies.

In the middle of this comes Cardinal Malcolm Ranjiths threat to take to the streets if sufficient progress is not shown with regard to the investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks and the identification of the master mind behind the heinous attacks.

The Government responds by naming a so far insignificant Naufer Maulavi as the mastermind but there are few takers for the Governments selection of the mastermind.

At the same time, widespread destruction of the countrys forests goes on unabated. The latest breaking news is the unprecedented resolution presented to Parliament to undo legal proceedings against several high profile Government bigwigs as well as the controversial Port City Bill being placed on the Legislatures order paper and the subsequent spat between Parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

While all these are grabbing the headlines, an important news item which reflects the way the countrys finances have been managed has escaped the peoples attention.

On April 2021, the Sunday Times reported that the Sri Lankan Government had paid a sum of US dollars 6.5 million in 2014 to an American businessman to build Sri Lankas failing image in the United States. Quoting from an investigative report in the Wall Street Journal the Sunday Times revealed that the businessman Imaad Zubeiri, had been jailed for 12 years after pleading guilty to tax evasion, foreign-influence peddling and campaign finance violations.

The report also revealed that Mr. Zubeiri who had been working for the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for more than a decade, had spent US$ 5.6 million or 87 percent of Sri Lankan taxpayers money on himself and his wife.

The fact that the Sri Lankan Government of the day had engaged Mr. Zubeiri, who posed as a lobbyist, was first exclusively exposed by the Sunday Times in July 2014. The payments to Mr. Zubeiri were so covertly done that neither the Cabinet nor the Parliament knew the funds were being channeled through the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to avoid oversight by the Cabinet and the Parliament.

In 2014, the Sunday Times had revealed that billions of rupees were being channeled into public relations firms and lobby groups, particularly in 2014. During the period between 2008 and 2014, Sri Lankas Mission in Washington, The External Affairs Ministry Office for Monitoring Members of Parliament and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had numerous so called lobbyists and public relations companies on their payroll.

Several governance related issues arise with regard to the hiring of Mr. Zubeiri and others to raise Sri Lankas profile in the United States. None of their efforts, if any, succeeded in Sri Lanka being more positively looked at by US lawmakers or officials. There were no tangible benefits to the country despite the massive amounts of money paid to these various individuals and firms.

Yet no one has been held accountable for resorting to these so called lobbyists for carrying out the traditional functions of the Sri Lankan Foreign service nor for spending such large sums of money without authorised approvals.

Why could not the Sri Lankan Mission in Washington handle these tasks when heads of past missions had done so with great skill and acceptance? What was the role of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington during that period, and was it an admission that they were not up to the task?

If it was for some reason, deemed to be in the National Interest, that such firms and individuals had to be hired, was due diligence exercised before they were hired? The case of Imaad Zubeiri suggests that it was not.

The preferred channel of payments for these so called lobbyists was the Central Bank as their accounts are not subject to Parliamentary oversight.

At present, it is evident the lack of due diligence continues. One wonders whether the Government has checked out the Adani groups credentials before engaging with them on the Colombo Ports East and West Container terminals. More so because in India itself there is a huge controversy about its track record.

If one traces the origin of the economic troubles faced by the country today it can be sourced to construction of vanity projects like the Hambantota Harbour, Mattala Airport and the Lotus Tower project to name a few. It is very apparent that huge sums of money were taken as loans without exercising due diligence and making a proper assessment of the ability of these projects to generate income from these projects to help pay back the huge loans.

It seems over the years the Government seems to be adopting a casual approach to financial management. So long as the Treasury has the funds even if they are borrowed funds, it will incur any expenditure that it chooses without worrying too much about the capacity to generate funds for repayment.

The latest example is the recent interaction between Parliamentarian S. B. Dissanayake and the Chief Incumbent of the Getambe Rajovapavanaramaya Ven. Kappetiyagoda Siriwimala on the occasion of the Chief Incumbents 90th Birth anniversary.

In response to criticisms of the Government, Mr. Dissanayake has told the senior monk: China has told us to take whatever money we need and give it back whenever we can. The Government has been given a clear message from China that they can give us any amount of money we need, returnable when the country can do so.

Since Mr. Dissanayake is a senior Parliamentarian we can believe him as he must know what is happening in the Government.

(javidyusuf@gmail.com)
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In its biggest single showcase, Visions du Reel staged a three-hour showcase on Saturday where directors and producers delivered online presentations of nine doc features in post. Some will undoubtedly hit major festivals in the months to come. Following, bare bones profiles of the nine WIP titles:

About Everything There Is to Know, dir: Sofia Velazquez (Peru)

Produced by Carolina Denegri (Cultural Mercado Central)

A group of filmmakers arrive in Santiago de Chuco, a remote village perched high in the Peruvian Andes which was the birthplace of Cesar Vallejo, the most revolutionary of Latin American poets. Their casting for a play, inspired by Vallejo characters, provides the doc features storyline. It also allows Velazquez to depict the village inhabitants and a mix of

fantasy and reality that builds as an equal part celebration of Vallejo and more nuanced portrait of Peru, where village life is rapidly eclipsed by emigration to nearby big cities.

Another Spring, dir: Mladen Kovacevic (Serbia)

Produced by Iva Plemic Divjak (Horopter Film Production)

Billed as a medical thriller, Another Spring tells the horrifying but inspiring story of the biggest post-WWII epidemic of the deadliest disease in human history, Kovacevic says. Hes talking about the 1972 outbreak in Yugoslavia of smallpox, a virus that by that time had killed near 500 million in the 20th century alone. To tell the story, Another Spring casts Zoran Radovanovic, then a young doctor in Belgrade, as the films narrator and protagonist, passing off slowed sepia 50-year-old film reels of the epidemic as his memories. The eradication of smallpox remains one of the biggest untold achievements of our civilization, Kovacevic said at a VdR presentation on Sunday. For Europe, Yugoslavia was its final battlefield.

Blue Island, dir: Tze Woon Chan(Hong Kong, China, Japan)

Produced by Catherine Chan, Peter Yam (Blue Island Production Company)

The latest from Tze Woon Chan, a complex tapestry of contemporary Hong Kong informed by the life-defining experiences of three men: Chen Hak-Chi, a mainland China-born intellectual who swam to Hong Kong, fleeing the 1970s Cultural Revolution; Kenneth Lam, a student leader who survived the Tiananmen Square Massacre; and Raymond Yeung, a patriotic Hong Kong businessman jailed for inciting the anti-British colonial protests of 1966-67. All are played by young protestors who took part in the 2019 Hong Kongs demonstrations against a bill allowing extradition to China. A film of large cinematic ambition  the reenactments are shot with cinematic style and a 2.35:1 aspect ratio  which weaves past and present in a tale of civil disobedience and anti-colonialism.

Flickering Lights, dir: Anupama Srinivasan, Anirban Dutta (India)

Produced by Anirban Dutta (Metamorphosis Film Junction)

Tora, an idyllic village of the Naga community in the hills of northeast India, is informed that it will finally get electricity. Will that prove, as in the past, to be an idle promise? If not, what impact will electricity have on the community? Whimsically toned, excerpts shown on Saturday suggested, Flickering Lights nevertheless delivers an oblique political punch in its form, using wider-angle shots and long takes to set characters in a context. We embarked on this film because we were moved by the collective spirit of people here, in an increasingly individualistic, self centered, and gadget dominated world, here people still had deep connections with each other the directors said on Saturday.

The Home, dir: Jessie Zinn, Chase Musslewhite (South Africa, U.S.)

Produced by Jessie Zinn (Red Coat Films)

One of the most mainstream plays at this years WIP, The Home weighs in as a good-humored portrait on the oldest and largest Jewish home in South Africa as its clients kvetch about companions and battle to elect a new Resident Committee. They are attended  with notable affection  by carers who are mostly Xhosa-speaking Black women working on minimum wages. From three sequences shown at VdR, The Home works as gentle observational comedy. But its also a record, as co-director Musslewhite put it on Saturday, of a microcosmos of Africa today, where a legacy of racial and economic segregation still lingers.

Transfariana, dir: Joris Lachaise (France)

Produced by Line Peyron (Mujo)

A rare LGBTQ take on Colombias peace process, Transfariana tells a love story between FARC leader Jaison and trans woman Laura, whom he meets and marries in prison. Their wedding affronts the collective psychology of the FARC base, until its commanders decide to embrace the LGBTQ cause.

An unprecedented love story, Tranfariana also reflects on historical process, says Lachaise, how the convergence of certain struggles consists essentially, for the individuals who wage them, in acting on the movement of history that determines their actions.

Under Open Skies, dir: Charlie Petersmann (Switzerland)

Produced by Stephanie Argerich (mnemosyn films)

A knowing, behind-the-scenes elegy to the faces, voices and lives of the immigrant workers on a major construction site in Switzerland from a director who worked as a teen as a construction builder apprentice. The site becomes a great open-air stage where the human condition is played out on a daily basis, a window on the cultural and social diversity of todays Swiss society, and in particular on those living on the edge, says Petersmann, who also produced Valerie Bauerlein s 2021 VdR-selected The Lunar Course of My Life, a painful take on a group of Japanese youths who all suffer from severe social phobia.

The Story of Looking, dir: Mark Cousins (U.K.)

Produced by Mary Bell, Adam Dawtrey (Bofa Productions)

The day before an operation to remove a cataract from one eye, multi-prized film director and historian Mark Cousins imagines the momentous role that looking has played in his own life and the history of humanity.

That sets off a thought train captured in Cousins hallmark combination of free-associating voiceover and a visual kaleidoscope of film excerpts and personal footage mixing reflection and reminiscence. The movie then segues to excruciatingly explicit shots of his eye operation. Based on his own book, The Story of Looking marks the latest film essay from Cousins who made his name with the Peabody Award winning The Story of Film: An Odyssey. Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema took the award for innovative storytelling at Decembers European Film Awards. The Story of Looking will close Junes Sheffield Doc/Fest.

We, Students! dir: Rafiki Fariala (Central African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Produced by Daniele Incalcaterra (Makongo Films)

A rarely glimpsed look at student life in the Central African Republic and a film about friendship. Nestor, Aaron and Benjamin, all friends of the director, meet as first year economics students at the dilapidated University of Bangui, in the CAR capital, and share hopes and dreams for the future. But they dont always play out the way they expect. The first feature-length film from Fariala, a slammer who sometimes sings softly over the soundtrack.

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Orlando Octave is vibrating on what is for him a new philosophical frequency.

Octave recently embarked on a spiritual journey. The groovy soca artistes open search for truth and enlightenment led him through the teachings of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism then eventually towards the Hebrew Israelites  a group who believe they are the descendants of the ancient Israelites written of in the Torah and Bible.

Octave was introduced to their teachings by a friend in 2014. He developed a deeper understanding for the groups philosophy during a pilgrimage he made to Israel in 2016.
We made it to another Saturday, friends, and Im glad youre back!

Last weeks Letter From Your Editor included a note about how our reporters were looking into the residential real estate market in New Jersey and looking for agents, buyers, sellers and others to share their stories.

Whoo, boy, did you folks share some stories.

Fistfights at the open house. Cash incentives out of the pocket of agents hoping to close a sale. Full price, sight-unseen offers. Love letters, free Netflix, and tacos for everyone! Its a full-on Game of Homes out there.

And this isnt even counting the houses that change hands before they ever have a sign in the yard -- check out your towns Facebook or Nextdoor page. If your school district is any good, its a safe bet buyers are in there schmoozing around looking to get an early chance at a deal.

My husband and I are watching all this warily, as were getting closer to time-to-downsize, and thinking about how bizarre the market was the last time we sold and bought.

Back in 2004, the housing market in Ocean County was flush with easy mortgages and bloated with folks from Staten Island moving to Jersey. The market was so competitive that the first buyers agent knocked on the door before the house even hit the MLS. She tried to wheedle her way in for an early look while I was shampooing carpets with a toddler underfoot. It didnt work.

But within a week of listing, we had multiple offers above asking price. When one of the bidders wrote us a letter complimenting the genuinely terrible faux-finish paint job Id done on the dining room, I knew things were getting ridiculous.

Fortunately for us back then, we were moving from rapidly-developing Jackson to a still mostly rural part of Gloucester County, where housing prices and taxes were lower. We knew our house would sell quickly, and that we could afford to buy the next one.

Now, with every corner of the state sizzling -- even in the tiny, not-upscale Delaware Bay town where my Mom lives, knock-down cottages are commanding big money -- the next move isnt so clear.

Im not sure what the next house will look like, though as our Allison Pries notes here, our turn-of-this-century center hall, open floor plan colonial is definitely out of style with todays buyers. I could definitely handle a fancy outdoor kitchen, though.

How about you? We still want to hear your Game of Homes tales, so if youre buying, selling or are an agent dealing working in todays market, get in touch with us here.

Also this week, a holy relic of rock n roll could be yours, people like money, and all the wrestling:

Finally this week, did you miss the part above where I mentioned you can watch live matches from the state wrestling tournament, for free, only on NJ.com? Our subscribers make this possible, and you can become one right now for just $1 a week.

P.S.: We love you, Painless Pete!

Amy Z. Quinn is NJ.coms Audience Editor, Newsletters and Briefings. To get a Letter From Your Editor every Saturday, add your email here.
Swan goose captured by photojournalist Kim Jin-su / Courtesy of Kim Jin-su



Photo journalist releases bird watching book, delves into bond between humans and birds



By Kang Hyun-kyung



One day, a truck driver based in Danyang County, North Chungcheong Province, saw a redstart flying in and out of a small hole created in a broken bumper of a truck left in the playground of an abandoned elementary school.



Out of curiosity, he peered into the hole and discovered a nest the bird had built. And there were eight eggs inside!



Feeling the urge to protect them, the truck driver quit his day job and looked after the redstart, so the bird could incubate the eggs and leave the nest after the chicks grew up.



The trucker, who identified himself as "Mr. Bear," made a sign for the bird family, "A House of Redstart Family," and put another watch-out sign underneath it. It read: "Do Not Open the Door of the Truck. A Redstart Is Incubating Eggs. Be Quiet!"



The redstart successfully incubated eight eggs, thanks to the trucker's month-long protection.



But the family of birds did not live happily ever after. All the birds disappeared one day. They were all eaten by a yellow snake while the truck driver was running an errand.





Kim Jin-su, author of "Birds That Flew into My Camera"

Photo journalist Kim Jin-su learned about the "bird keeper" story during his photo project back in April, 2004.



"The truck driver was saddened, but didn't blame the snake. He said that's the way of the world in the animal kingdom," Kim Jin-su, a photojournalist who recently released a book titled, "Birds that Flew into My Camera" said during a recent Korea Times interview. "It's a tragic story. But I learned a lot from him."



Before meeting him, Kim said he didn't understand people like the truck driver who chose to stay jobless to take care of birds. "But while listening to him about the bird family, I realized he had a wonderful heart for animals," he said.





In this 2004 photo, a trucker who identifies himself as "Mr. Bear" holds an empty nest after the redstart family was killed and eaten by a snake. Courtesy of Kim Jin-su



Published by Hani Books for children, "Birds that Flew into My Camera" is a bird watching book telling the story of Kim's two-decade-long professional journey watching birds in Korea, Mongolia and Siberia, Russia and capturing them in his photos.



It also tells the tale of a bond between birds and humans by featuring people like the trucker who interact with and take care of birds as if they were family.



To capture the best moments, he said he set up a camouflage hide near the nest and sat up until late at night. He said bird watching in a camouflage hide is a tormenting experience particularly when weather conditions become extreme. But he said, it's that painful experience that also makes him feel rewarded when he successfully captures the shots that he likes.



Kim, photo editor at the Hankyoreh newspaper, has taken photos of birds since the late 1990s. He joined the daily in 1994.



Some of the photos were published in the newspaper and went viral.



He said he decided to publish the book to share behind-the-scenes stories he was unable to share with his readers.



Asked about the most inspiring project, he mentioned his first one, which was about a kestrel that built a nest on a balcony of an apartment in Ilsan City, Gyegonggi Province in the late 1990s. Hearing about the bird from his readers, he went to the apartment and spent nearly 40 days photographing the bird.



He was intrigued by the rare interaction between the kestrel and an elderly former farming couple who learned that the bird had built a nest in their balcony.



"At that time, I was a total stranger to bird watching, because I knew nothing about birds. My knowledge of birds was almost zero, so I had no idea of how to approach the bird and what I should prioritize when photographing it," Kim said. "While taking several different photos, I gradually came to learn about birds, their behavior and developed an interest in them."



He said bird watching is very different from other photo projects he usually does for his newspaper. "During my career, I took photos of rallies and protestors. But bird watching was a whole new world and I had to learn a lot," he said.




San Francisco, April 18 : Apple has taken a step back in its efforts to reopen its stores around the world, with all six of its retail outlets in the US' Michigan closed as a preventative measure.

The six outlets in the state closed on Friday, confirmed by Apple as a "temporary" measure "due to current Covid-19 conditions" in the state.

Store listings for the six confirm they are closed for the foreseeable future, with no indication as to when they will reopen to the public, reports AppleInsider.

"We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible," the company was quoted as saying.

While the stores are immediately closed, they will still be performing any pre-arranged tasks with customers over the following few days, the report said.

The store pages advise they are currently still open for pickup of existing online orders, previously scheduled in-store Genius Support appointments, and any already-reserved one-on-one shopping sessions with a specialist, until April 18.

Recently, the tech giant decided to shut down 20 stores in France as the country entered its third phase of Covid-19 lockdown.

"We will soon close temporarily," said a notice on the Apple Opera Paris' site (in translation).

"For the moment, we are open for the collection of current online orders, and assistance at the Genius Bar for appointments already scheduled before Saturday, April 3," it added.
The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare on Saturday said that there has been a sharp growth in the number of deaths. New cases of coronavirus are also growing at 1.3 times higher than June 2020, it said. In a meeting of health ministers from 11 states and union territories chaired by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, the minister said, "India is currently reporting the sharpest growth rate of 7.6 per cent in new COVID cases, which is 1.3 times higher than case growth rate of 5.5 per cent reported in June 2020. This is leading to an alarming rise in the daily number of active cases, which currently stand at 16,79,000. There is also a sharp growth of 10.2 per cent in the number of deaths."

He alerted that the gap between new cases and recoveries is widening at a fast pace. All the 11 states and UTs have crossed their highest reported daily case threshold in districts such as Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Thane, Lucknow, Raipur, Ahmedabad and Aurangabad.

The minister shed some light on a few silver linings too. He said that India had 1 lab at the beginning of the pandemic which has increased to 2,463 labs with a daily testing capacity of 15 lakh. "The three-tier health infrastructure to treat COVID according to severity now includes 2,084 dedicated COVID hospitals (of which 89 are under the Centre and the rest 1,995 with States), 4,043 dedicated COVID health centres and 12,673 COVID care centres. They have 18,52,265 beds in total including the 4,68,974 beds in the dedicated COVID hospitals."

Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that 34,228 ventilators were granted to the states by the Centre last year, further assuring a fresh supply of ventilators.

The minister also, reiterating government's permission, asked the states to utilise up to 50 per cent of their annual allocation of the State Disaster Response Fund and the unspent pending balance under the National Health Mission as on April 1 for COVID-19 management purposes.

Also read: COVID-19 is primarily airborne, safety protocols should change urgently: Lancet report

Also read: COVID-19 second wave: Is the new 'desi' variant behind India's coronavirus glut?
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 21:07:35|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia reported 2,195 new COVID-19 infections, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, bringing the national total to 375,054.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that 10 of the new cases are imported and with 2,185 being local transmissions.

- - - -

HANOI -- Vietnam recorded three new cases of COVID-19 infection on Sunday, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 2,784, according to the country's Ministry of Health.

The new cases are all Vietnamese citizens who recently entered the country from abroad and were quarantined upon arrival, said the ministry.

- - - -

JAKARTA -- The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 4,585 within one day to 1,604,348, with the death toll adding by 96 to 43,424, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.

According to the ministry, 4,873 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 1,455,065.

- - - -

MINSK -- Belarus reported 1,300 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking its total to 344,223, according to the country's health ministry.

There have been 1,479 new recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 334,852, the ministry said.

- - - -

MOSCOW -- Russia confirmed 8,632 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 4,702,101, the official monitoring and response center said Sunday.

The national COVID-19 death toll rose by 389 to 105,582 in the past day, while the number of the country's recoveries grew by 7,391 to 4,326,780.

- - - -

KABUL -- The death toll of COVID-19 in Afghanistan has risen to 2,545 after six patients lost their lives within the past 24 hours, the country's Ministry of Public Health reported on Sunday.

The ministry also confirmed 105 new cases during the period, bringing the number of infected people across the country to 57,898, including 3,184 active cases, the ministry said in a statement.

- - - -

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 30 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total tally to 11,683.

There were 29 imported cases and one local case which was epidemiologically linked with another local case confirmed earlier, according to the CHP.

- - - -

MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday 10,098 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 936,133.

The death toll climbed to 15,960 after 150 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. Enditem
At 5 am, the fog still covered the mountain surrounding the Huong Lap Frontier Post. But the teacher, a border officer, was already correctly dressed in uniform, reviewing the lesson plan in a preparation for his teaching period in the field.

The teaching period in the field

At Boundary Marker No 591, the students at the Huong Viet Primary and Secondary School in Huong Hoa district of Quang Tri province would have a special lesson  the border lesson.

It was a sultry morning in April, but the heat could not distract the students from the lesson given by Major Pham Quang Luu, deputy head of the Huong Lap Frontier Post, the teacher in the green military uniform.

Many activities are typically organized for the border lesson model. Teachers give lessons at school online and offline, take students to visit the boundary marker, or even arrange patrol trips for them on borderline sections.

When we have teaching periods in the field, we always prepare lesson plans very carefully. We have to have sufficient legal knowledge to teach students the issues related to the laws, Luu said.

Our teaching method provides legal knowledge in a way so that students can understand it easily. We have to make thorough preparation with different teaching aids, including e-lesson plans and visible images, he said.

We wont go the wrong way

Do you know what it is? Luu asked. It is the boundary marker, students replied.

You are right. This is Boundary Marker No 591 on the Vietnam-Laos border managed by the Huong Lap Frontier Post, Luu said.

Many activities are typically organized for the border lesson model. Teachers give lessons at school online and offline, take students to visit the boundary marker, or even arrange patrol trips for them on borderline sections.

From the center of the marker towards the side with Vietnamese words is our beloved country; while the other side with Lao words is the neighboring country - Laos. We will violate the border sovereignty if we just take half a step towards the other side, he continued.

According to Luu, over the past years, along with the task of defending territorial sovereignty and national border security, Huong Laps officers have been trying to reform the methods of dissemination and education about laws to local people.

Through these activities, we found that local students still lack basic knowledge about the border line and boundary marker, he said.

The frontier post has been joining forces with schools to organize extracurricular activities called border lessons to introduce the work of defending national border, provide knowledge about border and territory; talk about the harmful effects of drugs and the work of preventing drug trafficking; and explain basic issues in border management and protection, border regulations and agreements, the National Border Law, and cross-border trafficking of women and children.

The special lessons help students understand the benefits, obligations and responsibilities of people in border areas, and the regulations on entering or going out of border areas. The knowledge helps raise students awareness of border protection, boundary markers, and encourages them to actively participate in the prevention of crimes and social evils. Students also understand the work of border officers and soldiers.

Ho Tra My, a Van Kieu ethnic minority student, said the soldiers teach them how to recognize border line and the examination procedure at border gates.

Today, we learned where the boundary between Vietnam and the neighbouring country of Laos is. We understand the sacrifices and struggle of uncle soldiers who day and night guard and defend the territory, she said.

We understand that we should not go back and forth arbitrarily, not marry illegally, and not go the wrong way. We also understand that protecting border markers is the task of everyone, including students, teachers, soldiers and all Vietnamese, she added.

Nguyen Thi Thuy Phung, Deputy Headmaster of the school, said the teaching model has been applied by the school and the frontier post for the last three years.

The soldiers at the frontier post not only give lessons in the field, but also often come to the school to provide knowledge about laws, national sovereignty, and the struggle against social evils, drugs, and trafficking of women and children.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Toan, Political Commissar of Quang Tri Border Guard Headquarters, said since December 2016, the border lesson model has been applied on a large scale.

At first, students were taught the Border Defense Law and knowledge about borderline and boundary stones. Later, the content of lessons was expanded with field trips organized for students, so that they can witness daily activities of soldiers.

The students, with knowledge received during the lessons, will be the propagandists in their families and hamlets, and become useful citizens, together with Vietnam Border Guard to implement the tasks of managing and protecting national border sovereignty.

The model is being applied by all frontier posts of Quang Tri province, Toan said.

The field lessons not only help students grasp knowledge of history, but also build national pride and help them understand the sacred value of territorial sovereignty so they will actively participate in protecting sovereignty and border security, and contribute to building a border of peace, friendship and development cooperation.

Thai An - Duc Yen - Bao Han

Soldiers protect the border to prevent spread of Covid-19 The border force has implemented flexible, practical, and effective plans to raise local people's awareness about crime prevention and to create trust among people for border security.
British backpacker Elisha Greer who was kidnapped and raped while in Australia has vowed to return to the country

A British backpacker forced to drive through the Outback at gunpoint while being beaten and raped by a drug-crazed drifter has vowed to return to Australia to start a new life.

Elisha Greer, from Liverpool, made headlines around the world in early 2017 when she survived weeks of terror at the hands of madman Marcus Martin.

The then 22-year-old was backpacking when she was forced to drive 1,000 miles through the outback by Martin and suffered a month of physical and sexual abuse.

Ms Greer was eventually rescued five weeks later after a petrol station worker spotted her looking 'like a zombie in a state of shock' and called police.

Martin, 27, was jailed for ten years back in 2019 but now Ms Greer has said she plans to return to the country to start a life there despite the fact Martin will one day be released.

Ms Greer said she struggled with alcohol abuse after arriving back home to the UK, and would go out drinking 'every weekend and almost every night after work.'

The hairdresser, originally from Liverpool, also revealed she has become the target of relentless online trolls since going public about her ordeal.

'Some people said I was helping him with criminal stuff. I don't think the police even believed me at first and that hurt,' she told the Mirror.

'I still get messages from creepy men on Facebook. One wrote, 'I've seen your story and I'd never do anything like that to you, Princess', while another said, 'I'd love to rape you'. I've learned to just ignore them.'

But Ms Greer said she refuses to be 'broken' and won't let her life be defined by the hell Martin put her through.

'I've always wanted to live in Australia and I'm going to do it. He'll be free one day but I'm not afraid of him. I won't let him rule my life,' she said.

Ms Greer, who waived her right to anonymity in the wake of the horrific attack, added: 'The worst has already happened. What else can he do?'

Elisha Greer was backpacking in Australia when she met Martin who forced her to drive 1,000 miles through the outback while subjecting her to weeks of physical and sexual abuse

Marcus Martin (left) was jailed for 10 years for horrific abuse of backpacker Elisha Greer (right)

Ms Greer met Martin in Cairns in January 2017 at an outdoor dance party and said he initially seemed normal when their relationship began.

'Yeah he seemed fun, he didn't seem like a psycho,' she previously revealed.

At the time, friends said the backpacker appeared to be under her attacker's 'spell'.

Within days the relationship began to sour as he became 'obsessive and clingy.'

During the kidnapping ordeal, Martin, who threw away her passport, was said to have choked Elisha as he told her it was 'time to go to sleep'.

Prosecutors also told the court he had thrown away her birth control pills 'so she would never leave him because she would have his child'.

Martin raped Ms Greer in a hotel room in Cairns before kidnapping her and from March 1, he made her drive south for five days before the case culminated in the regional town of Mitchell.

Ms Greer had been driving a white Mitsubishi Pajero through Mitchell when she stopped at a petrol station to fill up.

The service station attendant, Beverley Page, remembered her being in a 'state of shock when she came in, almost zombie like'.

The attendant said she had tears streaming down her face and was unable to pay for the fuel.

Elisha (pictured, right, after being rescued) came to the attention of a petrol station attendant who was concerned and called the police after Ms Greer left without paying. Police eventually stopped the vehicle and found Marcus Martin hiding in a hidden compartment in the back

The attendant had decided to follow the car to see if something was wrong, but called police immediately when Ms Greer took off without paying.

A dramatic rescue took place hours later when police pulled over the four-wheel drive, finding the distraught and badly beaten Ms Greer at the wheel.

An inspection of the car revealed her captor hiding in the back.

Martin was arrested and charged before pleading guilty to three counts of rape and one count of deprivation of liberty.

He earlier pleaded guilty to supplying dangerous drugs, wilful damage, assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation.

Prosecutors discontinued ten other charges of rape, cruelty to animals, and torture.

Elisha later told The Daily Mail: 'He shattered my nose so that it had to be rebuilt in hospital. The cartilage exploded out the side.

'He tried to gouge out my eyes. He smashed my legs so I could hardly walk.'

Elisha said she struggled with alcohol after her ordeal when she returned home to the UK and that she has had two relationships but finds it difficult to trust men.

She told the Mirror: 'It's difficult because of what I've been through and the last two relationships ended after they cheated so that's made things even harder.'

Ms Greer said she hopes to be an inspiration to other women who have been through something similar and that her family has been supportive of her plans to move to Australia.
HK reports 30 Covid cases, one acquired locally

A majority of coronavirus cases reported by health authorities on Sunday were imported. Image: Shutterstock

The Centre for Health Protection on Sunday reported 30 new coronavirus cases, with all but one imported from overseas.



Health officials said the local case is a woman who lives in Jordan's Parkes Building, where a returnee from Dubai who carried a highly infectious mutated strain stayed following his mandatory quarantine.



The 31-year-old woman was asymptomatic, officials added.



Dozens of residents at Parkes Building had been ordered to go into quarantine on Saturday after authorities discovered the Dubai returnee had stayed there.



The imported cases, meanwhile, mostly involved people returning to the city from India, which accounted for 22 out of the 29 cases. The other imported cases were from the Philippines, Indonesia, Egypt and Canada.
She shot to fame on Netflix hit Too Hot To Handle last year.

And Nicole O'Brien looked sensational as she stepped out in a stylish ensemble to attend a friend's barbecue on Sunday.

The reality star, 25, revealed her honed midriff in a white corset-style crop-top which boasted extravagant padded shoulders.

Chic: Nicole O'Brien looked sensational as she stepped out in a stylish ensemble to attend a friend's barbecue on Sunday

The star drew further attention to her tiny waist in a pair of shiny leather trousers which she wore with trainers.

Nicole wore her tresses in soft flicks, held back by a patterned scarf.

The beauty accentuated her stunning features with feline flicks of liner and rose gloss.

Chic; The reality star, 25, revealed her honed midriff in a white corset-style crop-top which boasted extravagant padded shoulders

Nicole appeared on the Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle, where a string of attractive contestants learned they'd win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact for four weeks.

Each infraction took money off the total prize fund.

While she did not find love on the show, she went on to date her co-star Bryce Hirschberg after the show wrapped, making their relationship public in April.

Glow: The beauty accentuated her stunning features with feline flicks of liner and rose gloss

Rise to fame: Nicole appeared on the Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle, where a string of attractive contestants learned they'd win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact for four weeks

They called it quits later in the year due to the travel restrictions posed by COVID-19, as Bryce lives in Marina Del Rey, California, and Nicole calls the UK home.

A representative for Bryce, 30, told People at the time: 'I can confirm that Bryce and Nicole decided mutually to split early last week after months of trying to make a long-distance relationship work.'

Bryce also made a statement: 'After the many failed attempts to reunite due to quarantine and border restrictions, we decided that moving on and remaining friends would be our best option for the time being.

Delight: The star couldn't keep the smile off her her face as she stepped out in London

'Nicole is so lovely and if under less unusual circumstances I'm sure that we could've had an amazing relationship! I wish her the best because she deserves it.'

Nicole said: 'He wasn't really my cuppa tea at the start. But getting to know him more and more, we formed a proper bond and connection.'

'Looking forward to (hopefully) seeing you soon,' she captioned a photo of them, to which he responded, 'One day.'

She recently put on a cozy display with fellow co-star David Birtwistle as they enjoyed a day at the park.

Another source told People that Bryce 'was spotted flirting with other women at his recent 30th birthday party last week in Los Angeles.'

Meanwhile, Nicole is busy working on her music career, and often shares clips of herself singing on her social media channels.

Last month, the Irish beauty released her first single, which shot to number one in the iTunes charts in Ireland.

Speaking about her love for music, Nicole told OK! In March: 'I have written music for years and years. It's so funny because I have written down when I was about 16 or 17, in a diary back home I wrote down my 10-year plan, which was to do a show, get a platform and start releasing music.

'So, my mum sent me a photo of it the other day, saying how mad is this.'
(Newser)  A 41-year-old man is wanted in the fatal shooting of three people in Austin, Texas, and police officials searching the surrounding area Sunday warned residents that the suspect might take a hostage, per the AP. Interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said the suspect, Stephen Broderick, was considered armed and dangerous. He asked area residents to continue to shelter in place and to call their neighbors to check on them. We are concerned he might possibly take a hostage and be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave, Chacon said during a news conference Sunday afternoon. Chacon said Broderick s suspected in the killing of two Hispanic women and one Black man. He said Broderick, who also is Black, knew the victims but didn't elaborate on how or provide a motive for the shootings.

story continues below

Chacon also said a child was involved but that the child has been located and is safe. The Austin-Travis County EMS said it has received no reports of victims other than the three adults who were shot dead. USA Today reports the shootings took place at an apartment complex. The newspaper, citing public records, says Broderick is a former Travis County sheriff's office detective who is facing charges of sexual assault of a child. EMS spokeswoman Capt. Christa Stedman said the first 911 call came in at 11:44 am. Chacon said the three were not shot in a building but did not give any further details. The area includes a strip mall containing several retail stores and large apartment complexes situated near wooded rolling hills.

(Read more Austin stories.)
ZURICH (Reuters) - A modified version of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine tailored to combat a coronavirus variant first documented in South Africa could be ready by the end of 2021, an AstraZeneca official in Austria said in an interview published on Sunday.

Sarah Walters, AstraZeneca's Austria country manager, told the Kurier newspaper that studies, so far, indicating the existing AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the more infectious variant first documented in South Africa were "too small to draw final conclusions".

"In the meantime, AstraZeneca and Oxford University have started on modifications to the vaccine for the South African variant and we expect it will be ready by the end of the year, should it be needed," Walters told the Kurier.

Walters blamed challenges - including delivery delays for the AstraZeneca shot in the European Union - on the "complex process" of producing a vaccine, coupled with the extremely high demand arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

"We had to work without keeping a supply in reserve. As a result, we couldn't make up for unexpected events," she said. "We are confident that we will fulfill our commitment to deliver 300 million doses to the European Union this year."

The Kurier interview did not directly address ongoing investigations into health concerns over the AstraZeneca shot. The EU has put a warning label on the vaccine over its possible linkage to extremely rare blood clots, Denmark has completely halted use of the vaccine and Britain has advised people under 30 to get another brand of vaccine.

Asked about "thousands" of people in Austria who are cancelling their appointments for AstraZeneca shots, Walters said the company's plan was "to continue to transparently provide information about efficacy and safety to doctors, so that they can adequately inform people" of benefits and risks.

British and European Union medicine regulators have said that the overall benefits of using the vaccine outweigh any risks of rare clotting.

(Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
With monuments run by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) closed due to a spike in Covid-19 cases, the central government organisation will use the time to carry out conservation work at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri premises in Agra.

The aim behind carrying out such work was to make the monuments more beautiful for the tourists when once they reopen, a senior ASI official in Agra said on Saturday.

On April 15, the iconic Taj Mahal and other ASI centrally protected monuments, sites and museums were shut till May 15 by the Ministry of Culture due to the rise in coronavirus cases across the country.

Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Agra Circle, Vasant Kumar Swarnkar told PTI, "As monuments have been closed till May 15 due to the spike in Covid cases, we will utilise that time in conservation of Taj Mahal premises, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri."

He added, "During the closed period, mud pack treatment will be applied to the main dome of Taj Mahal while conservation of minars in the monument will be done."

"The old stones of pietra dura art at the royal gate will be changed and the royal gate itself will be given a new look," Swarnkar added.

Mud packs have been regularly used by the ASI to remove yellow stains that have appeared over the years on Taj Mahal's white marble facade. The treatment is believed to help in restoring the natural shine and colour of the monument.

The senior official said renovation of the fortification of walls of Agra Fort is also in the list along with other renovation work of Amar Singh Gate, Diwan-e-Aam, Musamman Burj, etc.

In Fatehpur Sikri, the ASI will carry out conservation of Todarmal Baradari, Hamam and Samosa Mahal inside the Mughal-era premises.

During the time of renovation and conservation, the guidelines of COVID-19 will be followed, Swarnkar added.

"The budget for the renovation and conservation of the monuments' premises was about ?1 crore and that was proposed in the last financial year," the ASI official added.

Vice-president of Tourism Guild of Agra Rajeev Saxena appreciated the step and said, "It will give a new look to Taj Mahal and other monuments. The initiative would give a 'Wah Taj!' experience to visitors when the monuments will be reopened based on the government guidelines."

He added that the Indian railways had last year utilised the pandemic related lockdown months in renovation and other development works for better experience of travellers. Similarly, the step taken by ASI, Agra would make a good impression on tourists, Saxena said.

Also Read: ASI monuments closed for visitors till May 15 over COVID-19 surge
Anzac Day services across Queensland will go ahead next week without restrictions, with the government waiving any need for COVID-safe plans or event approvals.

Anzac Day events around the state will not be required to submit formal COVID-safe plans, and there will be no restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather.

The city of Brisbane was a ghost town last year as Anzac Day marches and services were cancelled. Credit:Tertius Pickard NEWS

Deputy Premier Steven Miles encouraged people who were attending events to maintain social distancing or wear masks where they were unable to distance.

The fact that we have such low numbers [of COVID-19 cases] means Anzac Day can start to get back to closer to normal, Mr Miles said.
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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Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Chinese Regime Thrives on Apathy: New York Parade Draws Attention to Persecution of Falun Gong

NEW YORKThe extreme and unthinkable suffering that the Chinese regime has inflicted on members of the faith group Falun Gong typifies Beijings totalitarian tactics, which, if left unstopped, could eventually come to the free world, cautioned human rights advocates on April 18.

The Chinese Communist Party thrives on the ignorance and apathy of people around the world, said Alan Adler, chair of the New York-based Friends of Falun Gong. While our backs are turned and our eyes closed, they take advantage of our weakness and do their evils unchecked.

Making the remarks at an in-person Falun Gong rally in New York Citys Flushing on Sunday, Adler urged the audience to take the antidote to ignorance by exposing the cancerous danger of the regime. Standing up for the persecuted faith group, he said, equates to standing up for our own personal freedoms.

Alan Adler, chair of the New York-based Friends of Falun Gong, speaks at a rally in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

To stay in power, the communist regime decides to target one group every decade, labeling them public enemy, Adler said. Even during the pandemic, the Party has not relented its persecution of innocents, using lockdowns to perpetuate harassment of believers while collecting personal information of Falun Gong practitioners who have sought refuge overseas, he noted.

If these immigrants are not free from the CCPs grasp, what does that say about the average American citizen? Adler said.

If we dont stand up now, the oppressors will be emboldened to expand their reach. If we dont stand up now, we may not have the opportunity to do so in the future, and there will be no one left to stand up for us, he added.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Prior to the rally, around 1,000 of the citys Falun Gong adherents and supporters marched through the streets in their first parade since the onset of the pandemic last year, according to the event organizers.

They are celebrating truthfulness, compassion, and tolerancethe three core tenets of the meditative spiritual discipline that has been heavily persecuted in China since 1999, and to commemorate a historic appeals upcoming 22nd anniversary next week, the participants said.

On April 25, 1999, around 10,000 Falun Gong adherents gathered peacefully at the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) headquarters of Zhongnanhai, hoping that authorities could restore their environment to freely practice their faith and release dozens of fellow practitioners arrested days earlier.

Despite senior CCP officials initially granting the petitioners requests, the regime soon launched an all-out campaign targeting the faith, subjecting the estimated 70-100 million adherents to arrests, slave labor, organ harvesting, and various other torture methods designed to sever them from their faith.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Chen Fayuan (C), a 16-year-old Erhu player, at a rally in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Chen Fayuan, a 16-year-old Erhu player studying in New York state, said her parents who live in central China were studying Falun Gongs main teaching called Zhuan Falun at a friends place late at night in October, when more than 20 police officers, mostly in plainclothes, suddenly broke in and arrested them.

Police have also harassed her grandparents and tried to find her whereabouts, she said at the event.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.

My parents did not commit any crimes, but they are suffering the persecution for following truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, I think this is extremely ridiculous, she said in a speech.

Chen Fayuan, a 16-year-old Erhu player, at a rally in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Chen said that if she wasnt already overseas, she probably would have also been arrested alongside her parents. They wouldnt even let off a teenage kid like me.

Having not heard from her family for nearly half a year, Chen said she has been struggling with loneliness and anxiety, and crying herself to sleep at night.

I dont know if they have been tortured, she said.

A young Falun Gong practitioner takes part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Yulia Nova, who handed out Falun Gong souvenirs and pamphlets along the parade route, said she felt it in [her] heart what these people must be going through when she first learned about the practice.

Before moving to the United States 22 years ago, Nova grew up in the former Soviet Union where all her male family members were communist military officers. Despite being in a family that was in the upper echelon of society, many literature they read were passed under the table because they were deemed illegal, she said.

This is the state of mind where you know with your skin almost how evil the communist party is, Nova told The Epoch Times. It can get you anywhere, doesnt matter [if] you are a little kid or you are a grownup, she said.

It took her about 10 years just to realize how brainwashed society there [was], which also motivated her to support Falun Gong and shed light on the persecution.

To be truthful also takes bravery, she said. In spite of all the division  we have to unite instead, because that would bring us hope to overcome whatever it is [thats] coming our way as a humanity overall.

Martha Flores-Vasquez, New York State Assembly 40th district leader, speaks at a rally in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Martha Flores-Vasquez, New York State Assembly 40th district leader, said at the rally that she was in tears watching the parade.

Her best friend lost her husband because he was a Falun Gong practitioner, she said, adding that the persecution that continues has reached beyond the point of return and needs to end.

In April of last year I lost my father, I know what it is to lose somebody, she told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners talk to passers-by as they take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Passers-by take photos of Falun Gong practitioners as they take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

A young Falun Gong practitioner hands out lotus flowers at a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Lotus flowers to be handed out by Falun Gong practitioners at a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Police officers stand by as Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

A man looks at a lotus flower handed to him by Falun Gong practitioners as they take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade in Flushing, New York, on April 18, 2021, to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the April 25th peaceful appeal of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners in Beijing. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)
Motorcyclist killed in Friday night wreck north of Aberdeen

A 27-year-old man died Friday night when his motorcycle and a pickup collided north of Aberdeen, according to the SD Department of Public Safety.
The Woes of Revenge: Orestes Pursued by the Furies

Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

We sometimes come across people in our lives who cause us pain. It can be tempting to want to make them pay for the pain they cause us, but William-Adolphe Bouguereaus painting Orestes Pursued by the Furies may provide visual insight as to why its better to forgive.

The Vengeance of Orestes

In Greek legend, Orestes was the son of King Agamemnon, who is best known as a military leader who guided the Greeks during their war with the Trojans.

After being exiled to Sparta by Aegisthus, Agamemnon married Clytemnestra with whom he had three daughters and a son, Orestes.

Agamemnon, however, angered the goddess Artemis when he killed one of her sacred deer and claimed to be a better hunter than she was.

To appease Artemis, he sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia. Some versions of the story state that Artemis saved Iphigenia at the last moment by replacing her with a deer. Other versions state that Agamemnon brutally sacrificed his daughter, who was still a child.

In sacrificing his daughter, Agamemnon provoked the hatred of his wife. Thus, while he was off fighting the Trojans, Clytemnestra had an affair with the very man who had exiled him, Aegisthus. Together, the lovers conspired to kill Agamemnon when he returned.

When Agamemnon returned home after defeating the Trojans, his wife and her lover carried out their brutal plan. Agamemnons son, Orestes, a child at the time, vowed to avenge his fathers death and kill his mother and Aegisthus.

After eight years, Orestes, now an adult, took his revenge and killed them both. For the crime of matricide, Orestes was haunted by the Furies, who were goddesses from the underworld and haunted people for their wickedness.

The Furies came in threes, and were often named Unceasing Anger, Avenger of Murder, and Jealousy. Orestes would spend the next part of his life trying to free himself from their wrath.

Orestes Pursued by the Furies, 1862, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Oil on canvas, 91 inches by 109  inches. Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Va. (Public Domain)

Orestes Suffers for His Vengeance

The 19th-century, French Academic painter William-Adolphe Bouguereau skillfully painted the moment that Orestes stabs his mother, and the Furies instantly come to haunt him.

The focal point is Orestes, who is painted in a field of darkness in front of the other figures. He wears a white cloth that partially covers him. His facial expression is one of anguish, and he puts his hands to his ears to try to stop the Furies from causing him any more pain.

The three Furies are behind Orestes. They are identified by the lifeless color of their skin, the snakes in their hair, and the anger on their faces as they taunt Orestes. The Fury to the right holds a torch in her hand, while the Fury immediately to her left holds a snake in hers.

The Fury to the far left, however, supports Orestess dying mother with one arm. All three Furies point at the knife lodged in Clytemnestras chest. Even Clytemnestra uses the strength she has left to reach her hands toward the knife. With so many hands pointing toward the knife, it becomes a secondary focal point.

Avoiding the Wrath of the Furies

Lets take a close look at this painting to see what moral lessons we might derive from it.

Bouguereau depicted Orestes in the middle of the painting surrounded by the Furies and the darkness of his deed. Hes fulfilled the revenge he sought on his mother by taking her life. His success, however, brings him no joy; it instead brings him more pain.

Sometimes, revenge seems like the only course of action when we feel weve been wronged. We want revenge because we think it will make right the suffering weve endured. We want to cause pain to those who caused us pain in the hope that we will feel better afterward and that justice will be served.

But revenge does not make Orestes feel better; he feels worse. He tries to cover his ears to stop the Furies, and his body is positioned in such a way as to suggest that he wants to run from the pain.

But Orestes is unable to escape because the Furies are goddesses from the underworld. As goddesses, their power exists in their ability to spiritually haunt him wherever he goes.

That is, Orestes will be unable to avoid the pain no matter how he tries because he now suffers spiritual pain for taking revenge. Pointing at the knife and shrieking at Orestes, the Furies serve as a constant reminder of his deed, a deed that heightened his suffering instead of alleviating it.

Is it the case that seeking revenge only causes us more suffering? Does it ever really bring any satisfaction that makes it a worthwhile endeavor?

Could Orestes have approached this situation in a way that resolved the issues he had with his mother and prevented him from having to endure the wrath of the Furies? What could Orestes have done that potentially would have alleviated suffering instead of causing it?

Is forgiveness a better course of action? Both Clytemnestra and Orestes sought revenge because of their suffering, yet their revenge only begot more suffering. Would forgiveness have prevented all the pain caused by both Clytemnestra and Orestes, a pain that they both caused themselves by way of their acts?

A Broader Perspective

Outside of revenge, I find another layer of interpretation when I look at this painting as separate from the myth.

Orestes is the young man representing a new generation, with its own thoughts and beliefs. Clytemnestra, as Orestess mother, represents the older generation which has its thoughts, beliefs, and traditions. From this viewpoint, Orestess act is one of destroying tradition in favor of a new way of thinking: Out with the old and in with new.

Orestess unwillingness to learn from the past and build from it causes suffering he wasnt able to foretell. The Furies represent the resulting pain that occurs in society when tradition is wholly destroyed for the novelty of youth.

Even if traditions contain within them unhealthy thoughts and beliefs, destroying them completely only furthers the unhealthy practice of destruction itself. Unwilling to learn from the past, Orestes risks bringing the most dangerous elements of the past into the future.

Is there a way that the generations can work together to learn from and build upon positive traditions rather than resist them? Is it possible to build cultures and traditions around forgiveness so that we may potentially avoid the wrath of the Furies?

The traditional arts often contain spiritual representations and symbols the meanings of which can be lost to our modern minds. In our series Reaching Within: What Traditional Art Offers the Heart, we interpret visual arts in ways that may be morally insightful for us today. We do not assume to provide absolute answers to questions generations have wrestled with, but hope that our questions will inspire a reflective journey toward our becoming more authentic, compassionate, and courageous human beings.

Eric Bess is a practicing representational artist and is a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA).
Commemorative 5 coins could be issued to fund a statue of Prince Philip or even new Royal Yacht Britannia under Treasury plans.

Ministers are said to be considering minting the 'crowns' following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh who passed away aged 99 at Windsor Castle last week.

The money raised could then be used to pay for a permanent memorial with the proposition already being backed by MPs, according to The Telegraph.

Commemorative 5 coins could be issued to fund a statue of Prince Philip or even new Royal Yacht Britannia under Treasury plans

Vice Chairman of the 1922 Committee Sir Charles Walker told the publication: 'I can think of few better ways of celebrating the Duke of Edinburgh's full and wonderful life than the issuance of a special memorial coin.

'If the Royal Mint did this, there would be a large number of people  myself included  who would want to own one of these coins as well as buying one for children and grandchildren.'

A commemorative coin is being seen as a fitting tribute as Prince Philip was the president of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee for 40 years.

But HM Treasury declined to comment while still in the official period of mourning.

It comes after Boris Johnson was recently urged to consider sanctioning a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia as a memorial to the Duke of Edinburgh.

Boris Johnson has been urged to consider sanctioning a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia as a memorial to the Duke of Edinburgh. Pictured: The Queen and Prince Philip leave the Royal Yacht Britannia for the last time in Portsmouth where it was paid off in 1997

Philip travelled 70,000 miles on Britannia, including on two round-the-world trips, before it was decommissioned in 1997

Politicians and business leaders called for the construction of the vessel to serve as a sister ship to aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales.

Prince Philip served with the Royal Navy in the Second World War and was Lord High Admiral at the time of his death.

He travelled 70,000 miles on Britannia, including on two round-the-world trips, before it was decommissioned in 1997 as well as playing a key role in the commissioning and design of the original yacht in the 1950s.

Calls for a replacement have been made several times before, but now MPs believe making the ship as a memorial to the Duke would make it more appropriate.

One Cabinet minister told the Sunday Telegraph that the ship could receive backing if it doubled as hospital ship or a training vessel as well as serving the Royal Family.

They said: 'Having a symbol of the nation that can travel the world, be used by the Royal family and have another sensible purpose such as helping young people is a better scheme. It could also be a flagship for reinvigorated British shipbuilding.'

They added that an announcement on such a ship, which would cost around 190million, could be tied to the Queen's diamond jubilee next year.

Number 10 sources gave the proposal for a successor a cautious welcome, saying it was a 'nice idea' but they would have to consider the country's wider shipbuilding plans first.

Elsewhere, Save Our Statues launched a change.org campaign calling on the Prime Minister to erect a monument to the Duke of Edinburgh in London.

Elsewhere, Save Our Statues launching a change.org campaign calling on Boris Johnson to erect a monument to the Duke of Edinburgh in London

The page has been signed more than 4,000 times since it was set up last night and heartbroken signatories left tributes to the Queen's husband.

It said: 'The Duke of Edinburgh served our country for 78 years, serving 13 in the Royal Navy and then 65 as Britain's longest serving consort, including 22,000 engagements and supporting 780 organisations.

'We say there should be a prominent statue of the Duke in London to recognise the above, as well as his great personal dedication and support to Her Majesty the Queen.'

Earlier this year it was announced that the Queen will have her special-issue 95th birthday 5 coin inscribed with her pledge to reign with 'my heart and my devotion'.

Her Majesty, who is already the longest reigning monarch that Britain has ever had, will celebrate the milestone later this month before another official birthday in June.

The words engraved on the coin reference her first ever televised Christmas address that was broadcast in 1957.

The Queen told the public in her address: 'In the old days the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield and his leadership at all times was close and personal.

Earlier this year it was announced that the Queen will have her special-issue 95th birthday 5 coin inscribed with her pledge to reign with 'my heart and my devotion'

'Today things are very different. I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.'

In addition to Her Majesty's birthday, the Royal Mint is also releasing coins to commemorate other British anniversaries.

The anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott, recognised as one of the most influential Scots in history due to his contribution to literature, will also be commemorated with a 2 coin.
The choreography was audacious. In a prepared statement, Dick Cheney would declare victory on Global Media. This statement would be interspersed with images of an ecstatic, popular upsurge pulling down the statue of Saddam Hussain at Firdous Square. Cheney's talking head would alternate with the slow fall of the statue. Cheney would never have dreamt that all the back-channel tricks that had gone into the manufacture of the memorable spectacle would be exposed. For the first time in the history of Indian journalism, Worldview India had posted camera units/cum reporters in Baghdad, Najaf, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Amman, Lebanon. Some of these reporters happened to be in a Palestine hotel, witness to the real story -- the one the world was not supposed to know.

Americans had occupied Iraq, by April 3. Vice President Dick Cheney, the real author of the operation, was eager to declare victory on April 9. It was to be a spectacular media event. After all, Cheney had embedded 300 plus journalists with the forces.

Contrary to the narrative of a popular uprising toppling the statue, the Americans had to think on their feet: they had to improvise the iconic images because the popular upsurge had simply not materialized. US marines were mobilized to 'lasso' the neck of the statue and have it pulled down by cranes. CNN, premier cheerleader for the occupation, has to this day incorporated a video of the statue as a lasting symbol of Americans replacing a "brutal" dictatorship with democracy.

As we know from the experience of various "colour revolutions", camera angles can amplify a handful of people (in this case the workers of Palestine hotel) into a revolution on the march. True, the sole superpower can arrange for a statue to be pulled down, but how does it show images of crowds celebrating Saddam Hussein's fall?

1991-92 Shia uprising in Najaf and Karbala encouraged by operation Desert Storm was harshly put down by Saddam Hussein. The only images of the damaged shrine of Imam Hussain was brought to the world by a TV crew led by this reporter. The Shia refugees from this almost unreported conflict had been settled in a vast ghetto on the outskirts of Baghdad. It was named, like much else in Iraq those days, as Saddam City. It dawned on Cheney's team that one group of people thrilled at the "fall of Saddam" were actually the inmates of the nearby ghetto, teeming with disgruntled Shias.

A deal was struck with the controversial cleric, Muqtada Sadr. Saddam city was renamed "Sadr" city. That is when celebrations erupted on the streets of Baghdad. Crowds from Sadr city trampled on posters of Saddam Hussein and beat it with their sandals. American romance with the Shias of Iraq burgeoned. On March 20, 2005, Thomas Friedman of the New York Times recommended Grand Ayatullah Ali Sistani for the Nobel Prize. Sistani remains the blue-eyed Ayatullah because he differs with Tehran on the clergy's role in governing the state.

Cheney's contrivance of a quick victory in Iraq was matched by the energetic diplomacy of the US embassy in New Delhi. They persuaded South Block to participate in the American victory by taking over the administration of Iraq's Kurdish North. A powerful cabinet minister like Jaswant Singh found the American blandishment tempting. Prime Minister Vajpayee, as much a statesman as a skilful politician, rather than rubbish his cabinet colleagues, went into one of his extended spells of deep reflection.

He called up his friend A.B. Bardhan, Secretary General of the CPI. "Are you supporting Indian occupation of Kurdish Iraq?". Vajpayee taunted. "Not at all" exclaimed Bardhan. "But I see no protest". Vajpayee continued. The Prime Minister was looking for signs of street restiveness on the issue to cite in opposing the idea. The source for this exchange was Bardhan. Vajpayee did not deny it.

This was a period of extraordinary tension between India and Pakistan. After the 2001 December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament, the two militaries were in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. On April 18, Vajpayee landed in Srinagar and, without a hint to his cabinet colleagues, held out his hand of peace to Pakistan. "An awesome power has arisen". Regional quarrels have no meaning now. Conflicts in the region would have to be composed. The January 4, 2004 Indo-Pak summit in Islamabad followed.

Vajpayee found the "sole superpower" moment forbidding. Hence his quest for regional peace. Narender Modi's crawl towards a regional entente is dictated by a different set of circumstance. The burgeoning China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan togetherness in the vicinity makes a friendly US look too distant.

Journalists of Worldview India remember April of 2003 for the kind of journalism Indian journalists have never practised before or since. The idea was to cover the war and the occupation of Iraq from an Indian perspective. The western media would of course cover the occupation comprehensively, but from its own perspective. Indeed, the embedded journalists would be part of the war effort. This would not be the Indian perspective, unless New Delhi accepted the proposition that it was India's war too. Indian media houses are tone deaf on such issues. For coverage of foreign affairs, they have deals with Reuters, BBC, CNN, FOX News and so on -- so much for atmnirbharta or self-sufficiency. A word of gratitude is owed to S.Y. Qureshi, Director General of Doordarshan, for having grasped the significance of the project. He fought the resistance in the system. The standard argument against covering foreign affairs was familiar. "Foreign affairs have low TRP ratings".

Let Qureshi bear witness. Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati had the highest ratings until Worldview India's one-hour prime time reporting from the Gulf by dedicated reporters pipped it to the post.

(Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator on political and diplomatic issues. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com)

--IANS

naqvi/am
Tiger Shroff & Disha Patani Headed To The Maldives, Get Trolled: "Duniya Corona Se Mar Rahe Hain Inko Holiday Ki Padi Hai"

Rumoured couple Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani are off to the Maldives, which has become the favorite vacation spot for Indian celebrities during the Covid times. The two actors were spotted arriving at the Mubai aiport on Sunday morning to catch their flight.

Disha and Tiger who rang in New Year 2021 in the Maldives are headed there for a second time in less than six months due to break in their work schedules. Tiger was shooting for the upcoming sequel of his debut film while Disha was busy with Ek Villain 2 when the Maharashtra government called off all shoots due to the raising cases of Covid-19 in the country.

Both actors who are rumoured to be dating arrived separately at the airport. Disha looked comfortably stylish in her pink crop top, blue sweater paired with distressed jeans while Tiger kept it cool and casual in navy blue t-shirt and pants.

The fan, however, who usually love them together this time were not so pleased seeing them at jet off for a holiday amidst the rishing cases of Covid-19 the country. On pictures shared by a paparazzo on Instagram users expressed their displeasure at the privilage of the stars being rubbed in the faces of people as the nation stands on the bring of a health emergency.

How do these celebrities exempt their brain to register a simple message. "Stay home". Itni kya chul hai ghumne ki abhi, wrote one user, while another said, Stay home bolke khud ghumne chale jaate hain, Duniya corona se Mar rahe hain inko holiday ki PADI haii... Kite selfish hain, read another comment.

Some even called out the paparazzi for sharing these photos, Shame on you and your page for covering this story.. when ppl are dying .. youre showcasing these losers as partying and holidaying .. they could have just donated that money to some hospital or charity or someone in needy instead of going maldives every month.. I hate Bollywood and hate these ppl.

Sir yaha pe log hospital nahi pohach rahe, due to lack of resources, and this kind of posts make them think like their life is so meaningless and they are underprivileged, was the take of another user.

Tiger Shroff's mother Ayesha Shroff also reacted to the post by dropping a few heart emojis in the comments for the pair.
There was a time in the West Mahanoy Township village of Shenandoah Heights when a variety of businesses thrived  at the very least exceeding todays reality, which might be zero if not for Dowers auto shop on Pennsylvania Avenue, Florida Tanning on Florida Avenue and a few private plumbing or HVAC-type enterprises.

The Heights had its beginnings as an at-times difficult-to-reach mountain-top suburb of author Francis Norton Gallaghers Only Western Town in the East, Shenandoah, a Roman candle anthracite industry borough that occupies the valley just below the Locust Mountain.

Shenandoah Heights, with its avenues  there are no streets  largely named after states, slowly but steadily grew into West Mahanoys largest village, gaining a population that fluctuates in the 1,400 range now. With the townships municipal building located along Pennsylvania Avenue, one might think of the Heights as West Mahanoys capital.

The existence of the former West Mahanoy Township High School and its maroon-and-gold Golden Rams on Florida Avenue didnt hurt the village, fueling sites that included the Jerry Darowish variety store/hangout across the street from the school.

But there were a lot more business spots back in what we think of as the day.

The late Joseph (Jablonski) Yablonsky, who sailed to America from Poland when he was 12 and worked at various sites (including at a ranch in Texas) before ultimately marrying and settling in Shenandoah Heights, headed a family that was well-known in the grocery business, having run stores at several locations in Shenandoah, William Penn, the Heights and even Brandonville. He eventually became manager at the Abattoir facility in Shenandoah, where animals were brought in via train to be processed. (Egads!)

Stories told by his wife, the late Stella Tacelosky Yablonsky, included her carrying, by hand, sacks of potatoes from Shenandoah up the hill to the Heights to sell at a food store on Schuylkill Avenue. Surely, this was when the Heights was young.

Mrs. Yablonsky went on to give birth to 12 children, so her process is what one might call womanual labor. Forget manual. If having children fell on men, todays population would likely be half of what it is  if that.

Early phone service was available in the Heights in a setup involving party lines that is no stranger in other locales, too. Mrs. Yablonskys phone on Pennsylvania Avenue at one time was on a party line that included Mrs. Catherine Toborowsky, who lived on Schuylkill Avenue, among others. Someone who picked up the phone to make a call from Mrs. Yablonskys might hear Mrs. Toborowsky already on the line speaking with someone else also on the shared line  or vice versa  and had to wait until the line became open. If there were an emergency, though, people had no problem cooperating to allow the needed calls to be made.

Countless formerly young area folks likely can recall buying food and other items, especially candy, at Heights stores such as Jack Prices on Ohio Avenue or The Corner Store at Schuylkill and Pennsylvania avenues. Even the iconic Scarpinos shoe repair on Florida Avenue offered a fine selection of candy and chocolate treats. And at one time in nearby Weston Place, there was a store at the village entrance that offered candy and RC Cola among other fare.

A need for a wide range of grocery items or even fresh meats  from so-called butcher shops  was no problem as Jack Bayless on Schuylkill Avenue and The Giant Market (Guess the number of candies in the jar?) on Ohio Avenue offered as wide and fine selections as could be imagined.

Heights resident Harry Braxton, via his easily identified red panel truck, took bread, cakes and other food items to the people as he followed a regular schedule driving his mobile store through regional villages and towns.

Baron Insurance offered yet other options for folks.

People who needed haircuts could emulate polka disc jockey and bandleader Yak Tam Billy Urban and head to the Staskel barbershop at Indiana Avenue and Swatara Road. The late Urban once called the Heights home, although to him it always was the Polish Poconos.

More than a few miners who toiled at mining operations or collieries in the Raven Run area stopped at the Kazunas Cafe in western Shenandoah Heights to wash down the coal dust with shots of whiskey after their shifts ended. If they needed to fill their pickups with gasoline, or have the vehicles serviced, Clem Capigas station was only about 100 yards west of Kazunas along Schuylkill Avenue.

Kazunas wasnt the only Heights tavern where folks could quench any thirst. Cegielskis, at Schuylkill Avenue and Swatara Road, was always at the ready.

And just across from Kazunas, where Schuylkill Avenue meets the Annunciation BVM Cemetery and Raven Run Road, there was Hamma Bakery, whose products were worth, according to oldtimers, crossing the mountain from Raven Run  and through forest paths on foot  to enjoy. Of course, Raven Run, as everyone knows, is the real inspiration for Brigadoon.

It was a time when the regions population was counted in the tens of thousands and when the Heights included its own AMVETS post, on Indiana Avenue, as well as the former Locust Mountain Hospital, originally built to provide readily available care for miners injured on the job. Greater Shenandoah featured some nine collieries at one time. The hospital became the areas source of medical and emergency care and the site where more than a few regional folks were born and later had their tonsils removed  all of which reinforced the need for Shenandoah Suburban Bus Line, which ferried people between Shenandoah and the Heights via bus runs every half hour and including Weston Place every hour during its operation. Miss the last evening bus? Get mentally prepared to walk.

Hopping aboard the Heights bus at the Ferguson (Shenandoah) Hotel along West Centre Street in Shenandoah and getting a lift to a destination in the Heights  or vice versa  for, oh, a dime? Not a bad deal at all, and a huge service for local residents.

Just how equipped was this Shenandoah Heights place back in the day? It also had a swimming pool, the Rynkiewicz (Rynkys) pool, on the side of Locust Mountain. It was partially destroyed by fire in the late 1950s, flames visible at the time from the St. Casimir Playground at Main and Washington streets in Shenandoah, where a parish bazaar had been underway. The flames attracted much attention from folks at the playground, including from a preschool lad who was enjoying fishing for prizes in a game set up for children at the bazaar.

Across Pennsylvania Avenue (always seemed this section should have been a part of Schuylkill Avenue) from the entrance to Locust Mountain Hospital, is the Walsh building that was a homestead with a variety of lower-level uses through the years, including as a service station, later as the Billy Urban Music Store and finally the Heights Delights snack shop, with other uses in between.

Fire protection is still provided by the Heights Fire Company No. 1 at 148 Swatara Road, its endurance a source of comfort and confidence. It has a grove and playground for children at the rear of the firehouse, bordering the Odd Fellows Cemetery. The fire stations days as a Saturday night dance hot spot, however, passed decades ago.

When the throes of life got Heights residents down, they could seek comfort and even forgiveness, or attend services, at a Roman Catholic chapel that once graced Schuylkill Avenue, part of Shenandoahs St. George Parish. Lines of neighborhood youngsters, surely with venial sins at worst, would form when a priest would visit the chapel for weekly confession.

Folks may muse about how times have changed from then to now. But really, the only constant in life is change.

(Thank you to Martin and Stephanie Brophy, of Shenandoah Heights, and Tom Schreppel, now of Zion Grove, for helping recall the names of places that were once part of the Heights.)

(Schreppel was a longtime

writer and editor with the

Evening Herald newspaper and later the Republican Herald

until his retirement)
Some of the 780 groups and charities Prince Philip was involved with have paid unusual tributes to him.

At Gordonstoun, his former school, pupils laid a wreath at sea from the schools yacht anchored off Moray, north-east Scotland, on Saturday.

Sailors at Bembridge Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight competed for a new prize yesterday  the Prince Philip memorial trophy.

Dan Stevens and Kelsey Davies from the Outward Bound Charity ascend mount Snowdon to raise the Royal Sovereign Flag in honour of HRH Duke of Edinburgh's involvement

The Ocean Spirit of Moray yacht which is crewed by pupils of Gordonstoun school. They layed a wreath in memory of Prince Philip who was a pupil of Gordonstoun

At Gordonstoun, his former school, pupils laid a wreath at sea from the schools yacht anchored off Moray, north-east Scotland

Meanwhile, leaders at the Outward Bound Trust raised the Royal Standard yesterday from the highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and England  Ben Nevis, Snowdon, and Scafell Pike  to honour the Duke of Edinburghs 78-year commitment to the charity.

Chief executive Nick Barrett said: He would have smiled to know that Outward Bound have chosen to honour him with a dynamic, adventurous activity.

The Duke of Edinburghs longest charitable commitment was with The Outward Bound Trust, spanning seven decades.

The charity offers young people the opportunity to experience challenging adventures in the wilds of Cumbria, the Scottish Highlands, and in the Welsh Mountains. The courses give young people, who are often from underprivileged backgrounds, the chance to travel and challenge themselves in some of the UKs most beautiful and remote terrain.

Outward Bound was founded in 1941 by The Duke of Edinburghs teacher at Gordonstoun and mentor, Kurt Hahn. The Duke of Edinburgh became involved at the charitys inception as a supporter, before joining its board as Patron in 1953. His involvement included being an active Chairman of the board for many years. He formally retired from the charity in 2019.

Nick Barrett, CEO of The Outward Bound Trust said: We couldnt think of a better tribute to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, than for some of our instructors to summit the three highest peaks in the UK on the day of his funeral. We are sure he would have smiled to know that Outward Bound have chosen to honour him today with a dynamic, adventurous activity. Its our small way of acknowledging his life-long support and Patronage and that we will honour his legacy.
Click here to read the full article.

Youre either already on the Demon Slayer train or youre not, and the hit Japanese feature  arriving stateside having surpassed Spirited Away as the highest-grossing anime movie of all time  is hardly the vehicle for the popular franchise to pick up new passengers. That doesnt mean the action-packed toon wont appeal to those curious to check out the sensation that has earned more than $415 million internationally. But .

Produced by the same team at Ufotable, Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train looks even more rudimentary than its small-screen counterpart, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, which has amassed a cult following among Funimation, Crunchyroll and Netflix subscribers in the U.S. The slight downgrade in quality may come as a surprise to those expecting slicker visuals from the theatrical blockbuster. At times, the imagery hardly qualifies as animation, coming across as a sequence of still drawings: fixed expressions and poses that suggest emotion or energy, even when nothing is actually moving in the frame  though this is hardly unusual in the manga-inspired medium, which relies on such tricks to tell elaborate stories on modest budgets.

Mugen Train is more than just a bridge to the forthcoming second season, due out this year. The film depicts an important step in the development of its four young protagonists  orphan Tanjiro; his demon sister Nezuko, whom he carries in a wooden box on his back; girl-crazy Zenitsu; and absurd-looking Inosuke with his bare chest and boars head mask (all voiced by the original cast).

Demon Slayer devotees swear by the characters and oddball sense of humor, but are most appreciative of the shows dynamic fight scenes, which are frequent and creatively choreographed (those being key criteria for a genre whose essential raison detre is action). There, the battles came at a fairly constant clip while leaving plenty of room for goofing off along the way.

This overconfident quartet spent most of the show nearly getting themselves killed as they tried to fend off low-level foes. Now, they face not one but two of the worlds most powerful demons, known as Kizuki, whose existence had long been rumored, though they did not reveal themselves until the final episodes of Season 1 (and even then, audiences never saw the six Upper Rank demons that are deadliest to humankind).

Thats a major selling point for the feature. The show has effectively been laying the groundwork for showdowns such as these  though the four aspiring demon slayers are so inexperienced theyd be toast without the help of a skilled mentor like Kyojuro Rengoku, a so-called Hashira (the top tier of demon slayer, or good-guy equivalent of a Kizuki). So after all those hours of watching Tanjiro and friends fumble their way through various skirmishes, fans will consider it a big payoff to see how veteran warriors from both sides throw down.

Director Haruo Sotozaki doesnt deem it necessary to reintroduce the characters, nor to explain basic aspects, such as Inosukes strange appearance  hes not a hog-headed mutant so much as an aggro dude in a crazy costume  or how exactly one slays a demon (simple: chop off its head or expose it to sunlight). Instead, the filmmakers assume a certain familiarity, getting right down to business once Tanjiro and friends board the titular Mugen Train: a cross-country transport whose 200 passengers become easy targets for the Kizuki who has commandeered the locomotive.

Demons, who are described as former humans whove turned evil in exchange for immortality, gain power by eating people, whereas demon slayers are mere mortals sworn to protect the world from the bloodthirsty creatures. Think of these four as amateur Ghostbusters, or a teenage team of vampire hunters, whose well-intentioned incompetence often proves endearing. But theyve never faced adversaries as daunting as this, starting with the creepy Kizuki riding on the roof of the train.

Lower One, as he is identified by the kanji etched onto his aquamarine peepers, looks more like an androgynous Goth-pop star than a conventional villain, his scarecrow silhouette, pale skin and detachable hands all memorable touches in a production where design is often more important than execution (since the figures tend to strike a pose and hold it). In the cabins below, the kids manage to locate Kyojuro, who uses flame-based fighting techniques to dispatch a basic demon, but theyre caught off guard by a sleeping spell that puts all the passengers into a deep slumber.

The resulting dreams are tailored to each of the characters, with Tanjiros being the most touching, since it represents a fantasy version of what his life mightve been like had demons never attacked and killed his family  the incident that launched his quest in the first place. While under, Tanjiro senses something off about this faux family reunion: His sister is missing, helping him snap out of it and rouse the others to duty.

Inosuke never met a living creature he didnt want to fight, so together, he and Tanjiro set about looking for the demons head  no small feat, given the creative way Lower One has infiltrated the entire train, wrapping it in CG tentacles and dozens of hypnotic eyeballs. (Gaze at one, and you instantly snap back to sleep.) If all this sounds confusing, rest assured that theres a wacky enjoyment to be had even when things dont make sense.

Keep in mind too that no one has ever survived a fight with a demon from the Upper Ranks, which lends considerable excitement to the next encounter (between Kyojuro and a character best kept secret)  for the initiated at least, since the outcome has significant impact on where the demon slayers will go from here. Followers will find it essential viewing, while others may want to backtrack and watch the series first, lest this phenomenon pass them by.

Reviewed online, Los Angeles, March 13, 2021. Running time: 117 MIN.

Running Time: Running time: 117 MIN.

Production

(Animated  Japan) A Funimation release of an Aniplex, Shueisha, Ufotable presentation of an Ufotable production. Producers: Masanori Miyake, Yuma Takahashi, Hikaru Kondo.

Crew

Director: Haruo Sotozaki. Screenplay: Ufotable. Story: Koyoharu Gotoge. Editor: Manabu Kamino. Music: Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina.

With

Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Satoshi Hino, Daisuke Hirakawa.

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Tom Kuipers is an archives assistant with the Champaign County Historical Archives at the Urbana Free Library and the museum manager at the Champaign County History Museum.
The stormy weather that has hindered search and rescue efforts in the Gulf of Mexico finally relented Sunday, but the day's push to find nine missing crew members of the overturned Seacor Power lift boat hadn't yielded any results as of early evening.

Six of the 19 people aboard the 234-foot vessel were rescued Tuesday, the day a sudden storm capsized it 8 miles south of Port Fourchon. Searchers then recovered four bodies through Saturday.

But relatives of the nine missing crew members remained in a heart-wrenching limbo, and they increasingly took to social media Sunday to voice their frustration at the pace of dive operations over the weekend.

Divers had paused Saturday night due to stormy weather, but they returned to the water Sunday in an attempt to find anyone trapped inside the vessel, according to Crystal Saddler, the sister of 62-year-old Gregory Walcott, of Abbeville, one of the missing crew members.

During an hours-long meeting at the Cut Off fire station, officials told relatives that they havent moved the boat for fear of disturbing air pockets that may have allowed missing crew members to survive.

They are still trying to give us hope, Saddler said.

Above the water, the weather provided better visibility for the Coast Guard crews scouring the area, according to Petty Officer John Michelli. The improved conditions also allowed searchers to work longer without having to rotate out, he said.

Two cutters, two small boats, two helicopters and an airplane were involved in the Coast Guard search. They were joined by the United Cajun Navy, the volunteer rescue group, which arranged for private seaplanes to conduct searches in coordination with the Coast Guard's efforts.

Divers contracted by Seacor, the Houston-based company that operated the boat, have repeatedly searched the vessels rooms for missing crew members. Amid pleas from relatives, the number of divers assigned to the effort increased from eight to 14 earlier in the weekend. But when Saturdays storms forced a pause that continued into Sunday morning, relatives weary of continued delays took to Facebook to press Seacor to do more.

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

As conditions improved Sunday, relatives reported divers returned to the boat.

Blessing today is, God delivered good weather conditions for the divers to start back up their operations, Danielle Boteler, a relative of missing Slidell man Chaz Morales, wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

The comments from anguished relatives, much of it relayed on social media, made up the bulk of the available information other than the statement from the U.S. Coast Guard. A Seacor spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment.

The Coast Guard said Sunday evening that it will provide an update Monday at 1 p.m. at the Greater Lafourche Port Commission office in Cut Off and will be joined by officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and Seacor.

Boteler said that in regular closed-doors meeting with family members, search officials have said the same things over and over after countless hours.

But Boteler said she and other relatives continued to do whatever they could from land.

Chaz would hold out every ounce of hope if he were here with us and standing on this ground, so that is what we will do! she wrote.

The Seacor Power was about three hours out and 8 miles south of Port Fourchon when heavy winds flipped it over at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The confirmed dead are Anthony Hartford, 53, of New Orleans; James "Tracy" Wallingsford, 55, of the northeast Louisiana village of Gilbert; Capt. David Ledet, 63, of Thibodaux; and Ernest Williams, 69, of Arnaudville.

Dry weather is forecast until Friday.

Staff photographer David Grunfeld contributed to this report.
Microsoft has rolled out new updates to its OneDrive and Bing Search apps for Android users. As expected, the latest update comes with new features and refreshed UI for Bing users. Users can get the latest versions after updating the apps on Google Play Store. Lets take a look at what is new in the two apps.

According to the Play Store changelog, Microsoft Bing Search comes with a new homepage. Users will get to see top news, topics they follow, and quicker access to Microsoft features. The latest Bing app features include Covid tracker, weather updates, Google Lens-like visual search, rewards system, voice search, translator, unit converter, e-sports updates, and so on. You can update your Bing app from here.

As far as the OneDrive app goes, the Android version has now received the sought-after feature  Chromecast support. It will allow users to stream media files on Chromecast-enabled devices, including TV. You will notice a Cast icon in the top toolbar. To start mirroring the content, tap on the button and choose the device you want to cast to.

The latest versions are currently being rolled out to select markets right now. Were expecting them to be available for all users in the coming days.

Separately, Microsoft is exploring a new way to allow its users to earn Microsoft Rewards point. Users can earn it through Microsoft Search. According to reports, users can earn the rewards when signed in select 365 services with a school or work profile. The feature is likely to roll out next month.

Users in your organization will have the ability to earn Microsoft Rewards points when signed into select Microsoft 365 services (Microsoft Search in Bing) with their organizational (work or school) account, according to the description.
(Natural News) Without question, Democrats have become the Crackpot Party to go along with their tyrannical pursuit of Marxism and Communism, as evidenced by one of their resident crazies.

Known as a member of the far-left Squad, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan shamelessly exploited the very unfortunate by obviously accidental shooting death of a 20-year-old black man by an experienced white female police officer in recent days so she could shill for more chaos on our streets.

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib wasted no time in declaring that the shooting of Daunte Wright was a racist shooting and no accident. The long-time advocate for defunding police has declared that she is done with government funded murder,' George Washington University Law Prof. Jonathan Turley wrote on his website following her lunatic rantings.

While a long advocate to defund the police, Rep. Tlaib seems to go even further to call for an end of all policing in her most recent comments, Turley added.

The noted law professor and constitutional expert was responding to a tweet Tlaib posted after the shooting.

It wasnt an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It cant be reformed, she wrote in what has to be, straight up, one the dumbest things any lawmaker has written online to date.

It wasn't an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed.  Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 12, 2021

As Turley notes, Tlaibs insane call to get rid of all cops will no doubt fuel more insanity from her fellow left-wing nut jobs in the Democratic Party to make the same call. In fact, left-wing pundits who have appeared on propaganda networks MSNBC and CNN have echoed her sentiment.

Of course, Tlaib isnt talking about all cops and all militarization. She is perfectly fine, no doubt, with keeping the Capitol Police well-armed and well-staffed. And shes imminently safer behind a razor-wire-fenced Capitol Building that is manned by armed National Guard soldiers.

She just doesnt want you to be protected by police and the military. (Related: Fauci is a dangerous sociopath who must be held accountable for committing crimes against humanity.)

And for the record, there is no evidence that the incident was motivated by race. In fact, if Tlaib, a woman of color, really wants to be helpful and save lives, she should be instructing all Americans, regardless of their ethnicity, to stop fleeing cops, stop fighting cops, and stop resisting arrest, as Wright did and as nearly every black male in recent police-involved shootings and deaths have done, as video has proven.

But no. Shed much rather gaslight the country, watch cities burn down and businesses be looted, than do the right thing and try to look at incidents with a rational, cogent perspective and wait for results of investigations before coming to any conclusions.

The latest comments are breathtaking, Turley, a liberal himself who nevertheless understands our country cannot survive without people to ensure law and order, writes.

Tlaib states categorically that the incident was inherently & intentionally racist but also declares no more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It cant be reformed. What does that mean? he continued.

No more policing or incarceration in a large society would invite anarchy and chaos. This is a member of the United States Congress calling for the end of policing entirely as if the United States could get by on the honors system, Turley added.

Thats true, of course. Every day would be a real-life version of The Purge films.

And honestly, maybe that is precisely the point.

Tlaib is a lot of things, but mostly a Marxist who isnt stupid. She knows what would happen if we actually got rid of police. The country would devolve instantly into chaos, and then guess who would ride in to clean up the mess and restore order after an authoritarian takeover of government?

Thats right: The same authoritarians who arranged for the chaos to begin with.

Sources include:

JonathanTurley.org

PopulationCollapse.news
LONDON: Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II, is laid to rest at Windsor Palace on Saturday, April 17, in what will be a small family affair due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The funeral is set to begin at 2.40 p.m. (local time) with the coffin leaving the Castle, followed by a funeral march and a nationwide minute of silence, according to Buckingham Palace.

After a service at St. George's Chapel held by the Dean of Windsor, the Archbishop of Canterbury will give the blessing after the coffin has been lowered into the Royal Vault, reports DPA news.

In line with health regulations currently in place in England, only 30 guests are allowed for attending the ceremony, most of them members of the Royal Family.

Queen Elizabeth II, the couple's four children, eight grandchildren, the Queen's niece and nephew and three of her cousins are attending the service on Saturday.

In addition, the Prince's German relatives Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden, Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg will be in attendance. The funeral will be broadcast live on television.

Queen Elizabeth-II's husband Prince Philip has died at 99

Lebanese PM-designate supported by Russia in forming cabinet

The Cuban Communist Party inaugurated a historic four-day Congress, Castro era to end
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 15:40:23|Editor: huaxia

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A woman receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Prayagraj, India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, on April 10, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

Reasons commonly cited behind the COVID-19 explosion in India:



- Complacency, casual behavior among people at large

- Gigantic size of the country's population and its dense distribution at places

- Double mutation of virus



by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- India is at present reeling under the second COVID-19 wave, with over 200,000 new cases being registered each day recently and the national tally feared to cross the 15-million mark early next week.

India reported another fresh high of 234,692 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the total tally to 14,526,609, according to the data released by the federal health ministry.

Amid local media reports of bed and oxygen shortages, both central and state governments claim adequate medical facilities and supplies at both government and private hospitals.

As the rate of COVID-19-related deaths rises across the country, long queues are seen outside crematoriums and graveyards with people waiting to pay last respects to their near and dear ones who died due to the pandemic.

The outpatient departments at most government hospitals have stopped their services, with focus shifted to attending to COVID-19 patients on priority.

A police officer takes penalties from a man who is not wearing face mask amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Agartala, the capital city of India's northeastern state Tripura, April 9, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

NEGLECT OF DANGER

Complacency and casual behavior among people at large are the reasons most commonly cited behind the COVID-19 explosion in the country.

At a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month, it was emphasized that the sharper rise in cases could be mainly attributed to a decline of COVID-19-appropriate behavior (CAB), primarily in terms of use of masks and maintenance of social distancing. Other reasons include pandemic fatigue and a lack of effective implementation of containment measures at the field level.

Since the beginning of this month, there have been huge public gatherings across the country for political and religious reasons, where people were seen in large numbers defying COVID-19 protocols.

Political rallies were organized by the country's major political parties in five states, namely West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, which went to Assembly polls. People attending these rallies were in close proximity without face masks.

Besides, hundreds of thousands of people have been congregating at Haridwar, a holy town in the northern hilly state of Uttarakhand, to take a holy dip in river Ganga during the ongoing Kumbh festival.

Federal Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday made an appeal to the public to stick to the CAB.

"Our biggest fight this time is to teach CAB to the people. People have adopted a casual approach which is very dangerous. CAB is the biggest social tool we have to break the chain," he added.

Health workers take swab samples from passengers for COVID-19 test at Anand Vihar bus terminal in New Delhi, India, April 4, 2021. (Photo by Partha Sarkar/Xinhua)

BIG POPULATION IN CLOSE PROXIMITY

Dr R.C. Purohit, principal at the Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district, said the situation had almost come under control, but then people started behaving in a most casual manner. Most of the people stopped following the basic protocols, like wearing face masks, washing hands regularly and maintaining social distancing.

"Till February we were left with only four-five COVID-19 patients, but now again the figure is increasing day by day. Presently we have around 50 patients at our institute," Purohit told Xinhua over phone.

The institute is a Level-3 COVID-19 Center, which means it caters to the needs of the most critical patients suffering from the pandemic. It is one of the major COVID-19 centers in the western part of Uttar Pradesh, adjoining Delhi.

According to Purohit, one more reason behind the COVID-19 situation is the gigantic size of the country's population and its dense distribution at places.

In some places, particularly in the urban areas like slums, many people stay inside a closed room or a hutment of a very small size. And, the level of hygiene is also not up to the mark, he said, adding that the overall living standard is quite low in India.

He further said that the level of education in the country is low, too. "As a result, people ... don't follow government's directions and protocols, thus resulting in situations like the one prevailing now in the country."

The principal also said that the double mutant variant found in the country is more dangerous than the original virus as it affects the human body's immune system more gravely.

According to him, a second wave of the virus was very much expected, as in a few other countries.

A health worker takes thermal screening of a passenger at a railway station in Patna, capital of eastern Indian state of Bihar, March 31, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

DOUBLE MUTATION OF VIRUS

According to media reports, it has been revealed that the double mutation coronavirus B.1.617 may be one of the most common and prevalent forms of COVID-19 variant in India.

The double mutant variant refers to the merging of two mutations of a virus strain that go on to form a third, more infectious strain. It contains mutations from two separate variants, namely E484Q and L452R.

The first case of double mutation in India was discovered in the south-western state of Maharashtra, said a report in English daily The Times of India.

Carrying the genetic codes from two other mutations, the double mutant variant can become all the more easy to break into the human immune system and invade the organs, therefore doing more damage than a single original COVID-19 strain. 
Police in the Czech Republic are searching for two men in connection with a 2014 explosion who used the same aliases as the two Russian military intelligence officers suspected of carrying out the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the UK.

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov were accused of using a novichok nerve agent to poison Mr Skripal, a former Russian asset, as well as his daughter in Salisbury. They and Moscow both denied involvement.

Now Czech police say they are seeking two suspects bearing the same name and likeness in relation to explosions at an ammunition depot in Vrbetice in 2014 that led to the deaths of two people, Prague-based newspaper Mlada fronta Dnes reported, citing police officials.

Czech police said Mr Petrov and Mr Boshirov, whose birth names British government documents have given as Alexander Mishkin and Anatoly Chepigas, had also used a Moldovan passport in the name of Nicolai Popa and a Tajik one issued in the name of Ruslan Tabarov.

Police said both men were believed to have been in the Czech Republic from 11 to 16 October 2014, the day of the explosion. They were first in Prague and later in the eastern regions, which is where the depot is based.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Andrej Babis and foreign minister Jan Hamacek announced they would be expelling 18 Russian diplomats over suspicions that Russian intelligence services were involved in the explosion.

There is well-grounded suspicion about the involvement of officers of the Russian intelligence service GRU in the explosion of the ammunitions depot in the Vrbetice area, Mr Babis told a briefing shown live on television.

Mr Hamacek said 18 Russian embassy staff identified as secret service personnel would be ordered to leave the Nato country within 48 hours.

"I am sorry that Czech-Russian relations will suffer, however, the Czech Republic must react, said the interior minister, who is currently also overseeing international affairs following the recent sacking of the countrys foreign minister.

A Russian lawmaker cited by the Interfax news agency called the allegation absurd.

The news outlet reported Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the upper houses international affairs committee, had dismissed Pragues claims, adding Russias response should be proportionate.

Russia would not extradite the pair, Interfax said, citing an unnamed source.

"Russia's main law prohibits the extradition to a foreign state of Russian citizens accused of committing a crime on the territory of a foreign state," the source was quoted as saying.

Additional reporting by agencies
Members of the public joined the Hillsborough Fort Guard in paying their respects to Prince Philip on Saturday in the village of Hillsborough, south of Belfast.

While crowds had been asked to stay away due to the risk of spreading coronavirus, some still visited to lay flowers at Hillsborough Castle, the Queen's official residence in Northern Ireland.

Several members of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, a unit whose existence dates back to 1660, paraded near the war memorial in the village.

The Last Post was played and a minute's silence was observed in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Philip, who died at the age of 99, was laid to rest in the Royal Vault at Windsor Castle after a funeral service steeped in military and royal tradition - but also pared down and infused with his own personality.

Coronavirus restrictions meant that instead of the 800 mourners included in the longstanding plans for his funeral, there were only 30 inside the castle's St. Georges Chapel, including the widowed queen, her four children and her eight grandchildren.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The 2020 batch of the Distance Education students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), have called on management of the university to fast-track the required processes to pave the way for their graduation.

According to them, since completing school in July 2020, there were no correspondence and indications to them as to when they would graduate to enable them to get their respective certificates.



They said: Although our colleague regular students who completed same year have graduated and subsequently received their certificates, all distance students from all the study centres were yet to graduate to receive their certificates as well.



Interview



In an interview with the Daily Graphic last Tuesday, the Course Representative, Human Resource Management at the Accra Wesley Girls Centre, Madam Lydia Ohenewaa Nkrumah, said the students urgently needed the certificates to upgrade themselves, seek for promotion or look for job opportunities.



She stated that many of the students were particularly, due for promotion and that the university was unduly delaying their promotion due to its inability to organise a graduation ceremony for them.



She explained further that their fate hung in the balance since till date, management of the university had not communicated to them what was delaying their graduation, causing agitation among the students.



Certificates



She explained further that all attempts to get the authorities of the university to address their concerns had proved futile, saying if the graduation would be a huge cost to the university, they should just print the certificate and call us to pick them up.





All the affected students are deeply worried and disturbed about the situation and that management must, as a matter of urgency, take immediate steps to address our concerns, Madam Nkrumah noted.



Student leadership



The immediate past President of the Distance Education Students Association (DESA), Mr Abdul Salam Alhassan, in an interview, informed the affected students that he had engaged management on the matter and that they should remain calm and wait for the exact date for the graduation.



He assured the agitated students that management was set to graduate the affected students in May 2021, which was likely to be held virtually, noting that the students would employ all legal means to ensure that their concerns were addressed.



Management responds



However, a statement signed and released last Tuesday by the Registrar of the university, Mr Paul Osei-Barima, informed students, stakeholders and the general public that the universitys second session of the 25th congregation scheduled to take place in April had been rescheduled to May, 2021.



It indicated that the mode, venue and time of the congregation would soon be communicated, adding we regret any inconvenience caused.









Source: Graphiconline.com









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

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Krishna Barman and some other farmers had stored their stock of jute at Bhartiya Gramin Bhandar in Bhetaguri, and had pledged it for availing a loan of Rs 50,000, which was equivalent to 60 per cent of its value. A memo issued by the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) mentioned that this stock would be purchased at amounts ranging from Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,200 per quintal.

JCI would in turn sell the jute procured from the farmers. The Corporation later refused to purchase the stock at the agreed rate of Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,200 per quintal, contending that the same jute was being procured at a ...
Immigration candidates in Canada can go ahead and book their General tests in support of their applications for the new permanent residence programs launching on May 6. Some 90,000 PR applications will be accepted.

IELTS and CELPIP websites are working again Immigration candidates in Canada can go ahead and book their General tests in support of their applications for the new permanent residence programs launching on May 6. Some 90,000 PR applications will be accepted.

IELTS and CELPIP websites are working again Immigration candidates in Canada can go ahead and book their General tests in support of their applications for the new permanent residence programs launching on May 6. Some 90,000 PR applications will be accepted.

IELTS and CELPIP websites are working again Immigration candidates in Canada can go ahead and book their General tests in support of their applications for the new permanent residence programs launching on May 6. Some 90,000 PR applications will be accepted. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Essential workers, international graduates, and other immigration candidates currently living in Canada now have the ability to book their language tests again.



Those looking to apply for an economic class immigration program in Canada need to take a General test provided by either IELTS or CELPIP.

Both IELTS and CELPIP saw their websites crash on April 15 after Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced Canada would enable some 90,000 essential workers, international graduates, and francophones in Canada to apply for permanent residence through six new limited-time immigration programs. The programs launch on May 6 and close on November 5, or when application caps for the programs are reached.

The announcement of these programs created significant demand among those in Canada to book their language tests as quickly as possible. Candidates are looking to complete their language tests in the coming weeks so they can be among the 90,000 applicants for the programs.

Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these news pathways!

A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 4 is required for the worker streams and a CLB 5 is required for the new student streams.

Few test spots in the coming weeks appear to be available on both the IELTS and CELPIP websites. It remains to be seen if the test providers will be able to offer more test spots to meet the demand of candidates looking to complete their General tests leading up to, or shortly after, the May 6 launch of the new programs. Complicating matters is the COVID-19 pandemic, which is resulting in both IELTS and CELPIP to operate their test centres at reduced capacity in order to protect the healthy and safety of their staff and immigration candidates.

Nonetheless, offering more tests is a matter that they are exploring.

In a written statement to CIC News on Friday, Betty Chan, Vice-President of Operations at Paragon, which operates the CELPIP, said We expect to expand our operations in the coming weeks to meet this new demand for our proficiency testsIn the meantime, test takers can rest assured that we are continuing to reliably deliver tests at our centres across Canada and internationally.

90,000 spots available to essential workers, international graduates, and francophones

The new programs launching on May 6 are available to essential temporary foreign workers in 40 healthcare occupations and 95 other essential occupations. They are also available to recent international graduates. Applicants must be residing in Canada in any province or territory except for Quebec (the programs are not available to those living in Quebec).

The application caps for the programs are:

Canada will also accept an unlimited number of applications from candidates who speak French.

The new programs are meant to help Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) achieve their target of welcoming 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. IRCC is focusing on transitioning more people living in Canada to permanent residence. This approach is a result of coronavirus travel restrictions which are preventing some approved permanent residence applicants overseas from currently entering Canada. Another major way IRCC is aiming to facilitate such transitions is through major Express Entry draws targeting Canadian Experience Class candidates, such as the draw that took place this past Friday night.

Disclaimer: Although IELTS is a paid partner of CIC News, it did not sponsor the contents of this article.

Do you live in Canada? Apply for PR under these news pathways!

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
By Patricia Fitzpatrick, Full Professor of Epidemiology & Biomedical Statistics, University College Dublin, Originally published at The Conversation.

Taiwan has been widely applauded for its management of the pandemic, with one of the lowest per capita COVID-19 rates in the world and life on the island largely returning to normal.

Just 11 people have died from COVID-19 in Taiwan since the pandemic began, an impressive feat for a country that never went into lockdown.

At the start of the pandemic, Taiwan was considered a high-risk country for COVID-19 due to its proximity to China and the frequent travel that takes place between the two countries.

With a history of SARS in 2003, which was not considered to be handled particularly well, the Taiwanese government acted quickly to close its borders this time around. It set up a Central Epidemic Command Centre on January 20 2020 to coordinate cooperation across different government ministries and agencies, and between government and businesses.

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has examined further just why Taiwan did so well at conquering COVID-19. The studys authors, from a range of health institutes and hospitals in Taiwan and the US, compared the estimated effectiveness of two types of COVID-19 policy in the early months of the pandemic: case-based and population-based measures.

Case-based measures include the detection of infected people through testing, isolation of positive cases, contact tracing and 14-day quarantining of close contacts. The population-based measures included face mask policies, personal hygiene and social distancing.

The effects of these policies were quantified by estimating the effective reproduction number (R number).

The R number is a way of rating an infectious diseases ability to spread  it represents the average number of people that one infected person will pass a virus onto. An R number of greater than 1 means the virus will continue to spread and outbreaks will continue. An R number below 1 means that case numbers will start to reduce.

While previous studies in other countries have simulated hypothetical scenarios, this paper combined transmission modelling with detailed real data to estimate effectiveness.

The authors collected data on 158 cases between January 10 and June 1 2020 from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, and all cases were confirmed by PCR testing. The data related to locally acquired cases, confirmed clusters, and imported cases in people who entered Taiwan before March 21 2020.

They then compared the outcomes they found in Taiwan with an estimated R number of 2.5, based on the estimated equivalent number in nearby China at the beginning of its COVID-19 outbreak.

The Winning Combination

The study found that the case-based policies alone, like contact tracing and quarantining, could lower the R number from 2.5 to 1.53. Quarantine contributed the most to lowering the R number.

Case-based interventions could not substantially prevent transmission from one person to another, but could reduce transmission onwards from those secondary cases to a third or fourth person, as long as close contacts quarantined.

Population-based policies like social distancing and face masks, meanwhile, reduced the R number from 2.5 to 1.3.

The authors concluded that it was the combination of case-based and population-based policies, along with widespread adherence, that led to Taiwans success in containing COVID. Combining both approaches led to an R number estimated using two different methods to be 0.82 and as low as 0.62. They also found that considerable population-based policies were needed to achieve containment even though the number of circulating infections was small.

Neither approach would have been sufficient alone, even in a country with an effective public health system and sophisticated contact tracing.

What Does This Mean for Other Countries?

Acknowledging that all models make assumptions, and this analysis is no different, this paper does confirm that the full suite of public health measures we have been using fairly consistently across the world  to varying degrees of length and stringency  have been necessary. Though its worth noting that the results in the study reflects a time when new variants with greater transmissibility were not a problem.

The authors assumed that testing and isolation occurred simultaneously. This was the case in Taiwan, but not in other countries, for example England, where delays between testing, results and isolation diminish the effectiveness of case-based measures.

Taiwan is an island nation with the ability to control the introduction of new cases through border control, and the authors acknowledge the findings of this study may not be fully applicable to other countries. This is the reason the authors focused on the effectiveness of case-based and population-based interventions on local transmission, rather than on border controls on the number of introductions of COVID-19.

The authors conclude that intensive contact tracing is not possible when public health systems are overwhelmed. This never happened in Taiwan due to the success of its strategies, but it did, for example, take place in Ireland in January 2021, which experienced a damaging third wave of COVID-19.

This paper also found similar results for seven-day and 14-day quarantine and suggest that the quarantine period could be shortened. This is being considered by some countries, including the USA, but it has not been introduced on a widespread basis to date.

We already knew there was much to be learned from Taiwans success in preventing COVID-19 from taking hold. Now, as vaccines roll out and new variants emerge, we have more information about the comparative and combined contributions of public health measures.
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New York police officers were hit with liquid chemicals and Molotov cocktails during a traffic stop in Brooklyn on Saturday. (NYPD)

Police Officers Hit With Liquid Chemical, Molotov Cocktails During Traffic Stop in Brooklyn

New York police officers were hit with liquid chemicals and Molotov cocktails during a traffic stop in Brooklyn on Saturday.

When NYPD officers stopped a car on Saturday morning for running a red light, the driver tossed a chemical at an officer before speeding off, the NYPD wrote on Twitter.

Later, the car was stopped by officers, and the driver threw a lit Molotov cocktail at cops and sped off before crashing, said the NYPD.

After the man was arrested, several other Molotov cocktails were recovered, the NYPD wrote.

Its not clear if the attack is related to the resurgence of Black Lives Matter protests and anti-police rhetoric in the wake of two police shootings in Chicago and Minnesota.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said that anti-police graffiti had appeared in New York City before the attack.

Words matter. Earlier this week we said that again after graffiti that proclaimed kill cops. This morning..a Molotov cocktail thrown at an occupied marked police car, he wrote in a tweet over the weekend. Now more than ever is the time to come together, to move forward together.

Meanwhile, a large NYPD union, the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, released a statement that condemned the attack.

Make no mistake: this is the environment that our elected officials have created. This is the violent behavior that their anti-police rhetoric has inspired. Until politicians stop encouraging hatred and violence towards police officers, we must be prepared to face such attacks AT ALL TIMES, both on and off duty, Patrick Lynch, the head of the NYC PBA, wrote in the statement. Remain alert and back each other up.

On Friday night and Saturday night, demonstrations, looting, and rioting erupted across several major U.S. cities following the two police shootings.

Rioters in Portland, Oregon, smashed windows at a number of businesses after police fatally shot a man at a nearby park. At the same time, police said that rioters were arrested for setting fires.

In Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, after 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot by an officer carrying out a warrant on him, agitators tried tearing down fencing surrounding the police headquarters. Around 100 people were arrested, officials said.

Riots and looting incidents also broke out in Oakland, California, where hundreds of demonstrators allegedly assaulted an officer and at least one person, smashed windows, set a car on fire, and engaged in other acts of vandalism, authorities said. No arrests or citations were made.
New Delhi, April 18 : The second wave has severely impacted the modern retail industry, said a statement by the Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI).

In a statement, the industry body noted that it has been urging the government to support the industry with financial waivers and allow shopping malls to operate once they reopen the other markets.

In order to supplement the government's effort in carrying out an extensive vaccination drive, SCAI has also approached the state governments to conduct the vaccination camps at malls.

"The industry body has also urged to treat mall employees as frontline workers and should be vaccinated on priority irrespective of their age," it said.

As a public infrastructure, with ample parking space, training rooms, among others, malls do have the requisite space to help the local administration to carry out such an exercise that will likely benefit the larger cause of carrying out an extensive vaccination drive, as per SCAI.

With the situation turning grim, SCAI has reached out to all its members and has asked them to further strengthen all the SoPs and protocols, it added.

It also said that the local restrictions, closure of malls in few states, weekend curfews have impacted business, recovery, and employment associated with organised retail. Malls across India had recovered close to 90 per cent of their business and 75 per cent of their footfalls which drop drastically due to the local restrictions.

On an average during pre-covid days, the industry was clocking Rs 15,000 crore per month and had reached the same during mid of March 2021, but, with the local restrictions, almost 50 per cent revenue slashed, it said.

The shopping centre industry is supporting nearly 1.2 crore livelihoods directly and indirectly who are associated with malls, retail, and manufacturing retail. Most of the employees working in this sector are coming from other states.

Nearly 80 per cent of employees working at retail stores and restaurants belong to an economically weaker section and their livelihood will be impacted the most.

During the last lockdown, the industry saw 25-30 per cent of jobs getting impacted, SCAI said, adding that by mid of March 2021, nearly 70-75 per cent of employees had rejoined.

"The industry in its efforts retained the jobs which were lost due to the pandemic and will continue to bring back employment in the sector," it said.
To mop up revenues, exemptions from these requirements have been given to schools, function halls, cinema halls, multiplexes, malls and religious places, which are six metres and above in height and stand on a 500-square metre plot area.  DC file photo

HYDERABAD: Violating its own rules, the GHMC has allowed schools and hospitals to be housed in four high-rise buildings. The information is part of the corporations claim that it has accorded permission to 11,538 buildings and mopped up over Rs 797.13 crore in 2020-21.

As per norms, all schools should be housed in educational category buildings and not in domestic or commercial structures. Official sources say no schools must operate from a high-rise building, since that would endanger lives of thousands of children.

The risks are that children may fall from such buildings or their lives may be endangered in case there is a fire accident. They might also get stuck in elevators. Several such incidents have been reported in the past.

As per norms, schools functioning out of buildings between six and 15 metres must take an NoC (no objection certificate) from the corporation, while those operating out 15-metre buildings have to take an NoC from the Disaster Response and Fire Services department.

Schools have to provide fire extinguishers on each floor, apart from hose reels, down comer, water storage tanks both underground and on the terrace, automatic sprinklers and fire pumps. The external staircases should land on the ground floor.

To mop up revenues, exemptions from these requirements have been given to schools, function halls, cinema halls, multiplexes, malls and religious places, which are six metres and above in height and stand on a 500-square metre plot area. Junior, degree and engineering colleges, universities and professional institutions are all exempted from securing a Fire NOC, as per a circular issued by Director-General of Fire Services on June 3, 2017.

An official statement released by GHMC said that number of permissions issued had decreased during 2020-21 due to the Covid-19 pandemic last year and its aftermath. GHMC said to protect real estate industry from effect of pandemic, the state government had taken a decision in July 2020 to allow payment of building permission charges in four equal instalments, one at the time of issuing the permission and remaining three every six months thereafter. A five per cent rebate had been given to applicants who paid full amount at one go without availing the instalment facility.

"Such government orders have led to increase in builders seeking building permissions and construction activity picked up in later part of the financial year. The instalment facility, which was initially given till March 31, 2021, has now been extended till June 30 following requests from the industry," an official release added.
Damian Lewis has revealed his wife Helen McCrory urged him to find love again just two weeks before her death from cancer aged 52.

The actor, 50, said his wife had shown 'no fear, no bitterness, no self-pity' during her illness, which had only been disclosed to close friends and family members.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Damian said Helen told him and their children, daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13, that she wanted 'Daddy to have lots of girlfriends'.

Future: Damian Lewis has revealed his wife Helen McCrory urged him to find love again shortly before her death from cancer aged 52

He wrote: 'She has been utterly heroic in her illness. Funny, of course  generous, brave, uncomplaining, constantly reminding us all of how lucky weve been, how blessed we are.

'Her generosity has extended to encouraging us three to live. Live fully, take opportunities, have adventures.

'Only a couple of weeks ago she said to us from her bed, 'I want Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them, you must all love again, love isnt possessive, but you know, Damian, try at least to get though the funeral without snogging someone.'

Damian also wrote of his heartbreak that Helen had left their children 'too early' but they have been prepared for life as she taught them to be 'courageous'.

Tragedy: The actor, 50, said his wife had shown 'no fear, no bitterness, no self-pity' during her illness, which had only been disclosed to close friends and family members

The actor also wrote that Helen had told her children not to be sad by her passing because she had lived the wife she wanted to.

Damian had previously described her heroic' battle with the disease while announcing her death on March 16th.

He stood by the actress' side during her illness, with Helen brushing off her hoarse voice in her final TV appearance last month to selflessly talk about their charity work.

The couple's devotion to one another shone brightly for all to see, with Damian saying the actress died peacefully at home surrounded by 'peace and love' and their children.

He wrote: 'Only a couple of weeks ago she said to us from her bed, "I want Daddy to have girlfriends, lots of them, you must all love again, love isnt possessive" '

It comes after Helen's friend Carrie Cracknell revealed those close to the Peaky Blinders star 'were sworn to secrecy' when it came to her cancer battle.

Discussing her friend's tragic passing on Saturday, Cracknell, 41 - who is a theatre director - told BBC Radio Four's Today: 'Helen wanted to be very private about her illness. Very few people knew. We were sworn to secrecy.'

Touching upon Helen's - who passed away on Friday after a 'heroic' battle with cancer - resilience, Cracknell continued: 'She faced up to cancer with a level of bravery and humour that was extraordinary.'

Secret: Helen's friend Carrie Cracknell, 41, has revealed those close to the Peaky Blinders star 'were sworn to secrecy' when it came to her cancer battle

Cracknell also said the only reason she had been made aware of the star's diagnoses was because they were planning a Broadway show.

She said: 'Very few people knew, and I only did because we were planning to transfer a show to Broadway and had to cancel that because she was having treatment.

'We were sworn to secrecy.'

Cracknell went on: 'Helen wanted to be very private about her illness and I understand why. When you live in the public spotlight you have to find space to protect the things that are just for you.'

She added: 'Her need to be fully alive and be committed and to take things incredibly seriously, such as her family and charity work, defined her last few years for her as much as ever.'

Tragic: Discussing her friend's passing on Saturday, Cracknell - who is a theatre director - told BBC Radio Four's Today: 'Helen wanted to be very private about her illness'

The 'beautiful and mighty' actress, who played Polly Gray in the Birmingham-based BBC show and Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter, died 'peacefully' at home surrounded by friends and family.

Homeland star Damian tweeted: 'I'm heartbroken to announce that after a heroic battle with cancer, the beautiful and mighty woman that is Helen McCrory has died peacefully at home, surrounded by a wave of love from friends and family.

'She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives.

'She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.'

Helen, who was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours, was best known for playing the matriarch Polly in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.

Her other movie roles included playing MP Clair Dowar in Skyfall and Cherie Blair in The Queen and The Special Relationship.

On television, she appeared in Doctor Who, Inside No 9 and His Dark Materials, and last year appeared in the Hugh Laurie drama Roadkill on the BBC and ITV's Quiz.

Tragic: Helen was best known for playing the matriarch Polly in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films (pictured 2019)

She also had an accomplished stage career, winning plaudits for National Theatre roles in productions of Medea and Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea.

Helen was also was nominated for an Olivier for her role as Rosalind in As You Like It in at London's Wyndham's theatre in 2006.

Her husband led tributes to the star tonight along with JK Rowling, Michael Sheen, Taron Egerton, Cillian Murphy and Kate Beckinsale.

Heartbroken: The Peaky Blinders star passed away after a 'heroic' battle with cancer, Damian announced on Friday night

Helen and Damian married in 2007 after falling in love when they were both cast in the play Five Gold Rings at the off-West End Almeida Theatre back in 2003.

The couple were last seen during an appearance on Good Morning Britain last month, where they appeared to speak about their charity work for the Prince's Trust and the Prince's Trust Awards.

Helen and Damian led fundraising efforts to provide hot meals for NHS staff during the pandemic.

Their work led to almost 1million in donations to the Feed NHS scheme, and partnerships with chains including Leon and Wasabi.
AstraZeneca will have adapted its vaccine to combat the South African variant of Covid by the end of the year, the company's boss of Austrian operations has said.

Sarah Walters made the remark while being quizzed by an Austrian news site over recent studies which suggested the jab could be as little as 10 per cent effective at preventing mild or moderate Covid infections caused by the strain.

While dismissing current medical studies as 'too small to draw final conclusions' from, she added that AstraZeneca's current jab is already being modified to work better against the variant.

AstraZeneca is adapting its current Covid jab to be more effective against the South Africa variant and it will be ready by the end of the year, the firm's Austria boss has said

'We expect it will be ready by the end of the year, should it be needed,' Walters told Austrian news site Kurier.

During the same interview, Walters was also quizzed about supply issues that have affected AstraZeneca in Europe - sparking an almighty row with the EU amid accusations of vaccine nationalism in favour of Britain.

Sarah Walters said it is still too early to tell whether the South African variant makes the jab less effective, but it is be adapted anywa

Walters said the supply issues were down to the fact that AstraZeneca began supplying the vaccine as soon as it was ready, meaning there was no stockpile of the drug to draw from if factories under-produced.

She also pointed to the 'complex' process of manufacturing vaccines coupled with extremely high demand as a reason for the shortfall.

'Covid-19 is a very emotional issue,' she said. 'It affects each of us in some way.

'But we developed a vaccine, built a global supply chain, and received approvals in over 70 countries in less than 10 months. With a project of this size, it's not surprising that there are unforseen challenges.'

'We are confident that we will fulfill our commitment to deliver 300 million doses to the European Union this year,' she added.

The Kurier interview did not directly address ongoing investigations into health concerns over the AstraZeneca shot.

The EU has put a warning label on the vaccine over its possible linkage to extremely rare blood clots.

A study in South Africa found AstraZeneca's jab was just 10 per cent effective against mild to moderate forms of Covid, but Walters said the sample was too small to draw conclusions

Denmark has completely halted use of the vaccine and Britain will allow people under the age of 30 to get another brand of vaccine, if one is available.

Asked about 'thousands' of people in Austria who are cancelling their appointments for AstraZeneca shots, Walters said the company's plan was 'to continue to transparently provide information about efficacy and safety to doctors, so that they can adequately inform people' of benefits and risks.

British and European Union medicine regulators have said that the overall benefits of using the vaccine outweigh any risks.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-04-18 01:21:49|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite increased information on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine and repeated assurance that Zambia will only accept proven vaccines, skepticism has continued with people expressing reservations on whether to take it or not.

On Wednesday, April 14, the government officially launched the vaccination program in which it targets to vaccinate about 8.3 million of the eligible population from 18 years and above.

The program is being undertaken in a phased manner on a voluntary basis with the first phase targeting health workers and other people the most at risk.

The first pillar is under the COVAX Facility consisting of 228,000 doses of AstraZeneca manufactured in India while other vaccines are expected to come from government collaboration with cooperating partners and the private sector.

The government has since come up with a communication strategy aimed at creating awareness of the exercise.

Despite government assurance that the program is voluntary as well as assuring the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, a cross section of people are still skeptical and unwilling to take up the vaccine.

This has mainly been fueled by myths surrounding the vaccine being peddled on social media that the vaccine is dangerous.

"They will have to drag me to the health center if they want me to be vaccinated, otherwise me and my family will not take part in this program. With all these stories we are hearing, it is only safe to stay away," said Charles Malanga, a resident of Lusaka, the country's capital.

He added that it is difficult to trust the programs coming from the west because "there is no smoke without fire."

His views have been supported by his colleague Leonard Nkhata who feels that he is not comfortable taking the vaccine despite assurances from the government that it is safe.

Zambians have since taken to social media to express their views on the vaccination program, with some people supporting it while others expressing misgivings.

Facebook enthusiast Mulenga Bwalya said it is too early for him to get vaccinated, adding that he will wait to see what will become of those that have been vaccinated.

"I will give those who were tested 3-5 years and see if no one will kick the bucket," he wrote.

Mutinta Haimbe wondered how the COVID-19 vaccine has been found within a short period of time when there is no vaccine for HIV/AIDS which has been around for years.

"If the virus is mutating, why rush for the vaccine now? In my opinion, it is important first to really get to know this virus well. As it is now, it is very clear that the scientists have not yet known what surrounds the virus," she said.

Others, however, have supported the vaccination program, saying it will go a long way to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

"That's a good step in the right direction. The vaccine will help prevent the spread of the pandemic," Aaron Mwaba said on Facebook.

Zachariah Mwamba, a resident of Lusaka, feels that the vaccination program should be supported by everyone as it will help to prevent the spread while Mercy Sakala says the government needs to do more to raise awareness on the importance of being vaccinated.

The government says it will enhance its awareness drive so that a good number of eligible people to be vaccinated are reached.

Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said the launch of the vaccination program signifies the government's commitment to fighting the pandemic.

A communication strategy launched will be rolled out to all parts of the country as the vaccination program spreads to all districts, said the official, stressing that there have been no adverse effects from people who have so far been vaccinated since the launch of the vaccination program in the country.

The Zambian minister, who was the first to take the vaccine as a medical doctor, said only a few reports of common side effects with other routine vaccinations such as headaches and pains at the point of injection have been noted.

He said in a statement that a surveillance system has been put in place to tackle any concerns that might occur as the country rolls out the vaccination program.

He reiterated that the government was aware of the negative reports concerning the vaccines but assured that the vaccination program is being done in a cautious manner and that only vaccines that have been authenticated as safe will be allowed in the country.

Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) Executive Director Karen Sichinga said people should trust the vaccines because they are meant to save lives.

She encouraged citizens to take the vaccine as the government has done its homework before launching the program. Enditem
New Delhi, April 18 : After postponing the CBSE board examinations, the Union Education Ministry has decided to postpone the Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) in India and abroad. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) not to conduct the JEE Mains examination in view of the rising Covid cases. The JEE Mains examination was scheduled to be held on April 27, 28 and 30 this year.

According to the Education Ministry, the students will be informed about the next date of examinations 15 days in advance.

On the entrance test, Nishank said, "JEE (Main) 2021 April session date will be announced later. It will be announced at least 15 days before the exam and all students will be informed about it." The Union Education Minister said, "In view of the Covid surge, I have advised the NTA to postpone the examination for the JEE (Main) April 2021 session. I would like to reiterate that the safety of our students and their academic career is my major concern right now." The results of the JEE Main Exam Season 2, which was held in March this year, have been declared. The entrance exams were also conducted for the first time in foreign cities like Kuala Lumpur and Lagos. These exams were conducted in 12 foreign cities and 334 Indian cities in collaboration with the Government of India.

In this examinations held by the NTA, 13 students topped the exam by scoring 100 per cent marks. The JEE Main examination was conducted by the NTA from March 16 to 18, 2021. A total of more than 6.19 lakh candidates had registered for BE and B.Tech degree course through this examination.
GM and LG Energy Solution Investing $2.3 Billion in 2nd Ultium Cells Manufacturing Plant in U.S





2.8 million square-foot facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee, will create 1,300 new manufacturing jobs New plant will significantly increase GM's ability to lead in the production of batteries at scale Leading Ultium battery technology is at the heart of GMs EV strategy

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, today announced a more than $2.3 billion investment to build its second battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States. The facility will be located in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Ultium Cells will build the new plant on land leased from GM. The new battery cell plant will create 1,300 new jobs. Construction on the approximately 2.8 million-square-foot facility will begin immediately, and the plant is scheduled to open in late 2023. Once operational, the facility will supply battery cells to GMs Spring Hill assembly plant.

The addition of our second all-new Ultium battery cell plant in the U.S. with our joint venture partner LG Energy Solution is another major step in our transition to an all-electric future, said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. The support of the state of Tennessee was an important factor in making this investment in Spring Hill possible and this type of support will be critical moving forward as we continue to take steps to transition our manufacturing footprint to support EV production.

This partnership with General Motors will transform Tennessee into another key location for electric vehicle and battery production. It will allow us to build solid and stable U.S-based supply chains that enable everything from research, product development and production to the procurement of raw components, LG Energy Solution President and CEO Jonghyun Kim said. "Importantly, I truly believe this coming together transcends a partnership as it marks a defining moment that will reduce emissions and help to accelerate the adoption of EVs.

The state-of-the-art Spring Hill plant will use the most advanced and efficient battery cell manufacturing processes. The plant will be extremely flexible and able to adapt to ongoing advances in technology and materials.

GMs proprietary Ultium battery technology is at the heart of the companys strategy to compete for nearly every EV customer in the marketplace, whether they are looking for affordable transportation, luxury vehicles, work trucks, commercial trucks or high-performance machines.

Ultium batteries are unique in the industry because the large-format, pouch-style cells can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack. This allows engineers to optimize battery energy storage and layout for each vehicle design. Energy options range from 50 to 200 kilowatt hours, which could enable a GM-estimated range up to 450 miles or more on a full charge with 0-60 mph acceleration in 3 seconds1.

GMs future Ultium-powered EVs are designed for Level 2 and DC fast charging. Most will have 400-volt battery packs and up to 200 kW fast charging capability while GM's truck platform will have 800-volt battery packs and 350 kW fast charging capability.

With a 30-year history in the battery business, LG Energy Solution has made consistent, large-scale investments to accumulate enough stability, credibility and manufacturing experience to invent its own cutting-edge technologies. The company established its first research facility in the U.S. in the early 2000s. In 2010, the company built its first U.S battery plant in Holland, Michigan.

Through Ultium Cells, LG Energy Solution and GM will merge their advanced technologies and capabilities to help accelerate automotive electrification.



General Motors has made several announcements in the last 18 months that underscore its commitment to an all-electric, zero-emissions future, including:

General Motors is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.

LG Energy Solution is a global leading battery maker providing the best solutions within the energy sector for a better world. Based on our 30 years of R&D experience, we deliver the most advanced batteries that have been infused with cutting-edge technologies to EVs, Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and Mobility & IT applications across the world. LG Energy Solutions Advanced Automotive Battery leads the market with its outstanding technologies and products. Home to the world's first EV battery lineup, we provide the best battery solutions for EVs worldwide. For more information about LG Energy Solution, please visit https://www.lgensol.com.

1Actual range will vary based on several factors, including temperature, terrain, battery age, vehicle model, loading, use and maintenance.
The People's Liberation Army Navy said that sending US allies into the Taiwan Strait and Shanghai was deceptive. Those referred to as 'allies' are former deputy secretaries of state Richard Armitage and US climate envoy John Kerry.

Joe Biden sending US 'allies' into the strait is deceptive

The US and Taiwan want to expand their "diplomatic ties" through an unofficial visit by Joe Biden's "close friends," including two former deputy secretaries of state, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) responded with live-round exercises in the Taiwan Straits' southwest waters, reported Global Times that only prompted the Chinese response.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its leader, Tsai Ing-wen, boasted about the strengthened "ties" with the Biden administration from the visit. Still, at the same time, the US negotiated in Shanghai, reported on Thursday to Tuesday. Chinese forces will be scheduled at the Nanpeng Islands to conduct training exercises with live munitions announced by the Maritime Safety Administration of South China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday.

Data and coordinates of the live-fire exercises at Nanpeng Islands indicate an area that is zoned off, which covers several islands from the coastal city of Shantou located in Guandong.

Taiwan Media said the meeting of Biden's envoy, and the Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, leader of DPP on the island last Thursday established several points of Cooperation on supply chain, technology, trade, and keeping stability and peace in the contested Indo-Pacific, with sending US allies into the Taiwan Strait and those with the same ideas.

Japan's China Policy Becomes More Confrontational in 2021



Last Thursday, the envoy John Kerry had a meeting with Xie Zhenhua in Shanghai, which was interpreted as double-dealing to gain more for US interests. What is the foreign policy of Biden compared to the focused one of Trump.

An associate professor, Diao Daming, at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, said last Thursday too. Why should you bolster Taipei's hope when making deals with Beijing at the same time, what does Biden want to accomplish is unclear?

Tsai's call for stabilizing China's belligerent attitude will be a cue for Japan's prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, who will meet with Biden on Friday. One of their major points will be the subject of Taipei and Beijing, said an AP report.

The visits of Kerry and Armitage will be a factor in talks with Suga in Washington, said Diao. He added that former deputy secretaries of state Richard Armitage and James Steinberg had been formerly involved in Asia Pacific concerns before, which covers policy and diplomacy.

Experts don't think a breakthrough on a free trade deal between Taiwan and the United States is uncertain. Last Monday, Biden said at a virtual semiconductor summit about Taiwan's status in Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Taiwan can have a role in hyping regional issues such as cross-Straits relations. Chiu Yi, a former "lawmaker" in Taiwan and a Taiwan-based pro-reunification scholar, said that China has a massive military that will negate sending US allies into the Taiwan Strait that is useless double-dealing.

Taiwan Claims They Can Shoot down Chinese Drones Circling the South China Sea

Taiwanese F-16 Crashes in Training Exercise, All 150 Planes Grounded After That

US Admiral Forecasts China Could Soon Takeover Taiwan

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former Deputy Minister For Gender, Children, And Social Protection, Rachel Appoh has blamed the Manager of Akuapem Poloo born Rosemond Brown for her predicament.



Akuapem Poloo it may be recalled was slapped with a 90-day jail sentence by an Accra Circuit Court over naked pictures with her son.



The former MP for Gomoa Central reacting to this said Akuapem Poloo's manager contributed to her 'downfall'.



"She was asked to render a public apology which I believe she did...but she was also asked to render a public video apology but her manager refused and we indicated then that it was in Akuapem Poloo's best interest for her to do it....but because the public video apology didn't come; here we are...I'm really sad" Rachel Appoh said in an interview on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme.



She is confident that had Akuapem Poloo's manager "allowed her to do the public video apology all these would have been avoided".



She recounted how the Manager was "even rude to Social Welfare that I had to even apologize. The Manager caused all these; leading Akuapem Poloo to jail. So people should stop bashing Gender Ministry, social welfare and even the government"



Listen to her in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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New Delhi, April 18 : The Delhi government on Sunday ordered Delhi Police to lodge FIRs against four airlines for ferrying passengers from Maharashtra without valid RT-PCR reports.

Sources told IANS that around 130 such passengers have been carried by four airlines - IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet and AirAsia.

"The Delhi government has directed the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) police station to lodge FIRs against IndiGo, Spicejet, Vistara and AirAsia," the Delhi Chief Minister's Office said.

The action would be taken under the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) norms to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The DDMA, the apex authority in the Covid fight, had earlier made RT-PCR tests, not older than 72 hours before departure, mandatory for all passengers coming from Maharashtra to Delhi. Passengers who are found positive will be quarantined at home or hospital for 10 days. Those without a negative report will be placed in quarantine for a period of 14 days, it had said.

The stringent action comes at a time when the national capital is recording a surge in daily Covid-19 cases which crossed 24,000 mark on Saturday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Two men jailed over their interference with a bank's lawful takeover of a Co Roscommon farm which was the subject of a controversial eviction in 2018 have been released from custody.

Michael Anthony McGann, who owned the property at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda of Dublin Road, Longford, were among three men arrested at the house last year for interference with efforts by KBC Bank's agents to secure the property following the eviction. They were found to be in contempt by the court and were lodged in Mountjoy Prison, where they spent almost five months behind bars.

On Friday Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed that the two be released from custody after they gave undertakings to stay away from and not to trespass at the property. A third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina in Mayo, had also been jailed for contempt, however he purged his contempt and was released shortly before Christmas.

On Thursday Mr Taylor and Mr McGann represented by Brendan Donelon Bl sought their release. The matter was adjourned to Friday to allow them fully consult with the legal team.

On Friday Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds heard that both men were prepared to give undertakings to the court that they would stay away from the property. They said they were giving the undertaking independent of the injunction order requiring Mr McGann and others to vacate the farm. Counsel said that his clients also said they want the High Court to hear further proceedings regarding the farm, as soon as possible.

Rossan Fanning SC, for KBC said his said was satisfied with the undertakings. Ms Justice Reynolds directed that the men be released. However, she warned than any breach of the undertaking would see them back in prison. The court had not wanted to jail them, she said, but was left with no option due to the failure to comply with court orders.

The judge made a cost orders against Mr McGann, who she described as the "puppet master" regarding events.The costs of the proceedings are estimated to be well into six figures. The matter had a long history and had been before the courts on several occasions arising out of Mr McGann's actions and failure to comply with the court's orders.The judge also refused to put a stay on the costs order.

No order for costs was made against Mr Taylor, however that could be revisited if he were to breach his undertakings, the judge said. The farm was the scene of a controversial eviction in 2018. KBC bank obtained a repossession order, on foot of a 431,000 loan to Mr McGann, against the property. KBC was unable to secure the property and returned to court and obtained injunction orders, which were to remain in place pending the full hearing of the dispute, from Mr Justice Senan Allen in October 2019, granting it vacant possession of the property.



KBC brought contempt proceedings against the three men over their refusal to comply with that order. The court heard that Mr McGann wants the full hearing of KBC's action heard, and the court agreed to put a time table for the exchange of documents in that case. Mr Donelon said his client was anxious for the full hearing of the case to proceed. In reply Mr Fanning said while his side accepted that there was an entitlement to a full hearing and his side would comply with any directions made by the court, said it was "an open and shut case."



The matter will be listed before the court in June.
Former Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Artak Zakaryan posted the following on his Facebook page:

Back on November 12, 2020, I warned Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Onik Gasparyan that after a while Nikol [Nikol Pashinyan] will throw the whole blame for the war on him. At the time, Gasparyan didnt accept this, better yet, he didnt believe me and said he and the other army generals are ready to be awarded and be brought to justice.

Yesterday Nikol, through former Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Samvel Babayan, accused the armys command and General Staff on Armenian Public Television. Moreover, he blamed them for everything.

The same day, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan sharply refuted the facts and said Nikol wasnt the Commander-in-Chief during the war.

According to Nikol, he isnt to blame for anything and is a saint and that everyone else is to blame. These are the fruits of populism.

Get ready to be sentenced, army generals and officers. As a result of all this, it will turn out that you and all former army generals and ministers are the only ones to blame for the incited war and embarrassing defeat.

Many people who have a glorious past in the military and are dedicated to homeland defense have been criticized for the past three years. Now it turns out that they are traitors and saboteurs and must be brought to justice. What is ridiculous is that all this is due to the whim of one person.

P.S.: One may ask what I was doing in the office of the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. At Mr. Gasparyans invitation (I think Nikol knew about it), we were discussing the situation that had been created and the ways to get out of it. I had proposed to have Nikol, who was hiding in bunkers, to personally hold a meeting with the representatives of all political parties, answer everyones questions and immediately resign.
RTHK: Minnesota police promise not to detain reporters

Minnesota police on Saturday promised not to detain, threaten or rough up journalists covering protests over the police shooting of Daunte Wright, after officers detained and pepper-sprayed journalists on Friday night and forced some to lie face-down.

The Minnesota State Patrol also agreed to stop photographing journalists and their credentials and will no longer order reporters where they can position themselves to cover the demonstrations.

The statement came after state police and officers from eight other law-enforcement agencies in the joint force known as Operation Safety Net were criticised by media organizations for how they treated journalists at the protests in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota said the behaviour of some officers "went beyond unlawful detention to include outright retaliatory assault" against journalists, whose work to inform the public is protected against government interference by the US Constitution.

The events led several media organisations to ask Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to intervene.

"I convened a meeting today with media and law enforcement to determine a better path forward to protect the journalists covering civil unrest," Walz said on Twitter.

Police impeded the work of journalists even after a US District Court judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order that forbade them from arresting, threatening to arrest, or using physical force against journalists.

"Following feedback from media, and in light of a recent temporary restraining order (TRO) filed in federal court, MSP will not photograph journalists or their credentials," the Minnesota State Patrol statement said.

"In addition, MSP will no longer include messaging at the scene advising media where they can go to safely cover events. While journalists have been detained and released during enforcement actions after providing credentials, no journalists have been arrested," the statement said.

It also said journalists would be exempt from general dispersal orders issued to demonstrators, and that state police were banned from using chemical spray against the press.

"All journalists must be allowed to report the news in the public interest without fear of harassment or harm, wherever they are," said the international news agency Reuters, which was among the media organisations that condemned the police actions.

The protests erupted after Wright was killed during a traffic stop on Sunday in Brooklyn Center. Former officer Kimberly Potter, who turned in her badge on Tuesday, has been charged with manslaughter.

Tensions in the area are running high as the trial of former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin nears an end, with closing arguments scheduled for Monday. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder for his part in the deadly arrest last May of George Floyd. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-04-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Gohmert mentioned some of the dangers of crossing the river in that area  namely snakes and tarantulas  and noted that in spite of the risks, large numbers of particularly women and children were crossing anyway.

Who is putting up the signs pointing to asylum at the U.S. border in Texas and why are they in Homeland Security bags? #BidenBorderCrisis, Gohmert tweeted along with a video of himself at the border.

Gohmert pointed out a sign that had been placed on a tree near a spot where he said illegal aliens were crossing the river. The sign, he explained, provided directors to a nearby Border Patrol processing center.

Its amazing how many women and children are coming right now, just because the president is promising them amnesty down the road, Gohmert noted. But the great irony here is theses are on Homeland  they put these messages in Homeland Security bags so theyll stay nice and dry and fresh for the thousands and thousands of people that are coming up from the river right over here.

Tarantulas, snakes and all kinds of stuff around here, Gohmert noted further, adding, This is no place people ought to be coming in. (Related: WEAPONIZED IMMIGRATION: Biden Regime using biological warfare yet again in West Texas as revenge for Keystone pipeline.)

But people are coming. And thats intentional. Democrats are flooding America with third-world poor because they are trying to change the make-up of the country. They are working to replace current voters with more appreciative voters.

Now, I know that the left and all the little gatekeepers on Twitter become literally hysterical if you use the term replacement, if you suggest that the Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate, the voters now casting ballots, with new people, more obedient voters from the Third World, Fox News Tucker Carlson said in recent days during his program, in which he discussed the Democrats diabolical plan. But they become hysterical because thats whats happening, actually.
The Bia West District Assembly in the Western North Region has recorded a total of 33 new HIV/AIDS cases in the first quarter of 2021.



Of the figures, 11 are males and 22 females.



This brings to a total of 819 positive HIV/AIDS cases made up of 598 females and 221 males recorded in the District as at the end of March this year.



This was made known at the end of the first quarter stakeholders meeting and review of the District HIV/AIDS response activities.



Mr Obed Anhwere, Bio-statistician at Essam Government Hospital, who is in charge of Anti-Retroviral Therapy, (ART) appealed to persons diagnosed to be HIV positive to seek early treatment by visiting the unit for anti-retroviral drugs since that was the only way to go.



He advised residents to go for voluntary counseling and testing to enable them to know their HIV/AIDS status.



Mr John Koah, District Chief Executive of Bia in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, (GNA) expressed worry about the situation and called on residents especially the youth to change their sexual behavior so as not to contract the disease.



He announced that the Assembly, together with the District Health Directorate had set up a committee to educate students in the various senior high schools, visit funeral grounds, mosques, churches and lorry stations to educate people on the high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDs cases in the District.



HIV/AIDS cases in Bia West District is serious and we must not joke about it.

Source: GNA









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Vietnam reports three more imported Covid-19 patients on Sunday

Three Vietnamese people who recently returned from abroad have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of patients in the country to 2,784, the Ministry of Health reported on Sunday evening.



















Illustrative photo





According to the ministry's report, the newly-reported patients include two men and a woman aged between 23-51 who returned from Japan, Angola, and the US. They were sent to quarantine areas in Khanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, and Bac Ninh provinces upon arrival and are now being treated at local hospitals and healthcare centres.



With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 2,784, including 910 locally-transmitted cases reported since the new outbreak started in Hai Duong on January 28.



As of 6 pm on April 18, a total of 2,475 Covid-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital. There have been 35 deaths, most of them being the elderly with serious underlying diseases.



At present, over 40,000 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home.
The UK insisted it 'stands with' the Czech Republic today after it linked two Russian spies accused of carrying out the Salisbury Novichok attack to a 2014 bombing.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned 'malign' activities by the Kremlin's intelligence services after Czech police said they are searching for men carrying various passports, including Russian documents in the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

The aliases match those used by the pair - real names Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga - who Britain believes poisoned turncoat Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in 2018.

Czech police suspect the men passing themselves off as Petrov and Boshirov were members of a Russian spy cell involved in an explosion in an ammunition warehouse in October 2014, which killed two contractors working there.

Eighteen Russian diplomats have been ordered to leave the country in an attempt to hobble its intelligence capabilities.

Mr Raab said: 'The UK stands in full support of our Czech allies, who have exposed the lengths that the Russian intelligence services will go to in their attempts to conduct dangerous and malign operations in Europe.

'This shows a pattern of behaviour by Moscow, following the Novichok attack in Salisbury. My sympathies are with the families of the victims in Vrbetice.

'We are as determined and committed as ever to bring those responsible for the attack in Salisbury to justice, and commend the actions of the Czech authorities to do the same. Russia must desist from these actions, which violate the most basic international norms.'

Czech police have issued an alert for information about two suspected Russian spies who used passports in the name of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - the same passports used during the 2018 Salisbury novichok attacks - in a warehouse bombing in October 2014

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK 'stands by' the Czech Republic and condemned 'malign' activities by the Kremlin's intelligence services

Czech police issued the alert this evening for the two suspected Russian agents who have been linked to a bombing in October 2014 which killed two people

During their visit to Salisbury, former KGB spy Sergei Skripal, right, and his daughter Yulia, left, received life-threatening doses of a chemical agent novichok

Czech authorities yesterday accused the men of causing an explosion on October 16, 2014 at a warehouse with 58 tonnes of ammunition. It was followed months later by another big blast at a nearby warehouse with 98 tonnes of ammunition

Czech authorities said the men are suspected of operating in the country between October 11, when they arrived in Prague, and October 16, the day of the blast.

They say the men travelled from Prague to the eastern village where the blast took place - destroying a warehouse containing 58 tonnes of ammunition - and then left the country shortly afterwards.

Another explosion, which took place in December 2014, then destroyed another warehouse at the same site containing 98 tonnes of explosives - but Czech authorities have not said who they think is responsible for that.

Investigative website Bellingcat, which revealed the true identities of both Petrov and Borishov, has previously reported that Petrov - or Mishkin - was in Prague earlier in 2014.

Mishkin was in Prague for eight days from January 26 until February 2 alongside a man named Denis Sergeev - who is also a suspect in the Salisbury poisoning.

Sergeev, who used the alias Sergey Fedotov, is thought to have provided Mishkin and Chepiga with support during the Salisbury mission - including calling them after the attack to tell them to head back to Russia.

It is not known why Mishkin or Sergeev were in Prague just months ahead of the warehouse bombings.

Col. Mgr. Jaroslav Ibehej of the NCOZ issued the notice for the two men who were first using Russian passports with the names Alexander Petrov, born on July 13, 1979 and Ruslan Boshirov, born April 12, 1978.

The pair then switched to one Moldovan passport in the name of Nicolai Popa, born July 18, 1979 and a Tajikistan passport in the name of Ruslan Tabarov, born October 23, 1975.

According to Czech police they were first in Prague, and later in the Morovian-Silesian region and then finally in the Zlin region.

The investigation relates to a decision by the Czech government to expel 18 Russian diplomats identified by local intelligence as secret agents of the Russian SVR and GRU services that are suspected of involvement in a 2014 explosion.

Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek said: 'Eighteen employees of the Russian embassy must leave our republic within 48 hours.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Czech authorities had 'clear evidence' linking GRU officers to an explosion in an ammunition warehouse in 2014 which left two people dead.

'We have good reason to suspect the involvement of GRU officers from unit 29155 in the explosion at the ammunition warehouse in Vrbetice' in the east of the country, Babis said.

He added he had received the information on Friday, without explaining why it had taken so long.

The pair claimed they had visited Salisbury to see the spire of the historic cathedral

Czech Prime Minister Adreij Babis, right, and his foreign minister Jan Mamacek, left, announced a decision to expel 18 Russian diplomats in relation to the 2014 attack. Czech police issued an alert for the two men suspected of being involved in the attack

UK authorities believe the two Russians are responsible for the Salisbury attack. Now Czech authorities believe the same men were involved in the bombing of a warehouse in Vrbetice, in the east of the country. The bombing of an ammunition warehouse left two people dead

'The explosion led to huge material damage and posed a serious threat to the lives of many local people, but above all it killed two of our fellow citizens, fathers of families,' Babis said.

Hamacek, who is the interior minister and also an interim foreign minister after his predecessor was sacked earlier this week, said he was sorry the incident would 'fundamentally damage Czech-Russian relations'.

'We are in a situation similar to that in Britain following the attempted poisoning in Salisbury in 2018,' he said, referring to the case of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal who survived a nerve agent poisoning in Britain.

Russia denied involvement but some 300 diplomats were sent home in subsequent tit-for-tat expulsions.

Hamacek said he had summoned Russian ambassador Alexander Zmeyevsky yesterday to tell him about the decision.

On Thursday, the Czech Republic's neighbour Poland said it had expelled three Russian diplomats for 'carrying out activities to the detriment' of Poland.

Warsaw also expressed solidarity with the US, which earlier that day had announced sanctions and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats in retaliation for what Washington said was the Kremlin's US election interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity.
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By Anna Watanabe, KYODO NEWS - Apr 18, 2021 - 14:39 | World, All, Feature, Japan

In 2015, when Japanese-Australian artist Mayu Kanamori came across hundreds of old, black-and-white photos of Japanese people, taken in Japan, at a flea market in regional Australia she felt drawn to them, but also conflicted.

How did these photos of families posing with newborn babies, brides in traditional wedding kimono and children on school excursions end up in Australia? And why were they for sale?

All the market seller could tell her was the photographs came from a deceased estate in Geelong, just over an hour southwest of Melbourne, capital of the southeastern Australia state of Victoria.

Looking through the bags of photos, mostly taken between 1930 and 1960, Kanamori saw the same faces appearing over and over, and soon concluded the photos were part of a family collection.

"When I found that they were related -- they were bagged up as sales items and some of the people who are in one of the bags are in the other bags -- I felt like I couldn't separate them," the 58-year-old said, describing the feeling of seeing family members divided up, like separating adopted children.

"So I ended up buying the lot."

Feeling the photos must be important to someone, Kanamori held onto the images until 2020 when she spent her weeks in coronavirus lockdown digitizing the roughly-300 photos.

The artist has since launched a bilingual project called Untitled.Showa in which volunteer sleuths can look through the photos for clues in an attempt to reunite the images with their original owners.

Chie Muraoka, 56, a web designer and acquaintance of Kanamori's living in Australia, helped open the Untitled.Showa portal site in August last year calling for information about the photos.

The photos have already yielded some clues. Locations in the Kansai region of western Japan, and particularly the city of Kyoto, appear regularly, while volunteers have identified particular school uniforms worn in the shots.

"A lot of the photographs appear to have been taken in the Daiei Kyoto (film) studios so there's speculation that there may be certain actors (in the images)," Kanamori said, adding she feels the photograph owners were more likely people who worked behind the scenes at the studios and not the film stars themselves.

To help further raise awareness of the project, Untitled.Showa is holding exhibitions in Australia and Japan, which will allow people to see posters of some of the photos with QR codes linking them to the full image catalog.

Kanamori said she hopes the project will facilitate communication between younger, digital natives and older generations, as well as encourage an extension of relationships between Japan and Australia at a time when people cannot travel overseas.

"The digitization is great for certain people, but you need to talk to your grandpa and grandma to find out, 'Do you know this person?'," she said.

Ultimately, Kanamori's goal is to return the photographs to the family in Japan.

"It would be great if someone was reunited with their family photos, especially since the children (in the photographs) would be only a bit older than me," she said, adding that having spent so much time looking at the images she feels very attached to some of the people.

"I feel as if I know them. I feel as if they're my family!"
Radical restructuring inevitable for troubled automaker



SsangYong Motor has been placed under court receivership once again. Last Thursday, the Seoul Bankruptcy Court approved corporate rehabilitation procedures for the automaker, ordering the company to submit a restructuring plan by July 1. The troubled SsangYong stands at a crossroads, with its fate resting in the hands of the court about a decade years after it emerged from a similar predicament in March 2011.



The carmaker's self-rescue plan is likely to include finding potential investors and a debt-rescheduling scheme. The court will conduct due diligence on the firm's financial status to figure out the size of its overall debt and decide if it would be better to keep it operating or to liquidate it. Some skeptics say it would be better to liquidate SsangYong, because the company owes its employees and subcontractors 370 billion won ($332 million).



However, SsangYong's breakup will result in the loss of at least 20,000 jobs and cause enormous damage to the regional economy. The government can ill afford to let it go under, especially with the presidential election only a year away. The court is also moving to find a new owner for the company. There are potential buyers, including U.S. vehicle importer, HAAH Automotive Holdings, and Edison Motors, a local electric bus manufacturer.



All this boils down to how SsangYong turns itself into an attractive offering by reducing costs and sharpening its competitiveness. If the troubled automaker's union is not prepared for radical restructuring in this regard, nobody will be interested in buying it. Given the company's weak bottom line and grim outlook, its would-be suitors will also demand various incentives, such as debt write-offs and financial support.



Arguments over the two extremes  that the government should keep it afloat by all means or it must let any hopeless businesses go under  are not desirable. In the long term, it would be better to rescue SsangYong Motor. However, the government's support should be based on justifiable and rational grounds. The management and union of SsangYong must show they are willing to make sacrifices and should present a solid revival plan and vision that will keep the company from sinking into insolvency and burdening the national economy once again.


Senator Ted Cruz has accused Democrats of 'actively encouraging riots & violence' after California Representative Maxine Waters joined protesters in Minnesota on Saturday night, and urged the crowd to 'get more confrontational'.

Cruz and others slammed Waters for her remarks in Minneapolis on Saturday night -- made just hours before two National Guardsmen tasked with keeping the peace there were injured in a drive-by shooting.

Waters traveled to Minneapolis the weekend before closing arguments in the trial of Derek Chauvin, charged with murdering George Floyd on May 25. She also spoke amid protests in response to the killing last week of Daunte Wright, a black 20-year-old shot and killed at a traffic stop by a white police officer, Kimberly Potter.

'I am not happy that we have talked about police reform for so long,' Waters said, demanding a guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial and adding: 'If we don't [get it], we cannot go away. We've got to stay on the street.'

She added that protesters needed 'get more active, more confrontational' and they should ignore the curfew in place.

Hours after Waters' passionate speech, a Minnesota National Guard and Minneapolis police team were fired upon in a drive-by shooting.

Scroll down for video

Maxine Waters, congresswoman for California, was in Minnesota on Saturday evening, saying that demonstrators needed 'get more active, more confrontational'

A bullet hole is seen in the windshield of a Minnesota National Guard vehicle that was targeted in a drive-by shooting early on Sunday. Two Guardsmen suffered minor injuries

A bullet hole in a National Guard vehicle is seen after Guardsmen were targeted on Sunday

Senator Ted Cruz accused Waters and fellow Democrats of seeking to 'to tear us apart'

The team was providing neighborhood security in Minneapolis when, at about 4.19am local time, a light colored SUV drove by and blasted shots at an occupied National Guard vehicle.

No team members were seriously injured, though two National Guard members suffered minor injuries: One was injured by shattered glass and taken to a local hospital, while the other suffered only superficial injuries.

Cruz accused Waters and fellow Democrats of seeking to 'to tear us apart.'

'Why is Maxine Waters traveling to a different state trying to incite a riot? What good can come from this?' asked Lauren Boebert, representative for Colorado.

Fellow Colorado representative Ken Buck said: 'Why is a sitting member of Congress encouraging protesters to get confrontational?'

Arizona Republican Andy Biggs added: 'The Radical Left dont care if your towns are burning, if theres violence in your streets, or if the police are too defunded to defend their communities.

'As long as the Left appeases their anti-America base, their job is done.'

And Marjorie Taylor Greene, congresswoman for Georgia, called for her to be expelled from Congress.

'As a sitting United States Congresswoman @MaxineWaters threatened a jury demanding a guilty verdict and threatened violence if Chauvin is found not guilty. This is also an abuse of power. #ExpelMaxineWaters'

She called Waters 'a danger to our society.'

On Twitter, others joined in the outrage at Waters' remarks.

'Of course she'll get away with saying that while anyone else would've been thrown in jail,' Rick Santella tweeted.

Another user tweeted, 'Good grief lady, leave get out of here.'

One person also accused Waters of 'stirring people up again with her calls for violence.'

Pictured: Congresswoman Maxine Waters leaving the protest at the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Saturday

Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins demonstrators in a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday night

Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins demonstrators in a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday night

Waters is planning on staying in town until Monday.

According to CBS Minnesota, officials stated that there was a brief altercation between reporters and protesters as Waters was leaving on Saturday, the first reports of any skirmishes.

The Pioneer Press reports demonstrators gathered Saturday afternoon at the home of Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, responsible for the second-degree manslaughter charges against Potter.

The protesters stood outside of Orput's home before marching through is neighborhood in Stillwater.

Black Lives Matter activist Nekima Levy Armstrong said that Orput left his home briefly to engage in a conversation with protesters.

Pictured: Peaceful protesters in front of the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Saturday night

Demonstrators raise their fists at Union Station near the U.S Capitol, during a march in Washington, D.C. on Saturday

A demonstrator holds a Black Lives Matter sign during a protest outside the Brooklyn Center police station on Saturday

Protests have also been taking place in Chicago following the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, as well as New York City and across the rest of the United States.

On Friday night, many protests across the nation started off peacefully before sporadic clashes broke out between Black Lives Matters protesters and the police.

University of Minnesota medical students and doctors also marched on the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Saturday, a day after it was the site of most of the night's unrest.

Peaceful protests on Friday devolved into clashes between protesters and police, with flash bangs and pepper spray utilized by the cops.

There originally was not expected to be a curfew for the first time in several days, before one was suddenly imposed during the night's demonstrations.

Media members were briefly detained and 136 people were arrested.

A temporary restraining order was filed to prevent police from arresting or harming journalists.

'Following feedback from media, and in light of a recent temporary restraining order (TRO) filed in federal court, MSP will not photograph journalists or their credentials,' the Minnesota State Patrol said in a statement.

According to the Washington Post, several protesters were arrested on Saturday night. It's unclear why they were arrested, as the protest of about a hundred was drawing to a close.

Earlier in the day, there were peaceful protests across the nation, including Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia.

According to NBC Philadelphia, crowds in that city walked through City Center towards City Hall peacefully in a protest that lasted around five hours.

Nevertheless, some businesses did board up and 1,000 National Guard troops were preemptively deployed.
New Delhi:

The Railway Ministry on Wednesday constituted a high level committee to probe 18-month delay in the tender of new foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road station.

Earlier, a stampede took place on a foot overbridge near the Elphinstone station. As per reports, 22 people had died and more than 30 were injured.

Shiv Sena had earlier said that there were lapses in part of the government in dealing with the foot overbridge near the Elphinstone station. They alleged that despite their constant demand to redevelop the overbridge, the government did paid any attention to it.

We have time and again demanded that the old and dilapidated foot overbridges be redeveloped but no action has been taken yet, Sena MP Sanjay Raut told.

Sena MP Arvind Sawant said he has raised the issue of local commuters plight from time to time in Parliament. I have repeatedly requested railway officials to look into the issue, but nothing has happened till now.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
OTTAWA, ON, April 17, 2021 /CNW/ -

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of all ages across the country can access immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

One year ago, the Government of Canada launched the Wellness Together Canada portal to provide free and confidential mental health, substance use, and well-being supports, from self-assessment, information and practical tools, to peer support and confidential sessions with social workers, psychologists and other professionals. A year later, with emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and various levels of restrictions still in place across the country, many challenges and difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic remain, creating stress and anxiety for many people in Canada, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Wellness Together Canada (WTC) continues to be available for people of all ages, 24 hours, seven days a week and is designed to be used on demand: you get to choose what you need, when you need it. The portal offers services in both official languages and phone counselling is available in more than 200 languages and dialects, through instantaneous interpretation. As of April 12, over 1.1 million individuals across all provinces and territories have accessed the WTC portal in over 3.5 million web sessions. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on our lives, you can find support at Wellness Together Canada, it is just a call or click away.

As COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory and healthcare capacity. At the same time, the Public Health Agency of Canada is providing Canadians with regular updates on COVID-19 vaccines administered, vaccination coverage and ongoing monitoring of vaccine safety across the country. The following is the latest summary on national numbers and trends, and the actions we all need to be taking to reduce infection rates, while vaccination programs expand for the protection of all Canadians.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,106,062 cases of COVID-19, including 85,319 active cases and 23,541 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date. They also tell us, together with results of serological studies, that the vast majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. As vaccine delivery ramps up at an accelerated pace, there is cause for optimism that widespread and lasting immunity can be achieved through COVID-19 vaccination. We now have multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines with unique advantages that are authorised for use in Canada. Vaccine coverage is increasing across Canada, with benefits being seen in prioritized high-risk populations. Ramp up of vaccine supply and acceleration of vaccination programs will return further benefits to protect more Canadians, over the coming weeks and months. As of yesterday, provinces and territories have administered over 9.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and are further expanding programs as supply ramps up at an accelerated pace.

However, with the current acceleration of COVID-19 activity and a concerning rise in the proportion of cases that involve more contagious variants of concern, strong public health measures and individual precautions must be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating. The latest national-level data show a 7-day average of 8,669 new cases daily (Apr 9-15), a 26% increase compared to the previous seven days. For the week of April 4-10, there were on average of 124,247 tests completed daily across Canada, of which 6.5% were positive for COVID-19, an increase from 5.1% the week prior. Sustained high infection rates are also impacting COVID-19 severity indicators, particularly in areas with elevated disease activity. The rise in severe and critical illnesses is placing renewed strain on the health system and healthcare workforce. Provincial and territorial data indicate that an average of 3,428 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Apr 9-15) representing a 34% increase over last week. This includes, on average 1,049 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU), which is 22% higher than the previous week. Mortality trends are also increasing, with a 7-day average of 41 deaths reported daily, which is 38% higher than the week prior.

While COVID-19 continues to impact people of all ages in Canada, infection rates are highest among those aged 20-39 years of age. As well, we are seeing an increased number of adults under the age of 60 years being treated for COVID-19 in hospital, including in ICUs. This is a reminder that serious illness can occur at any age and evidence indicates that variants of concern can be associated with more severe illness and increased risk of death. In addition, circulation of COVID-19 in younger, more mobile and socially-connected adults is an ongoing risk for spread into high-risk populations and settings and several jurisdictions have highlighted social gatherings as an important driver for spread. As of April 15, a total of 51,643 variant of concern cases have been reported across Canada, including 49,365 involving B.1.1.7 variants, 1,882 P.1 variants and 396 B.1.351 variants. Although B.1.1.7, continues to account for the majority of variants of concern in Canada and has likely replaced the original virus in some areas, there has been a concerning rise in P.1 cases in recent weeks. Early evidence suggests that the P.1 variant may reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, making it even more important to control its spread.

Canadians are urged to remain vigilant, continue following local public health advice, and consistently maintain individual practices that keep us and our families safer: stay home/self-isolate if you have any symptoms, think about the risks and reduce non-essential activities and outings to a minimum, avoid all non-essential travel, and maintain individual protective practices of physical distancing, hand, cough and surface hygiene and wearing a well-fitted and properly worn face mask as appropriate (including in shared spaces, indoors or outdoors, with people from outside of your immediate household).

Canadians can also go the extra mile by sharing credible information on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities and by downloading the COVID Alert app to break the cycle of infection and help limit the spread of COVID-19. Read my backgrounder to access more COVID-19 Information and Resources on ways to reduce the risks and protect yourself and others, including information on COVID-19 vaccination.

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca


https://www.aish.com/ci/s/Ordinary-People-are-Capable-of-Unspeakable-Evil.html

We counter evil with goodness, hatred with kindness, fear with courage and falseness with truth.

In "The Final Account", a soon-to-be released documentary, the youth of Nazi Germany are seen frolicking and laughing, their blond Aryan curls glittering in the sun. They march proudly, raise their hands in unison and shout, "Heil Hitler."

Director Luke Holland spent ten years catching up with those children who are now elderly adults. I knew nothing, insists one woman.

Everyone knew! But no one said anything. counters another, jabbing her finger in the air.

This is the last living generation of Nazi Germany, former S.S. members as well as civilians. When they die, will they take the stench of death and their testimonies with them?

What is incredible is how ordinary they all seem. They can be your next door neighbor, the man or woman sitting beside you on the park bench to whom you nod and say hello. But they have blood on their hands. The documentary forces us to confront responsibility, complicity , and the ease through which we descend into hate.

Weve seen an uptick in anti-Semitism since the pandemic hit the world. Blood libels have been revived with Jews and Israel being blamed for Covid-19. Online platforms have become the newest forum to spread conspiracy theories and hatred against Jews. These past few years have seen anti-Semitic massacres in Poway, California, Jersey City, New Jersey and Monsey, New York as well as in Europe. Universities have been hotbeds for vocal protestors and graffiti glorifying Hitler, Nazi swastikas, and BDS slurs threatening to throw Jews into the sea. Students who express support for Israel feel intimidated. The simple act of putting up a mezuzah has brought vandalism and hatred. There is real fear.

According to a recent A.J.C. report more than half of Americans ages 18-29 said they did not know the meaning of the word anti-Semitism. In 2018, two thirds of millennials had no idea what Auschwitz was.

To counter anti-Semitism we must understand that the Nazis were regular people who got caught up in the frenzy of vicious hatred toward the Jew.

This is not ancient history. We are speaking about my parents and grandparents, shoved into cattle cars with no air to breathe. We are speaking about my bubby whose name I carry. She was last seen holding her baby grandchild in her arms walking into the flames of the gas chambers, with the Shema on her lips. The silent cries of too many souls still call out to us to remember them from the stained earth. And now they are even stripped of their memory.

To counter anti-Semitism we must understand who the Nazis were. They were regular people who got caught up in the frenzy of vicious hatred toward the Jew. Adults and children read the propaganda, watched the media, turned off their conscience and turned into killing machines. Culture, art, music, science and education were no match for the loss of ones soul. Man descended into the abyss of hell.

I am reminded of the terrifying moment my mother was rounded up, taken from her home along with her parents and two brothers. She was clutching her doll in her hands. The superintendent of the synagogue was there along with his little girl, with whom my mother would sometimes play. The super approached her. "They are coming to say goodbye," my mother thought.

He grabbed the doll out of her arms and handed it to his daughter.

What are you doing? my mother cried.

The man spit at my mother and laughed. Where you are going you wont be needing any dolls.

Ordinary people. Ordinary lives. How did they sleep at night? When they looked at themselves in the mirror what did they see? How did they make peace with the piles of corpses, the mounds of hair and shoes, the final heartbreaking shrieks of a precious child, mother, and father, never to be heard from again?

I was asked to speak to a group of high school students in England via zoom on Yom HaShoah. I spoke with my heart. I asked that they take my message, my stories and the stories of my family with them. Never forget who you are, walk with dignity and pride as daughters of our people. I relayed the story of my Zaydie tenaciously keeping Shabbos alive in Bergen Belsen. "Remember that you are the angels of Shabbos," I urged, just as my mother taught us and our children. "No matter how dark the world becomes, you are here to kindle a light and illuminate the world with goodness."

Later in the day I had an appointment. A lovely young woman took my information and noticed my necklace, shaped like a flame. How beautiful, she remarked. What is that? I explained that I was given this necklace by my mother. It actually spells the Hebrew word Hineni, that means 'here I am,' written in the shape of a flame because my mother believed that within us is the spark of a soul waiting to be ignited.

I love that. Is your mother still alive? I responded sadly, no. She asked where my mother was from. Hungary I replied. My mother was in Bergen Belsen. As she was leaving the room she smiled and said, Thats cool.

She had no idea what I was talking about.

We are losing our sacred memory, our mission to live proudly as Jews. Our connection to each other, to our people, to our land, to our God are all being threatened with the loss of our collective awareness. We are all responsible to bear witness.

We dare not forget.

Just as ordinary people brought devastation and suffering, so too, can ordinary people bring life and blessing into the world.

Let us remember that it is never just an innocent word, a mindless act, an ignorant slur. We counter evil with goodness, hatred with kindness, fear with courage and falseness with truth.
INDIANAPOLIS  The former employee who shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis legally purchased the two assault rifles used in the attack despite red flag laws designed to prevent that, police said.

A trace of the two guns found by investigators at the scene revealed that suspect Brandon Scott Hole, 19, of Indianapolis, legally bought the rifles in July and September of last year, officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said Saturday.

IMPD did not share where Hole bought the guns, citing the ongoing investigation, but said Hole was witnessed using both rifles during the assault.

Deputy Police Chief Craig McCartt said Hole began firing randomly at people in the parking lot of the FedEx facility late Thursday, killing four, before entering the building, fatally shooting four more people and then turning the gun on himself.

Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBIs Indianapolis field office, has said that agents questioned Hole last year after his mother called police to say that her son might commit suicide by cop. He said the FBI was called after items were found in Holes bedroom but he did not elaborate on what they were. He said agents found no evidence of a crime and that they did not identify Hole as espousing a racially motivated ideology.

A police report obtained by The Associated Press shows that officers seized a pump-action shotgun from Holes home after responding to the mothers call. Keenan said the gun was never returned.

Indiana has had a red flag law allowing police or courts to seize guns from people who show warning signs of violence since 2005 when it became one of the first states to enact such a law after an Indianapolis police officer was killed by a man whose weapons had to be returned despite hospitalization months earlier for an emergency mental health evaluation.

The law is intended to prevent people from purchasing or possessing a firearm if they are found by a judge to present an imminent risk to themselves or others.

Authorities have two weeks after seizing someones weapon to argue in court that the person should not be allowed to possess a gun, according to the law. Officials have not said whether a judge made a red flag ruling in Holes case.

McCartt said Hole was a former employee of FedEx and last worked for the company in 2020. The deputy police chief said he did not know why Hole left the job or if he had ties to the workers in the facility. He said police have not yet uncovered a motive for the shooting.

Investigators searched a home Friday in Indianapolis associated with Hole and seized evidence, including desktop computers and other electronic media, McCartt said.

Holes family said in a statement they are so sorry for the pain and hurt his actions caused.

Members of Indianapolis tight-knit Sikh community joined with city officials to call for gun reforms Saturday as they mourned the deaths of four Sikhs who were among the eight people killed.

At a vigil attended by more than 200 at an Indianapolis park Saturday evening, Aasees Kaur, who represented the Sikh Coalition, spoke out alongside the citys mayor and other elected officials to demand action that would prevent such attacks from happening again.

We must support one another, not just in grief, but in calling our policymakers and elected officials to make meaningful change, Kaur said. The time to act is not later, but now. We are far too many tragedies, too late, in doing so.

The attack was another blow to the Asian American community a month after authorities said six people of Asian descent were killed by a gunman in the Atlanta area and amid ongoing attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

About 90% of the workers at the FedEx warehouse near the Indianapolis International Airport are members of the local Sikh community, police said Friday.

Satjeet Kaur, the Sikh Coalitions executive director, said the entire community was traumatized by the senseless violence.

A sheriff's car blocks the entrance to the FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Saturday, April 17, 2021 where eight people were killed during a shooting late Thursday night. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)AP

While we dont yet know the motive of the shooter, he targeted a facility known to be heavily populated by Sikh employees, Kaur said.

There are between 8,000 and 10,000 Sikh Americans in Indiana, according to the coalition. Members of the religion, which began in India in the 15th century, began settling in Indiana more than 50 years ago.

The shooting is the deadliest incident of violence collectively in the Sikh community in the U.S. since 2012, when a white supremacist burst into a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and shot 10 people, killing seven.

___

Casey Smith of The Associated Press/Report for America wrote this story.

Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
New regulations for general-purpose light bulbs in South Africa will make it unlawful to continue selling the compact fluorescent lamps that are currently on the market, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) has said.

The proposed new specifications on general service lamps were published in the Government Gazette on 1 March and South Africans have until 30 April 2021 to comment on the regulations before they are made final.

The aim of the new specifications is to improve the safety, performance and energy efficiency of lightbulbs approved for use in South Africa by phasing out inefficient and environmentally harmful lighting products.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) currently on the market would not meet the specifications; it is more likely that LEDs would become the preferred choice of lamp, explained Ashanti Mogosetsi, the project manager for appliance standards and labelling programme at SANEDI.

Mogosetsi said that although CFLs are often known as energy saving lamps, they contain mercury which can be harmful to humans if accidentally broken or not disposed of safely.

However, it is not the mercury content of CFLs that will block them from being sold in South Africa, but their power efficiency.

The new specifications set a high bar for minimum luminous efficacy  90 lumens per watt. Luminous efficiency is a measure of how much light a lamp can produce for the power it consumes.

The proposed regulations would therefore not ban CFL technology itself, but set minimum limits on efficiency that energy saver lamps do not yet comply with.

If CFLs make a technological advancement and meet these specifications in the future, then they could be legally sold, said Mogosetsi.

The purpose of the specifications is not to ban any particular lighting products, but to mandate their safety and performance standards.

SANEDI believes that if the gazetted regulations are passed, it would be a milestone in the journey towards a more environmentally sustainable country.

Mogosetsi said that South Africa still makes wide use of old and outdated lighting technology, which is known to be far less energy efficient than modern lighting products such as LEDs.

However, the mercury content of CFL light bulbs is the most concerning issue.

Being exposed to high amounts of mercury can lead to long-term and sometimes permanent neurological and behavioural disorders.

Mercury is extremely harmful to the environment, and in turn harms the health of people living in those environments, Mogosetsi stated.

In light of these concerns, the UN Environment Programme created the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013.

Mogosetsi said that South Africas newly proposed specifications on general service lamps show that the country is aligned to the goals of the UN, and will hopefully have good news to share at UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26, due to be held in November 2021.

The Clean Lighting Coalition is also set to submit votes at COP 4 of the Minamata Convention, also set to be hosted in November this year, to amend the exemption of lighting products containing mercury, now that alternatives without mercury exist.

In addition to the environmental concerns over the mercury content in CFLs, SANEDI pointed to a cost-benefit analysis by Nova Economics which found that energy saving light bulbs are no longer the most power efficient option.

Roughly 80 million general service lamps are sold in South Africa each year; and the total estimated installed stock is approximately 170 million, Nova Economics stated in its report.

Most importantly, while a single electric lamp does not consume a large quantity of electricity, the average household has about 15 lamps  which collectively accounts for a significant amount of electricity use during peak consumption periods, when the electricity grid is most vulnerable.

Nova Economics said that a transition to higher efficiency light bulbs  which produce the same light while using much less electricity  provides an opportunity to both reduce strain on the national grid and save on the electric bills of households.

The analysis from Nova Economics found that South African consumers are making poor economic decisions when it comes to selecting the best light bulbs for their homes.

Consumers are purchasing some of the most expensive and least efficient GSLs, by opting for a lower upfront cost based on familiar and inefficient technologies, and not considering the full life cycle cost of lighting, Nova Economics stated.

As an example  in the highest-selling brightness category, a 70W BC Eco Halogen lamp accounted for 52% of sales, costing R20, but it is one of the most expensive to operate at around R1,500 in electricity and replacement lamp costs over a typical 5-year (7 000-hour) period.

The same companys LED lamp with the same light output will cost R35 to purchase, will not need to be replaced because of its long lifetime, and will only cost R178 to use in electricity bills over the same five-year period, said Nova Economics.

Thus, R1,520 for halogen versus R213 for LED. Halogen is over 7 times more expensive than LED on a lifecycle cost basis.

The report found that the net economic benefit of switching to more energy efficient light bulbs is expected to amount to R11.7 billion over 15-years; with a benefit-cost ratio of 27.4 to one.

The present value of the benefits is more than 27 times the present value of the costs of introducing and enforcing the regulation, Nova Economics stated.

The draft regulations set out a two-phased roll-out for the new light bulb specifications.

During the first phase, the minimum luminous efficacy of light bulbs will be set to 90 lumens per watt, effectively banning the sale of most of the energy saver CFLs currently on the market.

Phase 1 will last for three years and will start one year after the final notice announcing the new regulations is published.

During the second phase, the minimum luminous efficacy of light bulbs will be set to 105 lumens per watt. Phase 2 will start three years after after the final notice is published.

If you are currently using CFL-type energy saver light bulbs in your home, it will not be necessary to replace them when the regulations kick in.

You will just not be able to buy them anymore, as the new specifications will make it unlawful to sell bulbs that dont have a luminous efficacy of at least 90 lumens per watt.

Theo Covary, an energy efficiency expert contracted to support SANEDIs standards and labelling programme, told MyBroadband that South Africa has adopted a technology neutral approach.

The technical specifications are technology agnostic and they seek to remove the most inefficient GSLs from the market, said Covary.

The current levels being proposed cannot be met by incandescent [lamps] and CFLs and on this basis they would be phased out.

If there is a technological breakthrough that allows CFLs and incandescent lamps to to meet the proposed technical specifications, then they could once again be sold in South Africa.

Covary provided the following examples of lamp technology that do not make the threshold of 90 lumens per watt:

Halogen  18 lumens/watt

Incandescent  15 lumens/watt

CFL  55-70 lumens/watt.

It should be noted that these regulations apply to general service lamps  the light bulbs used for standard lighting in homes and business around South Africa.

The regulations highlight several exceptions where the minimum luminous efficacy specifications will not apply, including:

Medical applications

UV light for curing and drying

Horticulture, aquariums, animal care, and anti-insect products

Camera flashlights, photocopiers, video projectors

Signalling, e.g. traffic lights

Studio lighting, special effects lighting, and theatre lighting

Emergency lighting

Comment on the proposed regulations on light bulbs

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, has invited the public to comment on the proposed new specifications for general service lamps in South Africa.

The documents are embedded below.

Compulsory specification for energy efficiency and functional performance requirements of general service lamps

Compulsory specification for safety requirements of general service lamps

Now read: Concerns over price of electricity from powerships
Gig economy platform Airtaskers global expansion plans have come under a cloud, as the recently listed company locks horns with tech giant Airbnb on a trademark stoush in Europe.

Airtaskers stellar debut on the Australian Securities Exchange last month, which valued the company at $255.4 million, was partly propelled by the platforms potential to expand its footprint overseas. Airtasker lets users outsource household tasks.

However, the company has been embroiled in a trademark dispute with Airbnb since 2019, with the $US106 billion ($138 billion) behemoth opposing Airtaskers application to trademark its name in Europe.

Airtasker founder and chief executive Tim Fung said he is confident of a good outcome in the trademark dispute. Credit:James Brickwood

Airbnb opposes the application on the basis that Airtasker has tried to trade off Airbnbs more well-known trademark, which it registered in 2010, and get a benefit from using a similar mark.
The heat is very hot, no? By Gamini Weerakoon Doublespeak View(s): View(s):

The sun will be directly overhead Colombo and many other regions, for many days, the Meteorological Department said a few days ago. Its sweltering with the temperature at around 31 degrees Centigrade and humidity 80 per cent (approx).

You cant blame Gota, Mahinda and the rest of the gang for it is so in April every year.

Long years ago on an April afternoon, a teacher of ours uttered these memorable words: Phew! Boys, the heat is very hot, no?  to which a boy from the back of the class added: And Sir, perspiration is pouring like sweat.

In our opinion, the sun being directly overhead causes other implications than heating up Lanka. It affects our heads and their functioning. It may not be medically proven, but if the full moon makes people go loony why not the overhead sun around which all the planets go round and around, affect the peoples conduct?

Take that incident of Mrs World being crowned that made world news. We will not comment on the incident itself because there is the threat of litigation among the parties involved. But the issue raises the legality of the institution of marriage.

Can a woman be divorced if she had not marriedthat is at some stage she had to be married. And does a divorce take away her title of Mrs? If so, what is she to call herself? Miss? What happens to a woman who is legally married to a man who has many legal wives? Does she have full rights of a Mrs to enter whatever beauty contest for married or formerly married women?

We do not claim to be an authority on matrimony but the spirit of the Avuruddha set us thinking on these lines.

We failed to notice comments of Women Liberators, now called Women Libbers, in the media on this issue. Decades ago, some of them said that beauty pageants were like butchers shops where parts of the female anatomy were displayed attractively for sale  pure capitalist commercial ventures. Women libbers it appears prefer women to be judged for their brain power rather than for their anatomical configurations.

Does it really boil down to brains vs beauty? What do men think? We leave it to our male readers, for it is they who have to make the ultimate choice.

Perhaps beauty contests et al are all old hat to veteran women libbers. They have passed that decades ago and are now forging ahead with the Womens Revolution capturing key positions of the most powerful global professional, legal and financial institutions and are strategising to capture world political power.

We wish the ladies all the best, but they should know that every revolution is followed by counter-revolution. We dont have to tell the ladies: Dont trust men too much.

The sun being positioned directly overhead has also resulted in a tumultuous Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Even though the Covid 19 virus has taken much of the song and dance off the festivities as it did last year, this time it was causing greater problems. Gotas absolute gift of Rs 5,000 for all poverty stricken victims and Bandula Gunawardenas bag for only Rs 1000 (Saagatha Malla) packed with Avurudu Goodies appears to have infuriated rather than pleased some, according to TV interviews conducted by some channels. Only Pohottuwa loyalists said Something is better than nothing. It proves that Sinhalayas cannot be pleased with free gifts. They think free gifts are their birthright and want more. Contents of Bandulas bag are being criticised item by item. They are not supermarket quality but CWE stuff, a consumer said.

It reminded us of the comment of University of Ceylon Vice-Chancellor, Sir Nicholas Attygalle (The Iron Chancellor) in the mid-sixties on receiving complaints about the quality of food in the varsity canteen You fellows want Galle Face Hotel food paying Lion House rates (Lion House was a popular hangout of undergrads at Bambalapitiya junction.

Then came the aflatoxin scare that nearly brought the Avurudda to halt. There was this cancer causing substance in coconut oil that had been imported, containers full, in the country and in Colombo harbour it was said. There could be no real Avurudda without Kavun, Kokkis, Aasme, Athiraha and the like, all of which have to be fried in coconut oil. There could be no Avurudu table sans these delicacies and the choice was: Kavun or Cancer.

It was a double whammy against celebrations after the warning by military and health authorities: Dont go visiting your kith and kin in the villages and get Covid; stay at home and celebrate within limits.

But the Avurudu celebrations at homes went on as usual with those delicacies on the table and the Sinhalayas gobbling them up with delight true to the ancient saying: Sinhalaya Modaya Kavun Kanna Yodhaya (Sinhalaya is fool who gobbles up Kavun like a giant).What happened to the aflatoxin scare, we dont know.

A notable feature in this years celebrations was that kingpins of the country who invariably appear on TV during the celebrations and at temples with TV crews trailing were prominent by their absence.

It has already set the Chattering Class of Colombo chattering away as the Aluth Avuruddha dawned.
[April 18, 2021] Smart Technology Empowers Consumer Products at the 129th Canton Fair

GUANGZHOU, China, April 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The ongoing 129th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), also its 3rd digital exhibition, introduces 2.7 million products, among which more than 820 thousand are new to the market. Buyers can not only find them on the virtual exhibition halls, attend 137 new product launch events online, but also learn more from the Canton Fair Design Awards (CF Awards) 2020 winner list during the Fair to embrace the latest game-changing smart technology that can make life easier and better. Products at the CF Awards exhibition hall were selected by world-leading designers and buyers based on market potential and design value. The showcase presents the creation of Chinese suppliers, demonstrating premium products and detailed innovations that can help inspire buyers in their sourcing process. "It is important for our exhibitors to utilize the latest technology to drive innovation in their product development process so that consumers around the world can enjoy their life with easy access, convenience and joy," said Quandong Liu, Deputy Director General of Foreign Affairs Office of the Canton Fair. "Canton Fair, as a connection between Chinese manufacturers and the world market, endeavors to provide support for our buyers to find these exceptioal products."



Future Smart Home Comes True Home appliance manufacturers at the Canton Fair have combined multiple technologies into one product, allowing consumers to enjoy a hand-free and digital homelife.

Smart technology products on exhibition at the Fair include a robot vacuum with an AI camera and a 3D structured light scanning sensor. The vacuum enables a long-distance detection mechanism, which can achieve accurate and easy positioning without accidental collision. It is also equipped with a smart dust collector, which can automatically collect and store dust for up to 30 days.

There were also smart devices that enhance the kitchen and bathroom. Featured products include a smart electric towel rack and UV-powered trash, which can kill 90 percent of bacteria in the trash barrel. Advanced Technology Enables a Healthier Lifestyle With increasing demand among global consumers for a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, Chinese suppliers are making effort to design products that can make people feel comfortable at home, integrating technologies that cover air purification and healthcare supporting functions. Aiming to bring a breath of fresh air into the kitchen, a newly designed cooker hood at the Canton Fair is introducing a smart air-purifying function, which can be controlled by mobile.

There is also another air purifier self-developed by a Chinese manufacturer that applies a virus purification system that uses high-voltage ionization technology to destroy bacteria and proteins of the virus.

Consumers' health is also cared by a newly introduced electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring health watch, which can conduct 24/7 continuous heart rate tracking. The device also measures the sleep stage and offers support and reference for consumer's physical health. For more information of these award-winning products, please visit https://exhibitor.cantonfair.org.cn/#/cfWinnerListEn To register for more business opportunities, please visit https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/en/register/selectiveId View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-technology-empowers-consumer-products-at-the-129th-canton-fair-301270999.html SOURCE Canton Fair

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CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - Two North Iowa representatives held a virtual forum for the public to update on key issues being addressed this session in Des Moines.

State Representative Shannon Latham and State Senator Amanda Ragan took part in a Zoom forum hosted by the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce on Friday. One of the issues that was discussed was expanding and attracting workforce, with one of those goals is to expand high-speed broadband internet access, which is one of Governor Kim Reynolds' key priorities to accomplish this legislative session. Both Latham and Ragan feel it's critical to have to grow Iowa's workforce, especially in rural communities.

"No matter what your industry is, it's so important, especially for tele-health and tele-education," Latham said.

"I used to say education is a great equalizer, I think broadband is becoming one of those things as well. I think it's great to have that investment in the state," Ragan said.

Another key priority to attract workforce is childcare. This year, the House passed a package of childcare legislation; one of these bills, allowing in-home childcare providers to take on an additional person in their care, made it through the Senate and was signed by Governor Reynolds.

"I think it's going to be interesting to see what the Governor's childcare task force comes back with. I think we'll see some of that legislation that was introduced this year could really help with that. As a small business owner myself, and a working mom, I understand how important it is to have reliable, affordable and access to childcare," Latham said.

"Childcare is really important to help families that can make that transition back into the workforce." Ragan

Affordable housing, water quality, the status of tax increment financing, keeping the workforce safe and healthy as we work towards normalcy, and planning ahead for a future outbreak were also discussed.
The billionaire Issa brothers who recently bought Asda for 6.8billion are poised to make a takeover bid for struggling Caffe Nero after buying up the company's debt.

Mohsin, 49, and Zuber Issa, 48, could be due to take control of the coffee chain after purchasing around 140million in loans from Swiss private equity firm Partners Group via investment bank Morgan Stanley, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

Buying up the debt pile puts the Issa brothers in a strong position for takeover if Caffe Nero defaults on the 145million of senior ranking debts due to be repaid in 2022.

City sources told the Sunday Telegraph that Partners Group had written to Caffe Nero's boss Gerry Ford, 62, on Friday over concerns that the company may breach banking covenants - the restrictions laid out in a lending agreement.

Mohsin, 49, (right) and Zuber Issa, 48, (left) could be due to take control of Caffe Nero after purchasing around 140million in loans from Swiss private equity firm Partners Group

The Issa brothers, who purchased fast-food chain Leon for between 80million and 100million in the early hours of yesterday, have been in a long-running battle to buy the Caffe Nero coffee shop chain.

Leon is the latest acquisition in a buying spree that has seen the brothers hoover up petrol forecourt and roadside service chains around the world and even consider buying Topshop.

The brothers, whose parents came to Britain from India 'with nothing', built EG Group from one petrol station bought for 150,000 in 2001 into a 9billion giant employing 44,000 staff.

The pair are now worth an estimated 3.56bn, including a 25m Kensington townhouse and a private jet that is kept in a hangar at Blackpool Airport alongside Donald Trump's personal helicopter.

In November Caffe Nero was forced to put itself into a Company Voluntary Arrangement

Caffe Nero, like its rivals such as Pret a Manger, has been heavily impacted by the reduced footfall in city centres as millions of Britons work from home.

In November Caffe Nero was forced to put itself into a Company Voluntary Arrangement, a type of insolvency that allows firms to continue trading while they attempt to get their finances in order.

Just hours before Caffe Nero's creditors and landlords were set to vote on the company's insolvency plan the billionaire Issa brothers made a bid to take over the coffee chain, Sky News reported. The buyout deal was rejected.

Founder Mr Ford, who set up the business in 1997, said the second lockdown had pushed the company to act as he appointed leading accountants KPMG to advise on the CVA last year.

Mr Ford said in November: 'Like so many businesses in the hospitality sector, the pandemic has decimated trading, and although we had made significant progress in navigating the financial challenges of the first lockdown, the second lockdown has made it imperative that we take further action.'

Caffe Nero founder Gerry Ford (pictured), 62, said the second lockdown had pushed the company to act

The chain has suffered from curbs on socialising, fewer shoppers in town centres and the government advice for workers to stay away from their offices.

The company operate 800 stores across the UK and employ more than 6,000 people.

Caffe Nero is said to have been performing strongly prior to the pandemic.

A spokesman for Caffe Nero told MailOnline: 'We have had a successful winter and spring trading and are generating positive cash flow and are ahead of forecast for the last five months.

'We are forecasting no covenant issues in our projections over the next 12 months and we look forward to an even brighter future post May 17th when we open up our cafes fully to the public.'

A spokesman for the EG Group would not confirm if Morgan Stanley was acting on behalf of Mohsin and Zuber Issa by becoming assigned Cafe Nero's debt in a sub-participation from Partner Group.
Drinking water supply schemes, which had been formulated for almost all villages spending crores of rupees, have proved to be a failure.  Representational Photo: AFP

KURNOOL: Water shortage seems to be on the horizon as storage levels in major reservoirs of Andhra Pradesh have fallen drastically.

Level of Srisailam reservoir has touched 808 ft against full reservoir level of 885 ft. Water availability is just 33.59 TMC, only 15 percent of total storage capacity. Nagarjunasagar, downstream of Srisailam, has storage of just 191.05 TMC against 312 TMC capacity. Priyadarshini Jurala and Tungabhadra each have mere 3.98 TMC of water.

Srisailam superintendent engineer M. Srinivasula Reddy said as of now there is nothing to worry about. But if the level falls below 780 ft, then it will be a problem to discharge water downstream or through Pothireddypadu head regulator.

Krishna water is being drawn into Penna through Owk and Mylavaram reservoirs and also through Kundu River to take it to Nellore district's Somasila reservoir. But Somasila too has 56.63 TMC feet of water against its storage capacity 78 TMC.

Dowleswaram circle irrigation superintendent engineer R. Shivarama Krishna said the current storage in barrage is 2.2 TMC against the total capacity of 3 TMC. There is no problem in supplying drinking water to Rajahmundry city as it requires just 0.22 TMC.

Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) area depends on Sunkesula reservoir for drinking water. Corporation executive engineer Surendra Babu said the reservoir has storage of 1.07 TMC, which will be sufficient till the end of May. He reassured people that water could be tapped from Gajuladinne project too, which is presently having a storage of 2.61 TMC. He said normally rains fall even in April and May months. But if there is a dry spell even in June, then it may lead to water scarcity in the city. But that would be a rare case, he felt.

However, river beds of Tungabhadra, Kundu, and Handri have dried up. In the absence of alternative drinking water sources, villagers are digging up chalimalu (water pits) on river beds in search of water.

For residents of Mantralayam, Yammiganur and Kodumur assembly constituencies, River Tungabhadra is the only source of drinking water. Alur, Pathikonda, Nandikotkur, Srisailam and Adoni assembly constituencies are dependent on KC canal, Handri Neeva and low-level canal, which are not able to supply water regularly. In Kosigi, Aspari, Pedakadubur, Chippagiri, Nandavaram, Tuggali, Belagal, Guduru, and Kothapalli too, water supply has gone down drastically. Tube-wells are either not working or giving water that is unfit for human consumption.

Drinking water supply schemes, which had been formulated for almost all villages spending crores of rupees, have proved to be a failure.